NHL Betting Odds: Maple Leafs, Panthers highlight teams most likely to return to the playoffs
The playoff field in the NHL is never the same two years in a row. Literally.
Since the 16-team playoff format was introduced ahead of the 1979-80 season, the same 16 teams have never made the playoffs in back-to-back years.
With that amount of parity, there are teams that surprise in good ways and bad when it comes to making the playoffs every year.
For today’s exercise, I’m putting on my fortuneteller hat and looking at four teams I expect to make the playoffs in 2026-27 after missing out last year. Let’s get into it.
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Florida Panthers
The Panthers are a no-brainer on this list.
After reaching three straight Stanley Cup Finals, including winning back-to-back years, Florida ran out of steam last year with injuries plaguing the roster. Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the whole season with a torn ACL, Matthew Tkachuk missed a big chunk of time with various injuries and the team just couldn’t catch a break.
The silver lining in missing the playoffs last year is that the Panthers will be rested for the first time in several years. Florida is expected to have a fully healthy roster, they got a bit younger in net with Jacob Markstrom replacing Sergei Bobrovsky, and they added Brady Tkachuk to a team already filled with agitators.
This team won’t miss the playoffs two years in a row. In fact, the Panthers are +650 favourites to win the Stanley Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto was the other surprise team in the Atlantic Division to miss out on playoff hockey last year, but it could have been a blessing in disguise.
The hockey gods rewarded the Maple Leafs with the first overall draft pick which added Gavin McKenna to a skilled forward core that includes Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies.
Toronto also went shopping in the off-season, acquiring top defenceman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade, then adding goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency.
Health will be key for Toronto this year. Matthews has played less than 70 games in back-to-back years and it’s fair to wonder if we’ll see a drop-off in Bobrovsky, who turns 38 before the start of the season.
Still, this is a team with the talent to make the playoffs as a top-three team in the Atlantic.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets followed up a Presidents’ Trophy win in 2024-25 by shockingly missing the playoffs last year. Things have only become darker in Winnipeg as star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has gone public with a trade request.
The good news for the Jets is that unlike other recent stars who have requested trades but are only willing to go to two or three teams, Hellebuyck reportedly has a longer list of acceptable destinations.
That makes it much easier for Winnipeg to recoup assets that can make an immediate impact on the team. The Jets have already signed Stuart Skinner, so they have the option of going with him as the No. 1 in net and trading Hellebuck for players who can help elsewhere on the roster.
If the Jets play this Hellebuyck situation right, they have a chance to vault themselves back into playoff contention.
San Jose Sharks
The entire NHL is on Sharks alert after Macklin Celebrini nearly single-handedly led San Jose to the playoffs last year.
However, this team is more than just Celebrini. Will Smith is going to be a star in the league and the Sharks also added in the off-season, trading for Darnell Nurse and signing Mason Marchment and Jacob Trouba. San Jose also drafted Ivar Stenberg second overall and took Keaton Verhoeff ninth.
Playing in the “pillow fight” of the Pacific Division should be hugely beneficial as the Sharks look to take the next step.