NHL.com's Summer "Super 16"

[TBone]

Super 16: Golden Knights, Hurricanes climb power rankings after offseason moves

Marner lands in Vegas, Ehlers joins Carolina; Florida unanimous No. 1 following 2nd straight championship

By NHL.com
July 29, 2025

August arrives on Friday, which means vacations will soon end, players will slowly start matriculating back into their respective NHL markets, and summer skates will intensify with training camp on the horizon. So, with the rumble of hockey season approaching, the noise of sticks and skates and pucks and training camp and preseason games and, before long, opening night on Oct. 7, let's take stock into what we think we will be looking at in six weeks.

Not surprisingly, the Florida Panthers are the unanimous No. 1 team in this summer edition of the Super 16, but what does the staff here at NHL.com think about the teams chasing the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and the possible path to catching them? Read on to find out.

To come up with the Super 16, the 13 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the mid-summer edition of the Super 16:

https://www.nhl.com/news/super-16-nhl-p ... ly-30-2025

[dhsux]

Did/will the Blues improve their team or not?

Not surprised where they rank the Blues but their reluctance to acknowledge the last quarter of last season might bite them.

I guess losing Pietrangelo wasn't worth the mention as they surge to #2. Rooting against them is an annual affair for me.

Can't wait for all the surprises ahead.

[MiamiLaw]

Nice to see the Blues generally considered in the top half of the league again.

[DawgDad]

Meh. Blues were really better than a #16 at the end of last season. Good chance they improve if the veterans hold serve and young players like Snuggerud and Mailloux produce, but with change, rookies, and passage of time there is the potential for a back-step. There are teams the Blues could catch and improve their playoff seeding with solid team play and what should be good consistent goaltending.

[Blues Dave]

Meh. Blues were really better than a #16 at the end of last season. Good chance they improve if the veterans hold serve and young players like Snuggerud and Mailloux produce, but with change, rookies, and passage of time there is the potential for a back-step. There are teams the Blues could catch and improve their playoff seeding with solid team play and what should be good consistent goaltending.

Yeah I agree. But It's nothing new. THG came around eventually which was nice of him. I'll go with Meh also, because I've pretty much learned to just not pay much attention to that stuff. We're a better team now, but they have to play together for a bit to see if they jell right away, or if it takes a minute.