The NHL is closing in on another season, and the conversation is already turning to who can claw its way back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. September 29th is the start date, and a handful of teams that sat on the outside last year have a real chance to push back in.
The New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers are all part of that mix after missing last season or dealing with major setbacks, and the question now is which clubs can turn the page fast enough to matter in 2026-27.
Winnipeg is one of the clearest bounce-back bets. The Jets had a season to forget and need more from their stars, because the offense can’t keep leaning only on Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi.
Head coach Scott Arniel has already talked about breaking those three up to spread the scoring around, and that kind of balance is exactly what Winnipeg lacked. There had been talk about Connor Hellybucke being moved, but he remains in place, which is the right call.
After last year, the Jets simply need to be better.
St. Louis also has a path back.
The Blues finished with 86 last season and came close enough to make the conversation feel real. They were active this offseason, sending Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and bringing in Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish.
If those two give them solid production, the impact could be significant. Jimmy Snuggerud is coming off a strong year with 51 points in 70 games, and Jordan Binnington’s play in goal looms large after a rough season.
When Binnington gets off his game, his mindset slips too, and that has led to bad play.
Washington is another team that looks different now. The Capitals added Jordan Kyrou, Boone Jenner and Alex Tuch to reshape the forward group, and Alex Ovechkin is back for another season.
That gives them a lineup with more size and speed, plus a more complete two-way feel. There’s a case to be made for them finishing top-3 in their division and pushing into the top-10 league-wide.
The roster has been upgraded in a way that should make them dangerous.
San Jose is a more youthful swing, but the upside is there if the pieces fit. Macklin Celebrini remains the headline attraction, and another season from one of the league’s best young stars gives the Sharks a real chance to take a step.
The free-agent moves weren’t all clean - Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse were overpaid - but the team still has enough talent to compete. Mason Marchment adds veteran presence and should help protect the younger players while contributing offense.
The biggest swing factor is Yaroslav Askarov, who has to be better in net. His career .887 save percentage is not going to get the Sharks where they want to go.
The Rangers round out the group, and their outlook depends on whether key players rise to the moment. Pavel Dorofeyev is the kind of addition that can change an attack because he scores at an elite level.
He also showed he can hold his own even away from Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. In the 25-26 season, he played 403 minutes at 5v5 without either of them, and Vegas posted a 55.3 expected goals percentage while outshooting opponents by 68 in that stretch.
That kind of impact matters. Still, Alexis Lafreniere has to deliver more.
As the first overall pick, he has not lived up to those expectations yet, and this season could be a major one for him.
In Other News...
Jets Still Need More From Dylan Samberg Than Just Shutdown Defense
Dylan Samberg has spent enough time in Winnipegs system to understand what the Jets value from him, and the case for his importance is straightforward: clean exits, steady minutes and the kind of defensive reliability that lets the rest of the blue line breathe. Injuries have interrupted his run in recent seasons, but when he is available, he has looked like the sort of defenseman the Jets can trust in heavy usage, especially alongside Neal Pionk.
The wrinkle is that Winnipeg needs a little more than pure shutdown work now. Sambergs game has to keep progressing in a way that gives the Jets some offensive payoff, too, because the role they envision for him is bigger than simply absorbing pressure and making life easier in his own end. With his contract situation adding another layer to the picture, the next step in his development matters for both the lineup and the organizations longer-term plans. [Read more 🡒]