Another week of the 2025-26 NHL season, another week on top of the ESPN NHL Power Rankings for the Colorado Avalanche . However, unlike in weeks past, the Avs were not a unanimous selection at No. 1 in our poll.

Beyond No. 1, the Washington Capitals , Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs rose in the rankings, while the Minnesota Wild , New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators took a tumble from last week.

Plus, along with the new set of rankings, we've tapped ESPN fantasy hockey analysts Sean Allen (Eastern Conference) and Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) to advise managers on whether to keep or drop one specific player on each club. And a reminder: It's not too late to join ESPN Fantasy Hockey , with new leagues starting every Monday.

How we rank: A panel of

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