2026-27 NHL Power Rankings: Preseason Tiers and Cup Contenders
- The 2026-27 NHL regular season opens on Tuesday with 10 teams hitting the ice, launching a new campaign following an abbreviated preseason schedule.
- The reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes sit atop the preseason power rankings as true Cup Contenders.
- The Colorado Avalanche join the top tier as odds-on favorites to win the Central Division.
The 2026-27 NHL regular season opens on Tuesday with 10 teams hitting the ice, launching a new campaign following an abbreviated preseason schedule. Daily Faceoff analysts Mike Gould and Scott Maxwell released their opening power rankings ahead of the puck drop, organizing the league’s 32 teams into tiers to handicap early championship and playoff contenders.
Carolina Hurricanes Lead Cup Contenders Following Stanley Cup Title
The reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes sit atop the preseason power rankings as true Cup Contenders. Scott Maxwell notes that the Hurricanes bring back an almost identical roster, though the team faces questions regarding Frederik Andersen, an unsigned Alexander Nikishin who wants out, and an injured Seth Jarvis. Mike Gould highlights the team’s dominant 16-3 playoff run last year, noting that the defending champions proved their well-rounded style can barrel through competition despite a short summer.
Colorado Avalanche And Tampa Bay Lightning Round Out Top Tiers
The Colorado Avalanche join the top tier as odds-on favorites to win the Central Division. Mike Gould points to the team’s returning star power and the training camp emergence of University of Michigan alumnus T.J. Hughes, who cracked the roster as a 24-year-old college free agent. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning secure a spot among the favorites based on elite talent like Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, alongside roster additions John Carlson and Dennis Hildeby. Scott Maxwell observes that while four consecutive first-round exits test their reputation, the Lightning possess the depth to contend on paper as the team handles Kucherov's looming contract extension.
https://x.com/edmontonjournal/status/2099287216618864657
Dallas Stars Enter As Cup Hopefuls After Rest
In the second tier of Cup Hopefuls, the Dallas Stars enter the season looking to rebound from the fatigue of back-to-back-to-back Conference Final runs. Scott Maxwell notes that while the Stars lack some of their previous depth, they feature a strong top-six forward group, a finalized top-four defense corps, and goaltender Jake Oettinger. The team aims to utilize a refreshed start when the regular season begins on Tuesday.