Best, worst situations for each Atlantic Division staff

Hope for the very best, plan for the worst. Or, on the very least, mentally put together for each. 

Whether you’re speaking a few massive life occasion or just the beginning of a brand new NHL season, it’s greatest to know there are all the time a pair methods issues can go. 

Examining best- and worst-case situations across the league all the time includes some extensive variance, however issues are particularly wild within the Atlantic Division — the NHL’s clear Group of Death — as a result of there are a number of groups you would see doing something from — possibly, simply possibly — successful the Stanley Cup to, due to their ultra-competitive division, lacking the playoffs.

So get an excellent grip on one thing stable and we’ll all attempt to keep away from whiplash whereas exploring each the sunny and darkish ends of the spectrum for every Atlantic squad.

Key additions JJ Peterka, W; Will Borgen, D; Connor Clifton, D

Key subtractions Viktor Arvidsson, W; Joonas Korpisalo, G

Cap house at the moment $5,390,417

Best case A second straight playoff look

Worst case Finishing simply exterior the playoffs and getting a boring, mid-first spherical choice

The Bruins stunned some by grabbing the primary wild card final season in the course of the squad’s first season beneath coach Marco Sturm. Aside from a slide to the underside in 2025, the B’s have proven time and time once more — even with main roster turnover — their infrastructure is hard to guess in opposition to. It’s exhausting to only place them again within the playoffs, however main pillars are in place with goalie Jeremy Swayman, stud defenceman Charlie McAvoy and famous person winger David Pastrnak. Throw in new toy JJ Peterka, and it’s straightforward to see how Boston will as soon as once more be very aggressive.

Still, Viktor Arvidsson scored 25 targets for this staff final yr, and he’s now a Detroit Red Wing. Peterka has to web no less than that many to fill the void. 

If you’re a B’s fan, the nightmare isn’t essentially lacking the post-season, however doing so solely by some extent or two and drafting within the mushy center. This stays a system that would use a expertise injection, so if the Bruins aren’t as much as the duty this yr, higher to fall flat, hope for some lottery luck and are available again with a brand new weapon within the pipeline. 

Key additions Louis Crevier, D; Olen Zellweger, D

Key subtractions Alex Tuch, W; Bowen Bryam, D; Jordan Greenway, W

Cap house at the moment $5,123,652

Best case Make the Cup remaining for the primary time in practically 30 years

Worst case A reminder that sporting Gods appear to have it in for Buffalo 

The Sabres made the playoffs for the primary time since 2011 final spring and have been one Game 7 time beyond regulation purpose away from an look within the Eastern Conference Final. To name 2025-26 a cathartic season for long-suffering Western New Yorkers could be an understatement.

So the place can we go from right here?

While the rise was a very long time coming, there may be nothing fluky about what Buffalo did final season. The Sabres — even with the departure of winger Alex Tuch and top-4 defenceman Bowen Byram — have good items everywhere in the board and will but make a notable improve in purpose if they will pull off a commerce for Connor Hellebuyck.

It’s completely conceivable this staff might win three playoff rounds and make the ultimate. That shall be very true if Josh Norris can lastly keep wholesome and be a 30-goal man, whereas the likes of children Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich take steps on their profession path. 

Still, no fanbase within the league is extra painfully conscious of how briskly hope can dissipate than Sabres supporters. It’s robust to think about eight Eastern Conference groups ending forward of Buffalo this season, but when they don’t make a crease improve, maybe the Sabres shall be first-round fodder — and that’s already stopped being an honest end result for this group. 

Key additions Viktor Arvidsson, W; Daniil Tarasov, G; Keegan Kolesar, W

Key subtractions Parick Kane, W

Cap house at the moment $19,572,084

Best case A homerun commerce involving captain Dylan Larkin and delicate reset

Worst case Being the worst staff in a robust division by some margin

Training camp could also be proper across the nook, however there are nonetheless so many questions in Detroit. The Wings nonetheless haven’t named a successor to former GM Steve Yzerman and it’s unclear if the brand new individual has an opportunity to avoid wasting the wedding with captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a commerce following final season.

You can argue best-case for the Wings is definitely Larkin returning to the fold and carrying on as a squad with some sturdy items that may problem for a playoff spot. That mentioned, related iterations of this squad haven’t been ok to crack the highest eight lately and also you marvel if the very best transfer could be looking for out a robust return of younger prospects on the verge of NHL responsibility who can be a part of the likes of Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond in making an attempt to push the Red Wings additional in future seasons.

They might have already topped out within the Larkin Era.

If you needed to lay a nickel on who will end final within the Atlantic proper now, Detroit might be the guess. Worst-case situation can also be reasonable-case situation.

Really, although, the one factor that will make a last-place end a real nightmare is extra of the dangerous lottery luck Detroit skilled throughout Yzerman’s tenure.

Key additions Brady Tkachuk, W; Jacob Markstrom, G; Radko Gudas, D; Garnet Hathaway, W; Akira Schmid, G; Lars Eller, C

Key subtractions Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Evan Rodrigues, W; Mackie Samoskevich, W; A.J. Greer, W; Daniil Tarasov, G

Best case A fourth journey to the Stanley Cup Final in 5 seasons 

Worst case Big-time Bobrovsky regrets

After lacking the playoffs in an injury-ravaged season, the Panthers are poised for an immediate return to contender standing.

Heck, they may even be the Cup favourites.

The lineup in entrance of the crease is bulletproof and constructed in a lab to reach the post-season. Add Brady Tkachuk to a gaggle of men who, although not by alternative, had a protracted low season to relaxation and get better after enjoying in three straight finals and you’ve got a recipe for extra South Florida success.

The rub, after all, is that goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was allowed to go away as a UFA and 36-year-old Jacob Markstrom was acquired to take his place. Markstrom — a second-round choose of the Cats in 2008 — has had a stable profession, however a complete of simply 31 playoff video games on his resume, none of which occurred past the second spherical. That’s to not say Markstrom can’t ship for this membership, it’s simply that there’s no proof of him doing it but the best way there was with Bobrovsky.

Until Markstrom reveals he can’t do the job, Florida shall be a favorite. But the nightmare is subpar goaltending derailing what’s in any other case a championship-calibre roster. 

Key subtractions Brendan Gallagher, W; Joe Veleno, C

Cap house at the moment $9,783,924

Best case Another final-four look

Worst case The first feeling of a setback inside a spectacular rebuild

We can hear Habs followers screaming that best-case situation is taking one other step ahead, which might be a berth within the Cup remaining. It’s value remembering what a monumental achievement it was for this staff to win a pair of excruciatingly shut Game 7s and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. Really, if Montreal might match that displaying in 2027, it will say improbable issues about this still-young membership.

The Canadiens entered the summer time focusing on a top-six improve and, as but, a major transfer has not materialized. For now, it’s on sophomore Ivan Demidov to enhance on a improbable rookie displaying, whereas the likes of Alex Newhook (seven targets in 19 playoff video games) Oliver Kapanen (22 targets as an NHL freshman final yr) and maybe even RFA Zach Bolduc will attempt to reduce the necessity for second-line assist.

The known-entities in Montreal — an ideal prime line, a robust defence corps led by third-year whiz Lane Hutson, a trio of choices in purpose with Jakub Dobes, Sam Montembeault and Jacob Fowler — must be sufficient to ship a playoff spot for the Habs. Still, success has come quicker than anticipated in Montreal, and even when they fall again a little bit from final yr’s 106 factors, you would be speaking a few staff that enters the ultimate levels of the season in a life-and-death battle for the playoffs. 

Key additions William Eklund, W; Andre Burakovsky, W; Samuel Ersson, G

Key subtractions Brady Tkachuk, W; Lars Eller, C

Cap house at the moment $4,195,833

Best case A Tkachuk-sized weight is eliminated and the staff soars

Worst case The lacklustre goaltending from most of final season returns

There’s actually one thing counterintuitive about the concept that you would lose your staff captain — a man with a singular talent set within the prime of his profession — and be higher off. Parting methods with a participant like Brady Tkachuk, on its face, is an unconditionally dangerous factor.

Still, there’s no denying the questions over Tkachuk’s future in Ottawa had turn out to be an enormous distraction for the staff and, if something, these probes have been solely going to turn out to be extra intense. Now, the e-book is closed, and everybody can transfer on.

The most tangible think about determining if Ottawa is best off would be the play of William Eklund. The winger was acquired from San Jose with the ninth-overall choice returned within the Tkachuk deal and he must show worthy of a top-six spot with the Sens. Eklund, who turns 24 in October, will get a first-rate alternative to point out his offensive chops in Ottawa and if he can thrive in his new function, the Senators could make a 3rd consecutive post-season look.

In reality, Ottawa might even be capable of make some noise within the playoffs if Linus Ullmark performs to his commonplace for your complete yr. Goaltending was an enormous sore spot for many of the season final yr, with Ottawa getting into the Olympic break in February sporting the second-worst five-on-five save share within the league.

Ullmark pulled it collectively down the stretch, but when he will get off to a different sluggish begin it will be disastrous for the Sens. 

Key additions John Carlson, D; Dennis Hildeby, G

Key subtractions Darren Raddysh, D; Nick Paul, W; Corey Perry, W

Cap house at the moment $3,228,334

Best case A triumph for the Old Heads

Worst case A sense that the tip is right here

Before we begin speaking concerning the Bolts as a full “one last job” crew, it’s value remembering the core of the membership isn’t that outdated but. 

Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli are all someplace between 33 (Kucherov) and 29 (Cirelli). That mentioned, the defence skews outdated with Victor Hedman (36), Ryan McDonagh (37) and newcomer John Carlson (37) all deep on the again 9 of their careers. 

This staff has not been previous the primary spherical since making the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and the sense of urgency for this adorned crew is barely rising. If Tampa goes to win yet one more title — which stays in play — we’re approaching now-or-never territory.

Certainly Carlson shall be counted on to instantly combine with the Tampa offence. The longtime Washington Capital is coming in on a two-year deal, ostensibly changing fellow right-shot, offence-first blue-liner Darren Raddysh after the previous posted a breakout 70-point season final yr. Carlson’s largest duty shall be making an attempt to make PP1 work because the lone defenceman on that unit.

Tampa’s expertise the previous couple playoffs is an ideal microcosm for why it’s so robust to emerge from the Atlantic. In 2024 and ’25, the Bolts misplaced to a longtime powerhouse within the Panthers. Last spring, Tampa was bumped out in seven video games by the Montreal Canadiens, one of many up-and-coming golf equipment within the division.

The lay of the land is such that the Lightning might as soon as once more have a robust common season and easily come up quick in a first-round sequence in opposition to an excellent membership. If that occurs, Tampa’s roster shall be that a lot older and confronting the truth that Kucherov can turn out to be a UFA in 2027, with Vasilevskiy eligible to hit the open market one summer time later in ’28.

Key additions Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Darren Raddysh, D; Gavin McKenna, W; Nick Paul, W; Emil Andrae, D; Jack Roslovic, W; Colton Sissons, C; Teddy Blueger, C; Brandon Duhaime, W

Key subtractions Joseph Woll, G; Brandon Carlo, D; Nick Robertson, W; Simon Benoit, D; Mattias Maccelli, W; Dennis Hildeby, G   

Cap house at the moment -$2,752,382

Best case A return to playoff hockey with a brand new crew much less haunted by previous failures

Worst case Having crazy-good lottery luck once more, however on behalf of one other staff

Few groups in your complete league — by no means thoughts simply the Atlantic — scream “range of outcomes” just like the Leafs. The boring fact, although, is that if the reunited tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz is stable, Toronto must be pushing exhausting for a playoff spot. Bob and Tony have been improbable the one season they shared a crease in Florida, because the Cats posted the second-best staff save share within the league in 2023-24. Of course, Bobrovsky — a first-year Leaf — is about to show 38 in a pair weeks and Stolarz has had a satan of a time staying wholesome throughout his two seasons in Toronto. 

Another must-have for best-case situation is a return to kind for Auston Matthews. The captain has not performed greater than 67 video games in both of the previous two campaigns and the Buds want him wholesome and difficult for the Rocket Richard Trophy once more. 

With a rebuilt backside six, a brand new energy play bomber in Darren Raddysh and a way issues can’t presumably go as poorly as they did final yr — to say nothing of first-overall expertise Gavin McKenna becoming a member of the staff — there’s legit cause for hope in Toronto.

That mentioned, all these new items might take some time to suit into place and there’s actually not a lot margin for error making an attempt to make the post-season out of the Atlantic. It’s exhausting to think about the Leafs ending second-last within the East once more, but when they do falter, it’s value remembering Toronto doesn’t maintain its personal first-round choose in 2027 or ’28.