File this under "be careful what you wish for" - Drew asked for a Power Ranking. Here goes!The season is barely under way and substantial injuries have taken their toll all around the league. Over-active managers are already making snap roster changes while other franchises flounder from neglect. It's a long, long season folks so let's call it early days and take it all with a grain of salt.
Early questions are:
1) If Chicago does not repeat this year, will they play the role of spoiler? (@Anaheim!)
2) Will Gilly fluke his way into landing Connor McDavid?
3) Which franchise will be the first to have a change of Management?
4) What will Drew be for Halloween?Fantrax/SlackJack1/1 
Anaheim Mighty Ducks The fantasy hockey definition of 'Juggernaut'. Get out the way!
3/2 
Philadelphia Flyers Laser-guided management puts the Flyers in annual contention.
6/3 
Chicago Blackhawks How does one rank Back-to-Back-to-Back Champions any lower?
2/4 
St. Louis Blues Deep and Hyper-Active.
7/5 
Washington Capitals An all-star team with savvy, active management. As the real-life Capitals go so too will Backyard's Washington.
4/6 
Edmonton Oilers Another star-studded team but with less depth than past incarnations. Injuries to key players will keep them out of the top 4.
5/7 
Detroit Red Wings Deep up front and in net. Will the Defence be the Achilles Heel of this well managed team?
8/8 
Boston Bruins Sleepwalking into eighth place; a team too skilled to fail. While Boston's GM is faithful in setting his line-ups, disinterest keeps the franchise from it's rightful place.
13/9 
Ottawa Senators Building from the back-end out, Ottawa has enviable depth in net. In spite of a generic forward group and a patch-work D, this team can do damage.
11/10 
Dallas Stars Active and competent. This Franchise is steadily improving under the patient guidence of a true Hockey-Man.
9/11 
Columbus Blue Jackets Up and coming Columbus has an emphasis on youth with management quietly moving forward through their 2nd year.
10/12 
Pittsburgh Penguins Always knowledgeable though often taxed. This franchise is in good hands. At least when those hands are free.
15/13 
Vancouver Canucks Knowledgeable yet largely absent. This is a team mired in mediocrity.
17/14 
New York Rangers Struggling towards 18th place is a sharp GM with a solid young core. Management won't be able to keep this team down for long.
12/15 
Winnipeg Jets A franchise still strong from previous management. Will new ownership truly engage?
14/16 
Los Angeles Kings The envy of the AHL. This team has too much talent to win the race to the bottom.
16/17 
Montreal Canadiens The only thing keeping this team from the bottom is a lack of will.
18/18 
Toronto Maple Leafs A brutal forward group with a solid back-end. Do not underestimate this GM's desire to win the sweepstakes for Connor McDavid.
Next Installment @End of November 
