The compressed NHL calendar following the Stanley Cup playoffs, the draft, and free agency, makes most of July and August… a bit quieter. But it’s also the perfect time to update our Power Rankings of the 32 teams heading into the 2025-26 season.
In addition to the last survey from 1 to 32, this edition includes the main story of each team during the summer break.
How we rank: A panel of hockey commentators, analysts, reporters, and editors from Alofoke Deportes sends out a survey from 1 to 32 based on the strength of each team in the 2025-26 season, generating our master list.
Note: The above ranking of each team refers to the final 2024-25 edition, published on April 11. Stanley Cup odds are according to ESPN BET as of July 24.
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, although 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 many 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. Is this the season the drought ends? Detroit was knocking on the door last season, and General Manager Steve Yzerman filled 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 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 a combined 65 goals in the last two seasons. 22. Columbus Blue Jackets Pre-playoff ranking: 22 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 To 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 by 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 Islanders Pre-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 Rachel Doerrie of Alofoke Deportes, and added an X-factor in forward Jonathan Drouin. This is a team on the rise. 24. Anaheim Ducks Pre-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 very 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 future franchise center James Hagens, who will play another season at Boston College. Is there a big trade in the store? 26. Buffalo Sabres Pre-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 might 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 behind the bench. Then, they drafted 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 Kraken Pre-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 Predators Pre-playoff ranking: 30 Stanley Cup Odds: +10000 The Predators were the undisputed winners of free agency in 2024, and then missed the playoffs by a country mile in 2024-25. Conversely, the 2025 offseason included some quiet moves that should help them get back on track, including a trade for Nicolas Hague and the signings of Erik Haula and Nick Perbix. 30. Pittsburgh Penguins Pre-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-playoff ranking: 32 Stanley Cup Odds: +50000 The Sharks are likely still a year away from a serious playoff push, but general manager Mike Grier added a ton of talent to his roster this summer. Number 2 pick Michael Misa has the talent to hit 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-playoffs 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.
