Although it is early in the long 2011-2012 NHL campaign. It’s never too soon to talk about whom is looking good in the early going. From now on, every weekend I will be providing my own NHL top 10 power rankings. I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave your thoughts down at the bottom of the article. I will take everyone’s opinions into serious consideration as long as it’s not senseless.

10. Dallas Stars (8-3-0, 16 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Jamie Benn with 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points

How great has Kari Lehtonen been so far this season? With a 1.75Goals against average and a .947 Save%. He contains a 8-1 overall record. But, how long can he face 33 shots per game and keep up this pace? I doubt for long and the loss of Brad Richards will eventually catch up to them. Another bright spot has been the re-emergence of Sheldon Souray after missing an entire season. I’ll put them in my top 10 based upon record, but I am selling their hot start.

9. Detroit Red Wings (5-4-0, 10 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, and Valtteri Filppula tied with 7 points.

The Red Wings got off to a hot start but now have lost 4 in a row and only scoring 4 goals in those games. Henrik Zetterberg has been abysmal so far this season with only 3 points and -4 rating. But Jimmy Howard has shown more of his 09-10 self than the 10-11 one we saw last year. The former University of Maine star has a 1.82 GAA and a .929 Save %. This team will improve and be up near the top 5 all season.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (6-4-1, 14 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Claude Giroux with 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points.

Ilya Bryzgalov is their savior right? Not many Flyers fans are convinced of that after his “I’m lost in the woods right now” comment after the 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. He maintains a 3.16 Goals against average and that is going to have to significantly improve since Philly is paying him 10 million this year. They score 3.7 goals a game, but give up 3.3 a game. Power play is ranked 6th in the league and Giroux is emerging as a perennial top 10 talent.

7. Buffalo Sabres (6-4-0, 12 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Thomas Vanek with 8 goals and 7 assists for 15 points.

Adding Christian Ehrhoff and Robyn Regehr solidified an already solid defensive core. Derek Roy is back in the lineup along with the impressive rookie Luke Adam. The Austrian sniper Thomas Vanek is doing it again and seems like a sure bet to put up 40 or more goals alongside newly appointed captain Jason Pominville. The Sabres are poised for a potential Stanley Cup run as long as Ryan Miller stays healthy.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (7-2-1, 15 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Phil Kessel with 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points.

Phil Kessel is giving effort! I saw him back check against the Penguins last night and I proceeded to spit my adult beverage at the television. Dion Phaneuf is finally playing to his potential and JoffreyLupul has emerged from the grave. James Reimer is a bit banged up and I hope he can come back soon, considering Gustavsson is in no way a #1 goaltender. It’s early but this team has lots of talent. Grabovski, Kulemin, Lupul, Kessel, Bozak, MacArthur, and Connolly. I’m buying this team to make the playoffs.

5. Vancouver Canucks (5-5-1, 11 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Henrik and Daniel Sedin with 4 goals and 9 assists each for 13 points.

They started off slow, but put up a 7 on the board last night against an extremely tough Washington Capitals team that has started off the year hot. Henrik and Daniel continue to rack up the points as they have done for the past few years together. Luongo seems to still be in a funk with such a slow start and sits at a 3.54 GAA. Could Cory Schneider take over the starting job? He sits a 1.97 GAA, a goalie controversy could be brewing in Western Canada.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-3-2, 18 Pts)

Leading Scorer – James Neal with 9 goals and 2 assists for 11 points. Kris Letang has 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points.

The Jack Adams award winner for best coach, Dan Bylsma continues to use a system that is so sound. Without the best player in hockey Sidney Crosby, and with Evgeni Malkin hindered by his sore surgically repaired knee. The Penguins sit atop the NHL standings point wise. Marc Andre Fleury has picked up where he left off last year, putting up shiny numbers and making clutch saves. When this team is healthy, they will be a favorite to win their 2nd Stanley Cup in 4 years.

3. Los Angeles Kings (6-2-2, 14 Pts)

Leading Scorer – AnzeKopitar with 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points.

Jonathan Quick is the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy in the early goings of the 2011-2012 NHL season. Look at these god-like stats, 1.34 GAA and a .955 Save %. Insane, preposterous, mind blowing, or insane again. The dude is literally quick as a cat, put some whiskers on him and you can get some litter for the net. The additions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne have been paying off. But it’s been all about Quick in the early going.

2. Washington Capitals (7-2-0, 14 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Nicklas Backstrom with 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points.

Tomas Vokoun has taken over the Number 1 starting job over Michal Neuvirth. He has been sensational so far in the early season and the 35-year-old net minder wants a chance to win. Ovechkin has 5 goals in the early going but looks to have changed his areas of goal scoring to more towards the crease instead of lasers from the point or the slot. The Caps have lots of talent, but is Bruce Boudreau going to be the coach that gets them over the top? We shall see.

1. Chicago Blackhawks (6-2-2, 14 Pts)

Leading Scorer – Patrick Kane with 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points. Patrick Sharp has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points.

This team contains everything that I look for in a championship team. Good goaltending, great depth, tremendous leadership, a stingy defense, and a coach that knows how to get it done. The talented core of Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Hossa all know how to win a Stanley Cup like they did in 2010. Duncan Keith looks to be back at his Norris Trophy Candidate self. Chicago could be partying in the Madhouse on Madison as Stanley Cup champs once again.

Knockin’ at the door – San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning.

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