How Eastern Conference teams who missed playoffs last season can get there in 2026-27 

NHL.com continues its preview of the 2026-27 season.

For the eight Eastern Conference teams that missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their goal since the regular season ended has been determining how to extend their season into June, like the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes did.

So how can those teams take the next step? As training camps continue, NHL.com today examines why fans of the eight teams can hold onto their playoff hopes (teams listed in alphabetical order):

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Last season: 40-30-12, seven points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Blue Jackets moved into second in the Metropolitan Division on March 24 but lost nine of their final 11 games (2-8-1) and finished six points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers.

Biggest offseason change: Coach Rick Bowness said when last season ended, he felt some changes were needed to the core group. That process began with the arrival of Valeri Nichushkin and the departure of Boone Jenner. The forward was acquired June 25 in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft after the 31-year-old had 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games last season. He also has 91 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience, including a significant role on the Avalanche's 2022 Cup championship team. Jenner had spent his entire 13-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets, and had been captain since the 2021-22 season. However, his usage dipped after Bowness took over Jan. 12, going from 16:46 in 31 games under Dean Evason to 15:29 in 36 games under Bowness.

Why they could get in: The talent on the ice certainly is in place, with a roster full of giant, talented forwards that includes Kirill Marchenko (6-foot-3, 201 pounds), Charlie Coyle (6-3, 221), Sean Monahan (6-2, 206), Dmitri Voronkov (6-5, 234), and now Nichushkin (6-4, 210). They also have one of the best defensemen in the League in Zach Werenski, last season's Norris Trophy winner. Goalie Jet Greaves showed what he could do when given the opportunity, including an .844 high-danger save percentage in 55 games that is eighth in the NHL, and he followed that with an outstanding showing for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, going 6-2 with a 1.88 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and one shutout in eight games. If the additions, which also include forward Ryan Lomberg, another player with Stanley Cup experience after winning the Cup in 2024 with the Florida Panthers, play to their abilities on the ice and mesh off it, the Blue Jackets could be in the running for a top-three spot in the Metropolitan Division, or a wild card.

DETROIT RED WINGS

Last season: 41-31-10, seven points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Red Wings had the second wild card March 19, but they went 3-8-2 in their final 13 games. They were eliminated April 11, extending their playoff drought to 10 seasons, the longest in the League.

Biggest offseason change: There will be a new hockey operations leader at some point. The Red Wings announced July 15 that Steve Yzerman, who had been general manager and executive vice president since 2019, is moving into a senior advisor role for CEO Chris Ilitch. Among the top priorities for whoever takes over will be determining how close the Red Wings and their young core, led by defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond, is to being contenders for a playoff spot or if a rebuild is needed, and how that could play into the future of captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade after last season ended.

Why they could get in: If the NHL season ended in March, the Red Wings' playoff drought would have ended years ago. They have sat in a wild card each of the past three seasons on March 1. But each season they collapsed, including losing 15 of their final 22 games last season (7-11-4). There certainly is enough talent to stretch that first 60-plus games of quality play into a full 84-game run. Goalie John Gibson showed he's more than capable of backstopping a playoff team at age 33, and he has a solid group of defensemen in front of him, led by Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who has the look of a future No. 1 power-play quarterback. Viktor Arvidsson, who signed a two-year contract July 1, should help at 5-on-5, where the Red Wings' 142 goals were the third fewest in the NHL. The 33-year-old averaged 1.31 goals and 3.06 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time last season with the Boston Bruins, totals that were better than the Red Wings' leader in those categories, Alex DeBrincat (0.89 goals per 60, 2.36 points per 60). With improved 5-on-5 play, plus development from a talented group of younger forwards like Emmitt Finnie, Nate Danielson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard to support Larkin, DeBrincat and Raymond, the Red Wings should have a chance at a wild-card spot for more than three-quarters of a season.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

Last season: 40-38-4, 15 points out of second wild card

How it ended: Despite a litany of long-term injuries, including to top forwards Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers were within three points of a wild card as late as Jan. 25. But they lost five of six (1-5-0) going into the Olympic break and never regained momentum. After three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final and two championships, they were eliminated from playoff contention April 4.

Biggest offseason change: Sergei Bobrovsky started all 47 games in helping the Panthers win Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. But after seven seasons, 201 wins, six playoff appearances and three trips to the Final, the Panthers opted for a new direction in goal, acquiring Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 30. It's a full circle moment for Markstrom, who was selected by the Panthers in the second round (No. 31) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He was 24 years old when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Roberto Luongo in 2013-14, and returns at age 36 motivated to improve on the .883 save percentage he had in 44 games last season, and closer to the .900 he had in 49 games in 2024-25, when he helped New Jersey make the playoffs.

Why they could get in: Barkov, who missed all of last season because of a knee injury sustained in September, showed how healthy he was during the 2026 IIHF World Championship, leading Finland to the gold medal as captain and making the tournament All-Star team. Then came an aggressive offseason that saw the Panthers get even bigger and nastier with trades that brought in forwards Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) and Garnet Hathaway (Philadelphia Flyers), and defenseman Radko Gudas (Anaheim Ducks). The united Tkachuk brothers add another element of firepower to an attack that also includes Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell. The defensive depth should be there with Gudas joining a healthy Seth Jones, Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola. If Markstrom plays up to the .909 save percentage he had from 2015-25, the Panthers should be back in the running for a top-three spot in the Atlantic Division.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Last season: 42-37-3, 12 points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Devils won 16 of their first 24 games (16-7-1) and had a one-point lead in the Metropolitan Division on Nov. 28. But they lost 11 of their next 16 (5-10-1), fell out of a playoff spot Dec. 28, never regained their momentum and finished 11 points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Biggest offseason change: Sunny Mehta was hired as general manager April 16 after six seasons with the Panthers, including the past three as assistant GM and head of analytics. One of his biggest moves was working a trade with his old club, acquiring forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves from the Panthers for goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank on June 30. The Devils added more forward depth by acquiring Luke Evangelista in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Sept. 1. The 24-year-old had NHL career bests in assists (44) and points (56) in 81 games last season and should slot into a top-six spot for a team that was 27th in the NHL last season at 2.76 goals per game. Mehta has a personal stake in the Devils' success: he grew up in New Jersey and would go to Devils' practices as a kid, and previously worked for the team as director of analytics (2014-18).

Why they could get in: Jack Hughes remains the centerpiece, and could hit elite status if he can play a full season at the level he reached after scoring the Golden Goal for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hughes' 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 25 games following the Olympic break were second in the NHL behind Connor McDavid (42 points in 24 games). Hughes was one of four Devils forwards with at least 20 points after the break, along with Jesper Bratt (30), Nico Hischier (24) and Connor Brown (21), and the arrivals of Evangelista, Rodrigues and Boqvist add even more depth to a lineup that averaged 3.32 goals per game after the Olympics. The postseason hopes likely rest on the play of goalies Jake Allen, David Rittich and Nico Daws, who will attempt to replace Markstrom, the starter the previous two seasons. Allen has a .905 save percentage in three seasons with New Jersey but is 36 years old and has played more than 40 games once in the past seven seasons (42 in 2022-23 with the Montreal Canadiens). Rittich signed a one-year contract July 3, and the Devils will be his fifth team in six seasons. He had an .894 save percentage in 30 games (28 starts) with the New York Islanders last season. Daws is 25 years old  and has spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL. But if they can combine to surpass last season's .889 save percentage, the Devils should be in the running for a wild-card or even a top-three spot in the division.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Last season: 43-34-5, eight points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Islanders were in second place in the Metropolitan Division on March 28 but lost seven of their final eight games (1-7-0) and finished seven points out of third place in the division.

Biggest offseason change: Anders Lee grew into a franchise cornerstone during his 14 seasons in New York, including the past eight as captain. But he's moved on, signing a three-year, $16.2 million deal ($5.4 million average annual value) with the Utah Mammoth on July 1. He had 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 82 games last season and leaves fifth all-time for the Islanders in games played (923) and fourth in goals (308). Among the forwards who could become part of the top nine is Matias Maccelli, who signed a one-year contract July 1 after he had 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 71 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Another option could be 19-year-old forward Victor Eklund, who had an assist in his NHL debut last season and had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in nine American Hockey League games after his season in Sweden ended.

Why they could get in: After arriving with four games left last season, coach Peter DeBoer will have a full training camp to implement his style of play, and his track record shows a penchant for early success. He led the Devils (2012) and San Jose Sharks (2016) to the Stanley Cup Final in his first seasons there, and after replacing Gerard Gallant with 22 games remaining in the 2019-20 season, got the Vegas Golden Knights to the Western Conference Final. He's 18th all-time with 663 wins, and took the Dallas Stars to the Western Conference Final three straight seasons before being fired in 2025. He's got an impressive array of talent to work with now, led by defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year last season, and goalie Ilya Sorokin, who finished second in voting for the Vezina Trophy as the League's top goalie. Another full season of Brayden Schenn and the return of Kyle Palmieri, who missed the final five months of last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, should offset the departure of Lee and add depth to a solid forward group that should be freed up to attack more under DeBoer. If their key players stay healthy, the Islanders could jump right into the fight for a top-three spot in the Metropolitan.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Last season: 34-39-9, 22 points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Rangers went into the Christmas break two points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division, but they lost 11 of their next 13 games (2-9-2) en route to finishing 21 points behind third place in the division.

Biggest offseason change: Two massive trades highlighted the offseason. They sent the No. 26 pick and a third-round pick (No. 92) in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Pavel Dorofeyev on June 26, and days later signed him to a seven-year, $77 million contract ($11 million AAV). Then, on July 1, center Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Sean Durzi, top forward prospect Cole Beaudoin and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The move allows captain J.T. Miller to stay at center rather than bounce between the middle and the wing and lengthens the lineup. Durzi adds depth to the defense and Beaudoin projects to be a second- or third-line center.

Why they could get in: An aggressive offseason made the Rangers a deeper team, especially on defense. Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on July 1 for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 NHL Draft, should form a solid second pair behind Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, and Alberts Smits, the No. 5 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, has the size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), skill, strength and maturity to play in the NHL this season as an 18 year old, possibly on the left side of the third pair alongside Braden Schneider. Dorofeyev has scored at least 35 goals in back-to-back seasons, and his 33 power-play goals the past two seasons are tied for second in the NHL and should further energize a unit that was fifth in the League last season (24.7 percent). Having Miller in the middle full time should help with puck possession; he won 61.5 percent of his face-offs, including 59.5 percent in the defensive zone, an upgrade on Trocheck (53.1 percent). The other benefit of moving Miller to the wing is a consistent top-six spot for Gabe Perreault, who had 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 49 games as a rookie last season and could open this season as the left wing on a line with Dorofeyev and center Mika Zibanejad. With the Metropolitan wide open behind the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, there's potential for the Rangers to compete for a top-three spot in the division.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Last season: 32-36-14, 21 points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Maple Leafs remained on the fringes of the playoff race entering the Olympic break, just six points behind the second wild card. But they lost eight straight (0-6-2) when play resumed, and their run of nine straight postseason appearances ended when they were eliminated April 2.

Biggest offseason change: There were plenty on and off the ice, starting at the top of the hockey operations department where John Chayka was hired May 3 as general manager after nearly six years out of the NHL, replacing Brad Treliving. Along with Chayka, Maple Leafs legend and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin was named senior executive adviser, hockey operations. Then, Jim Hiller was hired as coach June 17, replacing Craig Berube. Hiller had coached the Los Angeles Kings the previous three seasons before being fired March 1. He had led the Kings into the playoffs the previous two seasons but never made it out of the Western Conference First Round. The changes on the ice were highlighted by a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Darren Raddysh, who signed an eight-year contract after setting NHL career-bests in goals (22), assists (48), points (70), plus-minus (plus-21), power-play goals (10), power-play points (26), game-winning goals (six), shots on goal (212) and ice time per game (22:42) playing in 73 games this season. The Maple Leafs also won the NHL Draft Lottery, which allowed them to select forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Why they could get in: A forward core of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies certainly has the foundation to be a playoff team. Add to that McKenna, the 18-year-old who was tied for fifth among NCAA players with 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games at Penn State. McKenna's playmaking and hockey IQ is considered advanced for his age, and potentially pairing him with Matthews should work well for both, especially with Matthews healed from the season-ending knee injury he sustained March 12. But any success will be keyed by a defense corps that returns five of the top six in ice time from last season's team that allowed an NHL-high 32.4 shots on goal per game and 3.60 goals per game, second-most in the League. Hiller's defensive structure should help lower those numbers; the Kings allowed 2.74 goals and 27.2 shots on goal during his tenure (July 19, 2022-March 1, 2026). So could the arrival of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year contract July 1. The two-time Stanley Cup champion is 37 years old, but renowned for his fitness level, and the last time he and Anthony Stolarz were a goaltending tandem, it was with the 2024 Stanley Cup champion Panthers. If the offense produces as expected and the defense improves, the Maple Leafs could be in the race for a wild-card or potentially a top-three spot in the Atlantic Division.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Last season: 43-30-9, four points out of second wild card

How it ended: A 7-2-0 run from March 26-April 12 got them within one point of third place in the Metropolitan Division, but that was as close as they would get. They were eliminated from playoff contention April 13, finishing three points out of third place in the division.

Biggest offseason change: The Capitals completed a major overhaul of their forward group, adding Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner. Tuch, who scored at least 30 goals (33) for the third time in four seasons, was the biggest addition. The 30-year-old was acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 24, after signing an eight-year, $84 million contract ($10.5 million AAV). That move followed the acquisition of Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues for forward Connor McMichael, forward prospect Milton Gastrin and the No. 16 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. The 28-year-old scored 18 goals last season after scoring at least 30 the previous three seasons. Jenner, a four-time 20-goal scorer during 13 seasons with the Blue Jackets, signed a four-year, $23 million contract ($5.75 million AAV) on July 1.

Why they could get in: This offseason felt similar to their roster remake after the 2023-24 season, when forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane, defensemen Matt Roy and Jakob Chychrun and goalie Logan Thompson were among those added and they went from a team that barely got into the playoffs to first in the conference in 2024-25. This offseason's moves inject more offense into the lineup, with Tuch and Kyrou joining Tom Wilson, who scored 30 goals last season, and Aliaksei Protas, who scored 25. There's also the return of Alex Ovechkin, who signed a one-year contract July 2 to play a 22nd NHL season. He led the team last season with 32 goals and shows little sign of slowing, even as he turns 41 on Sept. 17. And more offense should come from the back end; Chychrun led NHL defensemen last season with 26 goals, and 20-year-old Cole Hutson gave a sneak preview of his offensive gifts with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 14 games. Thompson is a top-end goalie, with back-to-back 31-win seasons and fourth-place finishes in Vezina Trophy voting. With some fresh faces and residual anger from missing the playoffs last season, it's easy to see the Capitals right in the fight to be among the top three in the Metropolitan.