Burnside's Power Rankings: No kidding, spoiler 'Yotes on roll

A week from now, the National Hockey League's annual trade deadline will be upon us. How will those deals impact the balance of power around the league? More importantly, how will they effect the Power Rankings?
With that as the backdrop, we welcome the Vegas Golden Knights back to the top spot and give a rare nod of appreciation to the Arizona Coyotes.

1. Vegas Golden Knights

Last week: No. 10
Every time we start thinking the Golden Knights might give way, even in the race for top spot in the Western Conference, they remind us nothing is as it seems with this magnificent expansion squad. Vegas enters the week with three straight wins and has retaken not just the top spot in the West, but the entire league.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

Last week: No. 9
With most of the Metropolitan Division slipping and sliding hither and yon, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs have taken over top spot in the division, thanks to a five-game win streak and 10-1-1 stretch. The Pens are back -- and more.

3. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: No. 5
The Jets have won three straight and have looked menacing while doing so as they've moved into first place in the Central Division ahead of a Nashville Predators team that has taken a baby step or two sideways.

4. Boston Bruins

Last week: No. 1
The Bruins were rocked in Vancouver on Saturday night -- the second time in just over a week they've been bested by an inferior opponent (they lost to Buffalo a week ago Saturday). But the Bs are still hot on the heels of slumping Tampa Bay for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last week: No. 3
Toronto continues to play some of their best hockey of the season with 10 wins in past 12 games. They have even put themselves in position to take a run at Boston and Tampa Bay -- the big boys in the Atlantic. Those three teams rank 1-2-3 in the Eastern Conference, by the way.

#

6. Philadelphia Flyers

Last week: No. 8
The Flyers continue to make a case for themselves as an Eastern Conference playoff team with points in eight straight games (6-0-2), including a 7-4 mauling of the Rangers Sunday. The loss of netminder Michal Neuvirth, who exited Sunday's game with injury, joining Brian Elliott on the shelf, puts pressure squarely on GM Ron Hextall to fill the void.

7. New Jersey Devils

Last week: No. 29
Okay, we admit we don't get the Devils. After going 3-8 and looking very much like a team that would slide completely out of sight of the playoffs, they have now bounced back with four straight wins and are tied with Philadelphia -- just four points out of first place in the Metro.

8. San Jose Sharks

Last week: NR
The Sharks have won four of five, including 5-2 spanking of Dallas on Sunday at the "Shark Tank." Martin Jones is back to form in goal and, in spite of injuries to top players, the Sharks look very much like a playoff team once again.

9. Florida Panthers

Last week: NR
Not sure what the Panthers think they're doing jumping into the edges of the playoff discussion in the Eastern Conference, but Roberto Luongo and James Reimer are both healthy, and the Cats have won three of four and seven of nine, notwithstanding a thumping at the hands of the Jets on Sunday.

10. Arizona Coyotes

Last week: NR
Hey, it's been a hellacious year (or is that yearsplural?) in the desert, but the Coyotes -- behind Antti Raanta's star turn in net -- are playing spoiler with four straight wins. Let's give credit where credit is due for a team that's spent so much of the season ensconced in the Frigid Five.

#

Frigid Five

27. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last week: No. 28
The Blue Jackets have taken up what appears to be a permanent residence in the Frigid Five, and it doesn't help when you get whipped, 5-2, as they did Sunday in a pivotal Metropolitan Division clash with Pittsburgh. They have two wins in their last 10 games and are outside the playoff grid. Shocking, really.

28. Chicago Blackhawks

Last week: No. 30
A clobbering of Washington on Saturday night ended an eight game winless streak (0-7-1) for Blackhawks. But barring a fantasmagorical race down the stretch, they will be on the outside of the playoff wall looking in for the first time since 2008.

29. Edmonton Oilers

Last week: No. 31
The Oilers came up with nice win against Colorado on Sunday to arrest an ugly six-game losing streak. But the 'for sale' sign is definitely out in front of the Oilers locker room after a season that began with such high expectations.

30. Montreal Canadiens

Last week: NR
The Canadiens are in full collapse mode with three straight losses and 2-7-1 record in their last 10. The trade deadline can't come soon enough for the disappointing Habs.

31. New York Rangers

Last week: No. 27
The air has gone completely out of this Ranger team in advance of an anticipated sell-off of veteran assets by next Monday as it's lost four straight and has looked bad in doing so.
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Scott Burnside is a senior digital correspondent for DallasStars.com. You can follow him on Twitter @OvertimeScottB, and listen to his podcast.