Friday 4: One flaw that would derail each division favorite

It’s the time of yr the place the whole lot nonetheless seems good on paper. The puck hasn’t dropped but and all these low season strikes that had been supposed to rework rosters stay stuffed with promise. Every staff theoretically has the prospect to go 84-0. 

We know that received’t occur, although. Inevitably, there will likely be groups that we suppose don’t have any probability who find yourself making a playoff push and vice versa. There’s all the time a staff or two which have excessive expectations who we imagine might be Cup contenders that stumble. It’s straightforward to pencil in a handful of groups that ought to cruise to a playoff spot or division title, however nothing is assured.

Even the greatest groups have flaws and there’s so much that may go incorrect over a protracted season. In order to keep away from disappointment, it’s a must to intensify your positives and attempt to masks your shortcomings. However, that’s simpler stated than completed, however the groups that do the most effective job of overcoming their flaws are normally nonetheless standing late within the spring.

Here are the most important potential flaws for every division favorite heading into the season:

The Oilers pushed all their chips into the center of desk this summer time, bringing in Mike Babcock behind the bench in what looks like a Stanley Cup-or-bust season. It was an enormous wager to make on a man that has had a ton of success up to now, however little to none in current reminiscence. Babcock hasn’t coached within the NHL in six seasons and hasn’t received a playoff sequence in properly over a decade. 

Now he’s inheriting a roster that’s very prime heavy and nearly as good because the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard are, the Oilers clearly took a step again final season. Edmonton had a tough time changing Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Viktor Arvidsson a yr in the past up entrance, and the ahead group seems very related once more heading into 2026-27. The solely addition of be aware is Alex Formenton, who hasn’t performed within the NHL for the reason that 2021-22 marketing campaign and is probably going headed for a bottom-six position. The Oilers will likely be banking on gamers like Isaac Howard and Matthew Savoie taking an enormous step ahead, which is an enormous leap of religion. 

Darnell Nurse has departed on the blue line and say what you will about his tenure in Edmonton, however he nonetheless averaged over 22 minutes an evening throughout his time as an Oiler. It will likely be an enormous ask for the incoming Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin to select up the slack. That may put much more pressure on the goaltending, which we all know has been a problem for years in Edmonton. Tristan Jarry, who’s coming off a nightmare season, will likely be tasked with making an attempt to show issues round, as Devon Levi is basically unproven and free-agent signing Frederik Andersen is already injured. 

All that is to say that Babcock higher have the ability to implement some magic to a largely returning roster that struggled to search out any consistency final season. 

No one may catch the A-Z Eventz final season after they exploded out of the gates, shedding simply twice in regulation earlier than the brand new yr. Colorado was powered by a number of unimaginable campaigns that exceeded expectations, however how a lot of that’s sustainable?

Martin Necas ended up with 100 factors after capturing 18.4 per cent on the yr, which was considerably above his profession common. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood completed with a .921 save share to associate with 31 wins, numbers that only a few anticipated and one thing that will likely be exhausting for the 34-year-old to copy. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri will likely be 35 and 36 respectively come October, so sooner or later it is going to be exhausting to depend on them to proceed producing at a excessive degree. Then there’s Brent Burns, who scored 12 instances from the blue line a yr in the past at age 41. It could be foolhardy not to anticipate just a little regression there. 

Let’s additionally preserve in thoughts each the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild completed with properly over 100 factors in 2025-26, so they might simply overtake the Avs for a division crown if a few of Colorado’s key gamers take too massive of a step again. 

If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. That gave the impression to be the Hurricanes’ technique this low season and rightfully so. Carolina lastly put all of it collectively final spring and their extremely balanced lineup was an excessive amount of for the remainder of the sphere to deal with, in order that they selected to just about preserve the whole lot established order heading into 2026-27. 

However, a division foe and maybe the Canes’ largest challenger this season within the Metropolitan Division took the other method. The Washington Capitals loaded up and introduced in Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner so as to add to an already gifted group. Not to say gamers like Cole Hutson, Ilya Protas and Ryan Leonard are a yr older and determine to be extra vital contributors this time round. The Caps look as massive, expert and bodily as anybody within the league and at the moment are arguably as deep as Carolina. 

The Hurricanes’ depth additionally took a little bit of successful this summer time with Frederik Andersen leaving, Seth Jarvis at the moment injured and Alexander Nikishin seemingly headed for a breakup with the group. That means there’s extra stress on Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov to remain wholesome and carry the load in web, whereas Eric Robinson may have to maneuver up the lineup till Jarvis is able to return. Carolina nonetheless has greater than $8 million in cap area obtainable and maybe it might have been sensible to be extra aggressive in free company to attempt to bolster an already sturdy lineup just a bit extra. 

Injuries ravaged the Panthers final season however they determine to be again in full pressure after some low season strikes bolstered an already potent lineup. The addition of Brady Tkachuk makes Florida’s ahead group one of many scariest within the league, because the Panthers are clearly doubling down on their bodily type of play. 

If there’s one lingering query mark, although, it’s between the pipes. Florida selected to let Sergei Bobrovsky stroll in free company and changed him with Jacob Markstrom, which was considerably of a curious transfer. Markstrom is making near the identical cash as Bobrovsky, is roughly the identical age and is coming off a equally poor season. Now he joins a Panthers squad that relied on Bobrovsky to bail them repeatedly when the defence broke down. Due to Florida’s aggressive forechecking type and the way in which its defence crashes down low to maintain pucks alive, the Panthers are literally weak at instances to odd-man rushes and breakaways. In reality, throughout their two Stanley Cup-winning seasons, the Panthers gave up 132 breakaways, greater than another staff within the NHL over that span. 

It’s not just like the Panthers are properly insulated on the place both if Markstrom falters. Akira Schmid, along with his 82 profession video games and sub .900 save share unfold over 5 seasons, could be the subsequent man up. We’ve seen unhealthy goaltending derail actually sturdy groups earlier than, so Florida will likely be hoping Markstrom can keep wholesome and have a bounce-back season.