Following the NHL Draft and free agency periods, the league`s offseason has reached its typical quiet phase. Over the past month, teams have been working diligently to enhance their rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign, but the real impact of these moves remains to be seen for many.
In this offseason edition of the NHL Power Rankings, we evaluate the standing of each team now that the draft and initial free agency flurry are behind us. While numerous questions still linger across the league, one fact is abundantly clear: the Florida Panthers are currently the league`s top organization.
Florida successfully retained its three key unrestricted free agents, reportedly securing them at favorable average annual values. The Panthers have seemingly fortified their team for what could be a fourth consecutive deep playoff run. Seeing the back-to-back champions positioned at the top of these rankings should come as no surprise.
Significant changes occurred below the Panthers in the rankings. In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights made headlines with the acquisition of Mitch Marner, while the Los Angeles Kings appear to have taken a step backward. The Carolina Hurricanes made moves aimed at closing the gap with Florida in the East, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a considerable void left by Marner`s departure.
With every team having addressed some offseason priorities, here are the updated NHL Power Rankings as the free agency period winds down.
Biggest Movers
Panthers: Up 8 spots (Score: 8)
Kings: Down 12 spots (Score: 12)
| Rk | Teams | Commentary | Chg | Rcrd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | Bill Zito continues his impressive work. Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad all remain with the Panthers. Whether through skillful management or the appeal of winning and Florida`s climate, the team is positioned for a potential third consecutive championship, reminiscent of the Islanders` early 80s dynasty. | 8 | 47-31-4 |
| 2 | Golden Knights | Is it unexpected that the Golden Knights landed the most sought-after player on the market this offseason? Mitch Marner is now in a Vegas uniform and will form a formidable pairing with Jack Eichel. Adding one more defenseman could make this team a true powerhouse. | — | 50-22-10 |
| 3 | Avalanche | The summer hasn`t been filled with blockbuster moves for the Avalanche, but they`ve handled their business effectively. Colorado re-signed Brock Nelson and improved their defense with a cost-effective one-year deal for Brent Burns. The Avalanche are once again strong contenders for the 2025 Stanley Cup. | 3 | 49-29-4 |
| 4 | Stars | The Stars are navigating some significant salary cap challenges, but as of now, they appear set to contend with the Avalanche for the Central Division title. Jason Robertson remains with the team for the moment, and Dallas must prioritize keeping him, as losing him would be a major blow. | 3 | 50-26-6 |
| 5 | Hurricanes | The recent moves by Carolina are commendable. The Hurricanes secured Logan Stankoven on a team-friendly contract, acquired K`Andre Miller from the Rangers, and signed skilled winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Carolina is actively working to bridge the gap with Florida in the Eastern Conference. | 6 | 47-30-5 |
| 6 | Oilers | The decision to pay Trent Frederic nearly $4 million for a bottom-six role was questionable. They also attempted to enhance their depth scoring by signing Andrew Mangiapane. Goaltending remains the primary concern, and it remains to be seen if the Oilers can find a solution before October. | 6 | 48-29-5 |
| 7 | Lightning | Tampa Bay has been relatively quiet this summer, but that could change. Even without further moves, this is still a very capable team. If the Lightning can find ways to improve their defense, particularly by adding younger players, they could be a formidable force in 2025-26. | 2 | 47-27-8 |
| 8 | Maple Leafs | Even without Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs still possess a talented roster. Three core players are still in place, and Matthew Knies is expected to make further progress. Additionally, the acquisition of Matias Maccelli stands out as a smart, underrated move this offseason. However, losing a consistent 100-point producer unquestionably weakens the team. | 7 | 52-26-4 |
| 9 | Senators | Ottawa hasn`t made any splashy moves, but their two understated additions have been quite strategic. Jordan Spence, an underutilized young defenseman from Los Angeles, is a valuable pickup, and Lars Eller is an excellent fourth-line center. The Senators are positioning themselves to challenge the top teams in the Atlantic Division. | 1 | 45-30-7 |
| 10 | Mammoth | Anticipate strong support for the Utah Mammoth until opening night. This team has appealing talent, particularly after the trade for JJ Peterka. He has the potential to score 40 goals, and while losing Michael Kesselring stings, Utah`s offense received a significant upgrade. | 6 | 38-31-13 |
| 11 | Devils | As of now, the Devils appear ready to largely run back their existing roster, which might not be a bad strategy. There`s much to like about this group, especially with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt leading the attack. The key question is whether Hughes can remain healthy for a full 82-game season. | 3 | 42-33-7 |
| 12 | Capitals | Not much has changed for the Capitals, and in their case, that`s acceptable. If it`s not broken, don`t fix it. Washington is bringing back most of the squad that achieved 51 wins and 111 points last season. Some regression is probable, but Washington should still be firmly competitive in the Metro Division mix. | 2 | 51-22-9 |
| 13 | Jets | The Jets seemed unsure of Nikolaj Ehlers` value, and now he`s gone. Furthermore, Winnipeg added older players like Jonathan Toews and Gus Nyquist, who are past their primes. Currently, it appears the Jets might experience a considerable decline after winning the Presidents` Trophy last season. | 10 | 56-22-4 |
| 14 | Wild | Concerns about the Wild`s scoring ability persist. While the addition of Vladimir Tarasenko could help, he is a player in decline. Minnesota might not be finished making moves, with Marco Rossi reportedly available. If the Wild can trade Rossi for a legitimate top-line center, they`ll have had a great summer. Otherwise, another first-round exit seems likely. | 3 | 45-30-7 |
| 15 | Canadiens | The Canadiens present a fascinating case for 2025-26, having made the playoffs last season despite a minus-20 goal differential, suggesting some good fortune. On the other hand, they are an exciting, young team. Lane Hutson is coming off a Calder Trophy win, and the team made a significant 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 substantial contracts paint the Kings as one of the offseason`s biggest disappointments so far. Los Angeles is likely still a playoff team, but they seem headed for a fifth straight playoff defeat against the Oilers. | 12 | 48-25-9 |
| 17 | Blues | St. Louis has improved its center depth by adding Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad, and there are positive aspects elsewhere on the roster. However, the Blues appear to lack sufficient high-end scoring talent to compete with the top teams in their division. Perhaps Jim Montgomery`s defensive system can propel them back into the postseason. | 4 | 44-30-8 |
| 18 | Rangers | The Rangers essentially swapped K`Andre Miller for Vladislav Gavrikov. They also moved on from Chris Kreider, a veteran player with an expensive contract. Mike Sullivan has taken over as head coach. It`s been a mixed bag of moves for New York, a team that seems likely to be battling for a playoff spot next season. | 4 | 39-36-7 |
| 19 | Canucks | Pius Suter has departed, Evander Kane has arrived, and Brock Boeser has returned. These developments are surprising to varying degrees, making it difficult to assess these Canucks. Will they perform like the 2023-24 team that almost reached the conference finals, or will it be a repeat of last year when they missed the playoffs by six points? The latter seems more probable. | 1 | 38-30-14 |
| 20 | Red Wings | The Red Wings acquired John Gibson, the top available goalie on the trade market, and added defensive forward Mason Appleton. Are these moves enough to end Detroit`s long playoff drought? It`s doubtful, suggesting Steve Yzerman may need to pursue a major trade (like for Jason Robertson) in the coming months. | 1 | 39-35-8 |
| 21 | Ducks | Despite adding some veterans (Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider), significant improvement for Anaheim will likely depend on internal player development. Players such as Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Mintyukov need to make considerable strides under new coach Joel Quenneville. | 4 | 35-37-10 |
| 22 | Sabres | There are conflicting views on the Buffalo Sabres. On one hand, they have exciting forwards and an impressive young defense corps. On the other hand, they are still the Sabres. There remain significant roster weaknesses further down the lineup that are unlikely to be fixed easily. This team struggles to get out of its own way, so predicting a playoff berth feels premature. | 1 | 36-39-7 |
| 23 | Bruins | Placing the Bruins at number 23 might even be generous. Beyond David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, how many players truly inspire excitement? Perhaps Hampus Lindholm or Jeremy Swayman. Boston could be facing a challenging 2025-26 season. | 6 | 33-39-10 |
| 24 | Predators | The Predators have made minor adjustments to their defense but have otherwise had an uneventful offseason. Positive regression alone should improve Nashville`s performance next season, but likely not enough to secure a playoff spot. The team`s management might be better off focusing on the 2026 offseason. | 7 | 30-44-8 |
| 25 | Blue Jackets | This ranking might seem low for a team that missed the playoffs by only two points last season, but the Blue Jackets overperformed expectations. A lot went right for Columbus, and they still fell short. The acquisition of Charlie Coyle was puzzling, and Ivan Provorov`s extension likely caused some frustration among fans. | 6 | 40-33-9 |
| 26 | Flyers | Trading for Trevor Zegras was a smart move by the Flyers, betting on a talented young player whose market value was low. If Zegras succeeds in Philly, they gain a star. If not, his contract expires next year, limiting the risk. Despite this, the Flyers likely need another year before seriously contending for a playoff spot. | — | 33-39-10 |
| 27 | Islanders | Change is finally happening on Long Island. Lou Lamoriello is out, and the roster has been significantly altered. Notably, star defenseman Noah Dobson is now a Canadien, and theoretically, first overall pick Matthew Schaefer will step into a prominent role. This shift in direction may mean a difficult year for the Islanders, but the long-term future appears promising. | 3 | 35-35-12 |
| 28 | Flames | The Flames are another team that narrowly missed the playoffs but have fallen in these power rankings. Calgary benefited from some fortunate puck luck last season, and the roster remains underwhelming, especially if Rasmus Andersson is traded in the coming weeks. | 10 | 41-27-14 |
| 29 | Kraken | Seattle has made some moves this summer, but their effectiveness is questionable. Lane Lambert is the new coach, but his track record with the Islanders was uninspiring. Mason Marchment is a decent player, but how much impact does he have? Ryan Lindgren struggled last year and is expected to play a key role on the Kraken`s defense. | 2 | 35-41-6 |
| 30 | Penguins | One of the few teams clearly not aiming to improve for next season, the Penguins are focused on the long-term future. Pittsburgh hasn`t made many significant additions, and GM Kyle Dubas is likely looking to trade assets like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. The Penguins are expected to struggle, but this appears to be part of the plan. | 2 | 34-36-12 |
| 31 | Sharks | The Sharks will still be a low-ranking team, but they might not be quite as bad as last season. They have a trio of exciting young forwards and have added veteran depth on the blue line. San Jose won`t be competing for a playoff spot, but their games should be more competitive on a regular basis. | 1 | 20-50-12 |
| 32 | Blackhawks | Last year clearly showed that the Blackhawks` rebuilding process is still in its early stages. Even Connor Bedard faced difficulties as Chicago finished at the bottom. Expect more young prospects to feature prominently in 2025-26, and it will be interesting to see which ones step up and establish themselves in the NHL lineup. | 2 | 25-46-11 |
