The rebuilds will be ranked on how likely each franchise is to win a Stanley Cup in the next seven seasons. After all, that should be every general manager\u2019s goal: construct a high-end roster that delivers a strong Cup contention window. Call it the 2027 through 2033 Cup window, if you like.<\/p>\n
Why seven seasons? Anything shorter fails to offer enough runway for a recent rebuild to truly cook. In four seasons, Bedard will still be 24 years old. That\u2019s too soon. Setting the range to 10 years has the opposite problem \u2014 rosters and front offices are safe bets to be unrecognizable by then.<\/p>\n
Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis\u2019 pre-season pipeline rankings<\/a> were indispensable to today\u2019s feature. <\/p>\n \ud83d\udea7 What Defines a Rebuild Anyway?<\/p>\n This past summer, I wrote about rebuilds<\/a>. It got a lot of attention, with two notable takeaways:<\/p>\n Rebuilds take a lot longer than we think: after a team bottoms out, it needs an average of 8.5 years to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.<\/p>\n Traditional rebuilds work: if a franchise finishes near the bottom of the NHL at least twice and eventually gets to the playoffs in consecutive seasons, success is very likely.<\/p>\n While acknowledging each situation has considerable nuance, for the purposes of that piece, a rebuild was defined as follows:<\/p>\n A rebuild starts when a team:Has at least two bottom-10 finishes, including a bottom-eight finish, in a three-year period<\/p>\n A rebuild ends when a team:Makes the playoffs in consecutive years (or wins the Stanley Cup in its postseason return)<\/p>\n The article identified 13 franchises that entered 2025-26 in a rebuild: Anaheim<\/a>; Buffalo<\/a>; Columbus<\/a>; Chicago<\/a>; Detroit; Montreal<\/a>; New Jersey<\/a>; Ottawa<\/a>; Philadelphia<\/a>; San Jose; Seattle<\/a>; Utah<\/a>; Vancouver<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re going to spare Vancouver, given they are in dead last without ever closing the previous rebuild. The New York Rangers<\/a> won\u2019t officially meet the definition until the offseason. Same with Calgary<\/a>. Meanwhile, Boston<\/a>, Nashville<\/a>, New York Islanders<\/a>, and Pittsburgh<\/a> haven\u2019t stacked the two requisite bad seasons yet. Consider these four franchises in \u2018retools\u2019 for now, if you like.<\/p>\n With our twelve rebuilding franchises set, let\u2019s rank the field\u2026<\/p>\n 12. Seattle Kraken<\/p>\n General Manager: Jason Botterill (since 2025)<\/p>\n While Seattle\u2019s flirted with a playoff spot all season, that\u2019s true of nearly every team in the league<\/a>. Make no mistake, this organization has a long way to go. It\u2019s absolutely lifeless offensively at the NHL level. The good news? The Kraken have a strong, forward-heavy pipeline<\/a>. But player development has to be a concern. Shuffling through three head coaches in three seasons, top-eight picks Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and rookie Berkly Catton have yet to contribute meaningfully as scorers.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: With neither Beniers or Wright on star trajectories and a few onerous contracts to navigate, Seattle is going to have to start converting prospects to elite players soon in order to become Cup contenders.<\/p>\n 11. New Jersey Devils<\/p>\n General Manager: Tom Fitzgerald (since 2020)<\/p>\n New Jersey made the postseason last April and is only a few years removed from a 112-point performance. But this season hasn\u2019t gone according to plan<\/a>. Top-four picks Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes have struggled and aren\u2019t reminding anyone of Scott Niedermayer. Jacob Markstrom \u2014 signed through 2028 \u2014 is a problem. There isn\u2019t a lot of notable help left to pull from the system. The front office is handcuffed from its addiction to long-term deals with player-friendly trade clauses. And superstar Jack Hughes may be out for six weeks with a new injury by the time you\u2019ve read this sentence.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: In terms of organizational talent, the Devils aren\u2019t far behind most teams on this list. This group can make the playoffs and get back on track. On track and Cup threat are different things, though.<\/p>\n 10. Columbus Blue Jackets<\/p>\n General Manager: Don Waddell (since 2024)<\/p>\n I want to believe in Columbus. They\u2019ve stockpiled talent through nine first-round selections in the last five drafts. Waddell had a lot of success building the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> into perennial contenders. Jet Greaves looks like a legit starting goalie. Yet Adam Fantilli hasn\u2019t been the immediate sensation they hoped. Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger are struggling. And the Jackets feel so dependent on Zach Werenski\u2019s brilliance that should he decline, get injured, or walk after 2028, I\u2019m not sure this franchise isn\u2019t lost overnight.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: Columbus has done plenty of good things in its latest rebuild. But the team is highly leveraged on Werenski and has a dicey record of both developing and attracting talent.<\/p>\n 9. Philadelphia Flyers<\/p>\n General Manager: Daniel Bri\u00e8re (since 2023)<\/p>\n This spot might seem like a shot at the Flyers. They\u2019re an up-and-coming franchise. They play in a division that lacks current or future heavyweights outside of Carolina. But there are questions. Is Trevor Zegras actually this good? Will the timeline work out so that Matvei Michkov and prospects Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, and Oliver Bonk make an impact while critical veteran Travises (Konecny and Sanheim) remain relevant? Most of Philadelphia\u2019s best talent \u2014 both present and future \u2014 are forwards.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: Apologies if you\u2019ve heard this before\u2026 with journeymen goaltenders and dicey prospect depth on the blueline, this feels like a future playoff fixture that may never prevent goals at an elite level.<\/p>\n 8. Ottawa Senators<\/p>\n General Manager: Steve Staios (since 2023)<\/p>\n This has felt like a lost year for the Senators. Their odds of consecutive playoff appearances are slimmer by the day. Internal dysfunction. Finger pointing. Awful goaltending. None is a good sign for a team looking to level up. But it\u2019s that goaltending \u2014 an unfathomable .866 save percentage \u2014 that has completely skewed Ottawa\u2019s season. It\u2019s the worst by any team\u2019s goaltenders since 1993-94. No group can overcome that. In terms of expected goals against, most models have the still-pesky Sens as the best defensive team in the NHL. That\u2019s right. A roster with Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Tim Stutzle remains a credible threat with average (let alone good) goaltending.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: Despite Ottawa\u2019s miserable season, don\u2019t write them off yet. A shakeup move or two and some goaltending insurance should go a long way. I\u2019m expecting a big 2026-27 rebound.<\/p>\n 7. Detroit Red Wings<\/p>\n General Manager: Steve Yzerman (since 2019)<\/p>\n After a decade of uninspiring, non-playoff teams, Detroit is poised to return to the postseason. Bad draft lottery luck. Yzerplans. Regrettable free agent signings. Shaky goaltending. It\u2019s in the past. Right? Maybe. The truth is the Wings\u2019 underlying metrics are below average. They\u2019ve been outscored at 5-on-5 this season. And reclamation project John Gibson may not go on a 17-2 run again next year. So, why are the Wings ranked in the middle of the rebuilds? Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have blossomed into superstars. And I think there\u2019s significant psychological benefit in this group finally making the playoffs and restoring faith in both the process and its potential.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: After years of plenty going wrong, plenty has gone right in Hockeytown. The league is better for it. But this group still needs to get considerably better to be a recurring Cup threat.<\/p>\n 6. Buffalo Sabres<\/p>\n General Manager: Jarmo Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen replaced Kevyn Adams in December 2025<\/p>\n You\u2019re seeing that right\u2026 Buffalo last won a playoff round in 2007. Zach Benson hadn\u2019t had his second birthday yet. It\u2019s been a bit. HockeyStats.com<\/a>, the site that provided the projected 2025-26 team point totals, has the Sabres as the third most likely Eastern playoff team (87%). Whether this is a fluke or a glacial rebuild finally taking shape is in the eye of the beholder. I\u2019m leaning toward Door #2. Buffalo has thrived despite a middling power play and without relying on unsustainable goaltending \u2014 two great signs.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: The resurgent Sabres are one of the youngest teams in the NHL, with ample room to grow. Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson are elite and contracted through 2030. Lots has to go right for this group to sniff a Cup, but there are more young, talented, controlled pieces than you think.<\/p>\n 5. Utah Mammoth<\/p>\n General Manager: Bill Armstrong (since 2020)<\/p>\n How nice is that visual of the Mammoth\u2019s yearly progress? It\u2019s been a patient and steady climb. Navigating endless uncertainty, a college home rink, and franchise relocation hasn\u2019t been easy for Armstrong. But selecting nine first-rounders \u2014 including five in the top 10 \u2014 since 2021 has inched Utah toward contention. They\u2019ve made some savvy adds. They\u2019ve locked in an underrated starting goalie in Karel Vejmelka (25-12-2 this season). They\u2019ve got solid ownership. Their underlying metrics are exceptional. And they\u2019ve done it all with key cog Logan Cooley out since mid-December. Without a top-six defenseman under 27, Utah will need to inject some youth to the blueline soon.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: I\u2019m a big fan of Utah\u2019s upside. If they were in any other division, they\u2019d be near the top of the list. But as Colorado<\/a>, Dallas<\/a>, and Minnesota<\/a> eventually fade, the Mammoth will be ready to thrive.<\/p>\n 4. Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n General Manager: Pat Verbeek (since 2022)<\/p>\n With five top-10 picks in the last five drafts, Anaheim is also seeing the fruits of its scouting and development labor. The Ducks have talented, controlled forwards on the rise. But they are a really bad defensive team right now, not surprising given young players in significant roles. But I\u2019d expect coach Joel Quenneville \u2014 who is closing in on 1,000 wins \u2014 to iron out these issues and mold a two-way identity soon. Anaheim is a little further ahead of its rebuild than Western rivals Chicago and San Jose, so it\u2019s easy to assume they\u2019re doing it better. But ahead isn\u2019t necessarily better.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: There\u2019s ample talent on the roster and more on the way for Anaheim. It may take a few more seasons to marinate but get excited to serve duck a l\u2019orange at all of your future postseason parties.<\/p>\n 3. Chicago Blackhawks<\/p>\n General Manager: Kyle Davidson (since 2022)<\/p>\n Chicago is still getting outplayed regularly, near the bottom of the league in most 5-on-5 metrics. But fear not, a tsunami of talent is rising. Davidson\u2019s preseason checklist might have looked something like this\u2026 Rise 15 points in the standings? Check. Bedard graduating to elite status? Check. Spencer Knight holding up as a strong #1 goalie over a full season? Check. Have another handful of key prospects see NHL time? Check. The difference between Chicago\u2019s future and the others on this list is prospect volume. Not every high pick becomes Victor Hedman or Mitch Marner. But the Hawks\u2019 possess unparalleled insurance, having quietly drafted 11 times in the first round and 25 times in the first three rounds in the last four drafts.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: While progress may feel slow for Blackhawks\u2019 fans, it will be worth the wait. This teardown rebuild is well positioned to contend for a very long time.<\/p>\n 2. San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n General Manager: Mike Grier (since 2022)<\/p>\n San Jose is often paired with Chicago from a Western Conference rebuild standpoint. Celebrini versus Bedard will have that effect. The Sharks don\u2019t have Chicago\u2019s prospect volume or as many young defensemen playing pro hockey. But playing in the Pacific Division figures to give them an easier path over the next seven years as the heavyweight teams age. Celebrini is the crown jewel, but the Sharks\u2019 prospect cupboard is loaded. The progress of Yaroslav Askarov, 23, in net may affect the speed of this rebuild.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: Teams don\u2019t gain 35 to 40 standings points in one year, so some regression is in order. In fact, I\u2019d bet that both San Jose and Celebrini get fewer points next season. Fear not. Once this prospect pool develops around its teenage Hart candidate, expect a fun, lethal franchise for a decade.<\/p>\n 1. Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n General Manager: Kent Hughes (since 2022)<\/p>\n In the NHL 2030 project<\/a> last summer, I\u2019d picked Montreal as the Stanley Cup champions. Everything appears to be on track with Hughes\u2019 rebuild. In the crammed Eastern standings, the Habs are not a playoff lock (70%). But there\u2019s much to be excited about. Last year, Montreal slipped into the playoffs but weren\u2019t controlling play, relying on Sam Montembeault to prop up a flawed group. This year? Below-average goaltending has hurt a team that\u2019s improved its process. HockeyStats.com has Montreal eighth overall in expected 5-on-5 goal share. The team has skill and swagger, evidenced by an 9-3 overtime record.<\/p>\n Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Cole Caufield are high-impact players steadily improving. Dynamic rookie Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky round out the Habs\u2019 top-five scorers \u2014 all homegrown players 26 years old and under. While the teams ranked #2 to #4 in this exercise have accumulated prospect talent, Montreal has successfully converted many into very good NHL players already. Some combination of Jakub Dobes, rookie Jacob Fowler, and Montembeault should be able to supply steady future goaltending.<\/p>\n Bottom Line: Hughes\u2019 recent comments about the trade deadline suggest Montreal isn\u2019t in win-now mode. Yet. But they are close. The Canadiens are poised to be the class of the Atlantic Division as Tampa Bay<\/a>, Florida<\/a>, and Toronto<\/a> are dependent on many players exiting or past their primes. This rebuild is working. Suzuki emerges as our most likely captain to lift the Cup among the rebuilding franchises.<\/p>\n Data from\u00a0Hockey-Reference<\/a>;\u00a0HockeyStats.com<\/a>; PuckPedia<\/a><\/p>\n _____<\/p>\n Recently by Paul Pidutti<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Close your eyes and picture future commissioner Bill Daly about to hand over the Stanley Cup. 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