With the NHL Entry Draft and free agency periods concluded, the league`s offseason activities have settled into their usual quiet phase. Teams spent the past month aiming to bolster their rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 season, but the key question is how effectively they achieved this goal.
In this post-offseason edition of the NHL Power Rankings, we assess the standing of every team with the draft and free agency behind us. While many uncertainties persist across the league, one fact is undeniable: the Florida Panthers are currently the premier organization.
The Florida Panthers successfully retained their key free agents, reportedly at favorable terms regarding average annual value. Having reloaded their roster, the Panthers appear poised for a potential fourth consecutive deep playoff push. It`s hardly surprising to find the defending back-to-back champions atop these rankings.
Below the Panthers, significant shifts have occurred. In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights made a substantial move by acquiring Mitch Marner, while the Los Angeles Kings took a couple of steps backward. The Carolina Hurricanes worked to narrow the gap with Florida, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are left with a clear void to fill.
With every team having addressed some offseason priorities, here are the updated NHL Power Rankings as free agency winds down.
Biggest Movers
- Panthers: Moved Up 8 spots
- Kings: Moved Down 12 spots
| Rk | Teams | Analysis | Chg | Rcrd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | GM Bill Zito continues his effective management. Key players like Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad, among others, remain with the Panthers. Driven by success and locale, Florida is positioned for a potential historic third consecutive championship, a feat not seen since the Islanders` dynasty in the early 1980s. | 8 | 47-31-4 |
| 2 | Golden Knights | Is it a surprise that the Golden Knights secured the biggest name available this offseason? Mitch Marner is now in a Vegas uniform, forming a formidable duo alongside Jack Eichel. One more addition to the defense could complete this juggernaut roster. | — | 50-22-10 |
| 3 | Avalanche | It hasn`t been a flashy summer for the Avalanche, but they`ve handled their crucial business well. Colorado re-signed Brock Nelson and upgraded their defense with an affordable one-year deal for Brent Burns. The Avalanche are once again strong contenders for the Stanley Cup in 2025. | 3 | 49-29-4 |
| 4 | Stars | The Stars face significant salary cap challenges, but as things stand, they appear set to compete with the Avalanche for supremacy in the Central Division. Jason Robertson remains on the roster for now, and Dallas must prioritize avoiding trading him, as it would be a major loss for the organization. | 3 | 50-26-6 |
| 5 | Hurricanes | Carolina`s recent moves have been impressive. The Canes signed Logan Stankoven to a team-friendly contract, acquired K`Andre Miller from the Rangers, and added skilled winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Carolina is actively working to bridge the gap with Florida in the Eastern Conference. | 6 | 47-30-5 |
| 6 | Oilers | Paying Trent Frederic nearly $4 million for a bottom-six role was a curious decision. They also attempted to improve their depth scoring by signing Andrew Mangiapane. Goaltending remains the biggest question mark, and it remains to be seen if the Oilers find a solution at that position before October. | 6 | 48-29-5 |
| 7 | Lightning | The Lightning have been quiet this summer, but it`s uncertain how long that will last. Even if they maintain the status quo, this remains a very capable team. If the Lightning can manage to improve (and get younger) on defense, they will be a formidable presence heading into 2025-26. | 2 | 47-27-8 |
| 8 | Maple Leafs | Even without Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs still possess a talented roster. Three members of the `Core Four` are still in place, and Matthew Knies is expected to take another significant step forward. The acquisition of Matias Maccelli is a notable low-key move. However, losing a player who consistently put up 100 points clearly makes the team weaker. | 7 | 52-26-4 |
| 9 | Senators | Ottawa hasn`t made any major splashy moves yet, but their two under-the-radar acquisitions have been very shrewd. Young defenseman Jordan Spence, underutilized in Los Angeles, is a promising addition, and Lars Eller is an excellent fourth-line center. The Senators are positioning themselves to challenge the top teams in the Atlantic. | 1 | 45-30-7 |
| 10 | Mammoth (Utah) | Expect vocal support for the Utah Mammoth until the season starts. The talent on this team is impressive, especially after the trade for JJ Peterka. He has the potential to score 40 goals in this league. While losing Michael Kesselring stings, Utah`s offense received a significant boost. | 6 | 38-31-13 |
| 11 | Devils | As of now, the Devils seem inclined to largely bring back the same roster. This might not be a bad approach, as there`s plenty to admire about this squad, particularly with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt leading the offense. The key question is whether Hughes can stay healthy for a full 82-game season. | 3 | 42-33-7 |
| 12 | Capitals | Not much has changed for the Capitals, and that`s perfectly acceptable. If it`s not broken, don`t fix it. Washington is set to return most of the core team that achieved 51 wins and 111 points last season. While some regression is possible, Washington should remain firmly competitive within the Metro Division. | 2 | 51-22-9 |
| 13 | Jets | The Jets didn`t seem to fully grasp the value of Nikolaj Ehlers, and now he`s gone. Furthermore, Winnipeg significantly aged its roster by signing Jonathan Toews and Gus Nyquist, two players whose prime years are behind them. Currently, it appears the Jets may experience a substantial decline after winning the Presidents` Trophy. | 10 | 56-22-4 |
| 14 | Wild | Questions about the Wild`s scoring ability persist. While the addition of Vladimir Tarasenko might help, he is a player whose production is declining. Minnesota is likely not finished making moves, especially with Marco Rossi reportedly available in trade talks. Acquiring a true No. 1 center for Rossi would mark a successful summer; otherwise, the team might face another early playoff exit. | 3 | 45-30-7 |
| 15 | Canadiens | The Canadiens are an intriguing team for the 2025-26 season. They made the playoffs last year despite a minus-20 goal differential, suggesting some favorable outcomes. On the other hand, Montreal has an exciting young core. Lane Hutson is fresh off a Calder Trophy win, and the team pulled off a major trade for Noah Dobson. | — | 40-31-11 |
| 16 | Kings | Missing out on Mitch Marner, trading Jordan Spence, and signing Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin to significant contracts make it difficult to view the Kings as anything other than one of the offseason`s biggest disappointments so far. Los Angeles is likely still a playoff team, but another defeat against the Oilers in the first round seems probable. | 12 | 48-25-9 |
| 17 | Blues | St. Louis has improved its center depth with the additions of Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad, and there are still positive elements elsewhere on the roster. However, the Blues seem to lack sufficient high-end scoring talent to effectively compete with the top teams in their own division. Perhaps Jim Montgomery`s defensive expertise can guide this team back to the postseason. | 4 | 44-30-8 |
| 18 | Rangers | The Rangers effectively swapped K`Andre Miller for Vladislav Gavrikov and moved on from veteran Chris Kreider`s expensive contract. Mike Sullivan takes over as head coach. It`s been a mixed bag for New York, a team that appears destined to be on the edge of the playoff picture next season. | 4 | 39-36-7 |
| 19 | Canucks | Pius Suter is gone, Evander Kane has arrived, and Brock Boeser has returned. These changes range from surprising to different degrees, making it challenging to evaluate this Canucks squad. Will they perform closer to the 2023-24 team that reached the conference finals, or will they regress to last year`s level where they missed the playoffs by six points? The latter seems more likely. | 1 | 38-30-14 |
| 20 | Red Wings | The Red Wings acquired the top goalie available on the trade market in John Gibson and added defensive forward Mason Appleton. Is this enough to end Detroit`s long playoff drought? Doubts remain, suggesting GM Steve Yzerman may need to pursue a major trade in the coming months (like for Jason Robertson). | 1 | 39-35-8 |
| 21 | Ducks | Despite adding some veterans (Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider), any significant improvement for the Ducks must come from within. Players like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Mintyukov need to make substantial progress under new coach Joel Quenneville. | 4 | 35-37-10 |
| 22 | Sabres | Opinions on the Buffalo Sabres are divided. They have exciting forward talent and an impressive young defensive core. However, they are still the Sabres, with notable gaps further down the lineup that are unlikely to be filled. This team often hinders itself, so playoff predictions will wait until they prove otherwise. | 1 | 36-39-7 |
| 23 | Bruins | Ranking the Bruins at No. 23 might even be generous. Beyond David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, who else truly generates excitement? Perhaps Hampus Lindholm or Jeremy Swayman. Boston could face a very challenging 2025-26 season. | 6 | 33-39-10 |
| 24 | Predators | The Predators have made minor adjustments to their defense, but otherwise, it`s been an uneventful summer. Simple positive regression should lead to a better record next season, but likely still short of a playoff spot. The Predators` front office might benefit more from focusing on the 2026 offseason for significant moves. | 7 | 30-44-8 |
| 25 | Blue Jackets | This ranking may seem low for a team that missed the playoffs by only two points last season, but the Blue Jackets significantly outperformed expectations. Many things went right for Columbus, and they still missed the postseason. The acquisition of Charlie Coyle was questionable, and the Ivan Provorov extension likely caused frustration among fans. | 6 | 40-33-9 |
| 26 | Flyers | The Trevor Zegras trade was a savvy move by the Flyers. It`s a bet on a highly talented young player whose value is currently low. If Zegras succeeds in Philadelphia, they gain a star. If not, he`s in the final year of his contract, resulting in no long-term harm. Despite this, the Flyers likely need at least one more season before seriously competing for a playoff spot. | — | 33-39-10 |
| 27 | Islanders | Change is finally happening on Long Island. Lou Lamoriello is out, and the roster has seen significant shakeups. Most notably, star defenseman Noah Dobson is now a Canadien, with top draft pick Matthew Schaefer theoretically stepping into his role. This change in direction might mean a tough year for the Islanders, but the future looks considerably brighter. | 3 | 35-35-12 |
| 28 | Flames | The Flames are another team that narrowly missed the playoffs but have fallen in these post-offseason power rankings. Calgary benefited from some good fortune with puck luck, and their roster remains quite underwhelming. This is especially true if Rasmus Andersson is traded in the coming weeks. | 10 | 41-27-14 |
| 29 | Kraken | Seattle has made moves this summer, but how beneficial have they been? Lane Lambert is the new coach, but his track record with the Islanders was unimpressive. Mason Marchment is a capable player, but how much does he genuinely move the needle? Ryan Lindgren struggled last year and is now expected to play a significant role on the Kraken`s defense. | 2 | 35-41-6 |
| 30 | Penguins | One of the few teams clearly not focused on improving for the upcoming season, the Penguins are playing the long game. Pittsburgh hasn`t made many major additions, and GM Kyle Dubas is likely exploring trades for players like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. The Penguins are expected to struggle, but this aligns with their strategic plan. | 2 | 34-36-12 |
| 31 | Sharks | The Sharks are still going to be a struggling team, but perhaps not quite as bad as last season. They possess three exciting young forwards and have added some veteran presence on the blue line. While San Jose won`t be close to a playoff spot, they should offer more competitive hockey on most nights. | 1 | 20-50-12 |
| 32 | Blackhawks | Last year highlighted that the Blackhawks` rebuilding process still has a considerable distance to go. Even Connor Bedard faced challenges as Chicago finished near the bottom. Expect more young prospects to take on larger roles in 2025-26, and it will be interesting to see which ones perform well enough to stick with the NHL roster for most of the year. | 2 | 25-46-11 |
