As the 2026-27 NHL season begins, it's not hard to spot the teams with the highest expectations. The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, and it looked as though they were ready to begin a dynasty. Instead, it's been one playoff disappointment after another, and the pressure is mounting for the Avs to win at least one more title with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar at the top of their game.
Colorado has the best roster in the league top to bottom, but that's been the case over the last few years. Can the Avs put it all together in the playoffs? In the East, the Florida Panthers are back and more loaded than ever.
After acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators over the summer, Florida is a favorite to win the Stanley Cup yet again. The Cats will have to contend with the reigning champion Carolina Hurricanes in the conference, and that already seems like a potential East final matchup. The Dallas Stars squandered another exceptional regular season last year, and they'll be looking to rebound.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights just came within two wins of the Cup, and they aren't getting any younger. There will be some urgency in Sin City. With a new quest for the Stanley Cup is underway, here are the first NHL Power Rankings of the season.
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