NHL Power Rankings: Jets continue to fly high, plus what each team is thankful for this season

As we approach the end of the second calendar month in the 2024-25 NHL season, we also march toward “Thanksgiving playoff cutoff” season. So get your postseason team takes ready, because now’s the time to sling them. North of 75% of teams in the last 10 seasons that were in a playoff position by (American) Thanksgiving stayed in one by the end of that season.

That’s very good news for teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild, who many wrote off at the start of the season as teams on the outside looking in for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

However, the mythical Thanksgiving marker has no bearing on our ESPN NHL Power Rankings, which are once again led by the Winnipeg Jets. But in addition to an updated set of rankings, we are identifying the one item for which every team is thankful this season, whether it’s particular players, trends or a piece of hockey equipment.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 15. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.