With the NHL season underway for nearly a month and Halloween in full swing, this week’s NHL Power Rankings take on a festive twist, placing the hot New Jersey Devils at the top. As kids across the nation shop for Halloween treats, not all candy brings the same delight—some, like a full-sized Reese’s cup, excite, while others, like a popcorn ball, disappoint. Drawing on this analogy, each NHL team is paired with a Halloween candy that best represents their current vibe, based more on instinct than hard facts, humorously backed by the writer’s “not-so-glorious dental history.”
The rankings reveal which teams are a perfect blend like peanut butter and chocolate and which ones might linger forgotten like stale candy in a trick-or-treat bag. Highlights include the Devils as “Hot Tamales” for their fiery performance led by Jack Hughes, the versatile Golden Knights as “Twix,” and the reliable Hurricanes as “KitKat.” Meanwhile, others are likened to classic treats like Milky Way (Avalanche), Snickers (Stars), or more mixed reactions like the Blue Jackets as “Butterfinger.” Some teams, like the Wild, face tougher comparisons, symbolized by the outdated “Popcorn Ball,” reflecting struggles under their current coach.
Fan Take: This creative ranking brings a fun, relatable perspective to the NHL, helping fans connect with their teams in a fresh way this Halloween. It highlights the passion, surprises, and unpredictability of this hockey season, reminding fans why the sport remains thrilling beyond just the scoreboard.
