Top 10 groups probably to make the playoffs after lacking final 12 months

The Stanley Cup Playoffs by no means look the identical twice in a row.

Since the NHL moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1979-1980 – excluding the 2019-20 COVID-shortened season – we’ve by no means seen the identical 16 groups that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs the earlier season, make it once more the next 12 months. 

Talk a couple of league with parity.

Of course, there might be playoff groups from 2025-26 that can take a step again. The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators, simply to call a couple of potential candidates.

But extra importantly, there are all the time organizations that bounce again after one tough season or younger groups rising into the playoff combine. Plus, yearly we often get one workforce that shocks everybody and makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So, listed below are the highest 10 groups we expect may make the playoffs in 2026-2027 that didn’t in 2025-26.

For a corporation that completed with 91 factors final season, found a possible famous person defenceman with rookie Matthew Schaefer, acquired Vezina Trophy worthy goaltending from Ilya Sorokin and jumped the market to rent arguably the most effective coach obtainable in Pete DeBoer, you’ll assume they’d be larger on this record. 

Let’s face it, final season the New York Islanders over achieved with an getting old core (outdoors of Calum Ritchie and Schaefer) ending eight factors out of a playoff spot. Considering the Islanders completed tied for twenty fifth in objectives for with 2.79 per recreation and thirtieth on the facility play, which operated at 16.5 per cent, it’s secure to say they relied rather a lot on Sorokin to bail them out, which he did more often than not. 

Unfortunately for Sorokin, plainly would be the technique once more for the Islanders this 12 months. 

With solely $6.18 million in cap area heading into free company this previous summer time, the workforce made no notable signings and misplaced Carson Soucy together with their former captain Anders Lee. While different groups on this record within the Eastern Conference, extra particularly the Metropolitan Division, made strikes to get higher.  

With Chris MacFarland now on the helm as president and normal supervisor of the Nashville Predators, it’s clear he needs this workforce to compete, and compete now. 

Unlike the Islanders, the Predators in 2025-26 couldn’t get a save, ending with a 3.26 goals-against common, twenty sixth within the league. Despite that, they solely completed 4 factors out of the final wild card spot within the Western Conference because of massive rebound seasons from Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos and Roman Josi.

While MacFarland is certainly hoping for a similar sort of rebound season from Juuse Saros in 2026-27, he additionally made plenty of modifications in simply his first low season making an attempt to make the playoffs once more. He traded for Mavrik Bourque, Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Ilya Lyubushkin, whereas signing Alexander Kerfoot to assist bolster their lineup. 

Even with all these strikes, the Predators aren’t a slam dunk to make the playoffs. But, in a weaker convention, they may very well be a workforce to simply sneak in.

Talking about sneaky good, subsequent up are the St. Louis Blues, who additionally completed tied with the Predators in 2025-26 with 86 factors. 

The Blues’ low season could be one of many extra underrated ones. Sure, they shipped out Jordan Kyrou, however in return they acquired Connor McMichael, who has recorded 45 factors or extra previously two seasons, Milton Gastrin and Maddox Dagenais.

They additionally picked up 2021 third general decide Mason McTavish and Brandon Carlo in two trades throughout the NHL Draft. 

With core ahead items Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours anticipated to continue to grow, the Blues may very well be in line to take a step ahead this season. However, success will rely upon what model of Jordan Binnington we see.  

There isn’t any sugar coating it, this rating completely relies on whether or not or not Connor Hellebuyck is on the Winnipeg Jets roster come opening evening for the 2026-27 season. 

As we now know, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner not too long ago made his personal commerce request public as NHL coaching camps are set to start in a pair weeks, leaving the Jets in a novel spot. 

If the Jets are to grant his request and commerce him, it’s been reported that he’s keen to waive his no-move clause to extra groups than different commerce requests we’ve seen previously few months. This would assist the Jets out in making a very good deal for the group, but it surely’s unclear whether or not the workforce values picks and prospects or roster gamers in return – making it laborious to rank them on this record.

However, If the Jets resolve they’re not getting sufficient worth for him and need to maintain him since he’s solely getting into 12 months three of a seven-year extension, this workforce may make some noise. 

Last season was dangerous. But we’re simply two years faraway from this workforce profitable the Presidents’ Trophy and actually the one notable participant not on the roster from that workforce is Nikolaj Ehlers. The largest issue for the Jets to make the playoffs (apart from Hellebuyck) might be well being. If this workforce can have a run of well being they’ve a very good probability of constructing the playoffs once more. 

We’re going to learn the way a lot the Blue Jackets care about shedding in 2026-27.

Even although it looks like a lifetime in the past, Rick Bowness’ rant after the Blue Jackets last recreation of the 2025-26 common season needs to be entrance of thoughts coming into this season.

“If I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” Bowness, the interim head coach on the time, informed reporters on April 14. “These guys don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them; it doesn’t bother them.”

Two days later, the Blues Jackets gave Bowness a one-year contract.

With all of the low season commerce rumours surrounding Zach Werenski settled, the addition of Valeri Nichushkin and Ryan Lomberg, and anticipated bumps in play from Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk and Jet Greaves, the Blue Jackets must be proper within the combine to contend for a playoff spot.

We’re formally on the level within the record the place if these groups don’t make the playoffs, it will likely be a disappointing season.

The New Jersey Devils in 2025-26 began so effectively, rolling out to a 16-7-1 file by 24 video games, good for third within the league. Then, the accidents got here. First and most significantly, it was Jack Hughes in a freak hand accident at a workforce dinner that stored him sidelined for six weeks. From there, issues simply unravelled for the Devils, who completed with simply 87 factors. 

Looking on the roster additions for 2026-27 with Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues, the Devils ought to be capable of make the playoffs. All of that can rely upon two issues although: Health, clearly, and whether or not or not 36-year-old Jake Allen can maintain up as a No. 1 goalie in the event that they don’t commerce for Hellebuyck.

Just like Gavin McKenna stated, groups that often have the primary general decide the earlier 12 months aren’t pushing for the playoffs the next 12 months. 

But because of some lottery luck and a few massive strikes within the low season to amass expertise like Sergei Bobrovsky and Darren Raddysh, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be an anomaly after simply lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2016. 

Just like different groups on this record, the Maple Leafs additionally want a very good invoice of well being this season. Especially on the subject of their captain Auston Matthews, who has missed 37 video games within the final two years. 

Even if Matthews is just in a position to mess around 60 video games once more this season although, the workforce is proficient sufficient for brand new head coach Jim Hiller to make the playoffs.

Talk a couple of workforce getting into the dialog.

The San Jose Sharks would’ve been excessive on this record even with out making any low season strikes or getting some draft lottery luck due to the leap their younger core, led by famous person Macklin Celebrini, made between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. The workforce went from 52 factors in 2024-25 to 86 in 2025-26, lacking the playoffs by 4 factors together with the Blues and Predators.

But since they acquired some draft lottery luck, transferring as much as second and drafting Ivar Stenberg together with including Mason Marchment, Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse and Michael Kesselring through free company or commerce, this workforce is primed to take one other massive step ahead this season. 

Whether Washington Capitals normal supervisor Chris Patrick knew Alex Ovechkin wasn’t going to retire after final season or not, the strikes he made this low season actually helped make the choice to come back again simpler. 

After ending final season with 95 factors and lacking out on the playoffs by three factors, the Capitals made their ahead group top-of-the-line within the NHL by including Alex Tuch and Kyrou, two elite wingers that can produce 60 factors every at the very least. The Capitals additionally grabbed Boone Jenner from free company, an ideal match at centre on the third line.

Not to say, in 2026-27, they are going to get full rookie seasons from Ilya Protas and Cole Hutson, who made their NHL debuts final 12 months. 

Sorry, however come on, this one is just too apparent. 

After reaching the Stanley Cup Final three straight years, together with profitable two in a row, the Florida Panthers’ core both ran out of fuel or acquired injured throughout final season. Before the season even started they misplaced their captain Aleksander Barkov to a torn ACL throughout a observe session. As a outcome, the workforce missed the playoffs. 

But there’s all the time a silver lining, proper? Well for the Panthers, that they had two silver linings. First, everybody acquired a full low season to get well. Second, they ended up with a prime 10 decide within the draft.

And everyone knows who that decide helped convey to Florida — Brady Tkachuk, now paired along with his brother Matthew. It’s not solely Brady although, the Panthers additionally traded for Jacob Markstrom, Radko Gudas and Garnet Hathaway. 

This workforce received’t simply make the playoffs in 2026-27, the have the potential to win the Atlantic Division and the Prince of Wales Trophy, earlier than capping it off with their third Stanley Cup in 4 years.