NHL Power Rankings: Contenders and pretenders after NHL trade deadline

In this week’s edition of the NHL Power Rankings we take a look at where each NHL team sits on the tier of Stanley Cup contenders and pretenders after the NHL trade deadline.

Every team made some sort of a move over the past month or so to complete their roster (or sell off pieces of their roster) for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. With all of that completed, let’s take a look at how the league looks from the heavy favorites, to the contenders, to the pretenders, to the lottery teams.

As has been the case for most of the 2021-22 NHL season, Eastern Conference teams dominate the top of the contenders list.

Where does your team currently sit?

1. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 1). The rich get richer. Already an insanely deep team, they added Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, and Andrew Cogliano to round out their roster and will still be getting Gabriel Landeskog and Samuel Girard back for the playoffs. Loaded roster.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (LW: 2). Max Domi adds just a bit more offense to an already stacked roster at forward. As long as they keep getting the goaltending they are getting they should be a heavy favorite in the East.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (LW: 4). Not sure Brandon Hagel is the next Blake Coleman like so many think, but he is a good addition. The additions of him and Nick Paul add to their bottom-six and help their chances for another championship.

4. Florida Panthers (LW: 3). Claude Giroux is a big addition at forward where they have one of the most powerful lineups in the league. But I am not sure about that defense after the additions of Ben Chiarot and Robert Hägg . They did not seem necessary. Or a good fit for the Panthers’ current style of play.

5. Calgary Flames (LW: 5). Their big addition