The compressed NHL calendar following the Stanley Cup playoffs, the draft, and free agency, makes much of July and August a period of relative calm. However, it’s the perfect time to update our Power Rankings of the 32 teams heading into the 2025-26 season. In addition to the latest ranking survey (1-32), this edition includes the main story for each team during the summer break.
How the ranking is done: A panel of commentators, analysts, reporters, and editors from Alofoke Deportes sends a 1-32 survey based on the strength of each team for the 2025-26 season, which generates our master list.
Note: The above ranking of each team refers to the final 2024-25 edition.
1. Florida Panthers
Pre-playoff ranking: 11 Stanley Cup Odds: +600 The Panthers enthusiastically celebrated the Stanley Cup and then re-signed their three main free agents: Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand. Will a three-peat be possible?2. Edmonton Oilers
Pre-playoff ranking: 10 Stanley Cup Odds: +850 A second consecutive loss in the Stanley Cup Final generated a period of reflection. Connor McDavid’s potential free agency in 2026 remains an open topic. Finding a better solution in goal?3. Dallas Stars
Pre-playoffs ranking: 3 Stanley Cup Odds: +1000 Another trip to the Western Conference Finals wasn’t enough for Peter DeBoer to keep his job, being replaced by former Stars coach Glen Gulutzan in July. How will the first full season of the Mikko Rantanen era go?4. Carolina HurricanesPre-playoff ranking: 7 Stanley Cup Odds: +800 Given all the re-signings this offseason, there wasn’t a huge amount of high-impact free agents available. However, one of the best signed with the Hurricanes. How will Nikolaj Ehlers be deployed in Rod Brind’Amour’s system? And can he be the difference-maker in the upcoming postseason?5. Vegas Golden KnightsPre-playoff ranking: 4 Stanley Cup Odds: +850 The same old Knights. The biggest fish in free agency this offseason was Mitch Marner, and indeed, the Vegas management found a way to sign him. This presents a salary cap situation for the club, although that’s nothing new either. Marner visits Toronto on January 23rd.6. Winnipeg Jets
Pre-playoff ranking: 1 Stanley Cup Odds: +2500 The current Presidents’ Trophy winners as regular season champions lost a key player in Nikolaj Ehlers this offseason, but gained perhaps the biggest X-factor in the sport in Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup winner who hasn’t played since the 2022-23 season due to health issues.7. Colorado Avalanche
Pre-playoff ranking: 5 Stanley Cup Odds: +750 A first-round playoff loss is a bit misleading, as it was against the Dallas Stars. The Avs believe they’ve solved their second-line center dilemma with a contract for the 2024-25 trade acquisition Brock Nelson, but do they have enough depth to make another run for the Cup?8. Toronto Maple LeafsPre-playoff ranking: 6 Stanley Cup Odds: +2000 Toronto’s seemingly quixotic quest to win another Stanley Cup continues. It’s been an offseason of ups and downs so far. The Leafs lost Mitch Marner in a trade with Vegas, but signed one of the summer’s best deals with the new pact for Matthew Knies. As always, there’s plenty of drama in the “center of the hockey universe”.9. Washington Capitals
Pre-playoff ranking: 2 Stanley Cup Odds: +3000 Alex Ovechkin begins the 2025-26 season as the NHL’s all-time goal leader, and three away from 900. But the Caps won’t just be feeding him pucks all season. This team hopes to get past the second round, perhaps giving Ovi another Cup for his Hall of Fame resume.10. Tampa Bay LightningPre-playoff ranking: 9 Stanley Cup Odds: +1400 The Lightning continue to expertly manage their roster within the confines of the salary cap. That continued this offseason, as they extended Yanni Gourde and Gage Goncalves to get scoring depth. Another long playoff run is possible, although they will likely have to defeat their rivals from South Florida at some point on that path.11. Los Angeles Kings
Pre-playoff ranking: 8 Stanley Cup Odds: +2000 After signing a large number of veteran depth players for the roster in free agency, the Kings created the best NHL calendar launch video. It’s been an exciting summer!12. Minnesota WildPre-playoffs ranking: 13 Stanley Cup Odds: +4000 At one point, it was thought that the Wild would sign Minnesota natives Brock Nelson or Brock Boeser (or both). Instead, each re-signed with their 2024-25 team. Bringing in Vladimir Tarasenko could be one of the most skillful moves of the offseason, if the veteran forward can find his old scoring touch that mostly eluded him last season.13. New Jersey DevilsPre-playoff ranking: 15 Stanley Cup Odds: +1600 Aside from some depth adjustments, the Devils didn’t do much this offseason, although re-signing Jake Allen may prove to be one of the wiser roster moves. How will Luke Hughes’ next contract impact the rest of their decisions?14. St. Louis Blues
Pre-playoff ranking: 12 Stanley Cup Odds: +5000 After a playoff appearance last season, it’s been a relatively quiet offseason so far for St. Louis. And, as of now, the club doesn’t have the cap space to sign anyone with a bold offer.15. Ottawa Senators
Pre-playoff ranking: 14 Stanley Cup Odds: +3500 The Senators’ general manager, Steve Staios, has indicated that he likes what he has on the roster and expects growth from within. That was evident this offseason, as the club’s most notable move was re-signing veteran forward Claude Giroux to a one-year contract.16. Montreal CanadiensPre-playoff ranking: 17 Stanley Cup Odds: +6000 Fresh off a surprising appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by trading two first-round picks for 25-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson, and then signing him to an eight-year contract. Are the playoffs now an annual occurrence for the Habs?17. New York Rangers
Pre-playoff ranking: 20 Stanley Cup Odds: +3000 The Rangers changed coaches, from Cup winner Peter Laviolette to Cup winner Mike Sullivan, and found a trade destination for K’Andre Miller after the decision was made not to re-sign the restricted free agent. In between, they got one of the best free agents available, defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Is it enough to get back into the postseason mix?18. Calgary Flames
Pre-playoffs ranking: 16 Stanley Cup Odds: +15000 Another general manager who apparently believes that growth will come from within, general manager Craig Conroy told reporters that the players his front office had targeted in free agency signed elsewhere, and he didn’t feel any great need to spend more than $15 million in cap space just to spend it. He might be onto something, as the team’s youth movement isn’t just Calder Trophy finalist Dustin Wolf, though having a great young goalie certainly doesn’t hurt.19. Utah Mammoth
Pre-playoffs ranking: 19 Stanley Cup Odds: +4000There was no playoff hockey in Utah last spring, but General Manager Bill Armstrong pulled a lot of different levers this offseason to put his team in the best position to get there in 2026. The team traded for a potential superstar in JJ Peterka, signed proven veteran depth in Nate Schmidt and Brandon Tanev, and selected Caleb Desnoyers with the number 4 pick, a 200-foot center who will play a key role for the team sooner rather than later.
20. Detroit Red Wings
Pre-playoff ranking: 21 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 Little Caesars Arena has yet to host a playoff game. Will this be the season the drought ends? Detroit was knocking on the door last season, and General Manager Steve Yzerman addressed perhaps the organization’s biggest need by trading for veteran goaltender John Gibson this summer.21. Vancouver Canucks
Pre-playoff ranking: 18 Stanley Cup Odds: +6000 Based on how the Canucks finished the 2024-25 season, continuity didn’t seem like the best option this summer. But aside from making a coaching change (from Rick Tocchet to Adam Foote) and trading for Evander Kane, it’s mostly status quo. That said, re-signing Brock Boeser was probably an easier option than trying to replace a player who scored 65 combined goals in the last two seasons.22. Columbus Blue JacketsPre-playoff ranking: 22 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000To the surprise of many, the Blue Jackets remained in the playoff race until the last week of the season, thanks in large part to a Norris Trophy finalist campaign from Zach Werenski. The club made some depth additions this offseason: Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood will be particularly useful if they make the 2026 playoffs. But are there some additional moves up general manager Don Waddell’s sleeve before October?
23. New York IslandersPre-playoff ranking: 23 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 The new general manager Mathieu Darche wasn’t shy in his first few weeks on the job. After the Noah Dobson trade, he and his associates selected an A+ class, according to ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie, and added an X-factor to the attack in Jonathan Drouin. This is a team on the rise.24. Anaheim DucksPre-playoff ranking: 24 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 At some point, the Ducks’ rebuild will be over, and that day could be coming sooner than many suspect. General Manager Pat Verbeek was quite busy this summer, adding Chris Kreider in a trade and sending Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia in another trade. The Ducks also added Mikael Granlund in free agency; he will be fundamental to their playoff chances. And, as if all that weren’t enough, they got a top-five talent in the draft class with the number 10 pick in Roger McQueen, and then sent him to Disneyland to celebrate.25. Boston Bruins
Pre-playoff ranking: 29 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 Boston’s offseason business has primarily involved adding depth on the edges, and selecting the franchise’s future center James Hagens, who will play another season at Boston College. Is a big trade in the works?26. Buffalo SabresPre-playoff ranking: 25 Stanley Cup Odds: +20000 At some point, the longest playoff drought in the four major North American professional sports leagues will end. Will it be this season? The Sabres don’t look better on paper than they were at the end of 2024-25, and they could even be worse, given that JJ Peterka was traded to Utah.27. Philadelphia Flyers
Pre-playoff ranking: 28 Stanley Cup Odds: +7500 The Flyers began the offseason by hiring franchise legend Rick Tocchet to take over from the bench. Then, they selected a class of nine players who play like him (or are built like he was in his playing days). In between, they traded for Trevor Zegras, who could end up being the biggest steal of the offseason.28. Seattle KrakenPre-playoff ranking: 27 Stanley Cup Odds: +30000 The Kraken have been patiently building a balanced roster with long-term success in mind. Can they finally turn a corner in 2025-26 after an offseason in which the big additions were Mason Marchment and Ryan Lindgren?29. Nashville PredatorsPre-playoff ranking: 30 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 The Predators were the undisputed winners of free agency in 2024, and then they didn’t make the playoffs by a mile in 2024-25. Conversely, the 2025 offseason included some discreet moves that should help get them back on track, including a trade for Nicolas Hague and the signings of Erik Haula and Nick Perbix.30. Pittsburgh PenguinsPre-playoff ranking: 26 Stanley Cup Odds: +20000 It’s unclear how long the Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang trio will remain on the ice, and rumors have increased that one, two, or all three could end their NHL careers elsewhere. General Manager Kyle Dubas has been busy stocking the prospect cupboards, a process that will continue until opening night, with Erik Karlsson and Bryan Rust frequently mentioned in trade rumors.31. San Jose Sharks
Pre-playoffs ranking: 32 Stanley Cup Odds: +50000 The Sharks are likely still a year away from a serious playoff run, but general manager Mike Grier added a lot of talent to his roster this summer. Number 2 pick Michael Misa has the talent to jump onto the ice this season. The Sharks also signed veterans Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg to add some experience to a defense that lacked in that regard.32. Chicago Blackhawks
Pre-playoff ranking: 31 Stanley Cup Odds: +50000 Perhaps the most important move Chicago needs to make this summer is a contract extension for franchise center Connor Bedard, who will be a restricted free agent next summer. Aside from that, general manager Kyle Davidson seemed mostly content to let his young roster develop, without making any major additions.
