NHL Power Rankings: Bold positive predictions for all 32 teams

Like a speedy forward barrelling down on a defenceman, the NHL season got to us quick.

For just the second time in league history, we’ll have regular-season hockey in September when the 2026-27 campaign kicks off with five games on Tuesday. The only other time it happened was nearly 20 years ago, in 2007, when the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings began their year a handful of days earlier than everyone else by playing a pair of games in England.

This campaign, of course, will also feature 84 regular-season games for the first time in over 30 years. So, with real-deal hockey already leaving the room and heading toward the ice, it’s time for our final pre-season power ranking.

In honour of a schedule that features two extra contests than we’re used to, here’s a pair of positive predictions — it’s the season of hope, after all — for all 32 teams.

1. Colorado Avalanche Cale Makar will record the second 100-point season by a defenceman in the past 35 years and Mackenzie Blackwood will emerge from the timeshare as the Avs’ clear No. 1.

2. Dallas Stars Thomas Harley will rebound from a down year to score 20 goals and pending-UFA Jason Robertson will win the Rocket Richard.

3. Washington Capitals Ryan Leonard will justify his monster contract extension with a strong year and Logan Thompson will win the Vezina Trophy. 

4. Carolina Hurricanes Pyotr Kochetkov will rise up to become Carolina’s clear No. 1 and Alexander Nikishin will be part of a package that lands Kirill Marchenko from Columbus. 

5. Tampa Bay Lightning Anthony Cirelli will record his first career 30-goal season and captain Victor Hedman will play all 84 games. 

6. Montreal Canadiens Chris Kreider will match his age by scoring 35 goals as a dream fit on the top line and 2023 fifth-overall pick David Reinbacher — after a little more seasoning in the AHL — will be a perfect right-shot partner for Lane Hutson by season’s end. 

7. Buffalo Sabres Tage Thompson will post his first 50-goal campaign and a healthy Josh Norris will score 35. 

8. Minnesota Wild Jesper Wallstedt will cement himself as a 50-game, go-to goalie and Wild fans will wake up to a surprise Quinn Hughes extension just before U.S. Thanksgiving. 

9. Edmonton Oilers The next trade for a goalie will actually work out and the Oilers will win the Pacific Division. 

10. Florida Panthers The Tkachuk brothers will combine for 90 goals and Seth Jones will get Norris votes. 

11. Vegas Golden Knights Rookie Trevor Connelly will turn heads and Jack Eichel will win the Selke Trophy.

12. Utah Mammoth The Mammoth will pony up to land Connor Hellebuyck and blue-liner Dmitry Simashev will get Calder votes. 

13. Anaheim Ducks The Ducks will make a big play for a defenceman and Leo Carlsson will look like a centre who deserves $18.5 million per season. 

14. Ottawa Senators Ottawa will be the only team in the league with three centres — Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto — who all score at least 25 goals, and winger Drake Batherson will hit 80 points.  

15. Toronto Maple Leafs Gavin McKenna will get 65 points and Chris Tanev will suit up for 80 games. 

16. Boston Bruins JJ Peterka will net 35 goals and James Hagens will flash real offensive potential, as the B’s uncover the next generation of offence-generating forwards. 

17. San Jose Sharks Sam Dickinson will make a meaningful leap on the blueline and Michael Misa will remind everyone why he was a second-overall selection.

18. Philadelphia Flyers Joseph Woll will stay healthy enough to play 45 quality games in goal and Porter Martone will live up to the hype and win the Calder. 

19. New Jersey Devils The Luke Hughes breakout happens, softening the blow when Quinn Hughes doesn’t become a Devil … for now. New Jersey will lead the league with seven 20-goal scorers. 

20. Los Angeles Kings The Kings will score more than anticipated under new coach Peter Laviolette and Drew Doughty will ink an extension in January. 

21. St. Louis Blues Robert Thomas will record 100 points in his first year as Blues captain and Joel Hofer will establish himself as a reliable starter and goalie of the future. 

22. Winnipeg Jets The Connor Hellebuyck trade will yield a good timeshare partner for Stuart Skinner and the Jets will be in the playoff hunt right down to the final games of the year. 

23. Pittsburgh Penguins Nick Robertson will score 25 goals next to Sidney Crosby, and the young duo of Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov will give the Pens a reliable foundation in the crease. 

24. New York Islanders Calum Ritchie will score 22 goals as a sophomore and no second-year jinx will mess with Matthew Schaefer. 

25. Columbus Blue Jackets Don Waddell will wait to get what he wants in a Kirill Marchenko trade and Valeri Nichushkin will make up for the lost goals by netting 33 in his first season with the Jackets. 

26. Detroit Red Wings Dylan Larkin will expand his list of acceptable trade destinations one more time and the Wings will get the package they’re after. Moritz Seider will finish as runner-up for the Norris. 

27. Nashville Predators The Preds might not be going to the playoffs, but Nashville will finally pull the trigger on a nice return for pending-UFA centre Ryan O’Reilly, and Wyatt Cullen — the 10th-overall pick last June — will become one of the more enticing prospects in the game over the course of the winter. 

28. New York Rangers Gabe Perreault will establish himself as a no-doubt point-producer and Adam Fox will hit 80 points for the first time in his career. 

29. Chicago Blackhawks The roof will blow off when Patrick Kane scores in the home opener and Connor Bedard will score 40 goals despite a late start to the season. 

30. Seattle Kraken Jake O’Brien will be the leading rookie point-getter in the AHL and hopes in Seattle will be further stoked by an NHL Draft Lottery win at the end of the season. 

31. Calgary Flames Dustin Wolf will get back on the radar as one of the best young starters in the game, while Zayne Parekh finds his offensive game at the highest level. 

32. Vancouver Canucks Thatcher Demko will return, eventually, and play well enough that a contender gives the rebuilding Canucks a pick and a prospect for his services. Also, Marco Rossi will score 30 goals and look like the kind of 2C Vancouver can use for a long time.