The NHL’s upcoming season is set to feature a reshuffled competitive landscape as teams undergo significant roster changes and strategic realignments. Analysts break down each franchise’s prospects, from expansion teams still finding their footing to long-standing powerhouses adjusting to new challenges. With free agency, trades, and coaching shifts already reshaping the league, projections highlight which squads may struggle early while others aim to reclaim top-tier dominance. A detailed team-by-team ranking offers insight into how the sport’s evolving dynamics could redefine standings by next winter.

NHL season previews 2026-27: Projecting each team from worst to first  The New York Times