NHL Power Ranking Notes
Every week we'll bring you a man vs. machine style power ranking where NHL expert Michel Anderson goes against the Odds Shark computer to decide the best and worst teams in the NHL.
Here's this week's power rankings from both Michel and the Odds Shark computer after November 12th games from the 2024-25 NHL season. See where Michel disagrees with the computer the most with his most overrated and underrated teams:
Most Overrated: Seattle Kraken
If you're yelling at our computer for having Calgary fourth don't worry I agree but last week I talked about how badly the computer overrates the Flames so this week, I'm talking about the madness that is the Seattle Kraken ranked seventh overall.
Seattle has no business being anywhere near the top 10, I have Seattle 26th much closer to their 22nd rank for points (15) and points percentage (0.469) in the league. While Kraken had a respectable 2-1-0 record since my last ranking, their 1.028 PDO tells me they were extremely lucky to get those two wins. That luck will dry up and the losses will come.
Most underrated: Edmonton Oilers
If our computer could drink I'd say it was drunk ranking Edmonton 30th overall. I've got Edmonton ranked 17th in the league, again like Seattle, much closer to their 15th-overall points percentage (0.531).
I get that Edmonton started the year with a pedestrian 6-6-1 record but with the third-worst shooting percentage (5.74) the Oilers were bound to be better than their record. This week, Edmonton's shooters have woken up converting on 11.49% of their chances pushing them to a 2-1-0 record, Leon Drasaitl has three goals in those three games converting on a ridiculous 37.5% of his shots.
Edmonton is a good team and will be a good team they just needed their elite shooters to wake up. Now that they have watch Edmonton jump up the standings.
How are our NHL Power Rankings compiled?
These power rankings show both our NFL experts' custom rankings and the computer's adjusted power ratings for an objective approach. Ranks are updated each week and are based on a rolling 10-game range. Early in the season, this date range reaches back to regular-season games of the previous year.
NHL power rankings aim to break down all the stats that are important beyond the win-loss column. We crunch that against a strength-of-schedule number that balances out the rough edges because a team beating up on lousy competition should not be climbing the power ladder faster than a team playing tough competition. At some point, that “hot” team is going to crash and burn and you’re going to know exactly when and why — that’s when savvy hockey bettors make their cash.