NHL Power Rankings: Golden Knights, Oilers Lead the Way With Hurricanes and Lightning Right Behind

According to Bleacher Report's NHL Power Rankings published on October 21, 2026, the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers lead the league, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning close behind. Vegas and Carolina were also the top two teams in the NHL's overall standings at the start of the week, having met in the Stanley Cup Final earlier in the year. The rankings highlight the early-season dominance of these four franchises as the NHL season gets underway.