Best, worst eventualities for each Pacific Division staff

The Pacific Division had the excellence of being the league’s worst final season.

Not a single Pacific staff cracked 100 factors to complete the 2025-26 marketing campaign, in comparison with one Metropolitan, three Central and 4 Atlantic. Additionally, three Pacific groups completed with fewer than 80 factors, whereas the opposite three divisions every had only one.

And when trying on the league’s backside 10 groups, 4 of the basement dwellers — the San Jose (twenty fourth), Seattle (twenty seventh), Calgary (twenty ninth) and Vancouver (thirty second) — all belonged to the Pacific. Interestingly, the Vegas Golden Knights completed first within the Pacific with 95 factors, which was good for simply thirteenth total within the league.

That’s to not say the competitors didn’t exist inside the division; it was really the tightest of all 4, because the distinction between the highest 5 groups was simply 9 factors. The playoff race got here right down to the wire, with solely the Canucks having no actual shot on the post-season after being eradicated from rivalry in March and ending the season with simply 58 factors.

After analyzing the best- and worst-case eventualities for groups within the Atlantic and the Metro, we now flip our consideration to the West, beginning with the Pacific.

Key additions: Marc Gatcomb, C; Victor Olofsson, W; Parker Wotherspoon, D

Key subtractions: Colton Sissons, C; Pavel Dorofeyev, W; Keegan Kolesar, W; Kaedan Korczak, D; Akira Schmid, G

Cap area at this time: $-8,661,182

Best case: Dorofeyev’s loss is offset as Vegas makes one other Stanley Cup push

Worst case: Rookie coach, ageing roster and shaky goaltending trigger machine to sputter

The Golden Knights have certified for the playoffs in eight of their 9 seasons, profitable 5 divisional titles, and superior to the Final thrice, together with final season once they got here inside two wins of their second championship. As they enter their tenth season, the excessive requirements and expectations since their inaugural season stay.

But whereas we must always anticipate the Golden Knights to fare nicely once more in 2026-27, matching final season’s success could also be a more durable process. Vegas traded away Pavel Dorofeyev in June after he scored a career-high 37 targets and 64 factors final season, main the staff in targets for the second straight season. The Golden Knights have loads of different offensive heavyweights, together with Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, however their different subtractions, together with Colton Sissons, in contrast with their low season additions, depart them arguably weaker — and with the fourth-oldest roster within the league, common age being 30.00.

The Golden Knights might be led by their third coach since March, following the firing of Bruce Cassidy, who was changed for eight regular-season video games and the playoffs by John Tortorella. Vegas opted to not deliver Torts again, as a substitute selling first-time NHL head coach Ryan Craig from their AHL affiliate to grow to be the fifth head coach in franchise historical past. Another level of uncertainty for Vegas is the goaltending tandem of Adin Hill and Carter Hart. Neither had stellar common seasons, with Hill posting a .871 save proportion and Hart a .891.

Key additions: Alex Formenton, W; Ryan Shea, D; Frederik Andersen, G; Devon Levi, G

Key subtractions: Jack Roslovic, C; Darnell Nurse, D; Calvin Pickard, G; Connor Ingram, G

Cap area at this time: $1,078,334

Best case: Babcock proves to be lacking piece as Oilers lastly grow to be champions

Worst case: Another season of McDavid and Draisaitl’s prime goes to waste

A brand new season for the Edmonton Oilers will open with a whole lot of questions. Most centring across the resolution to rent new head coach Mike Babcock in June, following the firing of Kris Knoblauch in May and clearance from the NHL after an investigation into his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The transfer drew blended reactions from outdoors the group, however inside, Babcock seems to have the help of the Oilers’ famous person tandem of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Similar to the fanbase, McDavid and Draisaitl need nothing greater than to succeed in the last word stage of NHL success by profitable their first Stanley Cup and the franchise’s first since 1990. After back-to-back Final appearances and losses in 2024 and 2025, the Oilers exited the playoffs within the first spherical after a six-game upset loss to the upstart Anaheim Ducks. And with McDavid locked in Edmonton for simply this season and subsequent, time feels very valuable for the Oilers.

The greatest roster concern is goaltending, because it has been for years now. The Oilers acquired Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen this low season — the previous has simply 36 profession begins on the NHL stage, whereas the latter is anticipated to be unavailable till late October due to what’s believed to be a lingering knee harm. The new netminders be part of Tristan Jarry, who recorded a .858 save proportion in 19 video games final season. A big a part of the Oilers’ success in web will depend on creating a robust defensive staff setting.

Key additions: A.J. Greer, W; Jeff Malott, W; Nick Jensen, D; Laurent Brossoit, G

Key subtractions: Mason McTavish, C; Chris Kreider, W; John Carlson, D; Jacob Trouba, D; Radko Gudas, D; Olen Zellweger, D

Cap area at this time: $9,073,395

Best case: Young core makes the leap from future to current

Worst case: Off-season departures depart Ducks with considerably weaker defence

The Anaheim Ducks didn’t have the most effective low season. They misplaced a considerable quantity of expertise and veteran expertise, particularly on the blue line, and added just one defenceman, Nick Jensen, as a alternative. Following a seven-year post-season drought, the Ducks made the playoffs in 2025-26 and stunned many by eliminating Edmonton, however might battle to repeat that consequence.

Anaheim was additionally pressured into giving considered one of its star gamers a large pay elevate after the Philadelphia Flyers tendered a five-year, $90 million provide sheet to centre Leo Carlsson. He briefly turned the NHL’s highest-paid participant, which has since closely influenced the contract market, together with the Ducks’ subsequent extension for Pavel Mintyukov, who was additionally offer-sheet eligible. It can also be doubtless impacting common supervisor Pat Verbeek’s negotiations with restricted free-agent winger Cutter Gauthier, who stays unsigned after main the Ducks in targets and factors final season.

The Ducks are prioritizing the youth motion, and the way they do that 12 months will hinge largely on the event of these gamers. Sliding again out of the playoffs would clearly be a step backwards.

Key additions: Corey Perry, W; Mats Zuccarello, W; Erik Haula, W

Key subtractions: Anze Kopitar, C; Andrei Kuzmenko, W; Mathieu Joseph, W

Cap area at this time: $1,775,000

Best case: Offence lastly clicks as playoff consistency turns into precise run

Worst case: Kopitar’s retirement and Father Time catches up with Kings

The Kings’ franchise icon retired after 20 years, however the departure of Anze Kopitar, who was 38 on the time of his remaining NHL sport, hasn’t lowered the roster’s common age. In truth, it’s gotten increased, rising from 29.76 to 30.83, the oldest within the league. L.A.’s three key low season additions are all within the latter levels of their careers: Erik Haula, 35; Mats Zuccarello, 39; and the ageless Corey Perry, 41.

Having not received a single playoff collection since profitable the Cup in 2014, regardless of making the post-season the final 5 years, the Kings are caught in a cycle of being good however not ok when it counts. For 4 straight years, from 2022 to 2025, they have been bounced by the Oilers in Round 1, and a brand new matchup final season didn’t change the result, as they have been shortly swept by Colorado. 

The Kings’ new bench boss, Peter Laviolette, was employed in June to interchange interim head coach D.J. Smith, who took over from Jim Hiller after his termination in March. Laviolette will little question be targeted on bettering the staff’s offence after it ranked twenty seventh in capturing proportion and twenty eighth on the facility play, whereas ending twenty ninth in targets for. Steps taken by Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke ought to assist, together with sturdy seasons from Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe, plus Kevin Fiala being wholesome once more.

Key additions: Ivar Stenberg, W; Mason Marchment, W; Darnell Nurse, D; Jacob Trouba, D; Michael Kesselring, D

Key subtractions: Philipp Kurashev, C; William Eklund, W; Shakir Mukhamadullin, D; Mario Ferraro, D; John Klingberg, D; Vincent Desharnais, D

Cap area at this time: $3,335,695

Best case: Become a reliable Western Conference contender forward of schedule

Worst case: Off-season spending falls flat, forcing Sharks to rethink timeline

Sam Jose completed twenty fourth total within the league and had the ninth-best odds, however by some means secured the second total choice within the draft by leaping seven spots within the lottery. Selecting within the prime two for the third straight 12 months, the Sharks used that decide to draft winger Ivar Stenberg after deciding on Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 in 2024 and Michael Misa at No. 2 in 2025.

That luck made it a productive low season for San Jose, however the Sharks additionally introduced in extra expertise within the hopes of pushing for his or her first post-season look since 2019. Most notably on defence, the place three large additions deliver expertise to a younger roster. One of the staff’s greatest uncertainties this season might be how goalie Yaroslav Askarov performs after taking on as starter in 2025-26, posting an .884 save proportion.

The Sharks additionally misplaced some expert gamers, most notably William Eklund. Trading him away marks a major lack of top-six manufacturing as Eklund posted 53 factors final season. The Sharks now have the load of expectations, loads of which rests on Celebrini following his 115-point season. He drove a lot of San Jose’s offence, with Will Smith’s 59 factors the next-highest whole on the staff. The supporting forged might want to step up.

Key additions: Curtis Douglas, C; Mackie Samoskevich, W

Key subtractions: Eeli Tolvanen, W; Jaden Schwartz, W; Jamie Oleksiak, D

Cap area at this time: $17,847,203

Best case: Depth makes up for lack of famous person as Kraken return to playoffs

Worst case: Remain considered one of NHL’s lower-scoring groups and don’t enhance PK

The Kraken have secured a post-season playoff berth simply as soon as over the previous 5 years. They had a robust first half after which some final season, getting into the NHL’s Winter Olympic pause within the third playoff spot with 63 factors in 56 video games. But when play resumed, Seattle struggled mightily, and two unhealthy stretches ensured lacking the post-season for a 3rd consecutive 12 months.

A serious problem the franchise has confronted since becoming a member of the league is attracting star expertise, and it took two extra pictures this low season, with stories that Jason Robertson declined a large contract provide and that Shane Wright requested a commerce. The Kraken did land winger Mackie Samoskevich by way of commerce in June and signed centre Bobby McMann to a six-year extension after buying him from Toronto in March.

Both of those gamers ought to assist enhance an offence that ranked twenty eighth league-wide in targets per sport final season, and the hope is that a few of the staff’s youthful forwards — like Berkly Catton, Matty Beniers and Wright, if he sticks round — can get away. General supervisor Jason Botterill has stated he’s excited by the potential of seven or eight forwards underneath 23 making the roster come opening evening. Meanwhile, one other important space for Seattle to enhance is their penalty killing, which ranked thirty first within the league final season.

Key additions: Maxim Tsyplakov, W; Simon Nemec, D; Jake Middleton, D

Key subtractions: Victor Olofsson, W; Ryan Lomberg, W; Blake Coleman, W; Olli Maata, D

Cap area at this time: $14,883,334

Best case: Young core reveals indicators of being a staff on the rise

Worst case: Finish in no-man’s land, lacking out on playoffs and prime decide

The solely participant remaining on the Flames’ roster from the staff’s final journey to the post-season is captain Mikael Backlund. Calgary higher embraced their rebuild standing final season by buying and selling away three key items over the second half of the season: Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar. And that pattern continued once they moved Blake Coleman in July, signalling a go-forward deal with growing youthful gamers, which is able to little question deliver rising pains and require fan endurance.

One hope shifting ahead is that the youth motion can spark some offence. It’s exhausting to win video games within the NHL when you’re not scoring targets, and the Flames got here lifeless final in 2025-26 with simply 212. They solely had three gamers crack the 20-goal mark: Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee and Coleman, and Matt Coronato’s 45 factors have been a team-high. Jonathan Huberdeau’s eventual return may deliver promise, however his timeline after hip resurfacing surgical procedure in March stays unsure.

Despite ending twenty ninth within the league, Calgary fell to sixth total within the draft lottery and used that decide to pick out Carson Carels. The franchise has by no means chosen increased than fourth total, and the 2027 draft can be a good time for that little bit of historical past to vary. Although the Flames need to put collectively a robust season of their remaining experience on the Saddledome, it’s doubtless going to be fairly some time earlier than they’re genuinely thought of aggressive. For the fanbase, doing simply nicely sufficient to overlook the playoffs whereas additionally lacking out on a prime prospect in an thrilling draft class may very well be the worst attainable consequence.