Power Rankings After the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final
And now, the longest three months of the year.
Carolina's 3-0 defeat of Vegas on Sunday night not only secured the franchise's second Stanley Cup, it also started a stretch that'll last until September before pucks drop on NHL games that matter.
But it won't be a relaxation vacation for the guys in charge of teams. Instead, they'll be scouring their own rosters and seeing what's available from the league's other 31 cities to try and ensure they'll have a parade this time next June.
B/R's hockey staff seized on that mojo and busied itself in the task of ranking the field from 32 to 1 as one season ends and the clock begins ticking toward the next.
Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought in the app comments.
32. Vancouver Canucks
1 of 32
The idea after a 32nd overall finish is a rebuild. But it's not particularly easy to do with a roster dotted by veterans and hard-to-move contracts. Four players will make more than $7 million this season and all are signed for multiple years.
31. Calgary Flames
2 of 32
The Flames have at least gotten started on the sort of project the Canucks need to manage. Several veteran players have been moved out to acquire seven picks in the first two rounds of the next three drafts. Goalie Dustin Wolf is a keeper, too.
30. Chicago Blackhawks
3 of 32
The Blackhawks are loaded with young skill up front and goalie Spencer Knight, plucked from Florida for Seth Jones, is already in the league's upper half at the position. Putting a sound defensive corps in front of him is a priority for the brass.
29. Seattle Kraken
4 of 32
Coaching, a sound organizational strategy and other factors go into a Cup-challenging team. But it starts with talent. Contenders have it. The Kraken, in a word, don't. Matty Beniers has skill and Joey Daccord is solid. But there's not much else.
28. New York Rangers
5 of 32
There are worse places to start than a stud defenseman and a franchise goalie. The Rangers have both in Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin. But there's a need for more talent up front. Trading Artemi Panarin left a hole Mika Zibanejad can't fill alone.
27. St. Louis Blues
6 of 32
The Blues have shown flashes of brilliance over the last two seasons, with extended streaks covering 45 games in which they've compiled a .766 points percentage. Getting a production spike from a healthy Dylan Holloway would aid consistency.
26. Nashville Predators
7 of 32
It's decision time for the new regime in Nashville, where the roster has a collection of core players edging further into their 30s and two straight playoff misses. Will they keep it intact and add around the edges or blow it up to rebuild? Stay tuned.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
8 of 32
John Chayka is the new GM on the block in Toronto and he's immersed in the search for a coach to replace the dismissed Craig Berube. Whomever it is, getting Auston Matthews and William Nylander to buy into the program is mandatory.
24. New Jersey Devils
9 of 32
The Devils looked like they'd become a perpetual contender a few years ago when a 21-year-old Jack Hughes produced 99 points and the team was third overall. But three seasons since have yielded one playoff berth. A stable goalie would help.
23. New York Islanders
10 of 32
The bad news is the Islanders faltered late and missed out on a playoff spot that seemed theirs for the taking. The good news is Matthew Schaefer is a franchise cornerstone, Ilya Sorokin is a reliable goalie, and Pete DeBoer is a star coach.
22. Detroit Red Wings
11 of 32
You'd think ending several seasons of missing the playoffs would be a priority this summer, but Dylan Larkin threw a wrench into the plans with a trade request. Pierre LeBrun reported the list of acceptable destinations has grown, which is good news.
21. Winnipeg Jets
12 of 32
The outlook was rosy after a Presidents' Trophy in 2024-25, but Connor Hellebuyck's slip outside Vezina territory and having just two skaters surpass 69 points led to a skid out of playoff country. More production needed.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets
13 of 32
The late 2-8-1 skid cost the Blue Jackets a playoff berth and sent coach Rick Bowness into a tizzy, but it also masked some good things. Zach Werenski is the league's best defenseman and Jet Greaves had solid underlying numbers.
19. Washington Capitals
14 of 32
Need a stat that's probably bedeviling Capitals fans? Washington and Vegas each finished 2025-26 with 95 points. One team missed the playoffs. One team played in the season's final playoff game. Meantime, keep an ear out for Ovechkin news.
18. San Jose Sharks
15 of 32
They've not made the playoffs in seven seasons, but the smart money would suggest that ends soon. Macklin Celebrini, a bunch of other young, skilled teammates, and a No. 2 overall pick on the way? Smile.
17. Los Angeles Kings
16 of 32
The Kings welcome new coach Peter Laviolette to the fold and they'll hope he brings some offense with him, given a drop from 249 goals in 2024-25 to just 220 last season. His aggressive style should make for more goals and entertainment.
16. Pittsburgh Penguins
17 of 32
The Penguins got more mileage than expected out of a team backstopped through the back half by Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs, and it'll be the latter who sticks around next season, probably to platoon with 22-year-old Sergei Murashov.
15. Ottawa Senators
18 of 32
Two straight playoff appearances haven't yielded a series win, and the sweep loss to Carolina this time around didn't help the mood any. Five goals scored in four games isn't enough to beat anyone, so getting a top-six forward is a must.
14. Boston Bruins
19 of 32
The Bruins had a surprisingly good season and gave a powerful Buffalo team a spirited run in a six-game playoff scrap. But their third forward line has holes and the defense could use help on all three pairings. A busy offseason awaits.
13. Florida Panthers
20 of 32
Being the best team to not reach the playoffs isn't a flag the Panthers are interested in waving. But two Cup banners probably soften the blow. If healthy, they're still elite. Goaltending is a question, though, and it'll have to be addressed.
12. Edmonton Oilers
21 of 32
Where do we begin? Two straight Cup finals losses devolved into a first-round exit and the need for a new coach. Darnell Nurse has reportedly requested a trade and the brass is considering bringing in Mike Babcock. Never a dull moment, eh?
11. Philadelphia Flyers
22 of 32
It's been a while since the Flyers entered a summer off of a playoff berth and an advance to the second round, so GM Danny Briere's priorities are different than they've been. There's work to be done and more than $37 million in cap space.
10. Utah Mammoth
23 of 32
The Mammoth have a core of young, skilled players already at the NHL level and there are prospects at the door, too. Tij Iginla averaged nearly two points a game in the WHL and Caleb Desnoyers had 78 points in 45 games, too. They're close.
9. Anaheim Ducks
24 of 32
The Ducks may have reached the playoff berth/contention cycle a little quicker than expected, which ratchets the pressure on GM Pat Verbeek to keep it going. A second-line center and a right-shot defenseman appear to be the priorities.
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
25 of 32
Nikita Kucherov made it a trio of awards for the Lightning by copping his second Hart Trophy after a season in which he had 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games. Jon Cooper and Andrei Vasilevskiy had already been named top coach and goalie.
7. Minnesota Wild
26 of 32
This just in: Quinn Hughes is one of the league's elite defensemen. Which makes it even more vital that GM Bill Guerin do what he can to get him extended when the window opens in July. He's projected to command $15 million per season.
6. Buffalo Sabres
27 of 32
Is Alex Tuch a $10 million per year player? And if so, should it be the Sabres who commit to paying him that much? That's the burning question as the 30-year-old forward, who had 66 points last season, approaches UFA status on July 1.
5. Dallas Stars
28 of 32
The Stars didn't lean on injuries as the reason for a first-round loss to the Wild, but not having Roope Hintz (hamstring) and Tyler Seguin (knee) available surely didn't help. Both are expected back and in full health by the start of next season.
4. Montreal Canadiens
29 of 32
The Canadiens' run to the Eastern final also moves the expectations calendar up by a bit. They're expected to be in the market for a productive center to complement Nick Suzuki. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski suggested Vincent Trocheck as a trade target.
3. Colorado Avalanche
30 of 32
Will Brent Burns return for a millionth NHL season? OK, it'd really only be his 23rd. Coming back and staying healthy for the bulk of the season gets him into the record book as the league's all-time iron man, passing Phil Kessel's 1,064 games.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
31 of 32
If watching Carolina win the Cup on their home ice wasn't bad enough, the Knights immediately transition to an offseason that's going to require some choices. Does John Tortorella stay behind the bench? And how many of the eight UFAs and two RFAs are re-signable, given just $4.6 million in projected cap space?
1. Carolina Hurricanes
32 of 32
Winning a Stanley Cup helps smooth over a lot of rough edges and the Hurricanes actually head into the offseason without a whole lot of pressing business, given just three imminent UFAs, each of whom are 32 or order; and one RFA, young defenseman Alexander Nikishin. GM Eric Tulsky, though, will presumably at least take a day or two to revel before diving back into hard labor.
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