Non-Playoff Teams with the Best Chance to Make a Run in the 2016-17 NHL Season

There are 16 teams in the NHL playoffs and 14 teams in meetings designed to help get them there next season. Although only one of the non-playoff teams shuffled management and released its coaching staff—the Ottawa Senators wasted no time after season's end—there could be more changes to come.

There are all kinds of indicators that give us clues for the future, but the bottom line is much will change in the 14 cities that are on the outside looking in. How did these teams perform down the stretch? Do they have productive farm teams or a young cluster that could push into the playoffs next year?

Here are the top non-playoff teams that have the best chance to make it into the second season in 2016-17.

Boston Bruins

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Boston Bruins have now missed the playoffs for two seasons in a row. This new streak comes after a seven-year postseason run, including the 2011 Stanley Cup. 

2015-16 Results: The Bruins finished No. 9 in the Eastern Conference, just three points shy of the 2016 playoffs. 

What Held Them Back This Season?: The Bruins had an unusual summer of activity in 2015, including the trades of Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton for futures. In a season that saw the team play highly competitive hockey, it is reasonable to argue those trades cost the team its playoffs this year.

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: Boston began the offseason on a positive note, as it retained veteran coach Claude Julien. There are issues on this roster—the defense is old at one end and inexperienced at the other—but those flaws can be addressed. Bringing in a new coach this summer would have signaled the rebuild, but now there is a chance to make subtle changes and push again for the playoffs in 2016.

Calgary Flames

Hannah Foslien/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Calgary Flames made the playoffs in 2015, after a period of five years on the outside looking in. 

2015-16 Results: The Flames finished No. 12 in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs by 10 points. 

What Held Them Back This Season?: Calgary could not get a save when it needed it most nights this year, and the numbers back up the assertion. The league-average save percentage—.915—towered over the Calgary total of .898. 

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: The more obvious the problem, the easier the fix. Calgary's goaltenders were not good as a group, and no individual played so well as to be considered a logical solution for next year. The Flames roster features some outstanding talent, but they need a better goalie behind them. They will hopefully find a solution over the summer.

Carolina Hurricanes

Alan Diaz/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Carolina Hurricanes have missed the playoffs seven years in a row. In fact, the team has made the playoffs only once in the decade since its 2006 Stanley Cup victory.

2015-16 Results: The Hurricanes finished No. 10 in the Eastern Conference, 10 points out of the postseason. 

What Held Them Back This Season?: Carolina had two problems this year. The offense scored only 196 goals, well below average. The Hurricanes also gave up too many goals based on their impressive shot suppression—Hurricanes shots-against was almost 200 fewer than average—but their team save percentage was just .906. NHL average for the discipline this year was .915 for goalies. 

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: The infusion of impressive youth continues unabated, and the Hurricanes now have at least six quality defensemen moving forward. If it can acquire a goalie who can give the team even average play, Carolina will be back in the playoffs in 2017.

Edmonton Oilers

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs in 2006, going all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. In the 10 years since, they have not made the postseason.

2015-16 Results: The Oilers finished No. 29 overall and 17 points out of the playoffs.

What Held Them Back This Season?: Two things contributed to Edmonton's poor showing. First, the roster contained very young and gifted youth, while also employing an over-the-hill gang in their 30s. Very few players could be considered in their prime. Edmonton also suffered an enormous number of injuries, and those injuries—especially on defense—were devastating.

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: If men like Connor McDavid, Oscar Klefbom and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can stay healthy, the Oilers will be better. If general manager Peter Chiarelli can find two defensemen to add without ripping apart the forward group, this team will push for the playoffs in 2017.

Montreal Canadiens

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Montreal Canadiens missed the playoffs this spring for the first time since 2011-12. 

2015-16 Results: The Canadiens finished No. 13 in the Eastern Conference, 14 points out of the playoffs.

What Held Them Back This Season?: Montreal without Carey Price is a completely different team. Price posted a fantastic .934 save percentage this year, but the overall total—.908—fell well shy of the league average of .915. Montreal's secondary goalies were poor, and it cost the team a playoff spot.

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: Price should be healthy in 2016-17, and that is vital for the Canadiens. Improvements elsewhere can and will be made, but no team in the NHL can survive losing a franchise player to injury and inserting a subpar replacement. Among its summer additions, Montreal should consider a substantial upgrade at No. 2 goalie.

Ottawa Senators

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Ottawa Senators made the playoffs a year ago and have missed only four times this century. 

2015-16 Results: The Senators finished No. 11 in the Eastern Conference this year, 11 points out of the No. 8 position—the final playoff spot. 

What Held Them Back This Season?: Ottawa has some real issues with its defense. The goaltending is fine, but the team allowed almost 250 more shots this year than league average. The defense is atrocious.

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: There is so much talent on this team that making the playoffs should be a breeze. The club badly needs to add at least one bona fide NHL defender and the playoffs will be a part of the Ottawa spring. Erik Karlsson is far too valuable a player to waste seasons not addressing defense.

Winnipeg Jets

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

Length of Current Drought: The Winnipeg Jets made the playoffs in 2014-15 but missed in their efforts to deliver consecutive playoff seasons. 

2015-16 Results: The Jets finished No. 11 in the Western Conference, nine points out of the final playoff spot. 

What Held Them Back This Season?: Winnipeg was shy on goals—its 212 were 10 less than league average—and it also gave up a dozen more goals than the average team. Major issues included poor special teams and a team save percentage of .909—well below league average. 

Why They'll Be Better Next Season: The Jets have issues, but they are clear and identifiable. Young goalie Connor Hellebuyck was better than Winnipeg's veterans, and he should play a larger role next year. Also, the Jets went young in several places in 2015-16, and that should benefit them if fast-tracked talents like Nikolaj Ehlers see their numbers spike this coming season.