Panic Meter for Every Team That Missed the 2026 NHL Playoffs
With the 2025-26 NHL regular season over and the playoffs underway, the 16 teams that failed to qualify face a long offseason of evaluation and planning for 2026-27.
Rosters will be examined to determine what went wrong and what must be done to improve them. The coaching staff could also undergo a review and possible changes. There may also be some management shuffles.
Some of the teams that narrowly missed the playoffs could be feeling optimistic about their chances of qualifying next season. Others could be in the middle of rebuilding and hoping to get closer to contention. Some could be in dire need of change.
It's time to employ our trusty Panic Meter to rate where each of 16 non-contenders currently ranks on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no reason to fret over the state of the franchise and 10 being complete and total panic.
We've factored in each team's performance this season, the state of their management, farm system and salary-cap situation in determining how quickly they can reverse their fortunes.
Calgary Flames
1 of 16
After narrowly missing the playoffs last season with 96 points, the Flames finished 14th overall in the Western Conference with 77 points. General manager Craig Conroy continued his rebuilding program, trading Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights and Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche.
Despite the decline, Conroy remains upbeat about the Flames' direction. While maintaining the annual goal of reaching the playoffs, he told reporters on Apr. 17 that they wanted to do the right things for the long term, rather than attempt a short-term turnaround.
No one on the Flames finished with 50 points this season. Nevertheless, they have promising youngsters in defenseman Zayne Parekh and winger Matvei Gridin emerging from a prospect pipeline ranked third overall by The Athletic.
Goaltending won't be an issue for the Flames, given their tandem of Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley. Young forwards Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato have several years of experience under their belts and should continue to improve.
The Flames have $18.1 million in projected salary-cap space for next season. They also have eight picks in the first three rounds of this year's draft (including an extra first-rounder) to use as trade bait to acquire young players who could help them accelerate their rebuild.
Panic Meter: 3
Chicago Blackhawks
2 of 16
Since hiring Kyle Davidson as their general manager in 2022, Chicago has been patiently rebuilding its roster around its promising young players.
Davidson's efforts have garnered the confidence of the club's ownership, who rewarded him with a multi-year contract extension.
Superstar Connor Bedard has been the cornerstone of that process. Forwards Frank Nazar, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and defensemen Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and Louis Crevier are products of their system who have worked their way onto their roster from a prospect pool ranked No. 1 by The Athletic.
Chicago has made some progress in the standings, rising from 52 points in 2023-24 to 71 points this season. With $40.2 million in cap space for 2026-27 and 21 active roster players under contract, they have sufficient cap space to re-sign Bedard to a hefty raise and still have enough to add to their roster this summer.
While there is little panic about the club's direction from those running and managing the team, the limited signs of real progress over the past four seasons could become cause for concern if they're not sufficiently addressed during the offseason.
Chicago was again among the league's lowest-scoring teams with a goals-against that ranked among the worst. It must also refrain from adding aging veterans and instead find a top-six winger and a top-four defenseman in their 20s who can help speed the process along.
Panic Meter: 3
Columbus Blue Jackets
3 of 16
The Columbus Blue Jackets were the NHL's most inspiring story of 2024-25. Despite the tragic death of winger Johnny Gaudreau, they bonded in their grief to battle for a playoff berth up to the very end of the regular season. As a result, it was expected that they would become a serious contender this season.
However, the Blue Jackets stumbled through the first half of this season, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference by mid-January. Bringing in Rick Bowness as interim head coach saw them rise to second place in the Metropolitan Division by March 25, only to go 3-9-1 down the stretch to fall out of contention.
Bowness tore a strip off his players following their final game of the season, accusing them of not caring and of being too comfortable with losing, vowing he'd change the culture if he were retained as head coach. He'll get that opportunity, as his passionate rant earned him a contract extension.
The Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, but they possess the talent to be better. Zach Werenski is a superstar defenseman. Young center Adam Fantilli is a rising star. Forwards Kirill Marchenko and Dmitry Voronkov are talented scorers, and Jet Greaves is emerging as a reliable starting goaltender.
Over the last two years, they've teased the ability to be a playoff contender but failed in the clutch, frustrating their long-suffering fans. General manager Don Waddell must work with Bowness to change the culture, which could include using their $40.2 million in projected cap space to bolster the roster.
Panic Meter: 7
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Detroit Red Wings
4 of 16
For the past three seasons, the Detroit Red Wings seemed poised to emerge as a playoff contender, only to collapse down the stretch and tumble out of a postseason berth. It's testing their fans' patience, as they booed the team off the ice during their final home game of the season.
Under Steve Yzerman's management, the Red Wings have steadily improved. Their 92-point performance in 2025-26 was their highest since reaching 93 points in 2015-16, which was the last time they qualified for the postseason.
Yzerman and his staff have done well at the draft table, bringing in young stars such as Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Simon Edvinsson. They've also bolstered their roster with skilled veterans such as Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, John Gibson, and Justin Faulk.
However, Yzerman remains unable to address the club's difficulties scoring at even strength. They still lack a reliable second-line center, and they've struggled killing penalties. Yzerman has also seemed reluctant to use tradable assets and salary-cap space for more immediate help in the trade market.
That could lead to a lack of confidence in "The Yzerplan" among Red Wings fans. There's no indication that Yzerman will lose his job, but he's definitely going to feel the pressure this offseason to find the necessary talent to get this team over the hump.
Panic Meter: 7
Florida Panthers
5 of 16
Entering this season, the Florida Panthers were hoping to stage a rare Stanley Cup "three-peat" after winning hockey's holy grail in 2024 and 2025. However, that quest was derailed by a plethora of injuries.
Team captain and first-line center Aleksander Barkov suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp. Left wing Matthew Tkachuk underwent offseason surgeries that kept him out of the lineup until January.
Other notable Panthers sidelined by injuries included Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, and Niko Mikkola. That depleted lineup also factored in starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's inconsistent play and less-than-stellar stats this season.
However, the Panthers don't believe that their Stanley Cup window has closed. On Apr. 16, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reported that they believe they can bounce back with a healthier roster next season.
Bobrovsky's future remains uncertain, given his eligibility for unrestricted free agency on July 1. Nevertheless, they're hopeful of convincing their long-time netminder to stick around.
Panic Meter: 2
Nashville Predators
6 of 16
After a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Predators stumbled out of the gate this season, but improved in December and remained in the playoff race until the final week of the regular season.
Despite that improvement, the Predators appear to be at a crossroads. They have a roster stocked with expensive veterans such as Roman Josi, Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly and Juuse Saros, but they're also trying to add younger talent.
Stamkos had a bounce-back performance with 42 goals. The 36-year-old forward has two years left on his contract, but he faces an unsettled future with a management change coming in the offseason.
General manager Barry Trotz will be stepping down once a suitable successor is found. The club is currently vetting suitable candidates. According to Stamkos, the new general manager isn't expected to rebuild the roster.
The mood is one of uncertainty as questions persist about the team's direction. Until that's addressed once a new GM is in place, that feeling will continue to hang over the franchise.
Panic Meter: 4
New Jersey Devils
7 of 16
In 2022-23, the New Jersey Devils seemed poised to emerge as a potential Stanley Cup contender. Under general manager Tom Fitzgerald, they finished with a franchise-best 52 wins and 112 points, sitting third overall in the Eastern Conference.
Three years later, the Devils missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. Fitzgerald was fired, replaced by former Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta, who faces several issues that must be addressed before next season.
Mehta's first order of business is deciding what to do with the coaching staff. Sheldon Keefe was hired in 2024 and coached the Devils into last season's playoffs, but Mehta could opt to bring in his own man behind the bench.
Opening contract extension talks with Nico Hischier is another priority. The 27-year-old Devils captain is a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. Meanwhile, promising defenseman Šimon Nemec is a restricted free agent. Mehta must also decide on the future of unhappy defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
Mehta could also look into improving the Devils' goaltending after starter Jacob Markstrom struggled this season. It would help if their roster is healthier, especially oft-injured superstars center Jack Hughes, but even then, they could use more reliable depth scoring.
Panic Meter: 6
New York Islanders
8 of 16
This season was Mathieu Darche's first as general manager of the New York Islanders. There were several bright spots, including the impressive debut of rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer. They were also in the playoff race for most of this season.
However, injuries to key players such as Kyle Palmieri and Alexander Romanov, a power-play percentage (16.5) ranked 30th, a 25th-ranked offense (2.79 goals per game), and inconsistent performances sent them tumbling out of the playoff picture by the end of the season.
Darche didn't wait for the end of the regular season to make a coaching change, replacing Patrick Roy with Pete DeBoer with two weeks remaining. However, their issues continued to hamper them up to the end.
Addressing the Islanders' woeful offense should be Darche's priority. With $12.6 million in projected cap space and 19 active roster players under contract, he could have enough to find a scoring forward this summer through trade or free agency, especially if he doesn't re-sign team captain Anders Lee.
Darche's coaching change demonstrated his willingness to make bold moves, as did his acquisition of center Brayden Schenn at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, it could be challenging to bolster the offense without sacrificing too much of their defensive depth.
Panic Meter: 5
New York Rangers
9 of 16
On Jan. 16, New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury released an open letter to the club's fans about his plans to retool the roster. Those changes actually began last season, when notable players such as Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko were traded, and continued last summer with Chris Kreider and K'Andre Miller.
This season saw superstar winger Artemi Panarin and depth defenseman Carson Soucy get shipped out. Center Vincent Trocheck was a frequent subject of trade speculation, and could remain a trade candidate this summer. Defenseman Braden Schneider could also hit the trade block.
Drury will attempt to build up the depth around a core of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, defensemen Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, and forwards J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault, and Will Cuylle. With the right additions, the Rangers hope to become a playoff contender next season.
The Rangers have $26.9 million in salary-cap space for next season with 20 active roster players under contract. Mollie Walker of the New York Post observed that it could rise to $33 million if they trade Trocheck and Schneider this summer.
However, there isn't much talent to pursue in this summer's free-agent market, and the rising salary cap means the Rangers will face considerable competition from rival clubs in the trade market. That uncertainty could generate unease among their fans over Drury's plans.
Panic Meter: 6
San Jose Sharks
10 of 16
This season saw the San Jose Sharks take a major step forward with their rebuilding process. Led by superstar sophomore center Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks finished with their highest point total (86) since 2018-19, finishing only four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
Under general manager Mike Grier, the Sharks have patiently built up their roster primarily through drafting and developing young talent. That included Celebrini and forwards Will Smith, Michael Misa, and William Eklund. They also added promising goaltender Yaroslav Askarov in a trade with Nashville in 2024.
Grier hasn't shied away from surrounding his youngsters with skilled veterans. Forwards Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Kyle Sherwood, defenseman Dmitry Orlov, and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic helped take some of the burden off their promising kids.
Nevertheless, Celebrini was the main reason for the Sharks' improvement. The 19-year-old center broke the single-season franchise points record with 115, finishing fourth among NHL scorers. With a year left on his entry-level contract, he's keen to sign an extension this summer.
The Sharks' youngsters will continue to improve, but Grier must bolster a defense corps that allowed the third-most goals-against per game (3.54). He has plenty of salary-cap space to address that issue, and the presence of a superstar like Celebrini could make the Sharks an attractive trade or free-agent destination.
Panic Meter: 2
Seattle Kraken
11 of 16
This season marked the fourth time in the Seattle Kraken's five-season existence that they failed to make the playoffs. That's prompted calls for changes from their fans and the local media.
Team president and former general manager Ron Francis has stepped down, but general manager Jason Botterill and head coach Lane Lambert will remain. Both took over their respective roles last year, but they will feel the pressure to improve next season.
A lack of scoring punch is an ongoing issue for the Kraken. Their 2.73 goals-per-game average was 28th overall this season, while their power-play percentage (19.5) was 20th. Their defensive game kept them in the playoff chase for most of this season, but it wasn't enough to prevent their eventual collapse.
The Kraken are a team of hardworking depth players in dire need of a superstar, preferably a scoring forward. They made a significant offer for Artemi Panarin before the New York Rangers shipped him to the Los Angeles Kings, but he wasn't interested.
Boosting the scoring will remain the top priority, and they have the salary-cap space to do it this summer. Making a bold move for a scoring star will mean dangling one of the four first-round picks the Kraken own in the next two drafts, and one or two of their promising prospects.
Panic Meter: 7
St. Louis Blues
12 of 16
For the third time in four years, the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs. A struggling start, an offense with a goals per game average (2.80) ranked 24th overall, along with special teams ranked among the bottom third, proved to be their undoing this season.
General manager and team president Doug Armstrong will hand over the management duties to his assistant, Alexander Steen, following the playoffs. Before the trade deadline, Armstrong shipped out center Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders and defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings.
Armstrong reportedly had a deal in place to send Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres at the deadline, but the veteran defenseman blocked it with his no-trade clause. First-line center Robert Thomas was the focus of considerable speculation, but Armstrong set a high asking price that discouraged the suitors.
It's been a season of change as the Blues transition toward younger players such as Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorský, Philip Broberg, and Joel Hofer. Their respective play, combined with Thomas' improvement after returning from a leg injury, provides hope for next season.
Nevertheless, there could be more moves afoot in the offseason. Long-time starting goaltender Jordan Binnington was mentioned as a trade candidate this season. Veteran wingers Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou could be shopped, and we can't dismiss the possibility of someone meeting that high price for Thomas.
Panic Meter: 5
Toronto Maple Leafs
13 of 16
The Toronto Maple Leafs' streak of nine consecutive postseason appearances ended this season. After finishing 2024-25 in second place in the Eastern Conference with 108 points, the Leafs tumbled to 15th overall with 78 points.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Maple Leafs. The biggest factor was injuries to team captain Auston Matthews, including a season-ending knee injury in mid-March that all but sealed the struggling Leafs' fate.
The offseason departure of top-line winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights hurt their production as they struggled to find players to replace him. Having finished seventh last season with a goals-per-game average of 3.26, they slid to 16th this season (3.07).
Goaltending and defense were also issues this season. Netminders Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz missed time with injuries, while shutdown defenseman Chris Tanev appeared in only 11 games. A 2.70 goals-against per game that was eighth-best last season became a 3.60 that was second-worst overall.
General manager Brad Treliving was fired at the end of March, and the search is on for his replacement. However, there is concern in Leafs Nation that darker days could be in store for this franchise.
Panic Meter: 8
Vancouver Canucks
14 of 16
Two years ago, the Vancouver Canucks were coming off one of the best regular-season performances in franchise history. With 50 wins and 109 points, they finished first in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference.
After several seasons of rebuilding, they seemed poised to become a Stanley Cup contender.
Fast-forward to today, and the Canucks have completed one of their worst seasons ever, finishing at the bottom of the overall standings with 23 wins and 58 points. That's resulted in a significant shakeup of the front office and the roster.
Since January 2025, core players such as J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood and Tyler Myers have been traded as the club moves into a roster rebuild. General manager Patrik Allvin was recently relieved of his duties, while speculation swirls about Adam Foote's future as head coach.
Various issues derailed the Canucks. Injuries waylaid starting goalie Thatcher Demko. High-priced center Elias Pettersson's performance has regressed. A rift between Pettersson and Miller resulted in the latter's trade. Hughes' reluctance to sign a contract extension led to his departure.
The Canucks' collapse has dashed whatever hopes their fans had had about the club's future after that promising 2023-24 performance. Facing another long, painful rebuild, they could be losing whatever faith they may have had in the club's ownership and front office.
Panic Meter: 9
Washington Capitals
15 of 16
The Alex Ovechkin era is winding down for the Washington Capitals. After 21 seasons, the NHL's greatest goal scorer will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He's considering his future, but the end may be near.
Even if Ovechkin returns for another year or two, management has spent the past two years preparing for the day when the franchise's greatest player hangs up his skates. A prime example was trading long-time defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline.
Ovechkin called it the toughest day of his career, but the move was necessary for the Capitals to prepare for when they have to move on without their long-time captain.
The Capitals exceeded expectations in 2024-25, finishing first in the Eastern Conference. They narrowly missed the playoffs this season with 95 points, but there are signs that the future after Ovechkin could be a bright one.
Younger players such as Ryan Leonard, brothers Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Connor McMichael, and Cole Hutson show varying degrees of promise. Jakob Chychrun, Logan Thompson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Dylan Strome are in their prime and taking over leadership roles.
Panic Meter: 3
Winnipeg Jets
16 of 16
Entering this season, there was reason for optimism among Winnipeg Jets fans.
Their club was coming off the best regular season in franchise history, winning their first-ever Presidents' Trophy with a league-leading record of 56 wins, 22 losses, and four overtime losses for 116 points.
That optimism turned to despair as the Jets stumbled from the gate, dropped toward the bottom of the standings and missed the playoffs despite a surge in their performance down the stretch.
A lack of scoring punch beyond first-line forward Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor was a contributing factor. Losing goalie Connor Hellebuyck, winger Cole Perfetti, and defensemen Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk to injuries didn't help, nor did the departure of winger Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina via free agency.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff deserves his share of the blame. His additions of aging veterans such as Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist did little to improve their performance, while promising youngsters Brad Lambert and Elias Salomonsson struggled to earn regular roster spots.
Hellebuyck didn't mince words about the Jets' performance. He called it "unacceptable," adding that things had to change if they wanted to win the Stanley Cup. That prompted speculation that he might be traded, which seems unlikely, but won't do much to calm the fears of nervous Jets fans.
Panic Meter: 6
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