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NHL Power Rankings: Sabres far exceed preseason expectations, Panthers bottom out after consecutive Cup titles
TL;DR
The 2025-26 NHL season sees the Buffalo Sabres exceeding expectations by ending a 14-season playoff drought and winning the Atlantic Division. In contrast, the Florida Panthers, former back-to-back champions, are struggling at 25th in the league due to injuries and are close to securing the No. 1 overall pick.
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The 2025-26 NHL regular season is coming to a close. Before the playoffs begin, let's take some time to look back at our preseason expectations. With that in mind, we're reviewing the first NHL Power Rankings of the season to see how right (or mind-numbingly wrong) I was about each team.
Hockey is an incredibly unpredictable sport. That's one reason why it's the greatest sport on Earth. It's also why making preseason predictions with any degree of accuracy is a fool's errand. Who could have seen the Buffalo Sabres not only ending their 14-season playoff drought but also winning the Atlantic Division? The Sabres have broken out in a big way.
On the other end of the spectrum, who called the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions finishing 25th in the league? The loss of Aleksander Barkov was always going to be a lot to overcome, but then the rest of the team got injured, and the Panthers were never able to get on track. As a result, Florida is within striking distance of the No. 1 overall pick. If only this team could catch a break.
Before we turn the page and drop the puck on the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, let's take a trip back in time for our final NHL Power Rankings of the season. Each team's original ranking from October is in parentheses.
Expected goals and goals saved above average data via Natural Stat Trick.
Biggest Movers
7 Kings
6 Islanders
| Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | team logo Avalanche | (2) | I was only one spot off, but it still feels like a big gap. Looking at the entire season, the Avalanche have been head and shoulders above everyone else. Colorado is the clear Stanley Cup favorite, and it's been that way for a while. No. 2 now seems like an insult. | -- |
| 2 | team logo Hurricanes | (7) | Rod Brind'Amour deserves a lot of credit. You can set your watch to the Hurricanes being a top-five team in the league every season under his watch. The question for this bunch is whether that success can carry over into the playoffs. Is the goaltending good enough for a deep run? | 1 |
| 3 | team logo Stars | (6) | Glen Gulutzan came in and kept the machine chugging along in Dallas. Now can Gulutzan do what Peter DeBoer couldn't and get this team to a Stanley Cup Final? The Stars face a brutal path, but they are built to take some lumps. | 4 |
| 4 | team logo Sabres | (20) |
Q&A
How did the Buffalo Sabres perform in the 2025-26 NHL season?
The Buffalo Sabres exceeded expectations by ending their 14-season playoff drought and winning the Atlantic Division.
What happened to the Florida Panthers after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups?
The Florida Panthers finished 25th in the league during the 2025-26 season due to injuries and struggles, despite being back-to-back champions.
Who were the key players missing for the Florida Panthers this season?
The Panthers notably missed Aleksander Barkov, whose absence contributed significantly to the team's struggles.
What are the implications of the Panthers' poor performance this season?
The Panthers' poor performance puts them within striking distance of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.