NHL Power Rankings: 1 emoji to describe each team's season

This is the 14th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we select an emoji for each team to represent its season.

1. Colorado Avalanche (52-14-6)

Previous rank: 2

😎: It seems like nothing can faze the Avalanche. They've battled more than their fair share of injuries, including current ailments to captain Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri, but they keep on winning. Bow down to greatness.

2. Florida Panthers (51-15-6)

Previous rank: 1

😼: This one feels a bit like a gimme, but the cat is making the same face the Panthers probably make when they execute another improbable comeback win. The Cardiac Cats are bringing their relentless ways to the postseason.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (47-19-6)

Previous rank: 10

🤷: The Maple Leafs could go 82-0-0 in a regular season. It just won't matter if they lay another egg in the playoffs.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (47-18-8)

Previous rank: 3

🍿: The Hurricanes are always an enjoyable team to watch. It'll be even more compelling to see if they can hold off the team below them on this list for the Metropolitan Division title and finally make a Stanley Cup run with this group.

5. New York Rangers (47-20-6)

Previous rank: 6

🏆: Behold! An emoji representing the Vezina Trophy that Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin will take home this season.

6. Calgary Flames (44-19-9)

Previous rank: 4

👷: Sure, the Flames have been the epitome of the flame emoji this season, but that's too easy. Head coach Darryl Sutter has brought structure and responsibility to Calgary, and he's got his team ready to work and compete in every game.

7. Boston Bruins (45-22-5)

Previous rank: 5

😤: The Bruins have the NHL's ninth-best record by points percentage but still might end up in a wild-card spot. That's just life when you're playing in the stacked Atlantic Division. Despite the tough competition, Boston has put its heads down and gone to work.

8. Minnesota Wild (44-21-6)

Previous rank: 8

🐐: Kirill Kaprizov, who's having the greatest season by a Wild player ever, is only scratching the surface of his talent. The Russian dynamo, who'll turn 25 later in April, set the franchise record for points in a campaign earlier this month and tied the team's single-season goals record Sunday.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-20-8)

Previous rank: 7

😐: Nothing new from the Lightning this season. The team might be starting to feel a bit of fatigue after its back-to-back Cup runs, but Tampa Bay is still as good as anyone in the NHL.

10. Edmonton Oilers (42-25-6)

Previous rank: 16

🥴: It wasn't too long ago that the Oilers looked poised to miss the playoffs and waste another year of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The team has now won 12 of its last 16 games and is in good shape with just a handful of contests left. Fans probably don't know what to feel at this point after the club went through all the emotions this season.

11. St. Louis Blues (42-20-10)

Previous rank: 15

🎸: Every time Robert Thomas does something good, out come the Matchbox 20 and "Smooth" references. The Blues pivot has heard more of them than ever in 2021-22 as he's enjoyed a breakout campaign centering the team's top line. Man, it's a hot one, indeed.

12. Washington Capitals (40-22-10)

Previous rank: 11

8️⃣: The Capitals' campaign has been all about Alex Ovechkin and his ability to defy time. The Great Eight climbed his way to third place on the NHL's all-time scoring list this season as his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky continues.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (42-22-10)

Previous rank: 9

💪: Despite barely ever icing a fully healthy lineup this season, the Penguins once again proved resilient and are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.

14. Nashville Predators (41-26-5)

Previous rank: 13

💯: Predators fans must be clenching their teeth watching the playoff race wind down, but their eyes are also surely on captain Roman Josi's hunt for 100 points. The star defenseman is already at 87 and will need 13 in his final 10 games to hit the mark.

15. Dallas Stars (41-27-4)

Previous rank: 17

😨: The Stars have been a bubble team virtually all season long. They should be fearful of missing the postseason for the second straight year after reaching the Cup Final in 2019-20.

16. Los Angeles Kings (38-26-10)

Previous rank: 12

😯: Some pegged the Kings as a dark horse candidate this campaign after a sneakily good offseason, but not many expected them to be this good. Their first playoff appearance since 2018 is a real possibility thanks to their underwhelming Pacific Division opponents.

17. Vegas Golden Knights (40-29-4)

Previous rank: 19

🤕: The 2021-22 season hasn't gone to plan for the Golden Knights. Every team experiences injuries to key players over the course of 82 games, but the injury bug has bitten a chunk out of Vegas' playoff hopes.

18. New York Islanders (33-29-9)

Previous rank: 20

🃏: The Islanders were dealt a bad hand this season, and there wasn't too much they could do about it. The team started the campaign off with a daunting 13 straight games on the road as its new arena finished construction, and then, to top it off, COVID-19 ravaged its way through the team.

19. Vancouver Canucks (35-28-10)

Previous rank: 18

🎢: The Canucks have had a roller coaster of a season, starting off terribly and then catching fire with Bruce Boudreau's arrival. The playoffs seemed impossible early on, then they seemed within reach, but now it appears the club will fall just short.

20. Winnipeg Jets (34-28-11)

Previous rank: 14

💥: This is what happened to Winnipeg's playoff hopes. The Jets severely underperformed this season, and their struggles to stay consistent blew up their chances at making a run.

21. Buffalo Sabres (26-37-11)

Previous rank: 23

😏: The Sabres aren't contenders yet, but they are an unexpectedly fun squad with a surprisingly potent top line of Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch. They've caught some opponents off guard this season with their stealthy skill, and Owen Power's arrival will make them even more entertaining.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-33-6)

Previous rank: 21

😌: It's been a forgettable season for the Blue Jackets as a whole, but Columbus must be relieved that Patrik Laine has returned to form after struggling upon being dealt to Ohio. Laine, who'll turn 24 next week, is averaging nearly a point per game in 2021-22.

23. San Jose Sharks (29-33-9)

Previous rank: 22

🆕: The Sharks had a rather underwhelming season all around, but with longtime general manager Doug Wilson stepping away from the team, the offseason suddenly got a lot more interesting. Wilson had held the post since 2003, and the club will surely take an extensive look at who'll succeed him.

24. Detroit Red Wings (28-34-10)

Previous rank: 27

👶: The Red Wings' rebuild is chugging along. Thanks in large part to the performances of rookies Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, they've been more fun to watch. The Calder Trophy might just be heading to Detroit.

25. Anaheim Ducks (29-33-12)

Previous rank: 28

🤯: This is just the face everyone makes when watching Ducks phenom Trevor Zegras go viral for what feels like the millionth time this campaign.

26. Philadelphia Flyers (23-38-11)

Previous rank: 25

📉: The Flyers continuously reached new lows after falling flat on their face following a solid 6-2-2 start to the season. Their campaign was punctuated by a 13-game losing streak that set a new franchise record in futility.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (24-37-11)

Previous rank: 24

💔: The Blackhawks have been a travesty both on and, most importantly, off the ice.

28. Montreal Canadiens (20-41-11)

Previous rank: 26

🔄: Yes, the Canadiens made a miracle run to the Cup Final last year and are in the basement of the league this year. But the team did a complete 180 midseason by bringing in a refreshing Martin St. Louis behind the bench, as well as a new front office group. The club seems to be headed in the right direction after a disastrous season.

29. Ottawa Senators (26-40-6)

Previous rank: 29

⏳: The Senators have a promising core with Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Josh Norris, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson. But how long will it take for Ottawa to make real progress? The club will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year, and it may only be a matter of time before the fans' patience runs out.

30. Seattle Kraken (23-43-6)

Previous rank: 31

🛑: Being the new guys on the block can be hard. Unlike the Golden Knights in 2017-18, the Kraken never really took off in their inaugural season. At all. It's like they hit every single stop sign on the road to success.

31. New Jersey Devils (25-41-6)

Previous rank: 30

😔: The Devils were once again expected to make the leap this season with the addition of Dougie Hamilton and the progression of their young stars, but they'll once again be a prominent lottery team. The pieces are in place to succeed, but fans might start getting impatient if the results don't come.

32. Arizona Coyotes (22-45-5)

Previous rank: 32

😳: The Coyotes are once again the biggest embarrassment in the NHL for numerous reasons. Arizona is the worst team in the league, and the club has been mercilessly mocked for having to play in a 5,000-seat college arena beginning next season until it can find a permanent home.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)