The NHL’s title picture is always moving, but a few teams stand out as the ones best positioned to chase a Stanley Cup before 2030. Carolina already owns the league’s top prize and now gets to try to build something even bigger. Behind them, there’s a mix of established powers, rising talent and a few clubs still trying to kick down the door.
At the top of the list sits the Carolina Hurricanes, and it’s not hard to see why. They just won the Stanley Cup last season, and they enter this NHL season with a chance to go back-to-back.
Their roster is built on smart spending and strong value contracts, which has helped them stay in the playoff mix and turn that consistency into a championship. Jacob Slavin is a top-12 defenseman earning just over $6 million, while Sebastian Aho, their highest-paid player, makes a little more than $9 million.
That kind of balance gives Carolina a real chance to keep rolling and maybe even put together a dynasty.
The Dallas Stars come next, and the question there is simple: when does the breakthrough finally arrive? Dallas has been a regular-season force, and Jason Robertson is back on a one-year deal.
Even with Pete DeBoer out after a successful run, the Stars still have the kind of core that keeps them in the conversation. But the Western Conference keeps getting in the way.
Last season brought the start of the Glen Gulutzan era, and it ended with a first-round exit. Jake Oettinger remains the swing piece, especially after posting an .893 save percentage last season and allowing nearly 3 goals per game the year before.
Vegas lands at No. 3 after another strong run in 2025, though the Golden Knights still trail Carolina in this race. Since arriving in the league, they’ve been in the playoff hunt almost every step of the way.
Losing Pavel Dorofeyev hurts, but the offense still looks dangerous. Mitch Marner and Brett Howden were major producers in the playoffs, and the goaltending is expected to be in good shape.
Vegas also stays aggressive when it senses a problem, even making the call to dismiss a head coach just before the regular season concluded.
The Montreal Canadiens are next, and their case is built on youth with upside. Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson and Juraj Slavkovsky give them a core that could grow into something formidable in the Eastern Conference over the next few years.
Martin St. Louis has also made real progress as head coach, which only adds to the optimism around this group.
Montreal may not be there yet, but the talent is lining up fast.
Rounding out the top five is the Colorado Avalanche, a team that still has the kind of star power that can carry it deep into the postseason. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar remain one of the league’s best duos, and even with age becoming a factor, both continue to play at a high level.
Since 2020, Colorado has finished in the top 10 of the NHL standings and posted the league’s best regular-season record twice. Only one of those seasons ended with a Stanley Cup, but the foundation is still strong.
The goaltending has been good, Jared Bednar remains a solid coach, and the Avalanche still look built to win.
In Other News...
Joel Kiviranta Returns With A Big Chance Dallas Really Needs
Joel Kiviranta is on track to rejoin Dallas for the 2026-27 season, giving the Stars a familiar depth option at a time when every useful forward spot matters. His last season in Colorado was a difficult one, with injuries and a reduced role limiting him to 51 games, 3 goals and 6 assists while averaging 10:22 of ice time. For Dallas, the appeal is straightforward: he knows the organization, and he arrives with a chance to reset his game in a setting that once brought out some of his best hockey.
The fit is more about opportunity than splash, but that can still matter for a club looking to round out a lineup. Kiviranta is expected to compete for a bottom-six role, and if he can stay healthy and find some traction, he could become the kind of inexpensive, reliable contributor teams lean on over the long grind of a season. The question for Dallas is whether this return becomes a quiet depth win or just another stop on a career still searching for a clean run. [Read more 🡒]