How Every NHL Team Can Overachieve in the 2025-26 Season

The NHL season is around the corner, and it’s a time of the year when every fanbase (or at least most of them) is optimistic. Any team, if certain things go right, can overachieve significantly. Let’s dive into why every team can exceed expectations. 

Carolina Hurricanes 

The Hurricanes are the standard in the Metropolitan Division and have been for the past five seasons. They consistently finish with the best or second-best record and have made the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three seasons. There’s a chance this is the best season yet for the Rod Brind’Amour-led group, with the new additions making them a Stanley Cup-caliber group. 

The defense will be faster with K’Andre Miller in it, and the addition should also upgrade the unit in the offensive zone. Likewise, the forward group now has Nikolaj Ehlers, a playmaker on the wing who can take the top-end talent to the next level. Do the Hurricanes still have issues preventing them from winning the Cup? Yes. However, they have a great group that is capable of putting this team over the hump.

Columbus Blue Jackets 

The Blue Jackets were a borderline playoff team last season, and it’s easy to see them take a big step forward this season. It starts with Zach Werenski remaining a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman after his breakout season and Adam Fantilli, who is coming off a 31-goal season, establishing himself as one of the elite scorers in the NHL. 

If the Blue Jackets find scoring depth and stability in the net, then watch out for this team. It also helps that general manager (GM) Don Waddell will make a big move at the deadline to upgrade this team. With all the pieces falling into place, there’s a chance they end up in the top three in the Metropolitan Division. 

New Jersey Devils 

The Devils are expected to be a great team, even with Luke Hughes’ contract status up in the air. It starts with the star power and goes down to the revamped depth, which includes Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. The Devils are also the team willing to make a big move to become a Cup contender and acquire a player like Nazem Kadri or Quinn Hughes to move the needle. 

New York Islanders 

Two factors will help the Islanders overachieve. The youth movement is the big one, as a team with a suddenly revamped farm system can have multiple elite young players making a difference. Matthew Schaefer was the top pick in the 2025 draft and can be the next elite two-way defenseman from day one. Calum Ritchie, who they got in the Brock Nelson trade, is set up to be a top-six center with great two-way potential as well. 

It’s also worth noting that the core is good enough to have this team back in the playoffs. Ilya Sorokin can have a remarkable season and look like the Vezina finalist self the Islanders saw in 2022-23. Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal can form a top line connection to carry the offense and have the team near the top of the standings. 

New York Rangers 

The Rangers’ having a great season is rather straightforward. Igor Shesterkin is one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL, and his season reflects that. Artemi Panarin is in a contract year, so he puts together a career year. With Mike Sullivan as the head coach, the Rangers find stability in the forward lines, and after the mess that was last season, they bounce back and are in the playoffs. 

Philadelphia Flyers 

The Flyers have plenty of prospects at the forward position who can make a big impact this season. Between Alex Bump, Denver Barkey (perhaps by midseason), and Nikita Grebenkin, one of them can break out and make the forward unit great. 

With Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny leading the way and Trevor Zegras being an X-factor, the Flyers can have a forward unit that comes at teams in waves. The defense is still questionable. However, if Cam York and Jamie Drysdale play to their capabilities (a big if), the D could actually be an asset. Goaltending consistency remains an issue but it won’t matter if the rest falls in place. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

The youth movement will keep this team’s hopes alive. If Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and the rest of the prospects are on the Penguins and playing well, the rebuild can be faster than expected (and maybe Sidney Crosby will finish his career as a Penguin after all). 

Washington Capitals 

The Capitals were the definition of overachievers last season, going from a borderline playoff team to boasting the best record in the Eastern Conference. So, how do they follow up last season with a better one? With their stars stepping up in the playoffs as well. The Second Round series against the Hurricanes saw the team fall apart, and the staples of the offense all season were non-existent. So, if Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome, and Jakob Chychrun deliver when the pressure is amped up, they’ll be fine in the playoffs. 

Boston Bruins 

After the mess that was last season, it’s easy to see this team bouncing back. It starts with David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy but it’s fueled by rebound seasons from Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Jeremy Swayman. That, plus a healthy Hampus Lindholm on defense, should have the Bruins back in the playoffs. 

Buffalo Sabres 

The JJ Peterka trade makes the Sabres worse on paper. On the ice, the Michael Kesselring addition could be exactly what the defense needs to make everything work. The defense has the talent to become an elite unit, and Tage Thompson is a star to build the offense around. Now, it’s all about putting everything together. 

Detroit Red Wings 

The Red Wings have been a close yet so far team for a few seasons now and have needed one or two pieces to become a playoff team. The hope is that they have the goaltender, at least that’s what GM Steve Yzerman hopes. John Gibson adding stability to the position can leave the Red Wings with no weaknesses and make them a playoff team. 

Florida Panthers 

How do the Panthers overachieve when they’ve reached the pinnacle in back-to-back seasons? The answer is they win the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup. The last team to do that in a full season was the Red Wings in 2007-08, yet the Panthers can do something those Wings didn’t: win three Cups in a row and officially become a dynasty. 

The Panthers have the talent to do it as well. Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk (who is out until December), Sam Bennett, and the rest of the forwards are in their primes. Their third line (Eetu Luostarainen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand) is better than most teams’ top lines. Sergei Bobrovsky is the best goaltender in the game and is still playing at a high level. Also, don’t put it past Bill Zito to make a big move to upgrade the defense or a glaring need at the trade deadline. 

Montreal Canadiens 

The Canadiens are expected to make a big leap this season. There are plenty of reasons to believe it will happen. The core is only getting better, and Ivan Demidov, the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy, is expected to be an elite forward as well. 

The Noah Dobson addition is a needle-mover. Now, the Canadiens have a great two-way defense with Dobson and the reigning Calder Trophy winner, Lane Hutson, overwhelming opponents. Better yet, the Canadiens have the assets to make a splash, so keep an eye on them as they can enter the Cup conversation this season and for years to come. 

Ottawa Senators 

The second half of last season is where everyone saw the upside of the Senators. The core is great and only getting better with Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson in particular emerging as top of the league players at their positions. Along with the Canadiens, they can be the surprise team that finishes with the best record in the Atlantic Division. 

Tampa Bay Lightning 

Every season, the Lightning look like a team on the decline, and they prove everyone wrong by making the playoffs. The Lightning overachieving means they turn back the clock and look like the team that went on back-to-back Cup runs earlier in the decade, which can happen with Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman playing a full season at a high level. 

Toronto Maple Leafs 

The Maple Leafs lost Mitch Marner in the offseason and are expected to regress. The opposite can happen as they are now set up with a better defense and more depth, thanks to the Matias Maccelli and Nicolas Roy additions. That’s a blueprint to having a great season. 

They are also built for the playoffs, especially if Anthony Stolarz keeps playing at a high level. The Maple Leafs won’t run up the score on many teams (although with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, they’ll have plenty of offense), yet they’ll be prepared for the playoffs and the inevitable matchup against the Panthers. 

Chicago Blackhawks 

The Blackhawks took a step back last season, so it’s safe to assume the rebuilding team will take a step forward. It starts with Connor Bedard establishing himself as one of the best players in the game and proving he can withstand the hits and physicality that come with playing in the NHL. With the other young players also making their marks, this team can be a sneaky pick to make the playoffs. 

Colorado Avalanche 

The Avalanche lost in the First Round last season, and the future looked bleak at the time. Make no mistake, they are a better and more well-rounded team this season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are the building blocks and two of the top five players in the game. With Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, and Brent Burns adding depth, and goaltending being a strength, the Avalanche have all the pieces in place to make a playoff run. 

Dallas Stars 

The Stars were in the Western Conference Final in each of the past three seasons and checked off all the boxes of a contender. So, what must happen for them to take the next step? It starts with Mikko Rantanen, who proved he can singlehandedly take over games in the playoffs, while the other elite players must also step up and carry the team in the playoffs. 

Minnesota Wild 

The Wild are in a tough spot with Kirill Kaprizov entering the season without a long-term deal. It can still work out for them as a healthy Karpizov putting together a career-best season can turn this team into one of the best in the NHL. That and the defense building off a strong season can allow the Wild to win a playoff series and go on a run, something they haven’t done in over a decade. 

Nashville Predators 

After everything went wrong last season, a bounce-back is in store for the Predators. If Filip Forsberg, Jonathan Marchessault, and Steven Stamkos find chemistry in the top six while Roman Josi has help on defense, this team can be a playoff team. 

St. Louis Blues 

It’s fair to say the Blues overachieved last season. There’s also the case that they are building something special. The Blues have a defense that’s shaping up to be one of the best in the NHL, with Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, and Justin Faulk leading the way, while Logan Mailloux, who they added in the summer, rounds out the unit as a two-way player on the second or third pair.  

Utah Mammoth

This team is expected to make a big jump in the standings, and this is the season they can do it. The young talent is starting to hit its stride, and JJ Peterka can be the missing piece in the top six. With prospects on top of prospects, Utah can also make a big move at the deadline to make a push for a playoff spot or better. 

Winnipeg Jets 

The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy, and a regression is expected. That might happen in the regular season but it wouldn’t be the worst thing for them to win the Cup. They are still a team that can play at one gear during the regular season and take things up a notch in the playoffs, notably if Connor Hellebuyck is playing at a high level in the playoffs. So, maybe they don’t overwork their starting goaltender and have him ready for a playoff run. 

Anaheim Ducks 

Everyone’s high on the Ducks. It makes sense as they have a great young core that’s hitting its stride, and for the first time in a while, they don’t have a glaring weakness. What will have the Ducks overachieving is Joel Quenneville behind the bench as the multi-Cup-winning coach can get the most out of this group. 

Calgary Flames 

If Dustin Wolf is the next great young goaltender and the defense is still great, the Flames will be a playoff team. This team looks a lot like the next generation Jets, where they don’t have stars in the forward unit or on defense, but they are deep in good player. The offense also looks to improve after averaging only 2.6 goals per game, so this team can be one of the surprises in the Pacific Division. 

Edmonton Oilers

There’s a lot of pressure on the Oilers, especially if Connor McDavid is willing to wait things out. That said, the waiting game can allow them to win the Cup. McDavid bets on himself with a career year, and the Oilers can be aggressive at the trade deadline, knowing they must do everything to keep him. 

The question is what the Oilers do to make it over the top? They must be prepared to win in the Final and beat a team like the Panthers, with multiple great forward lines and physicality in the lineup. So, look for them to make some big moves. 

Los Angeles Kings 

The Kings are still good enough to return to the playoffs. With Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield, and a great core, they’ll be a playoff team. Once they are in, they’ll have the pieces to win in the playoffs, and maybe the veterans added by GM Ken Holland will pay off. 

San Jose Sharks 

The Sharks have plenty of kids in their lineup. If Macklin Celebrini is a top-three player and Michael Misa is already a reliable second-line center, while the rest of the youth is ahead of schedule, this team will make up ground in the standings. Moreover, Yaroslav Askarov in the starting net will make the Sharks overachieve. 

Seattle Kraken 

There’s a chance that new head coach Lane Lambert unlocks the offense. There’s also a chance he gets the most out of Matty Beniers and Shane Wright as the two young players become building blocks for the Kraken. There isn’t a lot of optimism, yet there is a path for the Kraken to contend. 

Vancouver Canucks 

If last season was an outlier, the Canucks will be fine this time around. Elias Pettersson can finally look like an elite center, and Quinn Hughes can lead a great defense with Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson rounding out the unit. With Brock Boeser signed for the long term and a consistent goaltending tandem, the Canucks can be great. 

Vegas Golden Knights 

The Mitch Marner addition is what gives the Golden Knights optimism. With him and Jack Eichel on the same line, there are two Selke Trophy candidates playing together that can toe-to-toe with anyone. Sure, Marner struggles in the playoffs but he won’t be asked to carry the Golden Knights, so this is a team with Cup aspirations to watch out west.