Hockey is back on the calendar, and with the 2026-27 preseason in the books after Saturday, Sept. 26, the regular season is right around the corner on Sept. 29. Before the first puck drop, the usual debates are already taking shape: who’s a true contender, who’s fooling us, and which teams might end up staring at the 2027 NHL Draft instead of a playoff run.
That’s what makes the division-race conversation so interesting. Four teams stand out as possible dark horses to win their divisions in 2026-27, even if they aren’t the obvious picks on paper.
In the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators have a real path to the top. Yes, losing Brady Tkachuk hurts.
But Ottawa still has plenty of pieces that make this more than a puncher's chance. William Eklund, brought in for the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, arrives after being a strong top-six winger for the San Jose Sharks.
He rarely skated with Macklin Celebrini at 5-on-5, which makes him a breakout candidate now that he’s in better company in Ottawa.
The strength of this team starts on the back end. Jake Sanderson has already established himself as a dependable No. 1 defenseman, and at 24, there may still be another level there.
Thomas Chabot gives Ottawa a major boost when he’s healthy, though staying available remains the main issue. If he does miss time, Jordan Spence is a capable answer in a top-pairing role.
Add in Artem Zub’s shutdown work and the upside of rookie Carter Yakemchuk, and the blue line looks strong.
Up front, the Senators have a center group that can hold its own with Tim Stützle, Dylan Cozens, and Shane Pinto. There’s also enough skill and two-way play on the wings to make the offense look balanced rather than top-heavy.
The biggest swing factor remains in goal. That has been the question around Ottawa for a while.
Still, Linus Ullmark’s .891 save percentage last season was a career low, so some bounce-back feels reasonable. Behind him, Samuel Ersson only needs to be better than Leevi Merilainen’s .860 save percentage.
In the Central Division, the Utah Mammoth are the boldest pick of the bunch. Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota are the obvious powers there, so picking Utah over all three takes some faith.
Even the offseason moves didn’t exactly scream certainty. The price paid for 23-year-old goaltender Sebastian Cossa and 33-year-old forward Vincent Trocheck was steep, and those additions may not move the needle as much as hoped.
Still, the upside is hard to ignore. Logan Cooley took steps forward last season, even if injuries kept it from becoming the full breakout many expected.
At 22, with more than 200 games already behind him, he looks ready to become the star top-line center he appears destined to be. Dylan Guenther is another name to watch after reaching 40 goals for the first time last season at age 23.
Daniil But and Dmitri Simashev are also in the mix as players who could become much bigger names in Utah.
The Mammoth have youth and proven talent working together, with Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Mikhail Sergachev also part of the picture. If Colorado slips, Dallas ages out a bit, and Minnesota’s goaltending injuries linger, Utah has a chance to take advantage.
The Metropolitan Division may have the most obvious favorite in the Carolina Hurricanes, who are running it back with almost the same roster that won the Stanley Cup just three and a half months ago and finished with a record-setting 16-3 run to get there. Even so, the New Jersey Devils have built a roster that can make this a race.
Their two biggest summer concerns were finishing and goaltending, and Sunny Mehta attacked both. Anthony Mantha gives them the best finisher available, while Luke Evangelista came in after a trade involving draft picks and helped Steven Stamkos post the best shooting-percentage season of his career. In goal, the move from Jacob Markström and his .883 save percentage to the Florida Panthers amounts to a clear upgrade by subtraction.
Depth was another issue, and the Devils added more of it with Evangelista, Amadeus Lombardi, Mantha, and Evan Rodrigues. If they can stay even reasonably healthy, a division title is absolutely in play.
Out West, the Pacific Division looks wide open enough that almost any pick could work. The Los Angeles Kings are the choice here, even with captain and franchise icon Anže Kopitar hanging up the skates in April. The case starts with the forward group, which looks more effective than flashy.
Quinton Byfield stands out as one of the league’s most underrated players. He averaged 20 minutes a night last season and brought strong two-way value, even if the 49 points didn’t exactly put him in the spotlight.
Adrian Kempe belongs in that same underrated conversation as a skilled player who doesn’t get enough league-wide attention. Trevor Moore is another name that deserves more credit, even from a second-line spot.
The real backbone, though, should be the defense. Los Angeles has long been a team that defends well, and that should continue as 23-year-old Brandt Clarke takes on a larger role, possibly as the team’s No.
- If Darcy Kuemper can get anywhere close to his 2024-25 form, when he finished third in Vezina Trophy voting, the Kings could do more than just sneak into the division picture.
They could make real noise in the playoffs, too.
In Other News...
Alexander Holtz Just Revived An Old Devils Development Debate
The Devils trimmed their roster ahead of the official deadline, putting goaltender David Rittich on waivers and claiming Remi Poirier from the Dallas Stars. But the more familiar name in the mix is Alexander Holtz, the former first-round pick New Jersey once hoped would grow into a steady scoring piece.
Holtzs situation has a way of pulling the conversation back to one of the organizations lingering development debates, because he was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights and is now on waivers after limited scoring success. For Devils fans, it is another reminder of how uncertain the path can be for a young forward who arrives with pedigree, leaves with questions, and still leaves plenty of second-guessing behind. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Camp Battle Is Putting One Tough Roster Decision Front And Center
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Jesper Boqvist, Colin White and Stefan Noesen are among the names in the mix, and the numbers game could eventually force the issue through waivers. Amadeus Lombardi is also part of the equation, with a possible AHL assignment looming as the organization weighs whether he is better served by development time or a spot on the big club. It is the kind of roster squeeze that speaks well of the depth, even if it leaves a few players waiting for the final answer. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Opening Night Will Test A Roster That Suddenly Feels Deeper
The Devils head into opening night looking like a club that carried more than just good vibes out of camp. Their preseason showed a group playing with sharper cohesion and a clearer sense of identity, and it was the kind of stretch that made the roster feel deeper than it did a year ago. Amadeus Lombardi was among the players who turned that opportunity into something more concrete, earning a spot and adding to the sense that the pipeline under Tom Fitzgerald is starting to produce real options.
Now the challenge shifts from summer optimism to a game that counts, with the Flyers waiting to provide an early read on how much of that preseason improvement holds up. Depth can look different once the pace rises and the matchups sharpen, and opening night should say plenty about whether the Devils are simply better equipped for the grind or ready to turn that added depth into an edge right away. [Read more 🡒]