Let's be honest, dear reader. There's only one answer for where the Vegas Golden Knights should sit in these power rankings. That's right. They're atop the Pacific Division where they belong. They just need the Vancouver Canucks (regulation) and Calgary Flames to lose their respective games to clinch a spot.
But that's just the start. The Golden Knights are nine points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers in the divisional race. Suddenly, the Kings have lost two straight while the Oilers are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. That's nice and all. But it doesn't help when the division leader has won six straight.
That should make this upcoming power rankings easy. You know who's barely hanging around and who's close to clinching the division. Therefore, it's time to say goodbye to the San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken. One was eliminated from the first puck-drop, and the other was the most disappointing expansion story ever told. Sayonara!
That leaves us with six teams. They're sorted into four tiers, ranging from the hopeless to the (eventual) division champs. Who has a shot to become the first Pacific Division team to clinch a playoff spot? Who's playing for next season and seeing who'll make the roster? Let's break down the divisional rivals and see where everyone important stands.
Hanging by a thread: Anaheim Ducks
Throughout the season, the Anaheim Ducks have relied on solid goaltending to carry them. John Gibson (2.72 GAA and a save percentage of .913) became a reliable backup while Lukas Dostal (3.01 GAA and a save percentage of .906) provides hope for the future.
The only problem is that this team couldn't score, with Troy Terry (51 points) as their leading scorer. It's only a matter of time before the Ducks are eliminated since they have 72 points entering Sunday. Still, this season's a small step to take before becoming contenders again.
Lagging behind the Blues and Wild: Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames
Last season, the Vancouver Canucks were sitting pretty atop the Pacific Division. They won the crown and took the Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the second round. This season? They're six points back of the St. Louis Blues. Part of that has been a rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, with the latter (15 goals and 30 assists) vastly underperforming.
While that was the entire theme for the Canucks, the Flames were bound to peter out. They're in the middle of a brutal four-game gauntlet against tough opponents, facing the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Dustin Wolf (2.67 GAA and a save percentage of .909) has emerged as a reliable starter. What's more, the Flames are projected to have $37,137,500 in salary cap space for the summer, meaning they can grab a solid forward or two.
Ah s***. Here we go again: Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers
Death, taxes, and the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers facing each other in the first round. These are the things that Benjamin Franklin said were inevitable in life. The two teams are on a collision course to square off again with the Vegas Golden Knights pulling away with the division.
But will this time be different from the last three results? Will the Kings finally end Connor McDavid and the Oilers? Finally? Los Angeles still has an incentive to win as many games as possible: They're 26-4-4 at Crypto.com Arena this season, giving them a massive advantage. Of course, the playoffs are a different beast, making matters much more fun.
Obviously at the top: Vegas Golden Knights
Riding a six-game winning streak has the Vegas Golden Knights closing in on another Pacific Division title. It's much-needed, too: The Golden Knights are 27-7-3 at T-Mobile Arena this season. That home-ice advantage could prove vital with their quest for another Stanley Cup.
As mentioned, anything can happen in the playoffs. However, one player has been steady through his last 12 starts: Adin Hill.
Adin Hill’s last 12 starts:
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) March 30, 2025
10-1-1
.932 save %
1.83 GAA
The 28-year-old has a career GAA of 2.09 and a save percentage of .932 during his postseason career. He'll be called upon to deliver another memorable playoff run for Vegas this season. Of course, that means players like Mark Stone and Jack Eichel must get the offense going. Otherwise, it could be the Kings or Oilers in the Western Conference Final fighting for the Stanley Cup instead.