THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

Lonnie White’s NHL rankings and comments:

1 DETROIT

(12-3-0-0) Yzerman still the man even with new additions.

2 NY ISLANDERS

(10-1-1-1) Team continues to win despite what skeptics write.

3 CALGARY

(10-2-0-2) Conroy’s value keeps going up with every game.

4 EDMONTON

(10-5-1-0) Team will be tested with first trip to the East Coast.

5 SAN JOSE

(7-3-3-1) Becoming a dominating team at the Shark Tank.

6 ST. LOUIS

(7-3-3-0) Johnson taking charge in goal is what team needs.

7 TORONTO

(8-4-1-1) Getting Kaberle back will only help down the line.

8 CHICAGO

(9-4-3-0) Winning games because of team’s overall conditioning.

9 PHILADELPHIA

(6-4-3-0) Good goaltending with Boucher and Cechmanek.

10 NEW JERSEY

(6-4-0-1) Expected to sign Stevens to a long-term contract extension.

11 BOSTON

(6-3-3-2) Thornton is not team captain, but he plays like one.

12 CAROLINA

(8-6-0-2) Last season’s playoff experience is starting to help.

13 DALLAS

(5-5-2-3) Will miss Turgeon; team’s inconsistent play is a mystery.

14 COLORADO

(7-8-0-0) Getting Foote back will give team a boost.

15 MINNESOTA

(5-4-3-1) One of the most balanced teams in the league.

16 PHOENIX

(5-4-3-2) Playing great at home and confidence continues to grow.

17 NY RANGERS

(7-7-1-0) Lindros quietly leads team in points, goals and assists.

18 OTTAWA

(7-6-1-0) Lalime and defense starting to play well together.

19 MIGHTY DUCKS

(6-7-1-0) Switching back to old stick is working for Kariya.

20 WASHINGTON

(5-7-2-0) Jagr’s injury may be more serious than first believed.

21 BUFFALO

(6-7-1-1) Weak power play is making it very tough to win.

22 TAMPA BAY

(4-7-1-1) Team wouldn’t be bad in the Western Conference.

23 KINGS

(4-8-1-2) Young players have to step up to fill void for injured players.

24 PITTSBURGH

(6-6-1-1) Rookies Beech and Petersen are playing well.

25 MONTREAL

(5-7-1-0) Received good news about Koivu’s bout with cancer.

26 NASHVILLE

(5-8-2-0) Penalty-killing unit gives team a chance to win every night.

27 VANCOUVER

(5-9-1-0) Cloutier’s groin injury did not happen at a good time.

28 ATLANTA

(3-7-1-2) Not a very good team on defense, and offense is weak.

29 FLORIDA

(3-8-2-1) Rookie Huselius is playing like a skilled veteran.

30COLUMBUS

(2-8-4-0) Impressive win at Edmonton despite rash of injuries.