2026-27 Stanley Cup Contender Tiers: From Championship Hopes to Just Happy to Be Here – The Hockey Writers – Season Previews

As is the case every season, the moment the Carolina Hurricanes captured the Stanley Cup, the hockey world began looking ahead to the 2026-27 season. Everyone wants to get the early jump on who will be next to hoist the best trophy in professional sports.

With the NHL Draft and free agency behind us, we now have a pretty solid idea of what everyone’s roster will look like before training camp opens in September. Moving through the dog days of summer, we couldn’t help but wonder where each team stands in terms of their chances to lift the Cup.

Tier 1: The Clear Contenders

Hurricanes, Avalanche, Panthers, Lightning

The Hurricanes are the defending champions, have their entire roster back, $11 million in cap space, and didn’t even get their best out of their top center. They have a real chance to be the first repeat champion since the Pittsburgh Penguins achieved the feat in 2016 and 2017.

For the Colorado Avalanche, things look slightly different but largely the same: a superstar core led by arguably the best defenseman and the best player in the world, not to mention one of the finest goaltending tandems in hockey. They were close; now it’s time for them to show they can get over the hump.

Rounding out the contenders are the two familiar faces from Florida. The Panthers get Aleksander Barkov back, acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators, and have one of the nastiest top-nine forward groups in recent memory. The Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, remain offensively dangerous and have one of the best big game goalies of all-time in Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Tier 2: One Piece Away

Canadiens, Wild, Golden Knights, Stars, Oilers

These teams all definitively need one more piece to get them over the hump. The Montreal Canadiens desperately need a No.2 center behind Selke Trophy winner Nick Suzuki, but they have arguably the best and most dynamic young core in the league.

The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a run to the Stanley Cup Final but just couldn’t match up with the Hurricanes in the end. They’ll be there again and always find a way to make a splash move down the stretch.

The Minnesota Wild have a ton of talent and were one of the best teams in the league a season ago. That said, they have a huge issue when it comes to their top two centers, icing one of the weakest combinations in the league. Against a division full of strong centers, it is a glaring weakness.

The Dallas Stars are confusing because they have the kind of roster that, top to bottom, should compete with anyone. Getting Jason Robertson back is huge, and they have some cap space available to make a splash move if they need to.

Finally, there is the Edmonton Oilers with the same issue for the umpteenth year in a row: goaltending. A team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will always be in the mix, and they look to have better stability throughout the lineup. But until the goaltending proves itself, the jury is out on whether they can win the big one.

Tier 3: Definitely Intriguing

Capitals, Sabres, Mammoth, Sharks, Bruins

The Washington Capitals missed the playoffs a season ago but did not simply stand pat. They loaded up in the offseason, adding Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, giving them one of the most substantial top-nine groups in the league. Their defense is a bit weak, but goaltender Logan Thompson is one of the best in the game.

The Buffalo Sabres, who supplied the Capitals with Tuch, appeared to take a step back in the short term but feel like internal development can help take them to a new level. They have one of the best defensive cores in the NHL and their goaltending trio is built to withstand major regression. Another division championship may be asking a lot, but don’t be surprised to see the Sabres in the playoffs again.

The Utah Mammoth were one of the most active teams this offseason, adding Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee while taking a swing on goalie Sebastian Cossa. There are some concerns about their defensive depth, but the young core looks like it could be ready to make a jump.

The San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, had a lot of heads turning this offseason. They re-signed Macklin Celebrini to a monster extension. They also have way too much money invested in Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba. They have a top-tier young core that is starting to come together as a unit.

The Boston Bruins feel like a team with no real group. They don’t look like real contenders, but they did add top-six help in the form of J.J. Peterka. Jeremy Swayman can steal a game plenty of times. Do they have enough outside of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Swayman to do any real damage?

Tier 4: Trending in the Wrong Direction

Ducks, Senators, Kings, Penguins, Red Wings

Coming into the offseason, the Anaheim Ducks looked like a team rapidly on the rise. A disastrous offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, several veteran free agents out the door, and an overpayment to Pavel Mintyukov have everyone questioning the direction of the franchise.

For the Ottawa Senators, there has to be some disappointment in the Tkachuk move. Yes, the move probably is for the best long-term, but they got definitively worse for the coming season. They were a fringe playoff team and lost one of their best forwards. It’s hard to see them getting over the hump in that scenario.

The Los Angeles Kings lost Anze Kopitar to retirement and signed a bunch of okay veterans to short-term contracts. They’ll be fine, and the Pacific Division is the weakest in the league, but they’re a fringe playoff team, at best. In reality, they are probably a lot worse.

The Penguins and Detroit Red Wings both seem to be in holding patterns. The Penguins are set up swimmingly for the future, but they have an aging core and a group of youngsters not quite ready. The Red Wings are reeling after another year of no playoffs; if Dylan Larkin is traded, they can be moved down a tier.

Tier 5: Feisty But Not There

Maple Leafs, Flyers, Devils, Blue Jackets, Islanders, Rangers, Predators

On paper, the Toronto Maple Leafs got better and have options. Is Gavin McKenna worth the hype? It feels like they and the New York Rangers have decent core pieces but don’t seem to have a solid direction that they are working in. The Nashville Predators feel this way as well, trying to ride a veteran core that looked awful two seasons ago.

The New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders both feel like they could realistically be playoff teams, but limited playoff teams. The Devils are hoping a shift in goal and a full season from Jack Hughes can put them over the top. The Islanders, meanwhile, look like a team that could slide back if Ilya Sorokin isn’t playing at a Vezina Trophy level.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers feel like similar teams. Both have good, young cores, though one can’t help but wonder what they would look like if Anaheim hadn’t matched their offer sheet to Carlsson. If the right guys elevate their games, either (or both) could be playoff teams in 2027.

Tier 6: Just Happy to Be Here

Blues, Jets, Kraken, Flames, Blackhawks, Canucks

This is an interesting mix of rudderless teams. The St. Louis Blues moved out key pieces but have just enough talent left over that they shouldn’t be a basement-dweller. It feels like the Winnipeg Jets are also on that same level, but that could drastically change if Connor Hellebuyck is shipped out.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken feel like they are stuck in transition. The latter attempted to make a few big splashes but were spurned by big names like Robertson. They have a few decent prospects in the pipeline but nothing game-changing. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, have a tough of high-end young talent they hope will find their game. At least Connor Bedard is signed, right?

Finally, there are the clear rebuilds. The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames have a few intriguing young pieces but will probably be sellers once again by the time the trade deadline rolls around. Vancouver would probably love to find a buyer for Elias Pettersson, too.

Will Southern Dominance Continue?

“Southern” teams have won five of the last seven Stanley Cups, and those three teams are once again among those to beat. When you factor in “non-traditional” markets, they’ve won the last seven (Colorado in 2022, Vegas in 2023).

Repeating is difficult, and the Atlantic Division may very well cull itself with Tampa Bay, Florida, Buffalo, Boston, and Montreal all standing at least a puncher’s chance of winning the crown. That leaves Colorado. If they can once again withstand Minnesota and Dallas, they will (and should) be favorites to win the Cup.