Maple Leafs
(6) The Leafs remained one of many league’s greatest groups for a lot of the season. The Core 4 was excellent, and Matthew Knies broke out as a younger star. Toronto additionally obtained constant goaltending from Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. Now, the Leafs go into the playoffs with excessive expectations. What may go fallacious? 3 51-26-4
2

Golden Knights
(5) It took some time for the Golden Knights to get rolling, however they’ve performed very effectively down the stretch. The important thing there may be the efficiency of Adin Hill, who was fairly shaky for the primary half of the season. Over the previous few months, Hill has began to look extra just like the participant who led Vegas to a Cup in 2023. — 49-22-10
3

Jets
(7) The Jets obtained nice seasons out of two key veterans — Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor — in addition to sturdy showings from Gabe Vilardi and Nik Ehlers. That mentioned, do not be mistaken about who drives the bus. Connor Hellebuyck is about to win one other Vezina Trophy, and the staff will go so far as he takes it. 2 55-22-4
4

Kings
(20) I used to be very skeptical about Los Angeles after a quiet offseason and a so-so begin. After three straight first-round losses to the Oilers, the Kings appeared to have plateaued. Then the offense began to click on down the stretch, and Darcy Kuemper performed like a Vezina candidate. Now we will get Spherical 4 between the Kings and Oilers, and it would lastly finish in another way. 3 48-24-9
5

Lightning
(13) Because it seems, the Lightning could by no means decelerate. They made a troublesome choice to half with Steven Stamkos and herald Jake Guentzel final summer time, however that now seems very clever. Brandon Hagel stepped up for a 90-point season. Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy are nonetheless the perfect of the perfect at their positions. Tampa’s championship window continues to be extensive open. 1 47-26-8
6

Avalanche
(15) The Avalanche underwent main facelifts and actually improved their championship outlook between opening night time and the commerce deadline. Colorado fully modified its crease, traded a former 50-goal scorer and changed each middle-six facilities. Oh, and the Avs nonetheless have Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar on the top of their powers. 5 49-29-4
7

Stars
(1) The No. 1 rating regarded prefer it was going to carry for a very long time, however Dallas has stumbled on the end line. The ahead group continues to be the deepest within the NHL, and Jake Oettinger is able to backstopping the Stars to a Cup. The one query is the well being of Miro Heiskanen as a result of Dallas has severe depth points on the blue line with out him. 4 50-25-6
8

Senators
(17) After betting on the Senators to take a giant step ahead final 12 months, I took a wait-and-see strategy to them in 2024-25. Properly, the younger core has lastly come collectively and ended the playoff drought. In fact, the stabilizing presence of Linus Ullmark in web had as a lot to do with that as something. 3 44-30-7
9

Panthers
(4) The reigning champs have not at all times had a simple highway. They’ve battled accidents and suspensions to key gamers, along with shedding Brandon Montour to free company final summer time. Regardless of that, the Panthers appear to be getting a bit more healthy, and all of the items are nonetheless in place for them to make a deep postseason run. 4 47-31-4
10

Capitals
(22) The Capitals went from a staff that hardly made the playoffs with a minus-37 objective differential final 12 months to profitable the highest seed within the East this 12 months. A whole lot of issues have gone proper in Washington this season, together with Alex Ovechkin lighting up the scoreboard. The Caps have been trending within the fallacious course of late, so we’ll see whether or not they can recapture the magic within the playoffs. 2 51-21-9
11

Hurricanes
(10) There have been instances the place I believed the Hurricanes had been among the many 4 or 5 greatest groups within the NHL. Then there have been different instances the place they’ve regarded destined for one more second-round exit. As regular, the largest concern for the Canes will likely be scoring, they usually’ll have to seek out offense with out Martin Necas or Mikko Rantanen. 1 47-28-5
12

Oilers
(8) I at all times assumed the Oilers would enter juggernaut mode sooner or later, but it surely simply did not occur. The depth scoring by no means got here collectively, and Stuart Skinner has taken a step again. To high all of it off, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are nursing accidents whereas Mattias Ekholm has been dominated out for the primary spherical. Getting again to the Last will likely be a tall job. 2 47-29-5
13

Blues
(24) I used to be method off on the Blues, however in all equity, I did not notice the Bruins can be shortsighted sufficient to fireside one of many NHL’s greatest coaches in the course of the season. Jim Montgomery has fully reworked this St. Louis staff, as had Dylan Holloway. Now, the Blues are knocking on the door of clinching a playoff spot. 4 44-30-8
14

Devils
(3) Even earlier than Jack Hughes obtained damage, the Devils hardly ever regarded like a top-three Stanley Cup favourite. Timo Meier has been inconsistent, Brett Pesce has had a troublesome time adjusting to his new environment and Luke Hughes has regarded like a 21-year-old too typically. Now, with out Hughes or Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey enters the playoffs as a transparent underdog. 2 42-32-7
15

Canadiens
(28) The Canadiens’ rebuild obtained fairly a spark this season with Lane Hutson rising as a future celebrity on the blue line. Hutson leads all rookies with 65 factors, and he is a giant motive why Montreal is within the playoff combine. This roster nonetheless wants some work to succeed in true contender standing, however this season has already been a significant leap ahead. — 39-31-11
16

Hockey Membership
(9) I could have been a 12 months too early on the Utah Hockey Membership, however I will not be hopping off the bandwagon within the offseason. There’s rather a lot to love a couple of gifted younger staff, however they had been only a tier under true playoff-caliber groups. Add yet another top-six ahead and a top-four defenseman, and Utah will likely be exhausting to disregard in 2025-26. 2 38-31-13
17

Wild
(18) It is exhausting to guage the Wild as a result of it appeared like no less than one star participant was on the shelf all 12 months. When everybody was wholesome, Minnesota exceeded my expectations, however these accidents led to the staff struggling over the past couple months. Now that Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek are again, I would count on a aggressive sequence in opposition to Vegas. — 45-30-7
18

Flames
(21) The truth that the Flames hung within the playoff race so long as they did is spectacular. Ryan Huska deserves some stage of consideration for the Jack Adams Award. It was good to see Jonathan Huberdeau bounce again, and Dustin Wolf goes to be one of many recreation’s nice goalies very quickly. Sadly for Calgary, this staff continues to be due for a step again subsequent season. 2 40-27-14
19

Blue Jackets
(31) As of Wednesday morning, the Blue Jackets are nonetheless within the playoff race. That is really astounding, particularly contemplating the hand they had been dealt earlier than the season. I did not assume Columbus may climb out of eighth place within the Metro, not to mention contend for a playoff spot. Due to huge years from Zach Werenski, Kirill Marchenko and a few younger prospects, the Jackets nonetheless have hope. 6 39-33-9
20

Canucks
(11) The Canucks gave the impression to be on the cusp of Cup rivalry after a second-round loss to the Oilers in 2024, however the vibes had been putrid proper out of the gates. There’s simply no different option to say it. Two of Vancouver’s greatest gamers had been beefing, and nearly each affect participant skilled a drop-off in manufacturing. 1 38-29-14
21

Purple Wings
(25) Detroit’s 25-year playoff streak resulted in 2016, and the staff hasn’t been again since. The Purple Wings simply prolonged their postseason drought to 9 seasons, and GM Steve Yzerman will face actual questions this summer time. His rebuild has to point out returns quickly, particularly with the Canadiens and Senators on the rise. 2 38-35-7
22

Rangers
(2) On Nov. 20, the Rangers had been 12-4-1, the fifth-best file within the NHL. Since then, New York has gone 26-32-6. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad fell off a cliff. Alexis Lafreniere regressed. The protection (outdoors of Adam Fox) was an entire mess. What an implosion by a staff tabbed as a preseason Cup contender. 1 38-36-7
23

Sabres
(26) The Sabres have endured the very same season yearly for nearly a decade now. Some younger talent gamers give followers hope, however catastrophic flaws on the roster stop the staff from leveling up. Buffalo wants a giant offseason if it is going to flip the tide and get again to the playoffs for the primary time since 2011. 1 35-39-7
24

Islanders
(16) Talking of groups which have gotten stale, the Islanders are in an analogous place because the Sabres, however no less than they’ve had latest journeys to the convention finals. The Isles’ principal drawback is that they have been devoid of elite offensive talent since John Tavares left for Toronto. Perhaps this disappointment will set off some change on Lengthy Island. 4 35-34-12
25

Geese
(30) There was some progress amongst the Geese’ NHL prospects, like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson and Jackson LaCombe. However the outcome was about the identical. Anaheim has intriguing gamers, however the focus this summer time needs to be on surrounding them with affect veterans. There are nonetheless holes up and down this roster. 1 35-37-9
26

Flyers
(27) This was about what was anticipated from the Flyers. Matvei Michkov inserted himself into the thick of the Calder Trophy race, and the remainder of the roster confirmed fairly a little bit of struggle for some time. What I didn’t foresee was John Tortorella getting fired late. I believed he can be in Philly to finish the rebuild and return the staff to contender standing. 2 33-38-10
27

Kraken
(23) The primary 12 months of the Dan Bylsma period in Seattle did not present many causes for optimism. The five-on-five numbers had been horrid. The Kraken’s two huge free agent acquisitions flopped. Matty Beniers’ struggles proceed. The place is that this staff going proper now? It appears directionless. 1 35-41-6
28

Penguins
(19) How about that Sidney Crosby? He is wonderful. The remainder of the staff, not a lot. However Crosby continues to be taking part in at an especially excessive stage. Repair the goaltending. Discover a defenseman or two. Add some scoring up entrance. Get Crosby again to the playoffs in 2026. 1 33-36-12
29

Bruins
(12) The Bruins took as huge a tumble as any staff this season. Going from a perennial Atlantic Division contender to draft lottery hopefuls. The entrance workplace has made some really puzzling choices over the past 12 months, together with a pair of ill-advised huge free agent contracts and the firing of Jim Montgomery. — 33-39-10
30

Blackhawks
(29) There weren’t too many positives to take from this Blackhawks’ season apart from Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov confirmed flashes of their stints with the staff. Oh effectively, again to hoping the ping pong balls bounce the suitable method. 1 25-46-11
31

Predators
(14) After the most costly summer time in franchise historical past, the Predators turned within the second worst season in franchise historical past. Nashville cratered proper out of the gate and by no means even got here near playoff rivalry. Do the Preds run it again with this similar core? Do they also have a selection? 1 29-44-8
32

Sharks
(32) Frankly, this season was sort of a win for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini regarded terrific, and Will Smith confirmed some progress. William Eklund additionally made optimistic strides. Even with these causes for optimism, the staff carried out poorly sufficient to be within the driver’s seat for 2 consecutive No. 1 total picks. — 20-49-12