NHL Ranking: Colorado Avalanche Remains on Top
After another week of intense action in the 2025-26 NHL season, the Alofoke Deportes voting panel maintains its confidence in the Colorado Avalanche as the league’s leading team. This week saw significant changes in the rankings, including the first appearance in the top 10 for the Chicago Blackhawks in a long time, with Connor Bedard and company fighting for a playoff spot, with a quarter of the season already completed. As part of these weekly rankings, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of each team was identified during the first 25% of the season.Classification Methodology: A panel of hockey commentators, analysts, reporters, and editors from Alofoke Deportes sends a survey from 1 to 32 based on the matches up to Wednesday.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 1 Percentage of points: 82.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Nathan MacKinnon. Despite Cale Makar’s excellent season, MacKinnon leads the league in points (36) and goals (16). Upcoming seven days: @ NSH (November 22), @ CHI (November 23), vs. SJ (November 26)2. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 4 Percentage of points: 70% First quarter MVP: Seth Jarvis. The Hurricanes’ rising star continues to play in all situations and maintains a pace close to a point per game. Next seven days: @ WPG (November 21), @ BUF (November 23), vs. NYR (November 26)3. Anaheim Ducks
Previous ranking: 3 Percentage of points: 64.3% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Leo Carlsson. The selection of Carlsson at the number 2 spot in the 2023 draft seems to be paying off, as the 20-year-old Swede leads the Ducks, who are competing at the top of the Pacific Division. Next seven days: vs. VGK (November 22), vs. VAN (November 26)4. Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 5 Percentage of points: 69% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Mikko Rantanen. The Stars did not hesitate to secure Rantanen with a long-term contract. So far, so good. Next seven days: @ CGY (November 22), @ EDM (November 25), @ SEA (November 26)5. New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 2 Percentage of points: 67.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jesper Bratt. The Devils will have to face a period without Jack Hughes, who suffered an injury in a Chicago restaurant. Next seven days: @ PHI (November 22), vs. DET (November 24), vs. STL (November 26)6. Winnipeg Jets
Previous ranking: 7 Percentage of points: 63.2% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Mark Scheifele. The Jets’ first-line center is on pace to reach 50 goals and 109 points. Next seven days: vs. CAR (November 21), vs. MIN (November 23), @ WSH (November 26)7. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous ranking: 10 Percentage of points: 65% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jack Eichel. Despite having decreased in the race for goals and points, Eichel led the Knights with 24 points in 19 games. Upcoming seven days: @ ANA (November 22), @ UTA (November 24), vs. OTT (November 26)8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous ranking: 9 Percentage of points: 63.2% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Sidney Crosby. Crosby has led the Penguins to a prominent place in the Metro Division, including six power-play goals. Next seven days: vs. MIN (November 21), vs. SEA (November 22), vs. BUF (November 26)9. Chicago Blackhawks
Previous ranking: 14 Percentage of points: 60% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Connor Bedard. Bedard is on pace to score 118 points, and Chicago is in the fight for a playoff spot. Next seven days: @ BUF (November 21), vs. COL (November 23), vs. MIN (November 26)10. Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: 18 Percentage of points: 59.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Dylan Larkin. Larkin has maintained the momentum from his performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with 24 points in his first 20 games. Next seven days: vs. CBJ (November 22), @ NJ (November 24), vs. NSH (November 26)11. Los Angeles Kings
Previous ranking: 11 Percentage of points: 59.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Adrian Kempe. With a new contract extension, Kempe has focused on his performance, leading the Kings in scoring with 19 points in 20 games. Next seven days: vs. BOS (November 21), vs. OTT (November 24)12. New York Islanders
Previous ranking: 22 Percentage of points: 61.9% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer leads the Isles in time on ice per game (22:29) and could be driving an improvement in team morale. Next seven days: vs. STL (November 22), vs. SEA (November 23), vs. BOS (November 26)13. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 12 Percentage of points: 60% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jake Guentzel. Guentzel has improved his performance in November, with seven goals and three assists in the first eight games of the month. Next seven days: @ WSH (November 22), vs. PHI (November 24), vs. CGY (November 26)14. Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 8 Percentage of points: 54.6% MVP of the first quarter of the season: David Pastrnak. Pastrnak is performing as expected, with 27 points in his first 22 games. Upcoming seven days: @ LA (November 21), @ SJ (November 23), @ NYI (November 26)15. Montreal Canadiens
Previous ranking: 6 Percentage of points: 57.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jakub Dobes. Dobes seems to be the best option in goal for the Habs this season. Next seven days: vs. TOR (November 22), @ UTA (November 26)16. Seattle Kraken
Previous ranking: 17 Percentage of points: 62.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jaden Schwartz. The Kraken have been one of the surprises of the season, staying in the fight for a playoff spot. Upcoming seven days: @ PIT (November 22), @ NYI (November 23), vs. DAL (November 26)17. Utah Mammoth
Previous ranking: 13 Percentage of points: 54.8% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz leads the team in scoring (22 points) and is tied for game-winning goals (two) in the first 20 games. Next seven days: vs. NYR (November 22), vs. VGK (November 24), vs. MTL (November 26)18. Ottawa Senators
Previous ranking: 15 Percentage of points: 60% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Tim Stutzle. Stutzle has maintained a pace of one point per game with double digits in goals. Next seven days: @ SJ (November 22), @ LA (November 24), @ VGK (November 26)19. Minnesota Wild
Previous ranking: 27 Percentage of points: 57.1% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jesper Wallstedt. Wallstedt has performed well in goal, with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Next seven days: @ PIT (November 21), @ WPG (November 23), @ CHI (November 26)20. Washington Capitals
Previous ranking: 19 Percentage of points: 57.1% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Logan Thompson. Thompson has had a goals-against average of 1.85 and a save percentage of .920. Next seven days: vs. TB (November 22), vs. CBJ (November 24), vs. WPG (November 26)21. Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 24 Percentage of points: 57.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Brad Marchand. Marchand has scored 23 points in 18 games, which puts him on track to reach 99 points. Next seven days: vs. EDM (November 22), @ NSH (November 24), vs. PHI (November 26)22. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: 16 Percentage of points: 60.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Trevor Zegras. Zegras is performing well in Philadelphia. Next seven days: vs. NJ (November 22), TB (November 24), @ FLA (November 26)23. Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous ranking: 26 Percentage of points: 57.1% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Jet Greaves. Greaves has been Columbus’s primary goaltender this season. Next seven days: @ DET (November 22), @ WSH (November 24), vs. TOR (November 26)24. New York Rangers
Previous ranking: 21 Percentage of points: 50% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Igor Shesterkin/Jonathan Quick. The Rangers are performing well in goal. Upcoming seven days: @ UTA (November 22), vs. STL (November 24), @ CAR (November 26)25. Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: 20 Percentage of points: 50% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Connor McDavid. McDavid continues to demonstrate his talent with 32 points in 22 games. Next seven days: @ FLA (November 22), vs. DAL (November 25)26. San Jose Sharks
Previous ranking: 23 Percentage of points: 54.8% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini is on track to break the Sharks’ scoring record in his second professional season. Next seven days: vs. OTT (November 22), vs. BOS (November 23), @ COL (November 26)27. Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous ranking: 25 Percentage of points: 50% MVP of the first quarter of the season: William Nylander. Nylander has been consistent, with 27 points in 17 games. Next seven days: @ MTL (November 22), @ CBJ (November 26)28. Vancouver Canucks
Previous ranking: 28 Percentage of points: 45.5% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Quinn Hughes. Hughes leads the Canucks in scoring. Next seven days: vs. CGY (November 23), @ ANA (November 26)29. Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: 30 Percentage of points: 45% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Tage Thompson. Thompson keeps scoring goals. Next seven days: vs. CHI (November 21), vs. CAR (November 23), @ PIT (November 26)30. St. Louis BluesPrevious ranking: 29 Percentage of points: 42.9% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Robert Thomas. Thomas is the only player with a positive +/- rating. Next seven days: @ NYI (November 22), @ NYR (November 24), @ NJ (November 26)31. Nashville Predators
Previous ranking: 31 Percentage of points: 40% MVP of the first quarter of the season: Filip Forsberg. Next seven days: vs. COL (November 22), vs. FLA (November 24), @ DET (November 26)32. Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 32 Percentage of points: 34.1% First-quarter MVP: Nazem Kadri. Kadri, the top scorer, receives MVP honors. Next seven days: vs. DAL (November 22), VAN (November 23), @ TB (November 26)
