2025-26 NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picks

What an exhilarating offseason! The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions are back after another summer of free agency. No one outside the Sunshine State has won the eastern conference and gone to the Stanley Cup finals the last six years. While a good number of teams out west improved, teams like New Jersey and Washington made trades to bolster their rosters and re-signed important depth players. The Maple Leafs and Hurricanes are more determined than ever to finish what they started last postseason. Then there are younger teams like Detroit and Montreal with long-term playoff aspirations.

It’s time to break down which teams in each division can push back hard or surprise a lot of people in making the 2025-26 playoffs.

Metropolitan

Washington Capitals

The Caps have a great, defensive minded coach in Spencer Carbery who learned valuable lessons after his first postseason run. They also have the number one all-time goal scorer and a top five roster on the power-play and defense. Washington will make the playoffs.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina’s roster is the envy of the east. No matter what happens in the postseason, I guarantee coach Rod Brind’Amour will have the Hurricanes clinch a playoff spot.

Pittsburgh’s aging core and lack of defensive depth could be an early issue. The Rangers nosedive will continue. The Islanders and Flyers should be better than last year, but neither have the scoring depth to clinch a postseason spot. Columbus may surprise many and find a way to clinch a playoff spot, but the Atlantic teams could have the edge in tie-breakers.

This leaves New Jersey as the remaining metropolitan choice. The Devils invested more money into both their goaltending and defensive depth. New Jersey will still be seen as an easy out in the postseason, but for now they’re re-building in the right ways.

Atlantic

Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto is the favorite to win the division again. From coach Craig Berube to a deep fourth line, the Maple Leafs will excel in the regular season.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay still has one of the NHL’s best rosters and coaching staff. The Lightning added and brought back key scoring and defensive depth players. After last year’s postseason exit, expect Tampa Bay to dial in and get back to 2022 levels of elite.

Ottawa Senators

Ottawa nearly forced a triggering game seven with Toronto in last year’s first round. The Senators should take another leap this season and put the NHL on notice. Travis Green is the right coach for this young group, and general manager Steve Staios has done well adding and tweaking the roster.

Don’t be surprised if Ottawa faces the second place winner in the Atlantic and gives them fits the first round. The Senators could be a top ten team and make the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Florida Panthers

One might wonder why Florida is lower on the list than Ottawa or Tampa Bay. Captain Aleksander Barkov and star forward Matthew Tkachuk will be out the entire regular season with lower body injuries. Those are big losses that threaten to loom over every important game the next few months.

The Panthers still have the NHL’s best active and the third most winningest head coach in Paul Maurice. Florida also has a lot of veteran talent that will give teams fits. However, they won’t be as high in the standings with the losses of Barkov and Tkachuk.

Detroit Red Wings

Boston and Buffalo will be the dustbins of the Atlantic. Montreal’s playoff appearance amazed and surprised many, but more teams will take the Canadiens seriously this year. This leaves Detroit as the east’s surprise playoff team.

The Red Wings now have an elite goaltending tandem with John Gibson and Cam Talbot. The offense remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous. The deciding factor that gets Detroit into the playoffs is an improved defense. The 100th year of Red Wings hockey should be both a statement and a relief to audiences everywhere.