2022-23 ECHL Power Rankings

The Toledo Walleye are just too hot. There’s no other team that possibly could be in the top spot of the very unofficial weekly FloHockey ECHL power rankings, not with the run they’ve been on over the last month or so, even with the Idaho Steelheads maintaining a Brabham Cup-winning pace.

In lieu of a standard recap, we’ll take a look at the playoff picture for each of the top 10 teams this week instead.

1) Toledo Walleye (39-15-4-2) (Last Week: 2)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Walleye have clinched a playoff spot in the very spread out Central Division and hold a one-point lead over the Cincinnati Cyclones for what ultimately would be the top seed in the divisional round and No. 2 seed in the West, behind Idaho.

2) Idaho Steelheads (45-9-1-2) (Last Week: 1)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Idaho is only the team to have clinched its division, having obliterated everyone else in the Mountain all season long to the tune of a 33-point lead over the second place team – with a month left in the regular season.

3) Cincinnati Cyclones (37-12-6-3) (Last Week: 3)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Cyclones became the third team to clinch a playoff spot this past week, and they are fighting the red-hot Walleye for the Central Division lead.

The Cyclones hold a nine-point lead over the Indy Fuel for second place in the division and home ice in the first round.

4) Newfoundland Growlers (39-17-2-0) (Last Week: 4)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Growlers have very quietly held onto the No. 1 seed in the East for a while now, and they soon will clinch a playoff spot.

They hold a 10-point edge over the Reading Royals for the North Division lead and are four points clear of Jacksonville for home ice for the first three rounds of the playoffs.

5) Jacksonville Icemen (36-17-3-1) (Last Week: 5)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Jacksonville is up four points in the South Division, but realistically could still fall out of the playoffs entirely with how competitive the division has been.

Florida, Greenville and South Carolina all are within five points. 

Fifth-place Atlanta and sixth-place Orlando still are very much in the race.

6) Indy Fuel (36-21-2-0) (Last Week: 6)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Expected to a clinch a playoff berth by the end of the week, Indy likely is set for the No. 3 seed in the Central, currently nine points behind Cincinnati with 12 games remaining. That would have them starting the opening round series against either Toledo or the Cyclones on the road, which is a tough task.

7) Greenville Swamp Rabbits (32-18-7-1) (Last Week: 7)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Greenville is tied with Florida for second place in the South and is fighting for home-ice advantage in the first round.

As mentioned earlier, a playoff spot hardly is secure, however, with how tight the top six spots are.

8) Florida Everblades (32-17-4-4) (Last Week: 8)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: See above, really.

The defending champs also are in position to earn a postseason berth, but they’re only six points clear of fifth place and missing it entirely, making the South some must-watch action on FloHockey for the final few weeks of the season.

9) Reading Royals (33-20-4-0) (Last Week: 12)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Reading is sitting in second place in the North and likely is safe when it comes to a playoff spot, 16 points ahead of fifth-place Adirondack right now.

The only race remaining is for home ice in the first round, as they’re up just three points on Maine with a game in hand.

10) South Carolina Stingrays (33-19-4-1) (Last Week: 9)

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Fourth place in a very deep South Division, South Carolina would face Jacksonville in the divisional round, with the series starting on the road. Home ice potentially could play a pivotal role in both series in the South, given how close the top teams are.

The Rest Of The ECHL

11) Utah Grizzlies (28-26-3-0) (Last Week: 15)
12) Atlanta Gladiators (30-23-5-1) (Last Week: 14)
13) Worcester Railers (30-26-3-0) (Last Week: 18)
14) Maine Mariners (32-21-2-1) (Last Week: 10)
15) Orlando Solar Bears (29-24-6-1) (Last Week: 11)
16) Fort Wayne Komets (29-22-4-2) (Last Week: 13)
17) Allen Americans (28-27-1-0) (Last Week: 16)
18) Kansas City Mavericks (26-24-6-2) (Last Week: 17)
19) Savannah Ghost Pirates (22-28-9-1) (Last Week: 19)
20) Adirondack Thunder (23-26-7-1) (Last Week: 20)
21) Wichita Thunder (27-27-5-0) (Last Week: 23)
22) Rapid City Rush (26-30-1-0) (Last Week: 26)
23) Kalamazoo Wings (23-30-4-0) (Last Week: 22)
24) Trois-Rivieres Lions (22-34-2-0) (Last Week: 24)
25) Tulsa Oilers (19-29-7-1) (Last Week: 25)
26) Wheeling Nailers (23-30-5-0) (Last Week: 21)
27) Iowa Heartlanders (15-30-12-1) (Last Week: 27)
28) Norfolk Admirals (15-39-1-3) (Last Week: 28)