Super 16: Reasons for teams to give thanks on holiday

On this Thanksgiving Day in the United States, we here at NHL.com Super 16 headquarters are thankful for 25 percent turnover in the power rankings from last week.

Four teams that were not among the Super 16 last week are in the rankings this week with the Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth knocking out the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.

That kind of week-over-week turnover is yet another example of the chaos that is the NHL standings this season. It has made the Super 16 a weekly adventure that we are so thankful we get to do.

Keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, our staff this week not only came up with the Super 16, as it does every week, but we are offering reasons why each team is or should be thankful.

As always, to come up with the Super 16, the 14 voters first put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like, and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

And with that, we have the Thanksgiving edition of the Super 16:

1. Colorado Avalanche (17-1-5)

Total points: 224
Last week: No. 1

"The abundance of elite talent in Colorado has been and remains obvious, but the biggest question surrounding the Avalanche entering this season was their goaltending. I have to believe they are incredibly thankful for Scott Wedgewood, who has produced Vezina Trophy-type numbers (13-1-2, 2.09 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, one shutout). The 33-year-old has never started more than 30 games in the NHL, so it will be interesting to see how long he can maintain this level of play. If he can, good luck finding an Achilles heel within this group." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

2. Dallas Stars (15-5-4)

Total points: 202
Last week: No. 3

"The Stars have to be incredibly thankful for Jason Robertson's hot streak. The forward had a seven-game goal streak (11 goals) and an eight-game point streak (18 points) end on Thursday. The Stars are second in the Central Division for several reasons, but Robertson's production (31 points, 14 goals, 17 assists) is a big one. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

3. Carolina Hurricanes (14-7-2)

Total points: 201
Last week: No. 2

"The Hurricanes have plenty to be thankful for this time of year, and all season long, including key players like Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake and Nikolaj Ehlers, but at the top of the list should be coach Rod Brind'Amour. No matter the names on the roster, no matter who is hurt, and who is not, the Hurricanes are a consistent contender. Hired before the start of the 2018-19 season, Brind'Amour has done it all as Carolina coach except win the Stanley Cup, which could happen this season." -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (14-7-2)

Total points: 167
Last week: No. 12

"The Lightning need only look to their goal crease to fully appreciate what they should be thankful for. There, as he has been for almost a decade, is where you'll find the foundation of their franchise in goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay has gone through its share of early-season adversity already, from a banged-up Victor Hedman to a slow-starting Brayden Point. No matter. Since Vasilevskiy worked out some kinks in his game the first couple of weeks, he's been on a run. When the 31-year-old went winless in his first five games (0-3-2), there could have been reason to panic. Only the Lightning know better. They know this is the same Vasilevskiy who led them to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. Sure enough, he has led Tampa Bay's resurgence up the standings. Indeed, as Vasilevskiy goes, so go the Lightning." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

5. Anaheim Ducks (14-8-1)

Total points: 166
Last week: No. 5

"The Ducks are thankful for the rapid maturation of their stars under veteran coach Joel Quenneville. Leo Carlsson (30 points, 12 goals, 18 assists) leads the team in scoring. He's 20. Cutter Gauthier (28 points, 14 goals, 14 assists) is second. He's 21. Beckett Sennecke is the youngest player on the team at 19, and he is fourth on the team in with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists). Among the four players who had eaten the most minutes on the blue line, three are under 25 -- Jackson LaCombe (24), Drew Helleson (24) and Olen Zellweger (22). In goal, Lukas Dostal is 25. These Ducks may just be too young to know better." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

6. New Jersey Devils (15-7-1)

Total points: 158
Last week: No. 4

"The Devils should be very thankful to have a player like veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon in the lineup. Not only is the undrafted 35-year-old a great sounding board for the younger defensemen, such as Luke Hughes, 22, and Simon Nemec, 21, but he's played a big part in the team's success with his physicality and experience." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

7. Vegas Golden Knights (10-5-8)

Total points: 114
Last week: No. 7

"The Golden Knights have a few players to be thankful for, including Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, but they might not be in a playoff spot or on this list without Akira Schmid. With No. 1 goalie Adin Hill sidelined since Oct. 20 with a lower-body injury, Schmid has held the fort in net for Vegas. So the Golden Knights are undoubtedly appreciative of Schmid and the stability he’s provided for them without Hill." --Tom Gulitti, senior writer

8. Minnesota Wild (13-7-4)

Total points: 111
Last week: Not ranked

"There wasn't much of a doubt that Jesper Wallstedt would develop into a good NHL goaltender, but the Wild have to be thankful for the way he's blossomed this season. The 23-year-old, selected by Minnesota in the first round (No. 20) of the 2021 NHL Draft, leads the League with three shutouts. He had an .877 save percentage in five NHL games the previous two seasons, but this season he's been lights out for the Wild, with a 6-0-2 record. It has forced teammate Filip Gustavsson to raise his level in goal. The Wild are winning in large part because their goalies have closed the door on the opposition." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

9. New York Islanders (13-9-2)

Total points: 104
Last week: No. 15

"This one seems so obvious. The Islanders are thankful for Matthew Schaefer. The 18-year-old rookie defenseman, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has ‘changed our team by being here,’ general manager Mathieu Darche said on this week's episode of the ‘NHL @TheRink’ podcast. Schaefer has not only brought his youthful energy and positive attitude, but his speed and skill and underrated defending have pushed the Islanders to a strong start to the season. He is a long-awaited bright light on Long Island, a franchise defenseman and without question a future captain." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

10. Los Angeles Kings (11-6-6)

Total points: 89
Last week: No. 11

"The Kings are thankful for their do-it-all captain and future Hall of Famer, Anze Kopitar. He has been incredibly durable in his 20-season career, missing more than three games in a season just three times. The center is their all-time leader in games (1,473) and assists (846), and should set the team points record this season. He wins face-offs, rarely takes penalties and is a complete 200-foot player. They'll miss Kopitar after he retires following the season, but need to be thankful that he's here now." -- David Satriano, staff writer

11. Seattle Kraken (11-6-6)

Total points: 81
Last week: No. 16

"How about the Kraken fans? Every game at Climate Pledge Arena is a sellout with an announced crowd of 17,151. The Kraken are rewarding their fans this season with a strong start built on their overall team game. They were 6-2-3 at home. The League went into Seattle confident the fans there would buy into the Kraken and make Climate Pledge Arena a true home-ice advantage. The fans have delivered, and the Kraken are giving them a lot to be thankful for so far this season." -- Rosen

12. Ottawa Senators (12-7-4)

Total points: 48
Last week: Not ranked

"The Senators are thankful for two things: 1) the fact that captain Brady Tkachuk is on the mend from a thumb injury and could return on their current road trip, and 2) the fact that they have still been able to thrive and be in a playoff position despite being without their leader for 20 consecutive games. Knowing Tkachuk is close to returning should give the Senators a big-time jolt. Knowing they played well without him, winning close and low-scoring games despite a struggling power play, should fuel confidence that when Tkachuk is back in the lineup Ottawa should be able to fire on all cylinders." -- Rosen

13. Detroit Red Wings (13-10-1)

Total points: 47
Last week: No. 10

"The Red Wings have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for nine straight seasons, the longest drought in their history. But as they celebrate their Centennial, they have so much to be thankful for. They have won the Stanley Cup 11 times, most among teams based in the United States. They've had some of the greatest players of all time, from Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay to Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom. They play in perhaps the nicest venue in the NHL, Little Caesars Arena. With a mix of veterans and young players, they're in the mix in the Atlantic Division this season. Is the drought about to end?" -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

14. Florida Panthers (12-10-1)

Total points: 40
Last week: Not ranked

"It's obvious that the Panthers and their fans should be thankful for the back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. I mean, I wrote that sentence, but really it goes without saying. This season, the Panthers should be thankful every time they come out of a game without another injury. It's been like that for them, with center and captain Aleksander Barkov going down in training camp with a knee injury that will likely keep him out for at least the rest of the regular season, forward Matthew Tkachuk getting shelved until at least mid-to-late December because of offseason surgery, plus forwards Dmitry Kulikov, Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich all going out for the long term. Now Eetu Luostarinen is out because of an off-ice incident. So, yes, every time the Panthers get through a game injury free, they should be thankful. They should also be thankful that they're staying above water despite all the injuries. It should bode well for later in the season, when we all know nobody is going to want to play Florida." -- Rosen

15. Winnipeg Jets (12-10-0)

Total points: 37
Last week: No. 6

"The Jets are going to realize just how thankful they are for goalie Connor Hellebuyck over the next 4-6 weeks. The winner of the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL last season is out after having knee surgery Saturday. Hellebuyck had been hampered by a nagging injury since training camp and decided to get the procedure done now instead of continuing to play through it. Winnipeg is going to have to make do without its best player for now, and it will become apparent how important he is to the team. Hellebuyck could be out through Christmas and into 2026, but should be available for a heavy schedule in January and is expected to start for the United States at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which open with preliminary games on Feb. 11." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

16. Utah Mammoth (12-9-3)

Total points: 32
Last week: Not ranked

"The Mammoth players and their fans should be thankful for owners Ryan and Ashley Smyth and their ability and desire to be first rate and first class in everything they do for the NHL's newest market. From upgrades to Delta Center, to a state-of-the-art practice facility, to amenities the Utah players who came from Arizona could only have dreamt about a few years ago, to spending to the cap and investing in homegrown talent, the Mammoth have been a massive success story and this season they're delivering on their promise by being a playoff contender." -- Rosen

Dropped out from last week: Montreal Canadiens (No. 8), Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 9), Boston Bruins (No. 13), Chicago Blackhawks (No. 14)

Others receiving points: Canadiens 30, Penguins 23, Bruins 10, Washington Capitals 9, Philadelphia Flyers 9, San Jose Sharks 2

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Detroit Red Wings; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Montreal Canadiens; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Utah Mammoth; 16. Florida Panthers

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Winnipeg Jets; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Montreal Canadiens; 14. Vegas Golden Knights; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Utah Mammoth

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Anaheim Ducks; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Ottawa Senators; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Pittsburgh Penguins; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Philadelphia Flyers; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Montreal Canadiens

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Seattle Kraken; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. New York Islanders; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Montreal Canadiens; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. Detroit Red Wings

TOM GULITTI

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. New York Islanders; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Vegas Golden Knights; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Montreal Canadiens

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Montreal Canadiens; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Utah Mammoth; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Ottawa Senators

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. Washington Capitals; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. San Jose Sharks; 16. Boston Bruins

TRACEY MYERS

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Anaheim Ducks; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. New York Islanders; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Montreal Canadiens

BILL PRICE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. New York Islanders; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Pittsburgh Penguins; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. Montreal Canadiens

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Pittsburgh Penguins

DAN ROSEN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Tampa Bay Lightning; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. New York Islanders; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Utah Mammoth; 16. Florida Panthers

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. New York Islanders; 9. Seattle Kraken; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Florida Panthers

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Anaheim Ducks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Seattle Kraken; 9. New York Islanders; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Utah Mammoth; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Ottawa Senators

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. Utah Mammoth; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Montreal Canadiens; 14. Detroit Red Wings; 15. Seattle Kraken; 16. Philadelphia Flyers