With less than half of the 2024-25 NHL regular season left, several teams have been unexpectedly successful while others have surprisingly struggled. One club that has opened a lot of eyes with its play is the Washington Capitals, who begin the 16th week of the campaign tied for the league lead with 31 victories after posting 40 in 2023-24.

Another team that has been exceeding expectations is the Columbus Blue Jackets. After finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive time, Columbus was dealt a major blow in the offseason with the tragic death of top scorer Johnny Gaudreau. The first two months of 2024-25 were not kind to the Blue Jackets, but they've turned things around of late and climbed into the postseason picture.

A handful of other clubs that did not qualify for the playoffs last season are performing well this campaign, including the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames. Four of those teams currently occupy a postseason position, while Montreal is just one point out of a wild-card spot in the East.

Meanwhile, three of the top seven teams in points last season have had their problems in 2024-25, with the most disappointing one being the New York Rangers. The club won its fourth Presidents' Trophy with 114 points last campaign, but a brutal 5 1/2-week stretch that began in late November saw the Rangers lose 15 of 19 games and plummet toward the Metropolitan Division basement.

New York appears to have broken out of its funk, but the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks - who finished with 109 points apiece in 2023-24 - still are trying to sort out their issues. At the other end of the spectrum, last season's doormats have yet to shed that distinction as the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks remain at the bottom of the NHL standings.

Now, we'll jump into the power rankings as we begin Week 16 of the 2024-25 NHL season. These rankings are based on the current state of the 32 teams, with their overall performance in several categories also being factors. 

Which teams hold surprising spots in the NHL power rankings for Week 16? And which ones are lower than expected? ... Join SportsLine right now to see the NHL Week 16 power rankings from the expert who has covered the league and the sport of hockey for more than 20 years!