1 Bold Prediction for Every NHL Team for the 2026-27 Season

Can you believe we are less than one week away from dropping the puck on the 2026-27 NHL season?

A new year of drama, triumphs, and disappointments awaits as teams warm up in the preseason and finalize their rosters.

Just how far can Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks go? Are the Leafs back in the playoff conversation with Gavin McKenna in the fold? Is Connor Hellebuyck spending the year ice fishing?

Here is one bold prediction for every NHL team for the 2026-27 season.

ANA | BOS | BUF | CAR | CBJ | CGY | CHI | COL | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA | LAK | MIN | MTL | NJD | NSH | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SEA | SJS | STL | TBL | TOR | UTA | VAN | VGK | WPG | WSH

Yes, the Leo Carlsson offer sheet put the Ducks in a tough spot, but at the end of the day, they got him signed. They also managed to come to an agreement with top goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier.

Are these youngsters overpaid? Maybe. Are they signed and as focused as can be headed into the season? Absolutely.

Through no fault of David Pastrňák, Charlie McAvoy, and/or Jeremy Swayman, it's hard to see the Bruins improving on, or even repeating, last year's first-round exit.

Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie both had career seasons last year, and it really concealed the depth issues throughout this roster.

JJ Peterka is a wonderful addition, Marco Sturm has been great as head coach, and yet, this roster just feels like pieces of something great that may or may not happen one day, but not today.

Buffalo Sabres: We're Under-Reacting About Off-Season Departures

The Sabres' young core took real steps last season, and the cathartic two-round playoff run is just the beginning of an era of optimism for Buffalo.

Still, the losses of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram make this roster objectively worse and I'm not sure we're talking about it enough.

Knowing GM Jarmo Kekäläinen, though, the front office could be playing the long game. There's a good enough chance that the Sabres are seeing what they've got in the first half of the season with the intent of addressing deficits at the deadline.

Calgary Flames: Šimon Nemec Will Struggle At First

We're at the turning point in the Flames' rebuild, where the prospect pool is overflowing, yet the team on the ice just isn't close to being "there" yet. It's always interesting when the first NHL-ready pieces start rolling in during this time.

For the Flames, that's Nemec, whom they acquired from the Devils in the offseason. He could end up being a core piece of this roster and a power-play quarterback, but he's going to struggle as he takes on big minutes on a bad team.

Carolina Hurricanes: I Smell Back-To-Back Cups

The only significant roster change for the Hurricanes is the loss of goalie Freddie Andersen, who signed a one-year deal with the Oilers in free agency.

Could the Hurricanes win the Connor Hellebuyck sweepstakes? If anyone could pull that off, it would be GM Eric Tulsky. Hellebuyck's got leverage, and if his buddies are any indication, he probably has his heart set on an American contender.

The Hurricanes have the cap space — and the open space in the net — to pull it off. If that happens, why wouldn't the Hurricanes be prime two-peat candidates?

Chicago Blackhawks: Bowen Byram Pops Off

The Blackhawks have been highly criticized for the price they paid for Byram in their trade with the Sabres, and the criticism is fair.

They surrendered their No. 4 overall pick and more to acquire a player who had 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season. Plus, they took this gigantic swing on a defenseman when they're still looking for the right winger to complement Bedard.

That being said, Byram is a great young player with tons of potential and was an important part of the Sabers' resurgence. This could actually work out.

Colorado Avalanche: They'll Make it to the Final

The Avalanche were the most dominant team in the NHL last season, and they almost extended all the way to the Cup Final.

Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, two of the biggest stars in the league, both got injured beyond recognition just in time for the Western Conference Finals. That's the risk you take when two of your players make up so much of your production, and we're seeing between the Panthers and the Hurricanes that depth is the name of the modern Cup winner.

Both are young enough and hungry enough for one more run, though. With Makar becoming the richest player in NHL history, this year's a perfect year to return to the Cup Final.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Jet Greaves Establishes Himself As An Elite Goalie

The Blue Jackets had a mess of a summer, and Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko playing chicken will no doubt impact the team's vibes. Between that situation and RFA Adam Fantilli still holding out unsigned, it seems doubtful the Blue Jackets will return to the playoff bubble this season.

Despite all of that, they've found their goalie in Jet Greaves. The 25-year-old keeps improving, keeps putting up elite underlying numbers, and has held down the fort through the ups and downs with this team as of late.

This is the year he transitions from "impressive up-and-comer" to "elite NHL goalie."

Dallas Stars: They've Peaked as a Really Good Team

The Stars are a masterclass in how to be consistently great in the NHL over a sustained period. We all measure success in different ways, and it's a success in itself that this team has been in the contender conversation for so long and has kept things interesting for the fans.

There's some bad luck working against them, with the Avalanche and the Wild providing the most brutal path to the Cup of arguably all time. Sometimes, you can do everything right and you still just can't reach the end goal. Such is life.

Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin Stays The Course

Dylan Larkin had a highly-memeble press conference at the start of Red Wings training camp.

You'll recall he was stripped of his captaincy after requesting a trade out of Detroit. Since requesting that trade, though, Steve Yzerman stepped down (what are we calling it?) as GM, and the next GM has yet to be named.

When he was asked about all of this at his aforementioned press conference, he said he "was not ready to go there yet."

Pure speculation, here, but I think he isn't ready to go there yet because he is holding out hope for a new GM.

Edmonton Oilers: Desperation Doesn't Pay Off

The Oilers have made a laundry list of decisions as drastic as they've been unpopular this offseason. Obviously, this is all an attempt to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks in the last season of Connor McDavid's bridge deal.

The trouble is, they were already one game away from winning the Cup Final twice. They didn't need to change that much to get there. Freddie Andersen in net, a healthy Leon Draisaitl, and a healthy Zach Hyman likely would've sufficed.

They're trying too hard, and it won't pay off.

Florida Panthers: This Won't Be a Walk in the Park

Look, I think the Panthers will make it back to the playoffs this season. The reasons they missed out last season were plentiful: Their most important players were seriously injured, the rest of the team was suffering from back-to-back Cup exhaustion, and Paul Maurice knew better than to have the team exhaust itself further and just shut it down to recover for the upcoming season.

They're going to be back and ready to compete this season, but they're also getting older, and they're without star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The Atlantic is brutal, and it won't be a walk in the park for the Panthers to make it back into the playoffs.

Please free us from the shackles of LA Kings playoff hockey. The slow, miserable death they suffered at the hands of the Avalanche in the first round last season was so brutal that I almost forgot they got swept.

It lasted forever. I hated every second of it. And didn't we all see it coming?

Quinn Hughes wants to win. The Wild are in a position to do so in a few years, when the Avalanche have nowhere else to go but down. Wild GM Bill Guerin is known to invest in key players. The Devils, where Hughes would otherwise end up to play with his brothers, feel a bit lost right now.

My sense is that Hughes will extend in Minnesota. Does that mean he'll stay for the duration of the contract? Who knows. But I see him with the Wild for the next few seasons as he chases a Cup.

Montreal Canadiens: Lane Hutson for Norris

So many elite puck-movers have emerged in the modern NHL that we can't pay attention to all of them at once. I hope you've been keeping tabs on the rise of Lane Hutson, which coincides with the Canadiens' rise for a reason.

The 22-year-old now has two wildly impressive seasons under his belt. Last season, he averaged 23:46 minutes per game, while putting up 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games. He's been a pivotal part of Montreal's success, and he's just getting started.

Nashville Predators: They Won't Be A Complete Dumpster Fire!

You know it's been a rough couple of years when the idea that your team isn't a complete dumpster fire is a bold take.

But with GM Chris MacFarland, we trust, and he's already righting the ship with offseason moves like bringing Ross Colton and Jack Drury from his former team, the Avalanche, into the fold, plus trading for Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin from Dallas.

New Jersey Devils: It's Time For A Coaching Change

The Devils have needed a bit of new blood all around in management and staff, and they took the first step by hiring GM Sunny Mehta. They've gotta keep shaking things up to get out of a stale situation, so it might be time to look at bench boss Sheldon Keefe and see what else is out there in the coaching market to make the most of Jack Hughes' prime.

New York Islanders: One More Season of Disappointment Before Glory

The Islanders have their long-term superstar in Matthew Schaefer, and he had a wonderful rookie season, seamlessly transitioning to the NHL. His work in the top defenseman role was enough for the Islanders to enter the playoff conversation a few times last season, but they ultimately fell short.

They haven't done much to improve their roster ever since, and the competition out East is only getting stiffer. The Islanders have to build on the sturdy foundation of Schaefer and Ilya Sorokin to take the next step.

New York Rangers: They're Back In The Playoff Conversation

The Rangers made a ton of savvy moves this offseason, and it felt like the beginning of the end of a painful cycle.

They managed to sign Vegas top scorer Pavel Dorofeyev, which will provide a much-needed boost to their production. Oliver Bjorkstrand will help round things out on both ends of the ice. Plus, it could be time for 21-year-old Gabe Perreault to have his big breakout year. There's much to pay attention to with the Rangers early on this season.

Ottawa Senators: They're Out of the Playoff Conversation -- For Now

The Senators got dealt a rough hand this offseason. Not only did they lose their captain and team cornerstone, but his leverage in the negotiations left them with limited options for a return.

Losing a point-per-game player while you were just establishing yourself as a playoff team is a tough blow. The Senators will get over the loss of Brady Tkachuk, but it's going to take a season or two of stocking up on replacements.

Philadelphia Flyers: They're Not Done, But Last Season Wasn't A True Representation of This Team

Sometimes there's a huge benefit to being an extremely young NHL team with emerging talent: You don't know what you don't know. The Flyers' first playoff run with this core had a dash of that, as the roster overperformed all the way to the second round, where the Cup winners swept 'em.

They've improved their goaltending situation with Dan Vladar stepping up and Joseph Woll now in the fold, but they still need center depth and a few other positional upgrades.

But hey, Porter Martone is Porter Martone. We aren't counting this team out of the playoffs just yet, but a step back before a step forward wouldn't be surprising.

Pittsburgh Penguins: One More Run For Crosby

It's probably Alex Ovechkin's last year in the NHL, and while we'll likely still get a few more years of watching Sidney Crosby, this feels like the end of their era of dominance.

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has delicately balanced the roster to remain competitive while Crosby is still leading the team, while also preparing for his twilight years. This feels like the best chance Crosby and the Penguins have got for one more special season with The Kid.

The Sharks made some great moves this offseason as they flirted with playoff contention last season. They took a jump to 34 points in the standings in 2025-26, and it feels like it's only up from here after Macklin Celebrini's breakout season, in which he led the Olympics in scoring with 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games.

Given the Pacific's weakness, the Sharks' playoff run feels inevitable this season as Celebrini rises to household-name status.

Seattle Kraken: A Rebuild Would Be Smart at this Point

The Kraken are lost in the no-man's-land between having a well-structured team with sound depth and a constant lack of top performers who can elevate play and provide the production needed to thrive in the modern NHL.

Where do they go from here? Do they keep hoping Matty Beniers or Shane Wright suddenly breaks out and becomes that guy, or do they cut their losses and draft another "that guy"?

The Blues have long been in purgatory, but a series of moves over the past few seasons has made next season intriguing.

Mason McTavish has got tons of potential, and just as much to prove. Dylan Holloway's offer sheet continues to pay off. This could be a gigantic year for Robert Thomas as he establishes himself as the team's leader. There's a sense that this team is climbing out of the middle, and that's a heck of a lot better than standing still.

Tampa Bay Lightning: They'll Be Annoying As Ever

Oh, you thought the Tampa Bay Lightning were finally going to leave us alone? Silly you!

Nikita Kucherov is showing no signs of slowing down and has a new contract with a potentially huge payout. The rest of the team is essentially intact, with John Carlson in the fold.

Jon Cooper and the Lightning are going to be just fine, yet again.

Toronto Maple Leafs: This is Going to Take a Second

Are you expecting the Leafs to magically return to the playoffs after a down season so drastic that they ended up drafting No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna? Not so fast.

This team is coming into a new identity, post-Marner and entering McKenna's first year.

Sergei Bobrovsky adds an interesting element in net, but the new home is still an adjustment. There are a lot of adjustments going on here, and that's OK. Just don't expect a quick playoff run, and you won't be disappointed.

Utah Mammoth: Logan Cooley Hits Point-Per-Game Status

Logan Cooley was on a special run in 2025-26 until a devastating, untimely injury sidelined him. He managed 19 goals and 43 points in 54 games, after a 2024-25 season featuring 25 goals and 65 points in 75 games.

He's going to come back motivated, and he'll hit the points-per-game milestone if he stays healthy.

Vancouver Canucks: Marco Rossi Turns Things Around

It was obviously a bummer that the Canucks had no choice but to trade their franchise cornerstone, Quinn Hughes. But when they got Marco Rossi in the deal, it was one of the first times in a long time you thought to yourself, "Hmm, not a bad situation for the Canucks."

This season, we'll see him flourish into the No. 1 center role the Canucks have long needed an upgrade at.

Vegas Golden Knights: Mitch Marner Hits 100 Points

Marner has enjoyed great success in his new home. He had a historic postseason breakout, leading the entire league in scoring with 29 points in 22 games. He scored a natural hat trick in Game 3 of the SCF, the fastest playoff hat trick in finals history, in 6:10.

Where will he go from here? Consider that the Golden Knights are without top scorer Dorofeyev. Marner and Vegas' other top players are going to have to contribute even more, and I think Marner is up to the task.

With a year of acclimation and a stellar postseason under his belt, Marner could make some noise in the Hart Trophy race next season.

Washington Capitals: They're Back In The Playoffs

The Capitals narrowly missed the playoffs last season with a record that would've punched a ticket in the West. Classic Eastern Conference mayhem.

Now, Alex Ovechkin is back with the help of Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, and the team is on a mission to give Ovechkin one last run. With Logan Thompson in net, they'll be back.

We'll have to see what the Connor Hellebuyck situation becomes, right? We're all patiently waiting as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff seeks the best return for the world's best goalie.

Once that dust settles, it's time to take a long look at management and staff. This team has not performed up to its potential year after year, and things are taking an even worse turn with Hellebuyck wanting out and last season's missed playoffs.

Is it time to put Cheveldayoff on the hot seat?