NHL power rankings as 2026-27 season opens: Who will challenge for Stanley Cup?

TRENDINGWeek 3 Winners and LosersMLB wild-card previewBroncos stun Rams on SNFU.S. claims Presidents CupAP Top 25Story byStory byNHL power rankings as 2026-27 season opens: Who will challenge for Stanley Cup?Mike Brehm, USA TODAYMon, September 28, 2026 at 10:06 AM UTC·6 min readAbout Our AdsRecommended StoriesPuck Drop Preview: 2026-27 Winnipeg JetsLast Word On Hockey's Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2026-27 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team's current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We'll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we're previewing the …Last Word on SportsWhen does NHL season start? What to know about 2026-27 seasonThe NHL season is starting in September to accomodate two extra games per team. Here's what to know about 2026-27.USA TODAY Sports2026-27 NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 1 Primer And PickupsMaximize your opening matchup and identify key waiver wire targets to gain an early edge as the 84-game NHL fantasy hockey marathon begins.The Hockey NewsAdvertisementAdvertisementBest last-minute Vladimir Tarasenko free agency destinations ahead of NHL seasonThe NHL will drop the puck on the 2026-27 season Tuesday with a five-game card that will see each team playing 84 games this season. The NHL increased each team’s workload by 2 games this year, and that was a byproduct of working with the NHL Players Association. The two sides were bitter enemies more than a couple of decades ago, but Gary Bettman […] The post Best last-minute Vladimir Tarasenko free agency destinations ahead of NHL season appeared first on ClutchPoints.ClutchPoints3 things that must go right for the Panthers this seasonWith many new faces set to take the ice, these are three keys to unlock the door to a third NHL title for FloridaFlorida Panthers On SIRanking The Six New NHL Coaches By Probability For SuccessAcross the NHL, six different teams changed coaches either late last season or this summer. How likely are those new coaches to find success this year?The Hockey NewsWhy The Canucks Must Not Cut Corners In Long Rebuilding ProcessThe Vancouver Canucks have new management in place, but the Canucks are almost certainly going to be just as bad, if not worse than their 2025-26 season. Does Vancouver have the stones to see through a full rebuild, or have they not learned their lesson from the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames?The Hockey NewsMassive contracts, high expectations. Ducks aim to improve after breakout seasonAfter finally ending their playoff drought, the Ducks enter a critical season with high expectations being placed on Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier.LA TimesHurricanes Brace For Seth Jarvis Absence To Start The SeasonSeth Jarvis misses the start of the 2026-27 season due to shoulder surgery. The Hurricanes need their top line healthy to defend the Stanley Cup.Gameday CarolinaNHL Insider Sends Clear Message on Connor McDavid’s Oilers FutureThe Edmonton Oilers are set to begin the 2026-27 NHL season on Tuesday, Sept. 29, against the rival Vancouver Canucks; they’ll play a home and home series starting in Alberta and concluding on Thursday in Vancouver.For the Oilers, it begins a two-year window that superstar captain Connor McDavid is under contract; he signed a short-term […] The post NHL Insider Sends Clear Message on Connor McDavid’s Oilers Future appeared first on HEAVY.HEAVYMcDavid Or Matthews?: With The Cap Rising To Unheard-Of Levels, Who Will Be The NHL's First $30-Million Player?With the new forecast of the NHL's salary cap two years into the future, it's time to start thinking about who will be reaching the $30-million-per-year status.The Hockey NewsFour NHL Teams With The Cleanest Salary Cap Sheets Heading Into 2026-27Going into the 2026-27 NHL regular season, which teams have the best salary cap sheets in the league?The Hockey NewsRangers Week Ahead: Hectic start to expanded NHL seasonThe New York Rangers begin their 101st NHL season with a first – their season opener against the Boston Bruins […]Forever BlueshirtsThe 2026 All About the Jersey Top 25 Under 25 — The Outsiders from 39th to 26thHere it is!SB NationCanucks Projected Lineup For Game 4 Of The 2026 Pre-Season Versus The Seattle KrakenThe Vancouver Canucks face the Seattle Kraken in their final pre-season game of 2026 today.The Hockey News - Vancouver CanucksPavel Dorofeyev playing up to blockbuster expectations in preseasonThe arrival of Pavel Dorofeyev already included plenty of expectations.NY Post SportsWhy Senators' Owner Andlauer Misses The Point With Brady Tkachuk Trade CommentsOttawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer spoke out about "blood being thicker than water" being the reason BradyTkachuk forced his way out of Ottawa. But there's something more attractive for NHLers – and that's winning.The Hockey NewsNY Rangers Made Concerted Effort To Improve One Key AreaThe New York Rangers want to improve one specific skill in their bottom-six and successfully did it this offseason.New York Rangers On SIThe Daily: Trading Larkin Back on Front Burner; Rooting for Amadeus LombardiThe Detroit Red Wings play their final preseason game tonight (at home vs. Columbus, 7 p.m., DSN/ESPN+) and there is […]Detroit Hockey Now