NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, each team’s thankful item

As we approach the end of the second calendar month in the 2024-25 NHL season, we also march towards “Thanksgiving playoff cutoff” season. So get your postseason team takes ready, because now’s the time to sling them. North of 75% of teams in the last 10 seasons that were in a playoff position by (American) Thanksgiving stayed in one by the end of that season.

That’s very good news for teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild, who many wrote off at the start of the season as teams on the outside looking in for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

However, the mythical Thanksgiving marker has no bearing on our ESPN NHL Power Rankings, which are once again led by the Winnipeg Jets. But in addition to an updated set of rankings this week, we are identifying the one item for which every team is thankful this season, whether it’s particular players, trends or a particular piece of hockey equipment.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list here.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 15. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 84.21%

Thankful for: A counterpunch. A lot of attention has been put on the team’s greatest start in NHL history, and rightfully so. But this week, Winnipeg suffered a 5-0 loss to the Panthers. The fans chanted “overrated” to the Jets team as the reigning Stanley Cup champs trounced them. But two days later, the Jets got their revenge in the heavyweight home-and-home series, going up 3-0 before doubling up the Cats to win 6-3. A big response against a team that is battling for tops in the opposite conference.

Next seven days: @ PIT (Nov. 22), @ NSH (Nov. 23), @ MIN (Nov. 25), @ LA (Nov. 27)

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 73.68%

Thankful for: A 13-game point streak for Martin Necas. OK, yes, the Canes have a lot to be thankful for right now. Second in the Metro Division, proving all those preseason prognostications wrong, but I wanted to throw some flowers to Necas. With a lot of the spotlight elsewhere around the league, Necas quietly put together an awesome 13-game point streak, amassing 27 points. He has gone pointless in only three games so far this season.

What a rollercoaster ride for Necas — from almost being traded…