NHL training camps open is less than two weeks, and we're a little over a month away from the start of the 2026-27 NHL season, which begins on Sept. 29. That means it's a good time to take a look at who should be the strongest - and weakest - teams when the puck drops for the league's 109th campaign.
Typically, the top-ranked team would be the reigning Stanley Cup champion, with consideration also given to the Presidents' Trophy-winning club - if they're not one and the same. That would mean the Carolina Hurricanes would enter 2026-27 in the No. 1 spot as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights this past June to win the second championship in franchise history.
However, some might say the Colorado Avalanche deserve the distinction since they finished eight points ahead of the Hurricanes in last season's overall regular-season standings and captured the Presidents' Trophy for the fourth time. The Avs set the franchise record with 121 points and matched the mark for regulation losses in a full season with only 16, which was established in 2000-01.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks were far and away the worst in the NHL last campaign as they finished with just 58 points - 14 fewer than the closest team. It was their lowest total in a full season since they also earned 58 in 1998-99.
When ranking teams prior to the start of a season, their offseason additions and subtractions must be taken into account. Did the club sign an impact player or lose one through free agency? Did it pull off a trade that would be immediately beneficial? Did a key member of the previous campaign's roster decide to retire?
With all of those things taken into account, we'll take an early look at the power rankings heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.
Which teams have the best outlook for the 2026-27 NHL season? And which ones are lower than expected? ... Join SportsLine right now to see the 2026-27 NHL power rankings from the expert who has covered the league and the sport of hockey for more than 20 years!
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