In both conferences, the 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoff race came down to the wire, with the Columbus Blue Jackets missing the cut by two points, and the Calgary Flames tying but losing out via the tiebreaker. Outside of those two, there are a handful of teams that have a legitimate chance to return to the postseason this upcoming season, but the uphill climb isn’t expected to get any easier.
While not entirely impossible (looking at you, 2024-25 Flames), there are a handful of teams we can rule out of the conversation. The Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins are by no means ruled out of the playoff conversation already, but their odds are nearly insurmountable.
Two of the most popular choices for returning postseason squads come from the Metropolitan Division. Given that it’s hard to expect the Washington Capitals to replicate last season’s unprecedented performance, and the fact that the New Jersey Devils’ competitiveness lies on the shoulders of the health status of Jack Hughes, the Blue Jackets, and the New York Rangers could return to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025-26.
Columbus has a major question mark between the pipes, and doesn’t have a true star forward, though they do have a star defenseman in Zach Werenski. Despite a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Rangers are only one year removed from reaching the Eastern Conference Final. They have retooled their roster and hired a new head coach during the offseason.
Although the Flames only missed by a tiebreaker last season, the Utah Mammoth have one of the strongest claims in the West this season. Unfortunately, they play in a difficult Central Division. It’s difficult to pencil in the Mammoth for a top-three spot in the division for 2025-26, but a Wild Card spot shouldn’t be out of the question.
This list is not exhaustive; the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, and Vancouver Canucks have all expressed their desire to return to the postseason in 2025-26. Still, there are only so many postseason spots to earn, and none of last year’s participants are eager to give up their postseason positioning from this past season. Now it’s your time to choose: which non-playoff team from last season, if any, has the strongest chance for a playoff spot for the upcoming season?
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