Sure, making the playoffs is a route to winning the Stanley Cup, but can we really take that at face value? It’s a bit more complicated than that. Every postseason has its favorites, and while it would be amazing to see Sidney Crosby back in playoff hockey, few are giving the Penguins a genuine shot at lifting the Cup.
Now, let’s take a look at seven teams that seem most likely to bring home the trophy, ranging from clear favorites to those considered long shots.
1st Place: Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are undeniably at the top of their game this year. With Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar leading the charge, they’ve entered the 2025-26 season with added momentum after acquiring Martin Necas. He arrived last season via a trade with Carolina for Mikko Rantanen, but this season, he’s really found his place within the team.
With a remarkable +94 point differential this season, Colorado’s top two lines are unparalleled. However, the team does face a significant concern with Cale Makar’s upper body injury, which could affect their playoff performance if it keeps him out longer than expected.
Main strengths: Dominance of their top two lines and solid defensive play.
Main weaknesses: Cale Makar’s injury could hinder playoff progress.
2nd place: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have maintained a consistent presence in the playoffs for eight years, largely due to Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s team-oriented style. While this approach has yielded great regular-season results, they often struggle in the playoffs where individual performance makes a crucial difference.
They hope the addition of free agent Nikolai Ehlers is the key to success. Ehlers has found his rhythm after a slow start, contributing 68 points this season. The Hurricanes also saw improvement from Seth Jarvis and Jackson Blake, but the goaltending situation remains the weakest among playoff contenders, which poses a significant risk.
Main strengths: Strong depth across all four lines with minimal drop-off.
Main weaknesses: Freddie Anderson and Brandon Bussi’s inconsistency in net could be problematic.
The Stars are a solid team but have often fallen short of elite expectations. They ended the season with over 100 points but didn’t quite deliver on the promise they had shown at the beginning.
Considered a favorite for the West Division at the onset, the team struggles with scoring without MacKinnon to set up Mikko Rantanen and lacks playmaking centers, standing in the way of their postseason success.
Main strengths: Ability to assert dominance when everything clicks.
Main weaknesses: Inconsistency hampers their overall performance.
4th place: Montreal Canadiens
Whether you love it or hate it, the NHL is undoubtedly more thrilling with the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. This new generation is packed with young talent eager to step up. Their performance this season has exceeded expectations, and many key players have yet to reach their peak.
With the strongest home ice advantage heading into the playoffs, the Bell Centre becomes a daunting place to visit. But, this benefit doesn’t quite erase the defensive issues the Canadiens still need to address, along with mid-tier goaltending challenges.
Main strengths: Cole Caulfield and Juraj Slavkovskiy’s goal-scoring ability.
Main weaknesses: Lack of veteran leadership amidst a young roster.
The Minnesota Wild seem to be on track for the current season. Having signed Kirill Kaprizov to a major contract extension, they also bolstered their line-up by bringing in Quinn Hughes, a top-tier defenseman, along with several smaller contracts at the trade deadline.
Hughes has propelled this team from being playoff contenders to real competitors. However, the reliance on Kaprizov and Matt Boldy for scoring puts them at a disadvantage, as the rest of the roster isn’t quite up to speed.
Main strengths: Exceptional playmaking from Kaprizov, Boldy, and Hughes.
Main weaknesses: Competing in a division dominated by the Avalanche.
6th place: Tampa Bay Lightning
With Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal, the Lightning always have a fighting chance. They proved this by allowing only 222 goals during the 2025-26 season. However, the struggle lies on the offensive end, particularly with both Braden Point and Brandon Hagel showing signs of regression, shifting more pressure onto Nikita Kucherov.
While this iteration of the Lightning is very competent, it has yet to overcome past shortcomings. Relying on veteran Corey Perry, who may not have the impact he once did, raises questions about their strategy moving forward. Yet, there remains potential for them to ignite and make a deep postseason run.
Main strengths: Scoring prowess of Kucherov and Guentzel.
Main weaknesses: Risk of replicating last season’s early playoff exit.
It feels a bit unfortunate to rank one of hockey’s most uplifting stories lower on this list. The Buffalo Sabers, who began the season in seventh place in the Atlantic Conference, have emerged as a formidable opponent in this campaign. They transitioned from being a team in rebuilding mode to a real contender.
Despite their solid depth, they still seem to lack the star power necessary to compete at the highest level. Their power play isn’t fully effective, and relying on players like Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch can lead to diminishing returns.
Main strengths: A belief that they can overcome challenges as a unit.
Main weaknesses: Still a slight deficiency in depth for serious contention.
