Introduction

With training camps and the preseason wrapped up and final rosters set, it's time to give my predictions on how I see the 2026-2027 NHL standings shaping up. These rankings are entirely my own opinion, not the product of any analytical model or statistical projection. These are also not purely a ranking of each team's skill, but more so how I think their regular season will go. Just because a team is higher than another in my standings predictions doesn't mean I would pick them to win a playoff series over the other.

For each division, I'll give my thoughts on its overall strength and then go into more detail on each team. For each team, I'll give their biggest offseason addition (not counting draft picks) and loss, their biggest strength and weakness, and an x-factor that could swing their year in either direction, then I'll share a few thoughts on where I see them heading into the season. At the end of each division's section, I'll show a graphic of my overall predictions for the division. In the graphics, if a team is outlined in green, I predict they will make the playoffs, while red means a miss. At the very end of the post, I'll give my entire 1 to 32 predictions for the league.

Next to each team's name, I've also included a symbol showing how I predict their regular season will end (only the highest one applies):
P - Presidents' Trophy
Z - Clinched Conference
Y - Clinched Division
X - Clinched Playoff Spot

Atlantic Division

The Atlantic is definitely the toughest division overall, and I could genuinely see any of the eight teams making the playoffs this season.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning - P

Biggest Addition: John Carlson
Biggest Loss: Darren Raddysh
Biggest Strength: Top Six Forwards
Biggest Weakness: Fourth Line Forwards
X-Factor: Hedman Bounceback

The Lightning have made the playoffs for the past nine seasons in a row, and I predict this year will make it ten. They lost recent breakout star Raddysh, but effectively replaced him with Carlson. Hildeby is a big add, as he should lighten the load that Vasilevskiy has to take on while providing solid backup goaltending, something the Lightning haven't had for a while. Tampa placed second in the division last season and that was with both Point and Hedman having down years, so a bounceback from them will just make a strong team stronger.

2. Montreal Canadiens - X

Biggest Addition: Chris Kreider
Biggest Loss: Brendan Gallagher
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Suzuki, Caufield, L. Hutson)
Biggest Weakness: Second Line Center (Kapanen, Danault, Evans)
X-Factor: Goaltending (Dobes, Montembeault, Fowler)

The Canadiens took a big step last year, and with the ages of most of their roster, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them take another this season. Besides questions with their second line center, their forward group looks incredibly strong with more potential improvements from young players, and the same could be said for their D core, with Lane Hutson looking like a Norris contender this season. Dobes has proven that he's a legit starter as well, so from top to bottom, this Canadiens team should be a strong contender.

3. Florida Panthers - X

Biggest Addition: Brady Tkachuk
Biggest Loss: Sergei Bobrovsky
Biggest Strength: Top Nine Forwards
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Markstrom, Schmid)
X-Factor: Staying Healthy

After missing the playoffs last season, mainly due to injuries, the Panthers are looking to bounce back in a big way, adding Brady Tkachuk to an already stacked forward group. Missing the postseason may end up being a blessing in disguise, helping this Florida team that has been to three straight Finals rest up and get healthy. The only thing holding the Panthers back from first in the Atlantic, and even first in the entire league for me, is their goaltending.

4. Ottawa Senators - X

Biggest Addition: William Eklund
Biggest Loss: Brady Tkachuk
Biggest Strength: Top Four Defensemen (Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Spence)
Biggest Weakness: Backup Goaltender (Ersson)
X-Factor: Starting Goaltender (Ullmark)

The Senators were one of the best teams analytically last season. Only one thing held them back, which was goaltending. They acquired Ersson, who has struggled at the NHL level, but the real make-or-break this season will be whether or not Ullmark bounces back after his poor play last season. The Senators have one of the best and most underrated top-four defense groups in the whole league with Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, and Spence. Along with a solid forward group, I really like the Senators' chances at making the playoffs.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs - X

Biggest Addition: Darren Raddysh
Biggest Loss: Matthew Knies
Biggest Strength: Top Six Forwards
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Play (31st ranked GA last season)
X-Factor: Goaltending (Bobrovsky, Stolarz)

The Maple Leafs made a lot of moves this offseason, including trading Knies for Marchenko as I'm writing this. Adding him and McKenna, who's looked NHL ready this preseason, gives Toronto one of the best top six forward groups in the league. Darren Raddysh is a big add to the blueline, and underratedly, so is a healthy Chris Tanev. I think new addition Bobrovsky is a big-time playoff performer, but I am a little concerned about his play over a regular season.

6. Buffalo Sabres

Biggest Addition: Olen Zellweger
Biggest Loss: Alex Tuch
Biggest Strength: Young Top Nine Forwards
Biggest Weakness: Right Side Defense (Crevier, Timmins, Metsa)
X-Factor: Young Players Improving (Power, Benson, Helenius)

For the Sabres, Tuch and Byram are both big losses, but they have one of the youngest teams in the league, so I expect improvements from a lot of players to make up for what's been lost. I do, however, think the team as a whole will regress and will finish in a top-16 league spot, but just outside a wildcard spot due to the current playoff format. This might be my hottest take in my predictions, but again, the Atlantic is just such a tough division.

7. Boston Bruins

Biggest Addition: JJ Peterka
Biggest Loss: Viktor Arvidsson
Biggest Strength: Starting Goaltender (Swayman)
Biggest Weakness: Center Depth (Lindholm, Zacha, Minten, Kuraly)
X-Factor: Defense Health (McAvoy, H. Lindholm)

The Bruins look mostly the same as they did last season, losing Arvidsson, but adding Peterka. Hagens is also making the opening night roster and a big rookie season from him could really help the team out, especially if he plays center, a position that Boston isn't the deepest at. While they made the playoffs last season, I think a regression will be coming, leaving the Bruins on the outside looking in.

8. Detroit Red Wings

Biggest Addition: Viktor Arvidsson
Biggest Loss: Patrick Kane
Biggest Strength: Top Line Wingers (Raymond, DeBrincat)
Biggest Weakness: Forward Depth
X-Factor: Larkin Trade Return

The Red Wings had an eventful offseason, but the big moves came to their management group and not actually to their team. While he doesn't count as a loss yet, Larkin has made it clear that he wants out and losing him would really hurt the Red Wings' playoff hopes unless they get an incredible return. Although I have them eighth, I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see this team make the playoffs, but there are definitely some holes in this roster.

Overall Atlantic Prediction

Metropolitan Division

The Metro really only has one team that I am very confident will make the playoffs. The rest are teams of varying strength that could definitely make the postseason if things go right for them or wrong for the others.

1. Carolina Hurricanes - Y

Biggest Addition: Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Biggest Loss: Frederik Andersen
Biggest Strength: Overall Roster Depth
Biggest Weakness: Lack of Star Power
X-Factor: Goaltending (Bussi, Kochetkov)

The reigning Cup champs have a very similar roster to last season and still have plenty of Cap space for Eric Tulsky to work some more magic. From top to bottom their roster is filled with great players. No one is especially elite, but they already proved they don't need one all star to win the Cup. I am a little hesitant with their goalie tandem, but one of the best defensive teams in the NHL should have no problem keeping the puck out of their net.

2. Washington Capitals - X

Biggest Addition: Alex Tuch
Biggest Loss: Connor McMichael
Biggest Strength: Forward Depth
Biggest Weakness: Defense Depth
X-Factor: Young Players (Leonard, C. Hutson, I. Protas)

The Washington Capitals may have had the most impressive offseason when it comes to adding big name players, bringing in Tuch, Kyrou, and Jenner to their forward group. Although they no longer have Carlson, I think Chychrun is one of the most underrated defensemen in the league and if Cole Hutson follows in his brother's footsteps, this defense group will be in great shape. To go with all of that, I think Thompson was the best goaltender in the league last year and Lindgren is a great backup. I'm expecting big things from this Washington group.

3. New Jersey Devils - X

Biggest Addition: Luke Evangelista
Biggest Loss: Jacob Markstrom
Biggest Strength: Forward Depth
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Allen, Daws)
X-Factor: Player Health (J. Hughes, Hamilton, Mantha)

The Devils are a team that continuously looks good on paper at the start of each season, but underperforms, in large part due to injuries. Jack Hughes is one of the most dynamic players in the league, but if he's not playing, then it doesn't matter. Their defense group has a high ceiling, but to hit it, it really relies on how Hamilton and Luke Hughes perform. I love the addition of Evangelista and trust in what new GM Sunny Mehta will do for this team.

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Biggest Addition: Joseph Woll
Biggest Loss: Garnet Hathaway
Biggest Strength: Goaltending (Vladar, Woll)
Biggest Weakness: Defense Depth
X-Factor: Young Players (Martone, Michkov)

The Flyers surprised me as a playoff team last season and took it one step further by winning a round in the playoffs. I'm a big believer in Martone and think he'll add a lot of offense to this team and the same could be said for Michkov, who I imagine is ready for a big breakout. If Vladar repeats the season he had last year in net and Joseph Woll can stay healthy, then the Flyers are in good shape, but if it's them or another team finishing fourth in the Metro, they might be missing out on a wildcard spot to an Atlantic team.

5. New York Rangers

Biggest Addition: Pavel Dorofeyev
Biggest Loss: Vincent Trocheck
Biggest Strength: Starting Goaltender (Shesterkin)
Biggest Weakness: Bottom Six Forwards
X-Factor: New Player Chemistry (Dorofeyev, Bjorkstrand, M. Pettersson, Durzi)

I think Shesterkin and Fox are two of the best players at their respective positions, but unfortunately, you need more than two players to ice a competitive team. I think the Rangers added a lot more than they lost this offseason, with Dorofeyev being the biggest addition. I like their top four defensemen and goaltending, but I think there's some improvement to do to their forward group.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets

Biggest Addition: Valeri Nichushkin
Biggest Loss: Kirill Marchenko
Biggest Strength: Top Defenseman (Werenski)
Biggest Weakness: Bottom Six Forwards
X-Factor: Young Players (Fantilli, Mateychuk, Greaves)

I really like a lot of the young players the Blue Jackets have including Fantilli, Mateychuk, and especially Greaves. Trading for Nichushkin and Knies adds two skilled power forwards to the team, but I think the bottom six still needs work. Werenski is clearly the team's MVP and even with him having a Norris-winning season, it still wasn't enough for this team to make the playoffs, so I'm worried for the Blue Jackets if Werenski performs even slightly worse.

7. New York Islanders

Biggest Addition: Matias Maccelli
Biggest Loss: Anders Lee
Biggest Strength: Starting Goaltender (Sorokin)
Biggest Weakness: Goal Scoring (25th ranked GF last season, 30th ranked PP%)
X-Factor: Backup Goaltender (Varlamov, Vanecek)

The Islanders have a team built from the net out. Sorokin is one of the best goalies in the league and they're hoping that Varlamov can return from injury and perform as well as he has in the past. That's a big ask, but if he does and stays healthy, the Islanders would have one of the best tandems in the league. Matthew Schaefer is someone who I think will be contending for the Norris this season and I love Pelech's defensive game. Their forward group is less impressive, especially with Barzal's injury. Like the Rangers, there are some key pieces in place, but they need more than that.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Biggest Addition: Andrei Kuzmenko
Biggest Loss: Anthony Mantha
Biggest Strength: Top Center (Crosby)
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Silovs, Murashov)
X-Factor: Aging Veterans (Malkin, Karlsson, Letang)

In another one of my hot takes, I have the Penguins finishing last in the Metro. I'm just worried that their young goaltenders can't carry the workload and that many of their older veterans begin to decline in play. I have no doubts that Crosby will still be his consistent self, but I'm worried that Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang won't perform as well whether it's because of injuries or a drop-off in play.

Overall Metropolitan Prediction

Central Division

It was very easy for me to divide the Central into the top four teams and the bottom four teams, but within those two groups, the ordering was much harder.

1. Colorado Avalanche - Z

Biggest Addition: Jaden Schwartz
Biggest Loss: Valeri Nichushkin
Biggest Strength: Entire Roster Depth
Biggest Weakness: Lack of Trade Assets
X-Factor: Veteran Second Line (Landeskog, Nelson, Kadri)

After a dominant Presidents' Trophy win last season, I again think the Avalanche are going to be one of the best teams in the league. They have two of the best players at their positions in MacKinnon and Makar, depth all throughout their lineup, and two goalies that had incredible performances last season. In terms of first- and second-round picks over the next two seasons, they have just a single second, so making a big move might be challenging, but honestly, I doubt this roster needs any big pieces.

2. Dallas Stars - X

Biggest Addition: Joel Kiviranta
Biggest Loss: Mavrik Bourque
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Robertson, Rantanen, Heiskanen)
Biggest Weakness: Bottom Three Defensemen (Lundkvist, Myers, Bichel)
X-Factor: Veteran Consistency (Seguin, Benn, Duchene)

The Dallas Stars haven't made the biggest moves this offseason, but they really didn't have to. They have some incredible top-end talent at every position, including Jason Robertson, who I expect to have a big season in his contract year after some uncertainty in his recent contract negotiations. Jake Oettinger has been one of the more consistent goalies in the league and Heiskanen, Harley, and Lundell make for an excellent top three on D. I would like to see some improvements in their bottom three D, but even they have the potential to perform well.

3. Utah Mammoth - X

Biggest Addition: Vincent Trocheck
Biggest Loss: Sean Durzi
Biggest Strength: Top Nine Forwards
Biggest Weakness: No Elite Defensemen
X-Factor: Young Players (L. Cooley, Guenther, Cossa)

I'm a big believer in the Mammoth. I think Cooley and Guenther are going to be some of the best players in the league someday and the rest of their forward group is also really strong. Their top two defensemen, Sergachev and Weegar, are both great, but they are missing that true number one D that you might expect from a contender. In terms of goaltending, I like Vejmelka, but Cossa is definitely a bet by the team, as he's only played a single NHL game in his career so far.

4. Minnesota Wild - X

Biggest Addition: Blake Coleman
Biggest Loss: Mats Zuccarello
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Kaprizov, Q. Hughes, Boldy)
Biggest Weakness: Forward Depth
X-Factor: Goaltending (Wallstedt, Gustavsson, Pickard)

The Minnesota Wild have some of the best top-end talent in the league, especially at forward with Kaprizov and Boldy, but lack a bit of depth at forward and would probably like to improve their center position. It was recently announced that Faber would be out with an injury, which is a big loss to the Wild, but I still believe in their defense group. I think Wallstedt and Gustavsson are one of the best tandems in the league, but Gustavsson is injured to start the season, so we'll see how Pickard does as the backup.

5. St. Louis Blues

Biggest Addition: Mason McTavish
Biggest Loss: Jordan Kyrou
Biggest Strength: Top Six Forwards
Biggest Weakness: No Elite Defensemen
X-Factor: Goaltending (Binnington, Hofer)

I like what the Blues have done this offseason, adding McTavish and McMichael to an already youthful forward group. Their defense group is a good mix of young and old, but I think it still has some question marks. At this point I think Binnington needs a change of scenery, but on the positive side, Hofer looks like a legit NHL starter. Even with these additions, I still think they will be below the top four in the Central; maybe they can snag the second wildcard spot from one of the teams in the Pacific.

6. Chicago Blackhawks

Biggest Addition: Bowen Byram
Biggest Loss: Ilya Mikheyev
Biggest Strength: Starting Goaltender (Knight)
Biggest Weakness: Inexperience
X-Factor: Young Players (Bedard, Frondell, Kantserov, Levshunov)

Missing Bedard for the start of the season is a big blow, but I still think the Blackhawks will take some steps in the right direction, with some young players ready to break out. They gave up a lot for Byram, but even so, he'll improve the blueline by a lot. I think Spencer Knight is a top ten goalie in the league, and this will be a big year for him to prove it. The roster still definitely has some holes, but I'm betting on the youth to help this team begin the rise up the standings.

7. Winnipeg Jets

Biggest Addition: Mario Ferraro
Biggest Loss: Connor Hellebuyck (Suspension)
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Scheifele, Connor, Morrissey)
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Skinner, DiVincentiis)
X-Factor: Young Players (Perfetti, Bjork, Lambert)

While still technically on the team, it looks like Hellebuyck has played his last game as a Jet, refusing to report to training camp and being suspended by the team because of this. The Jets already had a low finish in the standings last year, and when you remove a Hart winner and three-time Vezina winner from the group, it likely doesn't bode well.

8. Nashville Predators

Biggest Addition: Mavrik Bourque
Biggest Loss: Erik Haula
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Josi, Forsberg, Stamkos)
Biggest Weakness: Defense Depth
X-Factor: Goaltending (Saros, Annunen)

I think Nashville needs to embrace a rebuild and start bringing in some younger players. Trading Evangelista seems like a questionable decision if this is the route they're planning on taking and if they are planning on trying to contend, I think there's work to do. They added some solid depth pieces, but their top-end talent is starting to age. If they do decide to rebuild, I think they could get some huge returns on a lot of their veterans. In terms of goaltending, Saros had some incredible seasons early in his career, but recently has not been performing the same way.

Overall Central Prediction

Pacific Division

Like many, I think the Pacific Division is the weakest overall, with some should-be lottery teams at the bottom, but I also think the top two teams should be true Cup contenders.

1. Vegas Golden Knights - Y

Biggest Addition: Parker Wotherspoon
Biggest Loss: Pavel Dorofeyev
Biggest Strength: Top End Talent (Eichel, Marner, Stone)
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Hart, Hill)
X-Factor: Coaching (Ryan Craig)

The Golden Knights have deep forward and defense groups with some elite top-end talent, but my biggest concern is their goaltending. The hiring of first-time head coach Ryan Craig is also something to keep an eye on. Even with these concerns, I have no doubt it will be Vegas and Edmonton battling for first in the weaker Pacific Division, with Vegas in my opinion having the slight edge in the regular season.

2. Edmonton Oilers - X

Biggest Addition: Frederik Andersen
Biggest Loss: Darnell Nurse
Biggest Strength: Offensive Play
Biggest Weakness: Goaltending (Andersen, Jarry, Levi)
X-Factor: Goaltending Consistency (Andersen's Health, Jarry's Play, Levi's Inexperience)

The Oilers have added some more goalies with questionable reliability. Recent Stanley Cup winner Andersen has health concerns, and young goalie Levi has shown promise, but is still inexperienced at the NHL level. While their goaltending might have question marks, there's no doubt their offense, led by McDavid, will be spectacular and likely enough for a top two finish in the Pacific Division.

3. Los Angeles Kings - X

Biggest Addition: Mats Zuccarello
Biggest Loss: Anze Kopitar
Biggest Strength: Defensive Play
Biggest Weakness: Special Teams (28th ranked PP% last season, 30th ranked PK%)
X-Factor: Aging Veterans (Panarin, Zuccarello, Perry)

This offseason, the Kings lost longtime captain Anze Kopitar to retirement, but brought in a few veterans in free agency. Besides a few promising young players, I'm not the biggest fan of the future of the Kings, but I think they have done enough to remain in a playoff position.

4. San Jose Sharks - X

Biggest Addition: Jacob Trouba
Biggest Loss: William Eklund
Biggest Strength: Elite Young Talent (Celebrini, Smith, Misa, Stenberg)
Biggest Weakness: Inexperience
X-Factor: Starting Goaltender (Askarov)

For the Sharks, it's all about the youth. Celebrini is already a top 10 player in the NHL at just 20 years old, plus they have three more top-five overall picks in their lineup with Smith, Misa, and Stenberg. Over half of their forward core is under the age of 25, and while there's a lot of potential there, there's also some inexperience. I have no doubt these players will make the Sharks a playoff contender; it's just a matter of whether that will be this season or in the future.

5. Anaheim Ducks

Biggest Addition: A.J. Greer
Biggest Loss: John Carlson
Biggest Strength: Young Forwards (Carlsson, Gauthier, Sennecke)
Biggest Weakness: Bottom Four Defensemen (Jensen, Helleson, Luneau, Hinds)
X-Factor: Goaltending (Dostal, Husso, Brossoit)

The Ducks had some major losses this offseason, including their entire right side defense (J. Carlson, Trouba, and Gudas). They were also forced to sign Leo Carlsson to what was, at the time, a record-breaking deal due to an offer sheet, putting them under cap pressure, which may have influenced the trades of McTavish and Zellweger, as well as the mutual contract termination of Kreider. Not a lot of things went right for the Ducks, but they still have some extremely bright young players.

6. Seattle Kraken

Biggest Addition: Mackie Samoskevich
Biggest Loss: Jaden Schwartz
Biggest Strength: Goaltending (Daccord, Grubauer)
Biggest Weakness: Lack of Elite Players
X-Factor: Young Players (Beniers, Wright, Catton)

The Kraken are a team that has a few solid pieces, but they really don't have any players that are truly elite. I could see them pushing for a playoff spot, but with pending UFAs McCann and Dunn, it could be wise to trade them, get a high draft pick, and really start building around the young players and prospects they have now.

7. Calgary Flames

Biggest Addition: Simon Nemec
Biggest Loss: Ryan Lomberg
Biggest Strength: Goaltending (Wolf, D. Cooley)
Biggest Weakness: Goal Scoring (32nd ranked GF last season, 31st ranked PP%)
X-Factor: Young Players (Wolf, Parekh, Nemec)

The Flames struggled to score goals last season and haven't really added anyone to help them in that area this season. I like how their defense core is coming together with young players and prospects, and I think their goaltending is great, but they're still far from being a contender just yet.

8. Vancouver Canucks

Biggest Addition: Jamie Oleksiak
Biggest Loss: Marcus Pettersson
Biggest Strength: High Draft Lottery Potential
Biggest Weakness: Forward Depth
X-Factor: Goaltending Consistency (Demko's Health, Lankinen's Play, Merilainen's Play)

The Canucks finished at the very bottom of the standings last season, and I don't think it will be that different this season. They have some great young pieces, and I think this season's priority should be their development and adding another top-three pick to the group.

Overall Pacific Prediction

Entire League Standings

Obviously, it's a lot harder to put together predictions for the entire league's standings than for a single division, but here's my best approximation of the overall standings for the 2026-2027 NHL season:

Conclusion

Every division has at least one team I could see finishing several spots higher or lower than where I've placed them. My hottest takes are Buffalo missing the playoffs despite winning the Atlantic Division last season and Pittsburgh finishing last in the Metro after a second-place finish in the division last season. The placements I'm least confident in are the Eastern wildcard spots, where I could realistically see around eight teams in the running. Over an 82-game season, injuries, trade activity, and goaltending performance will likely decide a good number of these placements. I'll revisit these predictions at the end of the season to see how they held up.