Super 16: Lightning begin season No. 1, Blues No. 2 in power rankings

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorite to be the best team in the NHL again less than six months after getting swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference First Round.

The Lightning are No. 1 in NHL.com's first Super 16 of the 2019-20 season. They were ranked first by 10 of the 13 participating staff members who make up the voting panel to create the weekly power rankings.
The Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues received the other three No. 1 votes, helping them come in at No. 2, one voting point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
To create the power rankings, each of the 13 participating staff members puts together his or her version of what the Super 16 should look like. Those are submitted and a point total is assigned to each.
The team picked first is given 16 points, second gets 15, third gets 14 and so on down to No. 16, which gets one point.
Here is the first Super 16 of the 2019-20 NHL season, with last season's record in parentheses, where each team was ranked in our summer Super 16, which ran July 18, and a positive and a potential negative for each team.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4)

Total points: 203
Summer rank: No. 1
Hit: Brayden Point could make his season debut earlier than the initial target date of late October, coach Jon Cooper said earlier this week. The center is recovering from offseason hip surgery and will miss the season opener against the Florida Panthers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-F, NHL.TV).
Miss: They have some minor injury concerns with center Cedric Paquette ruled out for the season opener by Cooper, and defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Tyler Johnson each considered day to day.

2. St. Louis Blues (45-28-9)

Total points: 168
Summer rank: No. 2
Hit: The Blues raise the banner for their first Stanley Cup championship before they play the Washington Capitals at Enterprise Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN).
Miss: Not much here because the Blues appear healthy heading into their first game.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (46-28-8)

Total points: 167
Summer rank: No. 5
Hit:
Rasmus Sandin
impressed enough in training camp to earn a spot as one of Toronto's top six defensemen. The 19-year-old is the first teenage defenseman to start the season with the Maple Leafs since Morgan Rielly did it as a 19-year-old in 2013.
Miss:
Travis Dermott
and
Zach Hyman
each will start the season on long-term injured reserve, and neither is expected to be available until late October or early November. Dermott, a defenseman, is recovering from shoulder surgery. Hyman, a forward, is rehabbing from knee surgery.

4. Boston Bruins (49-24-9)

Total points: 150
Summer rank: No. 3
Hit: Patrice Bergeron is expected to be in the lineup when the Bruins open at the Dallas Stars on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-SW, NESN, NHL.TV). The center previously was considered questionable because of a lingering groin injury.
Miss: It's possible the Bruins won't have center David Krejci against the Stars. Krejci is nursing a lower-body injury. He skated in a red non-contact jersey in practice Tuesday.

5. Vegas Golden Knights (43-32-7)

Total points: 148
Summer rank: No. 11
Hit: Cody Glass had a strong training camp, and the rookie center, the No. 6 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, could make his NHL debut when Vegas opens against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS, NHL.TV).
Miss: Vegas could start the season without two top-nine forwards. Alex Tuch is week to week with an upper-body injury, and Cody Eakin is day to day with an upper-body injury.

6. Nashville Predators (47-29-6)

Total points: 137
Summer rank: No. 4
Hit: The Predators went 4-for-17 on the power play (23.5 percent) in their final four preseason games. It's a small sample size in games that don't count, but it's a step in a positive direction for them after they finished last in the NHL on the power play last season (12.9 percent) and went 0-for-15 in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Miss: They are healthy, but it remains a question whether rookie defenseman Dante Fabbro can fill the role that P.K. Subban played last season. Subban, who was traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 22, had 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 63 games.

7. Colorado Avalanche (38-30-14)

Total points: 114
Summer rank: No. 10
Hit: Despite missing training camp because of ongoing contract negotiations, forward Mikko Rantanen should be in the Avalanche's lineup when they open against the Calgary Flames at Pepsi Center on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, SNW, NHL.TV). Rantanen, who signed a six-year contract Saturday, had 87 points (31 goals, 56 assists) in 74 games last season.
Miss: There are big expectations on the Avalanche this season, but goalie Philipp Grubauer has to prove he can be a No. 1 for a full season, something he has never been. Semyon Varlamov, the Avalanche's previous No. 1, signed a four-year contract with the New York Islanders on July 1.

8. Dallas Stars (43-32-7)

Total points: 110
Summer rank: No. 7
Hit: Ben Bishop had a strong preseason with 64 saves on 69 shots (.927 save percentage) in three games. Bishop finished second in voting for the Vezina Trophy as best goalie in the NHL behind Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy last season, going 27-15-2 with a 1.98 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and seven shutouts.
Miss: The Stars schedule is brutal to start, including seven of 10 games on the road through Oct. 19. They open the season Thursday against the Bruins, the 2018-19 Eastern Conference champions, and two nights later play the Stanley Cup champion Blues in St. Louis. Next week, they have two games, one on the road and the other at home, against the Washington Capitals, who finished first in the Metropolitan Division last season and are predicted by many to do so again this season. They play four in a row on the road from Oct. 14-19.

9. Washington Capitals (48-26-8)

Total points: 109
Summer rank: No. 6
Hit: Alex Ovechkin needs 42 goals to become the eighth player in NHL history to score at least 700 goals. Another 50-goal season for the left wing would be the ninth of his career, tying Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most in NHL history.
Miss: Evgeny Kuznetsov will miss the first three games of the season serving a suspension for inappropriate conduct. The center, who had 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 76 games last season, is eligible to make his season debut against the Stars on Oct. 8.

10. San Jose Sharks (46-27-9)

Total points: 99
Summer rank: No. 9
Hit: Joe Thornton needs 22 points to become the 14th player in NHL history with 1,500 points. The center is 14 assists shy of tying Adam Oates for seventh in League history.
Miss: Evander Kane is suspended for the first three games of the season for violating Rule 40.4 (physical abuse of officials) during a preseason game against Vegas on Sunday. The right wing is eligible to make his season debut at the Predators on Oct. 8.

11. Calgary Flames (50-25-7)

Total points: 95
Summer rank: No. 8
Hit: Matthew Tkachuk should be ready to go Thursday when the Flames open the season against the Avalanche, after playing 20:18 in the preseason finale against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The forward, who signed a three-year contract Sept. 25, had 77 points (34 goals, 43 assists) in 80 games last season.
Miss: The Flames had a strong training camp and appear healthy going into the season, so there isn't much to put in this category this week.

12. Florida Panthers (36-32-14)

Total points: 67
Summer rank: No. 12
Hit: The Panthers had a big offseason, especially with the additions of coach Joel Quenneville and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, and came out of training camp healthy.
Miss: Expectations are higher based on the additions, and the Panthers open with back-to-back games against the Lightning, at Tampa Bay on Thursday and at home Saturday. This isn't necessarily a miss as much as it is a test.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (44-26-12)

Total points: 60
Summer rank: No. 13
Hit: Sidney Crosby could play in the season opener against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, MSG-B, NHL.TV). The center was hit in the leg by a shot from Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella on Saturday, creating questions if he would be available. He practiced fully Tuesday and said he felt good, but he wouldn't reveal more on his status for the opener.
Miss: Bryan Rust is expected to miss the start of the season with an undisclosed injury, coach Mike Sullivan said. The forward also was injured against the Sabres, when he was struck in the hand by a shot from defenseman Colin Miller.

14. Winnipeg Jets (47-30-5)

Total points: 34
Summer rank: No. 14
Hit: The Jets plan to have recently signed forwards Patrik Laine (two-year contract) and Kyle Connor (seven years) in the lineup when they play the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN3, NHL.TV). Laine signed Friday, and Connor signed Saturday.
Miss: It doesn't look like the Jets will have defenseman Dustin Byfuglien in the lineup in New York. Byfuglien remains suspended by Winnipeg for failing to report to training camp. He's on a leave of absence for personal reasons. In addition, center Bryan Little has been diagnosed with a concussion, and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu is out four weeks with an upper-body injury.

15. Carolina Hurricanes (46-29-7)

Total points: 33
Summer rank: No. 15
Hit: Jake Gardiner practiced Tuesday and said he feels good, an indication the defenseman will be able to play in the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens at PNC Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV). Gardiner missed some practice time and the last two preseason games with an undisclosed injury.
Miss: It'll be interesting to see if the Hurricanes miss
Justin Williams
this season and if he will return at any point. Williams, Carolina's captain last season, is taking time to decide if he wants to play or retire, and the forward remains an unrestricted free agent. Williams had 53 points (23 goals, 30 assists) in 82 games last season. Forward Jordan Staal was named captain by the Hurricanes on Sunday.

16. New York Islanders (48-27-7)

Total points: 29
Summer rank: No. 16
Hit: The Islanders' top line of Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee had a strong preseason, combining for 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in five games together. Barzal (two goals, five assists) and Eberle (four goals, three assists) each had seven points, and Lee had four (one goal, three assists).
Miss: Casey Cizikas missed practice the past two days, but coach Barry Trotz said he's confident the center will be able to play in the opener against the Capitals at Nassau Coliseum on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSWA, NHL.TV).
Others receiving points: New Jersey Devils 18, Philadelphia Flyers 11, Arizona Coyotes 6, New York Rangers 5, Buffalo Sabres 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Montreal Canadiens 1
HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM
AMALIE BENJAMIN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. St. Louis Blues; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. Nashville Predators; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Calgary Flames; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Pittsburgh Penguins; 16. New York Islanders
TIM CAMPBELL
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Calgary Flames; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Nashville Predators; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. New York Islanders; 9. St. Louis Blues; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. San Jose Sharks; 14. Carolina Hurricanes; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Winnipeg Jets
BRIAN COMPTON
1. St. Louis Blues; 2. Tampa Bay Lightning; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. New York Islanders; 6. Calgary Flames; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Washington Capitals; 10. Nashville Predators; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. San Jose Sharks; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Carolina Hurricanes
NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. St. Louis Blues; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. San Jose Sharks; 10. Nashville Predators; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Calgary Flames; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Arizona Coyotes; 15. Carolina Hurricanes; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets
TOM GULITTI
1. St. Louis Blues; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Nashville Predators; 8. San Jose Sharks; 9. Washington Capitals; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Calgary Flames; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Carolina Hurricanes; 16. New York Islanders
ADAM KIMELMAN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Winnipeg Jets; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Calgary Flames; 12. Carolina Hurricanes; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Dallas Stars; 16. Arizona Coyotes
ROBERT LAFLAMME
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. St. Louis Blues; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Calgary Flames; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Nashville Predators; 9. San Jose Sharks; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Dallas Stars; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. New York Islanders
MIKE G. MORREALE
1. St. Louis Blues; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Nashville Predators; 7. Calgary Flames; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. San Jose Sharks; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. New York Rangers; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Florida Panthers
TRACEY MYERS
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. St. Louis Blues; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. Boston Bruins; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. New York Rangers; 16. Calgary Flames
BILL PRICE
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. St. Louis Blues; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Boston Bruins; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Calgary Flames; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. San Jose Sharks; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Carolina Hurricanes
SHAWN P. ROARKE
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. San Jose Sharks; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Nashville Predators; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Washington Capitals; 11. St. Louis Blues; 12. Calgary Flames; 13. Carolina Hurricanes; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets
DAN ROSEN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. St. Louis Blues; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Nashville Predators; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Calgary Flames; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. San Jose Sharks; 13. Pittsburgh Penguins; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. Arizona Coyotes; 16. Carolina Hurricanes
MIKE ZEISBERGER
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. St. Louis Blues; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Boston Bruins; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Nashville Predators; 10. Calgary Flames; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. San Jose Sharks; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Montreal Canadiens
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