By Field Level Media
Sep 29 (Field Level Media) - A strong case can be made for a dozen or more teams hoisting the Stanley Cup when the 2026-27 NHL season is completed, even though the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes outclassed the field in last season's playoffs.
Most of the legitimate contenders remain the same from the past few years, but rest assured there will be a few surprises to come. Here are our power rankings on the eve of puck drop.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Last year's regular-season
champs boasted the best numbers offensively and defensively. The Avalanche were affected by salary-cap cuts but maintain their high-impact players and will tinker with the lineup as the season moves along.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Last season's champs are returning with nearly the identical roster. That's bad news for the clubs looking to knock them off their perch, especially when they have a few players who are still hitting their prime. Even so, it would be no surprise if Carolina takes a huge swing at goaltender Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.
3. Edmonton Oilers
Yes, goaltending remains a huge question mark, with the Oilers now hoping a three-headed monster of the injured Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi can do the job. Even so, expect new coach Mike Babcock to guide this team to top spot in the Pacific.
4. Florida Panthers
The team everybody loves to hate became even nastier by acquiring Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa. His addition only adds to a club that should be back to Stanley Cup contention with Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk healthy. The big question is whether Jacob Markstrom can return to form after a dismal season with New Jersey.
5. Dallas Stars
The Stars have some truly top-end players at all positions, but forward depth is starting to appear as an issue, especially with Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin all getting long in the tooth. Dallas could very well claim the title, but could also start to slip. There is also that situation with top scorer Jason Robertson due to become an unrestricted free agent.
6. Montreal Canadiens
There are so many reasons to be enamored with the Canadiens, especially after their trip to the Eastern Conference finals. Adding Chris Kreider should be a boon for the power play for a club that will be in the mix for top spot in the Atlantic.
7. Vegas Golden Knights
Last season's trip to the Stanley Cup Final keeps the expectations for Vegas sky high. The Golden Knights could very well do it again, but could just as easily suffer if injuries, middling goaltending and the inability to replace Pavel Dorofeyev's offensive touch are the cards drawn.
8. Washington Capitals
Not many teams can miss the playoffs and actually re-tool in such a positive way. Adding Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner makes the Capitals a much deeper club at forward. The defense corps will receive a huge shot in the arm if Cole Hutson is anything like his older brother Lane, who stars for Montreal.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning
With Nikita Kucherov filling the net and Andrei Vasilevskiy among the best at keeping pucks out of it, the Lightning are still a force. However, this is an aging team that is showing cracks. Tampa Bay could end up winning the Atlantic or being a wild-card squad.
10. Utah Mammoth
Utah took a huge step forward by making the playoffs last season. This offseason was wisely used to add a couple of veteran forwards in Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee to help the youngsters navigate the next step, which very well could include claiming third spot in the division.
11. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota mortgaged a chunk of the future by acquiring Quinn Hughes, and he is due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Wild have taken a hit offensively but will be in the mix for third in the top-heavy Central Division.
12. San Jose Sharks
Finally, the Sharks again have serious bite. Goaltending and defense are iffy -- could be subpar, could be good enough -- but the offensive attack led by Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith will only become more prolific. Think of the Sharks as the Oilers in the early days of McDavid and Draisaitl: They will try to win games with a top-flight offense. Playing in the moribund Pacific Division also helps.
13. New Jersey Devils
With a pair of excellent centers in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, a solid albeit unspectacular defense corps and improvement on the wings, the Devils should start reaching their potential. SHOULD being the operative word. Goaltending is a huge question. So is Hughes' injury history.
14. Buffalo Sabres
Last season's division title and trip to the second round of the playoffs was heaven for the Sabres and their long-suffering fans. Failing to make the playoffs again would be a surprise, but replacing Alex Tuch's offense could be an issue for a club that needs several young players to reach the next level and more consistent goaltending.
15. Philadelphia Flyers
Making the playoffs and taking out the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round was a huge step forward. The Flyers are built better than a one-year wonder club, but there are legitimate question marks around goalies Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll. Maybe the Flyers claim third spot in the Metropolitan, but asking for more than last season seems a stretch.
16. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last season's disaster was worth it when the Maple Leafs won the draft lottery and selected Gavin McKenna first overall. By no means should their rabid fans expect Toronto to be in the hunt for a divisional title in what should be a bounce-back season, but a return to the playoffs is very possible.
17. Los Angeles Kings
If Artemi Panarin, Mats Zuccarello and Erik Haula can turn back the clock, the Kings will continue their string of playoff trips, although they always end in a first-round loss. That said, counting on Quinton Byfield to be a first-line center is a longshot for a club that has aged even after Anze Kopitar retired.
18. Ottawa Senators
Just when the Senators turned the corner, captain Brady Tkachuk wanted out and joined the Florida Panthers. There is an element of addition by subtraction when a player who does not want to stay finally leaves, but the departure leaves a hole that is tough to fill.
19. Columbus Blue Jackets
Now that Kirill Marchenko has been dealt to Toronto, what is the future in Columbus for defenseman Zach Werenski? That is a question messing with a team that has solid building blocks for the future and managed to alleviate one distraction.
20. Anaheim Ducks
A step back from last season's trip to the second round of the playoffs appears in the cards. Sure, the Ducks have fantastic top-end forwards in Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, but that defense group -- even with rising star Jackson LaCombe -- will be a disaster.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pretty much everything went right last season for the Penguins, which gave Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and friends one more playoff berth. It is hard to imagine them duplicating that success, with injuries to Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust and Justin Brazeau among the issues.
22. St. Louis Blues
Buying low on Mason McTavish and acquiring Connor McMichael from Washington in exchange for Jordan Kyrou may work out for new GM Alex Steen, but that weak defense corps and shaky goaltending have the Blues in the mushy middle.
23. New York Rangers
Acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev to provide scoring punch makes sense, but it is one of many moves for a team that is hoping to duct tape a roster that is on the downswing. If Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin stay healthy, the Rangers will not be as bad as last season, but they will not be much better.
24. Nashville Predators
Not good enough to legitimately compete for a playoff spot. Not bad enough to fall to the bottom of the weak Western Conference. Pouncing on the chance to grab Mavrik Bourque was a good move, but this aging team is playing a hurtin' tune.
25. Boston Bruins
Life in the league's deepest division will hit hard for a team that has David Pastrnak and little else, and is left hoping JJ Peterka's disappointing season in Utah was an aberration.
26. Detroit Red Wings
By now, Detroit was supposed to be on the upswing to the top of the division. With the Dylan Larkin saga as a distraction and lack of development by so many prospects, the Wings' playoff drought is likely to reach 11 seasons.
27. Winnipeg Jets
If the Jets can quickly resolve goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's trade request and find immediate help, there may be hope. Otherwise, last season's fall is just the beginning of some lean seasons.
28. Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard missing more than a month once again puts the young squad in a hole that will be too much to climb from, even after acquiring Bowen Byram and bringing back Patrick Kane. Maybe next season will bring the big jump for a team that is also integrating more youth.
29. New York Islanders
Yes, Matthew Schaefer is already a star and goalie Ilya Sorokin gives the Islanders a chance to win games, but this is a team that must pick a direction.
30. Calgary Flames
The tear-down is completed. Now the long, slow process of rebuilding begins for a club that has plenty of intriguing prospects and young players, especially in goal with Dustin Wolf and on defense, but needs a legitimate game-breaker at forward.
31. Seattle Kraken
After missing the playoffs yet again with a middling (at best) roster, the only offseason move of note was acquiring middle-six forward Mackie Samoskevich. Unless the team's crew of twentysomething forwards actually reaches a new level, it will be another lost season in the Pacific Northwest.
32. Vancouver Canucks
It is hard to imagine them being as awful as last season, but even with actual structure under new head coach Manny Malhotra, it won't be much better.
(--Field Level Media)
