As the trade deadline and another stadium series approaches, things are really heating up around the NHL. Which teams are rising and falling? Did Chicago's big win over Pittsburgh in the Windy City prove that they're hands-down the best team in the NHL?

As usual, the NHL power rankings are reflective purely on our nERD metric, which tells us the number of goals a team would be expected to win or lose by against an average squad on neutral ice. If you’re looking for a simple ranking of the hottest teams, look elsewhere -- we have the big picture on our minds.

Let's get at it.

Bottom of the Barrel

30. Buffalo Sabres (nERD -1.47, Last Week: 30)
29. Edmonton Oilers (nERD -0.97, Last Week: 29)
28. Arizona Coyotes (nERD -0.92, Last Week: 28)

It appears that the Oilers and Coyotes are actually trying to win hockey games, but in Buffalo, tank mode is in full affect.

The Sabres don't appear to have any qualms about putting a team on the ice that features no quality. As if we hadn’t figured out Buffalo’s motives already, they dealt for the troubled and injured shootout Sunday afternoon.

With Kane’s brash playing style and Toews well-documented leadership, the Hawks have the intangibles. But what do the statistics tell us?

A lot of it starts with their goal record: 172 Goals For (third in the West), 131 Goals Against (first in the West), and a +41 Goal Differential (league’s best).

The stats back it up, and the Hawks certainly pass the eye test with Kane leading the scoring race, Toews providing steady leadership, and a deep supporting cast that handles the rest.

For the present, Chicago it is.