Power Rankings: Cup champs (who else?) start season at No. 1

Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

ESPN.com

How exciting -- the first Power Rankings of the season.

Not a single puck has been dropped on the 2009-10 campaign, so this is all about expectations, past experience and maybe a little voodoo puck magic thrown in for good measure.

It will be interesting to take a look back at this list in mid-April and see just how much the hockey world has been turned on its ear -- as it always seems to be. As always, you can rank the 30 teams here.

Read 'em and weep.

-- By Scott Burnside; posted Sept. 28

2009-2010 Power Rankings: Week 1
	RK (PV)	TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1	Penguins	0-0-0	Hey, they're the defending Stanley Cup champs. They get a free pass to the top of the rankings for at least a week.
	2	Sharks	0-0-0	These are regular-season rankings, not playoff rankings, which explains why the Sharks are here and not in the trash bin.
	3	Flyers	0-0-0	This is a good, big, deep, hungry team. All eyes are on goalie Ray Emery now.
	4	Capitals	0-0-0	The Caps are grittier up front, but the defense and goaltending will have to prove themselves if Washington wants to get to the top of the heap.
	5	Blackhawks	0-0-0	Can the youthful Hawks play with monster expectations? Why not?
	6	Red Wings	0-0-0	The Wings will have to prove significant personnel changes won't set them back too much in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
	7	Flames	0-0-0	Look for big bounce-back seasons from goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
	8	Bruins	0-0-0	Defending Vezina Trophy and Norris Trophy winners Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara suggest the Bruins will remain a force in the East even without Phil Kessel.
	9	Ducks	0-0-0	If the goaltending tandem of Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere doesn't implode, the Ducks are a dark horse to win the Pacific Division.
	10	Lightning	0-0-0	The Lightning could be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference if Mike Smith stays healthy in goal.
	11	Hurricanes	0-0-0	A solid, middle-of-the-playoff-pack team.
	12	Blues	0-0-0	Erik Johnson, Paul Kariya, et al, start the season healthy and with high expectations. Those expectations are well-placed.
	13	Sabres	0-0-0	Can the Sabres stay healthy? If so, they're back in the postseason.
	14	Kings	0-0-0	Are these Kings really ready to take that all-important step toward the playoffs? They'd better be, or heads will roll in L.A.
	15	Panthers	0-0-0	Solid coaching and a core of young forwards are ready to take the Panthers back to the postseason.
	16	Oilers	0-0-0	Top-notch coaching, solid goaltending and a talented blue line should get the Oilers back into the playoffs.
	17	Canucks	0-0-0	A murderous road schedule around the Olympics and questions about the offense will combine for heartache come playoff time. At least in our book.
	18	Canadiens	0-0-0	Lots of offense, not enough size and what about the goaltending?
	19	Senators	0-0-0	Too many question marks, especially along the blue line. Can Pascal Leclaire revive the Sens?
	20	Wild	0-0-0	New coach Todd Richards should erase the previously stifling style, but the Wild still will not have enough offense.
	21	Predators	0-0-0	Can rookie sensation Pekka Rinne carry the freight for a Preds team that once again looks like it will struggle to score?
	22	Rangers	0-0-0	There is something not quite right with the Rangers. Marian Gaborik will have to prove us wrong.
	23	Blue Jackets	0-0-0	Hard to believe Steve Mason will be able to replicate his extraordinary rookie-season success. If he can't, there will be trouble aplenty in Columbus.
	24	Devils	0-0-0	Even Jacques Lemaire won't be able to hide the deficiencies in offense from which the Devils look to suffer.
	25	Thrashers	0-0-0	The offense will be explosive, but goaltending might once again doom the Thrashers.
	26	Stars	0-0-0	The retooled Stars have questions on the back end, and need offensive stars Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards to bounce back from serious injuries.
	27	Maple Leafs	0-0-0	Tough, you bet. Scoring? Not so much. Goaltending? Who knows.
	28	Islanders	0-0-0	Rookie John Tavares is in the spotlight, but team defense and goaltending should be better this season.
	29	Coyotes	0-0-0	The office mess has bled into the locker room with the resignation of coach Wayne Gretzky. New bench boss Dave Tippett is a fine coach but hasn't had much time to get this squad ready for competition.
	30	Avalanche	0-0-0	A once-great team in full decline.