This feature offers a forward-looking analysis for NHL teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention, focusing on their priorities during the offseason. It outlines how these teams might improve through the draft, free agency, and trades, and evaluates how competitive they could be in the 2025–26 season.
Each team’s section reviews what went wrong in the current campaign, identifies key offseason goals, and sets realistic expectations moving forward. More teams will be added to the list as they exit the postseason.
Note: Kristen Shilton covers Atlantic and Metropolitan Division teams, while Ryan S. Clark handles the Central and Pacific. Data comes from resources like Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and Evolving Hockey, with salary cap projections via PuckPedia. Teams are arranged in the order of their entry publication.
The Lightning remained a dominant force in the regular season, thanks to the NHL’s highest-scoring offense (3.56 goals per game), a top-tier power play (25.9%), and an MVP-caliber year from Nikita Kucherov, who led the league with 121 points. Despite the departure of longtime captain Steven Stamkos, new captain Victor Hedman delivered another standout season on defense and the penalty kill.
Veteran presence remained a strength, especially in goal, with Andrei Vasilevskiy earning a Vezina finalist spot thanks to a stellar .921 save percentage and 2.18 GAA. Head coach Jon Cooper, the NHL’s longest-serving bench boss, continued to steer the team effectively through adversity, consistently keeping Tampa Bay competitive.
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