Final organizational rankings for all 31 NHL franchises

Every day this week, theScore's hockey editors evaluated NHL teams on a different organizational level. Here are the final results, based on each club's composite score in the four elements of management with an emphasis on particular roles.

• Farm systems
• Head coaches
• General managers
• Owners
• Final results

N/A: Las Vegas

The NHL's newest franchise is starting to take shape, but there's still plenty of work to do. Owner Bill Foley hired experienced general manager George McPhee earlier this month, but the club still needs a coaching staff, a farm system and a name.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have some tantalizing prospects, but they're deficient in all of the key management positions, and that could be why Columbus has made only two playoff appearances in its 15-year history.

29. Colorado Avalanche

Ownership has shown faith in the Joe Sakic-Patrick Roy regime, and that's been an issue given some questionable moves and the inherent flaws in Roy's system.

28. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have no problem spending, but they don't often spend well. When Jim Benning isn't tampering, he's mortgaging the future for less than inspiring returns.

27. Ottawa Senators

The Senators have a new GM, a new head coach who was away from the league for four years, and a prospect pool that leaves plenty to be desired. Throw in Eugene Melnyk's reluctance to spend big and there are far too many organizational question marks.

26. Edmonton Oilers

It's the same old story with the Oilers, who have more than enough youth but not enough skill at all levels of the organization. Peter Chiarelli lost the Taylor Hall trade badly and the Milan Lucic contract could come back to haunt him.

25. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina's ownership situation is anything but stable, and while the Hurricanes have a wealth of prospects, management hasn't done enough to keep the club competitive.

24. Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens management overreacted to a dismal season caused primarily by Carey Price's injury and Michel Therrien's mishandling of the lineup. The P.K. Subban trade was a major blunder, and signing Andrew Shaw to a long-term deal only raised more questions.

23. New York Rangers

New York's fall from grace isn't entirely general manager Jeff Gorton's fault, but he was involved in many of former GM Glen Sather's moves, and several unsavory contracts have hamstrung the Rangers' ability to improve. The Rangers rely too much on Henrik Lundqvist and don't have any eye-popping prospects.

22. Calgary Flames

There's a lot to like about the future of the Flames, who are assembling a talented, young core. Brad Treliving also landed a veteran goaltender, but new head coach Glen Gulutzan is largely unproven.

21. New Jersey Devils

Ray Shero hasn't yet been able to duplicate the success he enjoyed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Devils have been mired in relative mediocrity since he took over for Lou Lamoriello.

The acquisition of Hall will help, and a couple of promising prospects are on the way, but it'll take more than that to return the club to prominence.

20. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have some encouraging pieces, but the direction of new ownership is unclear and Ron Hextall failed to fulfill his offseason goal of adding secondary scoring.

19. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are better than this on the ice, but management isn't doing them any favors. Randy Carlyle's hiring was a puzzling move by Bob Murray, who's much better at negotiating contracts than choosing a head coach.

18. Boston Bruins

The 2011 Stanley Cup championship is now a distant memory, and the current Bruins regime has made plenty of head-scratching decisions that have put them on a downward trajectory.

17. Buffalo Sabres

The Evander Kane trade looks like a mistake in hindsight, but a wealthy owner and the youthful trio of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen give the Sabres hope for the future.

16. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings' organization has fallen short of expectations since their two recent championships, both in terms of on-ice performance and its handling of off-ice conduct.

15. Minnesota Wild

Bruce Boudreau should keep the Wild competitive, but the prospect cupboard is bare and Chuck Fletcher needs to get creative if Minnesota is ever going to take a significant step forward.

14. Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes' future is always in question, but they have a terrific collection of prospects and a bright general manager who isn't much older than them.

13. New York Islanders

Like the Coyotes, the Islanders aren't entirely sure where they'll end up playing games. New York has a nice crop of talent on the way, but its NHL roster hasn't been able to fully break through.

12. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have long been a model of consistency, but several questionable signings this summer will make it difficult for Detroit to stay competitive as the youth movement continues.

11. Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg is teeming with potential, boasting encouraging prospects at every position. The new Jets have found stability in a once volatile market and the future looks bright, but it's not going to happen overnight.

10. Florida Panthers

The Panthers are a team on the rise, and ownership is committed to keeping the club in Florida. They've locked up their core and could be primed for prolonged success.

9. Dallas Stars

The Stars' duo of average, expensive goaltenders aren't the answer in the long run, but securing Jamie Benn's services for eight additional years was essential. Dallas still has bright staffers in the front office and behind the bench.

8. St. Louis Blues

The Blues were smart to let David Backes walk and Robby Fabbri looks like a keeper, but the uncertain future of Kevin Shattenkirk could hang over St. Louis and Ken Hitchcock in the head coach's final season.

7. Nashville Predators

The Subban trade was a coup for David Poile and the Predators' management team. It should only further the gains they've made in building both a competitive club and a passionate fanbase in the Music City.

6. San Jose Sharks

San Jose's run to the Cup Final was no accident, and the Sharks' days of intraorganizational bickering are long gone. The franchise is in good shape moving forward and should continue to blossom in Silicon Valley.

5. Washington Capitals

The Capitals are as stable upstairs as they are the ice, and their lack of notable prospects is forgivable considering their depth at the NHL level and how consistently competitive they've been.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh is rock-solid at the top of the management ladder, and Jim Rutherford's decisions proved to be instrumental in an unlikely championship season.

3. Chicago Blackhawks

With elite staff members in every key management role, it's little wonder the Blackhawks continue find ways to win despite a lengthy list of salary cap casualties.

The organization's handling of alleged off-ice conduct has been questionable at times, and the franchise took a step back with a first-round exit in the spring, but the club built by owner Rocky Wirtz has been a modern dynasty in the cap era.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Lightning management cadre turned a potentially nightmarish offseason into a dream come true, expertly addressing their myriad contractual priorities.

Yzerman and owner Jeff Vinik have built an annual Cup contender guided by the steady hand of head coach Jon Cooper, and the Lightning should continue to contend for years to come, especially with Steven Stamkos locked in long-term.

1. Toronto Maple Leafs

No organization has better positioned itself for future success than the Maple Leafs. Ownership has deep pockets, the front office has done a tremendous job stockpiling prospects at all levels, Mike Babcock is a seasoned head coach and team president Brendan Shanahan's vision is coming into focus.

Smart hiring, shrewd trading and skilled drafting have transformed what was once a moribund franchise into one that now commands league-wide respect. They're building from the ground up and showing a level of patience that's unprecedented in their market.

It's been a long, painful road, but the Leafs finally appear primed to become a competitive club, and management deserves to be lauded for sticking to the plan.