BBKL Power Rankings - October 1, 2011

[MSP4LYFE]

1. TOR (Last Week: #5) – Depth added this week solidifies this group as the best in BBKL both in the present, and long term.

2. NJD (Last Week: #1) – The last week has been a quiet one for NJ, but if aint broke, don’t fix it.

3. LAK (Last Week:#4) – Byfuglien trade added an additional impact player to perhaps the top defensive unit in the West.

4. TBL (Last Week: #3) – Despite patient approach in an otherwise impatient league, few match the top end talent and depth that the Lightning boast.

5. COL (Last Week: #2) – Downgrades up front (Kessel – Pominville / Tedenby – Talbot), and on the back end (Burns – Hamonic) hurt, but make no mistake this is still an elite team in the West.

6. WSH (Last Week: #10) – Additions of Sheldon Souray and Marek Zidlicky help shore up a previously inadequate defensive core. Goaltending is the only thing seperating this team from the upper echelon in the East.

7. CHI (Last Week: #6) – Offensively there are few better, but inexperience in goal, as well as question marks outside of the top pairing on D (Ehrhoff – Gorges) leave some questions that have yet to be answered. The potential for a boom season exists.

8. MTL (Last Week: #9) – Addition of Chris Kunitz adds yet another well rounded H2H forward to the mix. With a few tweaks this group could be on the cusp of a breakout season.

9. OTT (Last Week: #11) – Ladd, Ribeiro, Hemsky, Briere, Bergeron, Bourque and Latendresse up front, flanked by Pieterangelo, Myers, Lidstrom and Giordano on the back end, nuff said...

10. STL (Last Week:#8) – Ladislav Smid, and Anze Kopitar offer impact at both ends of the ice, but at the cost of depth on the wings.

11. BOS (Last Week: #5) – Current roster pales in comparison to the elite group that took the ice the past two seasons, continued growth from Couture and Okposo are required to take this team to the next level.

12. CLB (Last Week: #12) – Most underrated group in BBKL, Crosby injury will hurt out of the gates, but if he can return to form, watch out.

13. SJS (Last Week: #14) – With a new manager to replace the oft absent Neel Shah, optimism is well and alive in San Jose. This is a talented group, but adjustments are required to catapult San Jose into the elite class of the West.

14. BUF (Last Week: #16) - The Sabres lack pop offensively, but make up for it with sound defensive peripheries, and strong goaltending.

15. EDM (Last Week: #18)- Addition of Tim Connolly adds another potent weapon down the middle to compliment an already strong defensive core, and back stop. A lack of depth on the wings is the clubs biggest concern, if improved a rise up the standings should be expected.

16. PHI (Last Week: #19) – Addition of John Carlson was a big coup for the Flyers, continued improvement could see this club in the post season come March.

17. PIT (Last Week: #22) – Despite tear down, the Pens roster has more than enough talent to challenge for a post season berth, and the potential for so much more through the trade market.

18. NSH (Last Week: #21) – Top 6 up front are much improved, but inexperience and a lack of depth on the back end leave much to be desired. With continued improvement, a playoff push is not out of the question.

19. MIN (Last Week: #13) – Minnesota boasts a talented young group, but inexperience and a patient approach has them faltering in the rankings.

20. ANA (Last Week: #15) – Rebuild seems to be in effect, even still this group boasts a very talented, albeit inexperienced group of forwards and defenseman. Continued improvement from Reimer is a must for this team to contend for a post season berth.

21. NYI (Last Week: #17) – Boasts impressive periphery production, but lack of offensive punch throughout the line-up will make it difficult for the Islanders to compete daily. A bottom 10 finish, and subsequent high selection in a strong 2012 draft class should be expected.

22. NYR (Last Week: #20) – Strong top line, and a proven back stop in goal, unfortunately the positives end there. A continued commitment to the draft and farm system will be important moving forward for the Rangers.

23. VAN (Last Week: #24 ) – Addition of Brayden Schenn is a big one, the duo of Brayden and Luke will be an exciting one for fans out West, unfortunately the Nucks are still a year or two away from seriously contending.

24. FLA (Last Week: #23) – Loss of Cowen for picks hurts, a continued tear down is expected to retain the assets necessary to compete with the two powers in the SE moving forward.

25. DAL (Last Week: #26) – Little has changed in Texas, the increase in the standings is more reflective of the weakening of teams around Dallas, than an improvement itself.

26. WPG (Last Week: #27) – This roster has alot of potential, but can never seem to make it out of the BBKL’s basement. Increased activity on the trade market is required to take the next step.

27. CGY (Last Week: #28) – Not much has changed in Calgary, weak starting roster, question marks in goal, and no pick to accompany the inevitable losing season.

28. CAR (Last Week: #29) – Slight improvements up front see the Canes move up a spot in the rankings.

29. PHX (Last Week: #25) – The inexplicable trade of John Carlson has many fans, and ownership alike puzzled about the direction of the Coyotes.

30. DET (Last Week: #30) – Business as usual in Detroit.

[Robin Hood]

Solid job Kareem. IMO PIT/PHI/EDM are ranked too high. BOS/MIN/STL are ranked too low.

[Tony]

Offense is overrated ...

[MSP4LYFE]

Solid job Kareem. IMO PIT/PHI/EDM are ranked too high. BOS/MIN/STL are ranked too low.

I think you ranked BOS and MIN far too high, St. Louis is one or two spots so not a great disparity there. As for the former group, I think they all made some big improvements in the past two weeks, in concert with teams around them weakening. All of which lead to a higher ranking, IMO anyways.

[MSP4LYFE]

Offense is overrated ...

I believe it is strongly underrated, IMO an elite offensive team with solid peripheries is the way to win this league.

[KapG]

Thanks for taking the time to put the rankings together. As I mentioned in Chris's thread, always enjoy reading power rankings.

[MSP4LYFE]

No problemo

[anton]

rankings are ok, but my comment bit is weird. i traded ehrhoff a long time ago and gorges is nowhere near my top pairing. johnson, bogosian, shattenkirk are all above him.

were you looking at my spreadsheet? cause its out of date right now.

[MSP4LYFE]

rankings are ok, but my comment bit is weird. i traded ehrhoff a long time ago and gorges is nowhere near my top pairing. johnson, bogosian, shattenkirk are all above him.

were you looking at my spreadsheet? cause its out of date right now.

I did, my mistake. FTR, I would put Gorges over all of those guys, save for JJ, but I'm also a really big Josh Gorges fan.

[The BBKL Insider]

Looks good kareem

Lots of effort here!

[foolama]

very nice Kareem. Hope SJS is top 10 soon