With the NHL Draft and free agency now completed, the league`s offseason has entered its traditional quiet phase. Over the past month, teams have focused on building their rosters for the 2025-26 season. The big question is: how many truly succeeded in improving?
This offseason edition of the NHL Power Rankings assesses the standing of all 32 teams following the key summertime activities. While uncertainty remains across the league, one fact is clear: the Florida Panthers are currently the premier organization in hockey.
Florida managed to retain their three most significant free agents, reportedly securing them at favorable average annual values. The Panthers appear reloaded and ready for what could be their fourth consecutive deep playoff run. It`s hardly surprising to find the back-to-back champions occupying the top spot in the rankings.
Beneath the top-ranked Panthers, the standings saw considerable fluctuation. In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights made a substantial move by acquiring Mitch Marner, while the Los Angeles Kings seem to have taken a step backward. In the East, the Carolina Hurricanes made efforts to narrow the gap with Florida, and the Toronto Maple Leafs face a significant void left by Marner`s departure.
Following the conclusion of major offseason business, here are the updated NHL Power Rankings.
Biggest Movers
8
Panthers
Panthers
12
Kings
Kings
| Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | Bill Zito continues to work wonders. Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad remain Panthers. Whether it`s skill or the allure of winning and Florida sun, the team is poised for the first three-peat since the Islanders in the early 80s. | 8 | 47-31-4 |
| 2 | Golden Knights | It`s no shock Vegas landed the offseason`s top prize. Mitch Marner joins Jack Eichel, forming a formidable duo. One more defensive addition could make this team a true powerhouse. | — | 50-22-10 |
| 3 | Avalanche | Not a flashy summer, but productive. Colorado re-signed Brock Nelson and bolstered defense with a cheap one-year deal for Brent Burns. They are strong contenders for the 2025 Cup. | 3 | 49-29-4 |
| 4 | Stars | Dallas faces significant salary cap challenges but seems set to compete with the Avalanche in the Central. Keeping Jason Robertson is crucial; trading him would be a major setback. | 3 | 50-26-6 |
| 5 | Hurricanes | Carolina made smart moves: a team-friendly contract for Logan Stankoven, acquiring K`Andre Miller, and signing winger Nikolaj Ehlers. They are actively trying to close the gap with Florida in the East. | 6 | 47-30-5 |
| 6 | Oilers | Paying Trent Frederic almost $4M for limited minutes and signing Andrew Mangiapane to fix depth scoring were questionable. Goaltending remains the biggest unanswered question before October. | 6 | 48-29-5 |
| 7 | Lightning | Tampa Bay has been quiet, but that could change. Even without major moves, they are a strong team. Improving and getting younger on defense would make them formidable heading into 2025-26. | 2 | 47-27-8 |
| 8 | Maple Leafs | Despite losing Mitch Marner, the Leafs retain talent with three Core Four members and promising Matthew Knies. Matias Maccelli was a smart low-key addition. However, losing a 100-point scorer undoubtedly weakens the team. | 7 | 52-26-4 |
| 9 | Senators | Ottawa hasn`t made huge splashes but executed savvy under-the-radar moves like acquiring Jordan Spence (underused in LA) and signing Lars Eller (excellent 4C). The Senators are looking to challenge the Atlantic`s top teams. | 1 | 45-30-7 |
| 10 | Mammoth | Enthusiasm is high for Utah`s team. The talent base is strong, especially after trading for JJ Peterka, who could score 40 goals. Losing Michael Kesselring stings, but the offense got a major boost. | 6 | 38-31-13 |
| 11 | Devils | The Devils appear set to return with their core largely intact, which isn`t necessarily bad. With talents like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt, the key question is whether Hughes can stay healthy for a full season. | 3 | 42-33-7 |
| 12 | Capitals | Little has changed for Washington, and that`s fine. They`re bringing back most of the team that achieved 51 wins and 111 points last season. Some regression is likely, but they should remain competitive in the Metro Division. | 2 | 51-22-9 |
| 13 | Jets | Winnipeg lost Nikolaj Ehlers and added older players like Jonathan Toews and Gus Nyquist, whose prime years are past. After winning the Presidents` Trophy, the Jets seem poised for a significant decline. | 10 | 56-22-4 |
| 14 | Wild | Scoring remains a concern. While Vladimir Tarasenko adds depth, he`s past his peak. With Marco Rossi on the trade block, Minnesota`s summer success hinges on acquiring a true No. 1 center; otherwise, another early playoff exit seems likely. | 3 | 45-30-7 |
| 15 | Canadiens | Montreal is intriguing. They made the playoffs last season with a -20 goal differential, suggesting some good fortune. However, they have exciting young talent like Calder winner Lane Hutson and acquired Noah Dobson in a major trade. | — | 40-31-11 |
| 16 | Kings | Missing out on Mitch Marner, trading Jordan Spence, and signing Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin to large deals mark the Kings as significant offseason losers so far. They`re likely still a playoff team but seem destined for another loss to the Oilers. | 12 | 48-25-9 |
| 17 | Blues | St. Louis improved center depth with Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad. While there are positive aspects, they seem to lack the high-end scoring needed to compete with top division rivals. Can Jim Montgomery`s defensive system lead them back to the postseason? | 4 | 44-30-8 |
| 18 | Rangers | New York effectively swapped K`Andre Miller for Vladislav Gavrikov and moved veteran Chris Kreider`s contract. With Mike Sullivan taking over as coach, it`s been a mixed offseason, suggesting the Rangers might be on the playoff bubble next season. | 4 | 39-36-7 |
| 19 | Canucks | Unexpected moves include Pius Suter leaving, Evander Kane arriving, and Brock Boeser returning. It`s difficult to predict Vancouver`s trajectory. Will they resemble the conference finalist team from 2023-24 or the squad that missed the playoffs last year? The latter seems more probable. | 1 | 38-30-14 |
| 20 | Red Wings | Detroit acquired John Gibson, the top goalie available via trade, and added defensive forward Mason Appleton. It`s debatable if this is enough to end their long playoff drought. Steve Yzerman might need a bigger trade splash soon (perhaps for Jason Robertson). | 1 | 39-35-8 |
| 21 | Ducks | Aside from adding veterans Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider, significant improvement must come from within. Young talents like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Mintyukov need to elevate their game under new coach Joel Quenneville. | 4 | 35-37-10 |
| 22 | Sabres | Buffalo presents a mixed picture: exciting forwards and a promising young defense core. However, persistent holes in the lineup remain unfilled. The team has a history of self-sabotage, making playoff predictions difficult until proven on the ice. | 1 | 36-39-7 |
| 23 | Bruins | Ranking Boston at 23 might even be generous. Beyond David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy (and possibly Hampus Lindholm or Jeremy Swayman), there are few players to generate excitement. The 2025-26 season could be challenging for the Bruins. | 6 | 33-39-10 |
| 24 | Predators | Nashville made minor adjustments to their defense but otherwise had an uneventful offseason. While positive regression might improve their standing, it`s unlikely to push them into a playoff spot. The front office might be better served focusing on the 2026 offseason. | 7 | 30-44-8 |
| 25 | Blue Jackets | Though they missed the playoffs by just two points last season, this ranking reflects skepticism. Columbus performed above expectations. The acquisition of Charlie Coyle raised eyebrows, and the Ivan Provorov extension likely caused frustration among fans. | 6 | 40-33-9 |
| 26 | Flyers | Trading for Trevor Zegras was a shrewd move, betting on a talented young player whose value was low. If Zegras thrives, Philly gains a star; if not, his expiring contract limits risk. Still, the Flyers likely need another year before contending for a playoff spot. | — | 33-39-10 |
| 27 | Islanders | Change is finally underway on Long Island with Lou Lamoriello out and the roster shaken up. Star defenseman Noah Dobson is gone (to Montreal), potentially replaced by top pick Matthew Schaefer. A tough year might be ahead, but the future outlook is brighter. | 3 | 35-35-12 |
| 28 | Flames | Calgary also narrowly missed the playoffs but fell significantly in these rankings. They benefited from favorable luck last season, and the current roster remains underwhelming, especially if Rasmus Andersson is traded soon. | 10 | 41-27-14 |
| 29 | Kraken | Seattle has made moves, but their effectiveness is questionable. Lane Lambert, with an underwhelming Islanders resume, is coach. Mason Marchment is a good player but doesn`t significantly move the needle. Ryan Lindgren struggled last year but now has a key role on defense. | 2 | 35-41-6 |
| 30 | Penguins | Pittsburgh is clearly prioritizing the long game, not aiming for improvement next season. Few major additions were made, and GM Kyle Dubas is likely shopping players like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. The Penguins are expected to be poor, but deliberately so. | 2 | 34-36-12 |
| 31 | Sharks | San Jose will still be bad, but perhaps less so. They boast three exciting young forwards and added some veteran defensemen. While playoff contention is out of reach, they should provide more competitive hockey on a nightly basis. | 1 | 20-50-12 |
| 32 | Blackhawks | Last season highlighted how far the Blackhawks` rebuild has to go; even Connor Bedard struggled as the team finished last. Expect more young prospects to play bigger roles in 2025-26, and it will be key to see which ones establish themselves at the NHL level. | 2 | 25-46-11 |
