Power rankings: Giving belated thanks …

If we're still eating leftover turkey, then there is still time to give thanks. It's easier for some teams to say than others, but every NHL outpost has at least one reason for which to feel thankful. The weekly power rankings, which appear each Tuesday, try to separate all the trimmings to find just what everyone is thankful for thus far.

1.San Jose Sharks (20-3-1, Previous: 1) – Other than the successful recruitment of Rob Blake and convincing of Dan Boyle to waive his no-trade clause, the Sharks can thank GM Doug Wilson for not blowing up the roster after another playoff shortcoming and instead hiring a new voice and tweaking the group.

2.Boston Bruins (16-4-4, Previous: 3) – The Bruins can thank their rock-solid room and patience to stick with head coach Claude Julien's system. They're learning that yes, goals do come from defense.

3.Detroit Red Wings (16-4-4, Previous: 2) – The Red Wings can thank their professional approach and trust in the organization for knowing how to thwart any thought of a Stanley Cup hangover.

4.Pittsburgh Penguins (14-6-3, Previous: 4) – The Pens can thank their young stars, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, for being their best players during otherwise trying times in light of injuries and a short offseason.

5.New York Rangers (17-8-2, Previous: 5) – The Rangers can thank management's foresight in letting Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan go, and realizing the team's potential to improve.

6.Montreal Canadiens (13-6-4, Previous: 6) – The Habs are good, so you can't call it luck, but they can thank their you-know-what stars anyhow for a strong start. Otherwise, this would be an embarrassingly difficult centennial season.

7.Washington Capitals (13-8-3, Previous: 13) – The Caps can thank their 2003-04 team for a) being so awful and b) then being lucky enough to win the right to draft Alexander Ovechkin. And they should thank that team over and over and over.

8.Anaheim Ducks (14-9-3, Previous: 10) – The Ducks can thank former GM Brian Burke one last time for the nice shiny Cup, but it's time to move on. There are some decisions to make, and pronto, about whether this is a team for the now or if it's time to make moves to strengthen the future.

9.Calgary Flames (14-9-1, Previous: 14) – The Flames should thank the San Jose Sharks for firing Darryl Sutter midway through the 2002-03 season so he could come to Alberta and resurrect this franchise, first as a coach and now as a GM.

10.Philadelphia Flyers (11-7-5, Previous: 8) – The Flyers can thank the neighboring Phillies for winning the World Series and taking the spotlight away from a miserable start just long enough for the Flyers to get their act together.

11.New Jersey Devils (12-8-2, Previous: 11) – The Devils can be thankful that Martin Brodeur avoided a long-term injury for as long as he did.

12.Vancouver Canucks (14-9-2, Previous: 7) – The Canucks can be thankful goaltender Roberto Luongo is expected to miss only up to four weeks instead of what could have been much longer because of a groin injury.

13.Minnesota Wild (14-8-1, Previous: 12) – The Wild can thank themselves for not allowing the Marian Gaborik injury/contract situation to become a distraction. Of course, they're pretty used to that in these parts.

14.Chicago Blackhawks (10-6-6, Previous: 9) – The Blackhawks can thank their 20,500 – and on most nights even more – loyal fans for showing up again after basically going AWOL for a decade.

15.Colorado Avalanche (12-12-0, Previous: 19) – Start thanking Joe Sakic right now for those 20 seasons. Because if you start now, by the time he actually does retire it might be enough thanks. And maybe not.

16.Edmonton Oilers (10-11-2, Previous: 16) – The Oilers can thank the WHA/NHL merger for coming at just the right time. Otherwise, we may never have been treated to one of the greatest collections of talent that has and ever will hit the ice together.

17.Carolina Hurricanes (12-11-2, Previous: 15) – Henry and Linda Staal, parents of Hurricanes star forward Eric Staal, deserve thanks for driving their four sons all over Canada to play youth hockey, and for building that nifty backyard rink.

18.Nashville Predators (12-10-2, Previous: 18) – Fans of hockey in Music City can give a collective thanks to GM David Poile and head coach Barry Trotz, who have held those titles since the team's inception in 1998.

19.Buffalo Sabres (11-10-3, Previous: 17) – We're all giving thanks for the current third jersey, which isn't to be confused with the first and only jersey the franchise wore for all those seasons after starting out. Can we start to say goodbye to the banana slug?

20.Columbus Blue Jackets (11-10-3, Previous: 20) – Hmmm. Giving thanks. OK, I know there's something. … Just give me a minute.

21.Phoenix Coyotes (10-11-2, Previous: 23) – Thanks are in order for finally sticking to a plan. This team has improved since the start of last season, and because the organization learned there are no shortcuts, the Coyotes are now closer to enjoying long-term success. It's just too bad they'll never draw anyone out to this gorgeous venue.

22.Ottawa Senators (8-10-4, Previous: 21) – Times have been tough for almost the last calendar year, but this is a franchise that did it right, building through the draft and being patient, and it's closer to a Cup because of it.

23.Toronto Maple Leafs (9-9-6, Previous: 27) – Be thankful for Leaf Nation. Seriously. As much fun that's poked at them, every other (non-Canadian) market should be fortunate to have even a fraction of the passion the followers have here.

24.Dallas Stars (8-11-4, Previous: 28) – Just be thankful there's still nearly three-quarters of the season remaining. Yes, it has been a bad start, but you'd be surprised what a five-game winning streak will do for this team. And it is coming.

25.Florida Panthers (9-11-3, Previous: 29) – Be thankful for that 1995-06 season, the team's third overall, and that amazing run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Sure, it ended in a sweep by Colorado, but really, what else do they have?

26.Atlanta Thrashers (8-12-3, Previous: 22) – See Columbus.

27.St. Louis Blues (10-10-2, Previous: 25) – Thanks for persistence and hope, but you really have to wonder if reaching the Stanley Cup Finals the first three years of the Blues' existence is as good as it's ever going to get.

28.Los Angeles Kings (10-10-3, Previous: 26) – Thanks for a patient, if not dwindling, fan base. This team is not unlike Chicago: If the young, blossoming talent in L.A. progresses as projected, the paying patrons will return as well.

29.New York Islanders (10-12-2, Previous: 24) – See Edmonton, but forget about the WHA/NHL merger stuff. The assembled talent that was a dynasty in the early 1980s still serves as a blueprint from which teams try to build themselves today.

30.Tampa Bay Lightning (6-10-7, Previous: 30) – Here's giving thanks to ownership that guarantees there will never be a slow news day.