The NHL’s busy schedule at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the draft, and free agency has made much of July and August a bit quieter.
But it’s also the perfect time to update our Power Rankings of the 32 teams ahead of the 2025-26 season!
In addition to the last survey from 1 to 32, this edition includes the main story for each team during the summer break.
How we rank: A panel of 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, which generates our master list.
Note: The above ranking for each team refers to the final 2024-25 edition.Ilustración de ESPN
NHL Power Rankings for 2025-26
1. Florida Panthers
Pre-playoff ranking: 11
Stanley Cup Odds: +600
The Panthers celebrated another epic event with the Stanley Cup, then proceeded to re-sign their three big pending free agents: Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand. Is a three-peat possible?
2. Edmonton Oilers
Pre-playoff ranking: 10
Stanley Cup Odds: +850
A second consecutive loss in the Stanley Cup Final resulted in a great reflection, all while the sword of Damocles hangs over the franchise in the possible free agency of Connor McDavid in 2026. A still unverified element? Finding a better solution in the 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 save his job, who was replaced by former Stars coach Glen Gulutzan in July. How will the first full season of the Mikko Rantanen era go?
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Pre-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 Knights
Pre-playoffs ranking: 4
Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The same old Knights. The biggest fish in the free agency pond this offseason was Mitch Marner, and sure enough, the Vegas front office found a way to sign him. It presents a salary cap situation for the club, although that’s nothing new either. Marner visits Toronto on January 23rd, for those who are in a calendar-marking mood.
6. Winnipeg Jets
Pre-playoff ranking: 1
Stanley Cup Odds: +2500
The reigning 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 also-colossal Dallas Stars. The Avs believe they have solved their second-line center dilemma with a contract for the 2024-25 trade addition of Brock Nelson, but do they have enough depth to make another run for the Cup?
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Pre-playoffs ranking: 6
Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
The seemingly quixotic quest of Toronto to win another Stanley Cup continues. It has been an up-and-down offseason so far. The Leafs lost Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade deal with Vegas, but signed one of the best deals of the summer with the new pact for Matthew Knies. As always, there is a lot 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 feed him pucks all season. This team will hope to go beyond the second round, perhaps giving Ovi another Cup for his Hall of Fame resume.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
Pre-playoff ranking: 9
Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Lightning continue to expertly massage their roster within the confines of the salary cap. That continued this offseason, as they extended Yanni Gourde and Gage Goncalves for 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-playoffs ranking: 8
Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
After signing a large amount of veteran depth to the roster in free agency, the Kings created the best NHL schedule release video. It’s already been an exciting summer!
12. Minnesota Wild
Pre-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 Devils
Pre-playoffs ranking: 15
Stanley Cup Odds: +1600
Apart from some depth adjustments, the Devils didn’t do much so far this offseason, although re-signing Jake Allen may prove to be one of the wisest 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 has 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 to 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’s 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 Canadiens
Pre-playoff ranking: 17
Stanley Cup Odds: +6000
Fresh off a somewhat 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, then signing him to an eight-year contract. Are the playoffs now an every-year thing 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 the meantime, they got one of the best available free agents, defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Is it enough to get back into the postseason mix?
18. Calgary Flames
Pre-playoff 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 the great need to spend more than $15 million in salary cap space just to spend it. He might be onto something, as the team’s youth movement isn’t all 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: +4000
There 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 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
Given 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 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 a forward X-factor in 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 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 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 the 2024-25 season, 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 from the bench. Then, they selected a class of nine players who all play like him (or are built like he was in his playing days). In the interim, 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 where 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 they failed in the playoffs by a mile in 2024-25. In contrast, the 2025 offseason included some discreet moves that should help them get back to normal, 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 intensified 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 probably still a year away from a serious run at a playoff spot, but general manager Mike Grier added a ton of talent to his roster this summer. No. 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-playoff ranking: 31
Stanley Cup Odds: +50000
Perhaps the biggest move Chicago still 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.
