Ahh. It’s that time of year again. The air is getting crisper, and the days are getting shorter. The leaves are turning color, and the jerseys are getting dusted off. It’s hockey season. It’s been a long few months since there’s been any action on the ice, and now that time is finally here. There’s so much to look forward to this upcoming season. So come along with the hockey viking as we go through how each team stacks up this year.
Every team gets a totally fresh start, no matter how things may have ended last year. That’s the beauty of this time of year as teams get ready to face off. Players have a chance to make a name for themselves and put their team on the map. Teams can carve their name into the deep history of the NHL and have a chance to define themselves through the rigors of a long and brutal hockey season.
I hope you are as excited as I am for the potential of another thrilling hockey season. This is my comprehensive 2025-2026 NHL preseason power rankings for all the teams in the league. This is the first ranking of the season, before any games have been played, so this is bound to change throughout the season.
I will update this ranking every month to reflect which teams are trending upwards, and which are trending downwards. The rankings are sure to fluctuate based off of winning or losing streaks, good or poor play, major injuries, and the good ol’ eye test.
Let’s discuss how these rankings are even put together. Think of it as a mix of team performance, how the players are doing statistically, and a sprinkle of historical data. It’s like a giant recipe where every ingredient matters. It’s a teams overall outlook at that point in the season, so a bad game or two from a team shouldn’t shake things up too much.
Understanding the factors in these rankings doesn’t just stop at wins and losses. It’s a little deeper than that. You’ve got to look at how teams adapt under pressure, their ability to close games, and even their current strategies and the effect their having on the ice. There are many variables that I consider to come to this determination.
Sometimes, a team might have all the flashy wins, but without consistency, their spot isn’t locked. So, it’s about balancing out the big picture. If you’re figuring out where your favorite team stands, watch for how they match up across these elements.
But this is my personal ranking of all 32 teams from how they stand at this moment before the upcoming year plays out. Its early, so if your team isn’t as high as you would like, we’ve got all season to make things right. It’s possible things could look drastically different in a month on my next power ranking. So let’s get into it: the very first NHL power ranking of the season.
2025-2026 NHL Preseason Power Rankings
32.San Jose Sharks
San Jose had the least amount of points by a margin last season, so it only makes sense to put them here. They have drafted some young talent, but they aren’t anywhere deep enough to keep them from the bottom. The only way to go from here is up, so maybe the Sharks can win some games to keep them from being at the bottom of the league again this year. But San Jose just has so many question marks that it’s tough to imagine them rising too high. Let’s hope by the next power rankings that they will be tending upward by getting some solid play from their young talent.
31.Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago is in a similar boat to San Jose. They have gotten some good young talent, but it hasn’t translated to winning games yet. It takes time to build a winning roster, so the jump from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best isn’t always a straight one. The problem is that everyone in an organization wants a quick fix and after a bad season or two teams begin to shuffle players and coaches around to try to get better, usually with less than than stellar results. Let’s see if Chicago can just stay consistent enough to win some games and keep from being one of those teams that overhauls their roster every two years.
30.Seattle Kraken
After having a solid year making the playoffs a few seasons ago, Seattle has fallen off a cliff. They are now on their third coach in as many years, they got rid of their quality depth players before the trade deadline last year, and they just don’t seem to know where they’re headed. Seattle got some decent play from a few of their younger players towards the end of last season, but this team doesn’t have an identity. It’s tough to maintain an identity when you’re constantly changing coaches, so I think it will take some time for them to figure out who they really are. I’m personally not a fan of any of the decisions they have made over the last year and a half, and this team doesn’t have a roster of high caliber players to make me think that they are going to be anywhere but near the bottom this year. After having some early success in their young franchise, they seem to be going in the complete wrong direction.
29.Nashville Predators
What the heck was that? After being a competitive team in the West for years, Nashville just completely came apart at the seams. It seemed like they added Stamkos to their roster to add another playmaker, but that didn’t help them from a hard fall into the Western basement. I don’t know if anybody expected them to be as bad as they were last year, but I expect them to rebound this season. They have enough good players on their roster and a good enough goalie that they shouldn’t stay at the bottom of the league for too long. But since they performed so poorly last season I couldn’t put them any higher on this list until they have proven they sorted their issues out. So they are at 29 for now, but I expect them to be higher on the next power rankings.
28.Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks won some games towards the end of the season last year that helped them rise above some other teams(hello Seattle), but they are still flirting with the bottom of the league. They have a few young talents, but as with many of the other teams at the bottom, they lack some much needed depth as you go down their roster. Let’s see if they can build some momentum off of last year and pull themselves from the depths of the Western ocean. Lucky for them, Seattle and San Jose have taken a dive off the deep end so that the Ducks don’t have to sit at the bottom of the West.
27.Philadelphia Flyers
Speaking of taking a dive, the Flyers ended up as one of the bottom teams in the East last season. There has been much change around this team, so let’s hope it’s for the better for the Flyers sake. Rick Tocchet needs to get more out of this roster than Tortorella did last season, because another season at the bottom won’t sit well with this franchise. They have some good talent, they just need to find a way to utilize them better to start winning more games. They weren’t too far out of the playoffs for a while there, and then they kept slipping until they almost hit the bottom. I think the Carter Hart situation set them back a bit for a few years. It’s tough going from having your goaltending seemingly set for the next decade to losing your best goaltender and scrambling to find one. Let’s see if Tocchet can get this team to find a groove and be competitive in the East.
26.Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has hung on to Crosby and Malkin as long as they could, but that hasn’t brought them any regular season success in recent years. It seems as if a full rebuild is on for this team. The question is, do they try to get some trade value for their two best players, or do they hold onto them for the sake of nostalgia? Crosby has shown he can still play, and was able to get on the scoreboard even at his age. Malkin less so, and hasn’t been elite for a few years now. They got rid of Guentzel who was their only other real playmaker and now are struggling to find any production from their depth pieces. I’m not quite sure what the right move is in regards to trading Crosby, but either way it seems this team has a lot of work to do. I think it may take a few years and quality player pickups for the penguins to get back to their winning ways.
25.Boston Bruins
I was tempted to put Boston even lower than this since they floundered into the bottom of the conference. It was a hard fall for a historically good hockey team, and and they are left scrambling to pick up the pieces. The Bruins were absolutely decimated by injuries last season, so I’m giving them a little bit of a pass. I fully expect them to be much better this season and to never sniff the bottom of the conference again, but questions still remain. They have elite players, good defense (on paper), and a good goalie. But getting rid of their coach last year hasn’t made them one iota better, so it makes you wonder what their strategy really is here. I don’t think they will be at the bottom of the conference again, but they need to solve some of their problems if they want to return to being a playoff contender. They still need to prove that they can, which is why I still have them ranked here.
24.Buffalo Sabres
For being one of the worst teams in the league for a number a years now, the Sabres are finally showing a glimmer of hope. They won some games the second half of the season that kept them from the bottom, and they are getting production from their young players, so all signs point to them trending upwards. But consistency is key in this league, and nobody is going to feel any good about this team if they don’t continually get better each season. So this year they need to win more than they did last year, and I think they will. They have some young quality players and have gotten some unexpected decent play from their depth, so I have confidence they can crawl their way out of the bottom. But they need to remain competitive enough to keep improving and stay in the middle of the pack to keep from another coaching change and roster overhaul that will send them spiralling to the doldrums once again.
23.NY Islanders
I felt good about the selection of Patrick Roy when he took over this Islanders team. He seemed to be the kind of coach they needed to make them competitive. But after a decent start they came apart at the end of last season and missed the playoffs. It seems they took a step backwards, although to be fair they were contending with a bunch of injuries that likely played a part in their downfall. They just recently traded their best defender in Dobson, which leads one to believe that a full rebuild has begun. It’s unfortunate, because I had hope for Patrick Roy and this team. But now it feels like instead of contending for the playoffs they are just fighting to stay relevant. Maybe they can be good enough to hang around, but this team feels as if they are walking on a tight wire. A few injuries or drop in play from their best players and the Islanders might be in trouble.
22.Columbus Blue Jackets
It was impressive to watch Columbus climb in the ranks last season to stay in the mix of things come playoff time. Where it seemed like they weren’t a high quality team, they ended up fourth in the division and not that far out of the playoffs. They already surpassed expectations, so how can they get better? Good on them to keep fighting to keep their head above water, but how far are they capable of going? They have proven they are good enough to be better than the likes of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but how much higher can they rise? I think they have gotten just about to their ceiling, but I’ll continue to be impressed with this team if they simply stay ahead of the bottom teams in the East.
21.NY Rangers
It was a strange year in the Eastern Conference, with regular powerhouse teams such as the Bruins and these Rangers doing so poorly. New York didn’t fall quite as hard as Boston, but I think anybody associated with this team would agree that last season was a disappointment. Where do they go from here? The Rangers still have some of their best players from their core group of stars, but they are also getting older. It’s starting to feel like their window for winning is closing, because you never quite know when your aging stars will start to drop off in production. They still have scorers like Panarin that should do fine, but the Rangers haven’t been successful in replacing older players with an influx of quality young talent. They have gotten rid of much of their defense, although they still have Shesterkin who is playing at a high level. This team feels like it needs to get it’s act together and win something soon, because the sun may be setting on their chances to win with this core roster with some of their best players close to becoming obsolete.
20.Vancouver Canucks
What a mess. Vancouver is probably ready to get this season started so that they can forget their last one. The cloud of the Miller-Petersson drama hung over this team all season, even way after Miller was gone. It would be a good time to focus on hockey, except Vancouver hasn’t been too great at that, either. Petersson seems like he wasn’t worth all that drama, so this team is not only missing an elite playmaker in place of J.T. Miller, but they are also missing J.T. Miller himself. It feels like a double punch in the gut, and on top of it all they now have a new coach at the helm. It’s too early to tell what will happen with this team, but they need to figure out who they are. Quinn Hughes is one of the best defensemen in the league and the Canucks have Demko back, so that’s a start. But they need to establish their offense if they want to keep up with the better teams in the West.
19.Utah Mammoth
Utah should be pretty happy with how their season went, even if they fell out of playoff contention. Nobody really expected much from them, but they had some fun moments with their fast play offense. Lots to build on, and they should be a fun team to watch. Now that they know how to play their style, they need to continue to build depth if they really want to compete in the West. Utah probably isn’t ready to play with the elite teams in the conference, but the way they looked at times they could be better than some other middling teams. It will be an interesting battle in the middle of the West to see which teams can stay in the playoff hunt. I think Utah could be in the conversation if they get a solid performance from their defense and goaltending.
18.Detroit Red Wings
Detroit looked like they could sneak into the playoffs last year for a while, but they couldn’t get it done after Montreal stepped it up and took the last playoff spot in the East. The Red Wings find themselves in a tough spot right now. They were already in a hard division having to go up against the likes of Florida, Toronto, and Tampa Bay. But now even Ottawa and Montreal have gotten better, which makes things rather complicated in the Atlantic right now. This doesn’t bode well for Detroit, because unlike Ottawa and Montreal, they don’t have the young up and coming talent to make them a rising team. I felt okay about this team in the middle of the season last year, but it’s hard to feel confident about them when so many other teams in the conference seem to be getting better and passing them by. They are going to need more than Patrick Kane to save their season.
17.Calgary Flames
Calgary also just missed out on the playoffs, but looked like a much better team than Detroit doing so. Calgary barely got beat out by St. Louis for the last playoff spot in the West. The Flames got hot late and started winning some games as they rise above other average teams, and have to like how they ended even if it didn’t get them a playoff spot. They got good work from their goaltending, and had an impressive ability to grind out games that they were probably expected to lose. They should feel good about playing better than expectation, but now they need to figure out how to get into the playoffs. Calgary rose from the ashes of other faltering teams in the West such as Vancouver and Utah, but can they make a push for top 3 in the division and a guaranteed playoff spot? That will be the next step, and I’m excited to see if the Flames come out of the gates with an edge.
16.Minnesota Wild
Minnesota has finally proven that they can be at least decent consistently over the last few years. They made the playoffs once again, and they have claimed their status as a regular competitor in the West. The Wild suffer from being in the best division in hockey, thus the 4th place finish. I believe in any other division Minnesota would possibly crack top 3. But the top 3 teams in both Western divisions all had 100 points and the end of the regular season to get them in the playoffs, and Minnesota only had 97. I think this speaks volumes about exactly where Minnesota is at. They have played commendably enough to make the playoffs, but they are still a step down from the other elite teams in the conference. The Wild need to prove that they can make the leap and become a top 3 team in their division, which is no easy task. Being a good team in the West is nice, but the Wild need to take the next step in their franchise. Winning a playoff series would be a great way to do that.
15.Montreal Canadiens
What a great season for the Habs. They have to be ecstatic for how they looked and the potential for the future. Montreal has some exciting young talent, and a great coach. The future for Montreal looks bright, and they have to be proud, especially since the expectations for this team was pretty low last season. Well after going on a run and passing other teams in the East on their way to the playoffs, the expectations just shot up. They can check the playoff box off of their list, now they just need to concentrate on staying consistently good throughout a long season. It will be tough with other better teams in the division, but I’m certain after last year they will be expecting to make the playoffs again. It will be mighty interesting to see how they stack up against other teams in their division such as Ottawa and Detroit. The fight for the last two playoff spots in the East should come down to the wire.
14.Ottawa Senators
Speaking of Ottawa, the Senators also should feel great about their season. They finally broke their long playoff drought, which must take some pressure off of their shoulders. Like Montreal, they surpassed expectations and looked like a good team. Ottawa has some serious young talent in Stutzle and Tkachuk, and their defense and goaltending are no joke, either. This is a team on the rise and has a lot of good things to look forward to. They sealed up a playoff spot, and played admirably against a good Toronto team. The Atlantic is looking like it’s getting better and going to be tough, and there’s going to be a fight for positioning come playoff time. Now that Ottawa has gotten that playoff drought out of the way, is it time to win a series?
13.St. Louis Blues
Boy oh boy, St. Louis almost pulled off a massive upset against Winnipeg, but lost in a crushing defeat in game 7. The Blues looked like the better team in the majority of that series, so they have to be feeling confident in where they are. Getting their coach from Boston has really helped this team thrive. I’m excited to see how high they can climb in the standings this year. Are they going to sneak into the playoffs again, or even look like a real contender? I have high hopes for this team this year. They have playmakers, good defense, and one of the best goalies in the league. There’s no reason that the Blues can’t be one of the better teams in the conference, but can they prove themselves by winning a playoff series?
12.New Jersey Devils
New Jersey is finally playing like the team they are capable of being. The Devils had a solid season, coming 3rd in the Metropolitan and making the playoffs. They got eliminated by a better team in Carolina, but they finally proved that they can compete in their division. The coach coming from Toronto has really made this team better, now it’s time to see if they can capitalize on their opportunity. They have some elite players on offense, and are getting Dougie Hamilton back on defense after being injured last year. Markstrom, even though he’s getting older, is still a force in net. They seem to have everything aligning for them to have another solid season. Let’s hope the Devils make the most of it…and possibly even win some playoff games.
11.Los Angeles Kings
The Kings were one of the teams that impressed me most by season’s end last year. They didn’t just simply make the playoffs, they came 2nd in their division and finished with one of the best records in the league. Los Angeles had, other than perhaps Winnipeg, the best defense in the league. The Kings impressed with their stout defensive play, and were one of the leagues best in goals allowed. Kudos to them and their new coach, they absolutely exceeded expectations. In fact, I would say they gave Edmonton their hardest series in the West last year. If Los Angeles can continue to play like the did at the end of last season, they should once again be one of the leagues best teams. And honestly, if they turn it on at the right time they could be one of the biggest threats in the conference come playoff time.
10.Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay had a great season, coming in second in their division and actually finishing above the Florida Panthers in the standings. But they couldn’t have liked how their season ended, losing 4-1 in a series that never felt very close. The Lightning have just about everything you could possibly want in a championship team, but they aren’t Florida. The Panthers are the biggest obstacle in the way to a Stanley Cup. What does Tampa Bay have to do to beat Florida? Although Florida clearly looked like the better team in the playoffs, I can see a bit of a dropoff in play this season. If anybody can take Florida off of their throne, I think Tampa Bay is one of the few teams in the Eastern Conference that could. The Lightning have the roster, coach, and experience to pull off another successful season. But they need to remain hot in the playoffs and figure out how to score against the stout Florida defense.
09.Colorado Avalanche
Colorado feels like a team caught in limbo. They won a Stanley Cup a few years back, and still have the elite playmakers from that championship team. They have been perennial contenders in the West and always seem to have a shot. But they have also squandered their chances at remaining atop the league. They have made questionable decisions, letting one of their best players in Rantanen go to their Western rival, and keeping mediocre goaltending. It’s been two years in a row now losing to Dallas, last year at the hands of their former player Rantanen. The Avalanche haven’t solved their goaltending problem, and have shuffled their roster that leaves holes in their depth. I think getting Landeskog back from injury should be a big help, but will that be enough? They have elite players, but how far can those players take them in the playoffs? In recent years, it seems, not far enough.
08.Winnipeg Jets
It feels strange putting Winnipeg all the way down at number 8 here. After all, they had the league’s best record and fewest goals allowed all season. It feels like they should probably be higher than this, but then I think of how their season finished. I can’t say that they totally fell apart in the playoffs since they technically beat the St. Louis Blues in a games 7 before getting ousted by Dallas in the next round, but they were not the dominant team that they were during the regular season. Winnipeg looked like a shadow of their former selves and probably should have lost that series to the Blues. The way their season ended left a lot to be desired. Add onto that them losing an offensive piece in Ehlers, Hellebuyck starting to get up there in age, and no real major additions to their squad and this number 8 ranking begins to make more sense. Winnipeg should still be one of the better teams within their division, but I don’t see them leading the league again. I don’t feel any better about this team than I did last year.
07.Washington Capitals
It also feels strange putting the Capitals here, as they were right behind Winnipeg with the best record in the East. Spencer Carbery put out a formidable and balanced team, being good both on offense and defense. The Capitals looked like a force throughout the season, but ultimately fell to the Hurricanes in the playoffs. Washington has a well rounded squad with good goalie play, so there’s much to like with this team. Ovechkin had a scoring streak last season to let everyone know that he’s still got it, but will that continue? You’d have to assume his production will continue to go down, so that begs the question, is Washington capable of going deep in these playoffs without a heroic effort from its star? Look, Ovie should still be able to put the puck in the net, although most likely less frequently. But do they have the depth to get past the likes of Carolina or Florida? I predict a falling off for the Capitals this season, although I’m sure they are good enough to still get a playoff spot.
06.Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas had themselves quite a successful season, finishing atop their division and having one of the best records in the league. They looked like a quality team heading into the playoffs, but just like everybody else in the West, fell to the overwhelming Oilers. They just needed another playmaker, and they got one in Mitch Marner during the off-season. Eichel needed another weapon alongside him, and now Marner has entered the fray. I have high expectations for this squad and I think anything less than a top 3 finish in their division would be a disappointment. Vegas looks like the real deal. They have the elite playmakers, good defense, and two good goalies. The coach is experienced and mature and so is the roster. There is no reason to think this team can’t be a force in the regular season and playoffs. Vegas is my personal pick to hoist the cup this year, because they have all the right elements. Is Mitch Marner the answer to put this team over the top?
05.Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto also won their division, and looked like the team with the best chance to take Florida down in the playoffs. They came close, forcing Florida into a game 7 before they ran into a crushing defeat. Craig Berube did an outstanding job with this team, improving their defensive game and completely changing their identity. It looked like Toronto finally had the team to win, and then they ultimately finished the season with the same results. Now one of your offensive pieces in Mitch Marner is gone, so where does that leave this team? Auston Matthews is still an elite scorer, and they have some backing pieces to keep them competitive. But losing Marner seems to put a lot of pressure on Nylander to perform like a hero. Will he be able to stand up to the challenge? The coaching should still be good, and they were able to re-sign Tavares and Knies. But without Marner this team still feels like it’s missing a piece. The Maple Leafs should hope that their goaltending doesn’t fall off, otherwise they could be in for a disappointing season.
04.Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina came so close to reaching their goals. And then the Florida Panthers came. And just like everyone else, the Hurricanes fell to the mighty Panthers. Carolina proved to be one of the best teams in the East with their deep playoff run, even beating the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals along the way. But their biggest obstacle now, just like everybody else in the league, is the two time champion Florida Panthers. Rod Brind’Amour has a well balanced squad that knows how to play his system well. They added Ehlers into the mix, which should help them on the offensive side of the ice. But this roster feels like it’s aging, is this Carolina’s last opportunity to make a run at the cup? After coming so close last year, the Hurricanes have got to put the urgency on themselves to win while they still can. Carolina needs to come out hungry this season if they want to be champions. This may be their shot, but they still have to get through Florida.
03.Dallas Stars
Dallas felt like the best team in the league not named the Oilers or Panthers. They beat all the best teams in the West on their way to the conference finals, until they got to the Oilers. Dallas had a great season by most accounts, except for those in upper management, because longtime head coach Pete Deboer got fired after their playoff ousting. Apparently the Western Conference finals wasn’t good enough, because the franchise felt that the team needed a coaching change. This raises the biggest questions for this Dallas team. The Stars still have a loaded roster, with elite veterans and young stars to boot. They still retain one of the best goaltenders in the league in Jake Oettinger, and have all of their playmakers intact. They should still be one of the best teams in the West once again, although they do have some aging players that might not be able much longer. Dallas has everything going for it, but the question remains: if Dallas gets ousted at any point before the finals, was the coaching change really worth it?
02.Edmonton Oilers
It should come as no surprise to find the Oilers here at number 2. After getting to the finals two years in a row, it wasn’t going to go any other way. Edmonton proved they can beat anybody in the playoffs when they’re on, except for the Panthers, of course. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl, they always feel like they have a shot, right? But they still lack serious depth and consistent goaltending, which is concerning. If they want to go all the way they will need to find playmakers outside of their two all-stars and have a goaltender that they can rely on. This team has always felt like they are one McDavid or Draisatl injury away from a major drop in play. And I don’t know that they have enough talent outside of those two players to make a run without them playing the hero. They have recent playoff experience, and a good coach that knows how to utilize his best players. But will that be enough to get them to the promised land? I’m not foolish enough to bet against these Oilers, but I’m also not confident enough in their team to bet on them to win it all.
01.Florida Panthers
Well, what did you expect? After winning the Eastern Conference 3 years in a row, and winning the Stanley Cup 2 years in a row, the Florida Panthers have earned their spot at the top of the list. They are, without a doubt, the best team in the league. Paul Maurice has his whole team playing at an elite level. The Panthers have insane depth, star playmakers, a stifling defense, and a legendary goalie. Like it or not, the Panthers know how to win. And they have proven that they can do so in any fashion, making them a tough match for any team. The only question for this team, really, is do they have the drive to plow through another long season and etch their names into hockey history with their 3rd Stanley in a row? They will be without Matthew Tkachuk for awhile, and they just lost Alexander Barkov, which is going to make this journey even harder. Florida may not be the team with the most points at the end of the regular season, but come playoff time all eyes will be on these Panthers. There are a number of good teams in this league that are so close to becoming a champion if they can get over that final hump. And that final hump, is the Florida Panthers.
Final Thoughts
Well there you have it, the hockey viking’s very first power ranking of the season. It’s a long season, so it will be interesting to see what developments during the season cause these teams to change every month. Every NHL season is driven by several factors that can turn the tide for any team, and 2025 is no different.
Player movements, like unexpected trades or key re-signings, have a real domino effect on rankings. There is always the chance for a major trade or acquisition during the season that can have a major impact on a teams standing as well as the entire league.
This ranking is based off of where these teams stand right now before the regular season begins, and throughout the season events can alter the positioning. For teams gunning for the top, acquiring a solid player—especially mid-season—can provide the propulsion they need.
It’s about finding the player that fits perfectly into what they’re trying to achieve. All these factors lead to as dynamic a season as can be expected. I personally can’t wait to find out how it all plays out.
I will be releasing my power rankings once a month throughout the whole season, so check back in to see where these teams may end up. In the meantime, check out my NHL season preview for everything you need to know around the league as the season begins. Can you feel it? Hockey is here!