As the NHL's 2026-27 season edges closer, hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the return of their favorite teams and players. With the summer months providing a welcome break from the intense action on the ice, it's the perfect time for analysts and fans alike to start speculating about potential lineup changes and positional battles. This season, several teams are expected to undergo significant transformations, with new players and coaches set to shake up the dynamics in various divisions. As the opening face-off approaches, we take a closer look at some of the most intriguing lineup projections and positional showdowns that could shape the course of the 2026-27 NHL season.

The 2026-27 NHL season does not begin for another two months, but it’s never too early to begin making lineup projections for teams as the season gets closer. For the…