Ranking the 2025/26 Western Conference Teams (NHL)
The West has this peculiar habit of taking even the most knowledgeable NHL fans by surprise. Just when it seems like the top teams are set in stone, a rising contender crashes the playoff picture or a team once written off claws its way back into relevance. The 2025/26 season promises more of that unpredictability, with several franchises hoping that this season will be remembered as their year.
Every team in the conference has a story to tell, whether it’s a proven juggernaut looking to extend its window or an underdog searching for a breakthrough.
Here’s where all 16 Western Conference teams stand as the season gets underway.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks remain in rebuild mode after a 61-point season, finishing near the bottom of the West despite Connor Bedard’s stellar rookie year. Bedard led the team in scoring and is expected to take another leap, ideally pulling young talents like Lucas Reichel, Frank Nazar, and Kevin Korchinski along with him.
GM Kyle Davidson made no major additions this summer, instead prioritizing patience and development. Veterans Taylor Hall and Seth Jones provide guidance, but the roster remains very young. Chicago is set for another difficult year, with the focus on growth and the chance to add another high draft pick.
San Jose Sharks
Like the Blackhawks, the Sharks remain very much in rebuild mode, but showed urgency during the offseason after a 52-point finish. GM Mike Grier added Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg to steady a young defence and selected elite talent Michael Misa with the No. 2 pick.
Misa, granted exceptional status in junior, could be NHL-ready soon, though patience is required. William Eklund headlines a group of young forwards getting full-time opportunities, while Thomas Bordeleau and others develop alongside them. Goaltending remains unsettled for now, with Yaroslav Askarov expected to lead this role while Alex Nedeljkovic backs him up. San Jose isn’t playoff-ready yet, but the roster is stronger and trending toward competitiveness.
Nashville Predators
The Predators followed a disappointing 68-point season with a quieter offseason, opting for targeted depth over splashy signings. Nicolas Hague was added to the blue line, while Erik Haula and Nick Perbix bring two-way support up front.
Roman Josi remains the backbone of the defence, while Juuse Saros needs a return to form. Offence is the team's biggest concern, with little proven scoring beyond younger pieces like Philip Tomasino and Luke Evangelista. Long term, Yaroslav Askarov looms as a potential partner for Saros, but for now, Nashville looks like a team in transition, unlikely to contend immediately.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken slipped to 76 points last season, a sharp drop from their 2023 playoff breakthrough. Built on depth rather than star power, Seattle again lacked a true offensive driver, with no player topping 65 points.
The offseason was modest, highlighted by the additions of Mason Marchment and Ryan Lindgren. For improvement, the onus falls on Matty Beniers to take a step forward and Shane Wright to crack the lineup. Eight players scored 15+ goals last year, so balance remains a strength, but goaltending consistency from Philipp Grubauer is essential. Without a breakout star, it’s hard to build up their prospects too much.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks signalled they’re ready to accelerate their rebuild with a bold offseason. Joel Quenneville takes over behind the bench, bringing a championship record and structure, while Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund were added to boost the offence.
The shock move was trading Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia, a reset that shifts the spotlight to Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish as franchise anchors. Anaheim’s young core also features Troy Terry, Jamie Drysdale, and goaltender Lukas Dostal, who could seize the No. 1 role from John Gibson. With top prospect Roger McQueen joining the pipeline, Anaheim aren’t a team to sleep on and are capable of surprising a few people.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks missed the playoffs after an inconsistent 2024/25 campaign and responded with measured changes. Adam Foote takes over as head coach, tasked with tightening defensive play, while Evander Kane arrives to add help in the scoring and physicality department.
Vancouver also re-signed Brock Boeser, a reliable offensive player regarded as an important piece in any lineup he plays in. Success still hinges on stars Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko, though centre depth behind Pettersson and J.T. Miller is thin. Youngsters like Nils Höglander and Vasily Podkolzin could help, but consistency is key.
Vancouver has the talent to push into the playoff mix, though questions remain about staying power.
Utah Mammoth (Arizona Coyotes)
The newly branded Utah Mammoth bring fresh optimism after finishing last season with 89 points, staying in the playoff hunt until the final week. GM Bill Armstrong added young talent and veteran experience, highlighted by the trade for 21-year-old JJ Peterka and signings of Brandon Tanev and Nate Schmidt.
Logan Cooley is now a full-time centre for Utah, while Clayton Keller continues to drive the offence, and rookie Caleb Desnoyers, recovering from injury, adds promising long-term upside. A healthy Sean Durzi and John Marino strengthen the blue line. The Central is unforgiving, but Utah’s mix of youth, depth, and new energy should make them competitive as they push toward contention.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames narrowly missed the playoffs last season, tied at 96 points but edged out on a tiebreaker. New GM Craig Conroy resisted big free-agent moves, choosing patience and betting on internal growth.
Goaltender Dustin Wolf, last year’s Calder finalist, has emerged as Calgary’s starter following the trade of Jacob Markström and could be a difference-maker. Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri are candidates for rebounds under second-year coach Ryan Huska, while Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar lead a steady defence. With Matt Coronato and Dillon Dube pushing the offence, Calgary has upside, though their playoff margin remains thin.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues nearly shocked top-seeded Winnipeg last spring, taking them to seven games after a late-season surge that reignited optimism. Robert Thomas has emerged as a true No. 1 centre and leads a balanced forward group alongside veteran Brayden Schenn.
Jim Montgomery’s arrival behind the bench fueled the turnaround, and now he begins his first full season in charge. The offseason was modest, with Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad added for depth and young defenseman Logan Mailloux acquired as a future piece. With Jordan Binnington back in form and a solid defence, St. Louis looks like a playoff contender again.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild remain a steady playoff presence but are desperate to end a drought that stretches back to 2015. Kirill Kaprizov is the main piece, a scoring-title threat when healthy, and Matt Boldy has grown into a top-line winger. Minnesota’s long-standing question at centre now rests on Marco Rossi, who showed promise last season, while Vladimir Tarasenko joins on the wing to strengthen the attack.
Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin lead a structured defence, while Filip Gustavsson and top prospect Jesper Wallstedt continue to develop. On paper, Minnesota should be back in the postseason, but the real question is whether they can finally end their drought.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have become a playoff regular but remain stuck at the first-round stage, losing four straight years to Edmonton. This offseason, they added depth rather than a star, signing veterans Corey Perry and Brian Dumoulin for experience, along with Joel Armia and goaltender Anton Forsberg for support roles.
The core still revolves around captain Anze Kopitar, scorers Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala, and rising centre Quinton Byfield. Drew Doughty leads a defence increasingly supported by younger pieces like Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke. Los Angeles is solid and deep, but to advance, they need all of their question marks to turn into solid answers.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche remain a contender with much of their 2022 Cup core intact despite last year’s first-round exit to Dallas. Health was a factor then, and this season looks brighter with captain Gabriel Landeskog set to return.
Colorado filled its second-line centre void by acquiring Brock Nelson, and the experienced Brent Burns joins to ease Cale Makar’s workload on the blue line. Makar and Devon Toews remain an elite pairing, while Nathan MacKinnon drives the offence. Mikko Rantanen’s departure hurts, but young players are now expected to step up. With improved depth, Colorado should push near the West’s top.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a 116-point season and a Presidents’ Trophy, built on stingy defence and Connor Hellebuyck’s second straight Vezina-winning campaign. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi headline a top line that drives the offence, while Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk lead a deep blue line.
The offseason brought change with Nikolaj Ehlers leaving and veteran Jonathan Toews signing on for a comeback in his hometown. Winnipeg’s challenge is turning regular-season dominance into playoff success after last year’s second-round exit. If Toews provides steady depth and young players like Cole Perfetti progress, another top finish is within reach.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights, champions in 2023, reloaded with the offseason’s biggest splash by landing Mitch Marner in a blockbuster sign-and-trade. Marner, fresh off a 102-point season, joins Jack Eichel to form one of the league’s most dangerous duos, backed by veteran Mark Stone.
The price was steep, with longtime captain Alex Pietrangelo out for the long term, and Nicolas Hague was moved for cap space. Still, with Shea Theodore leading the defence and Logan Thompson sharing the crease with a healthy Robin Lehner, Vegas combines big names and proven pedigree to remain a top contender out West.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers remain a powerhouse after back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, though both ended ultimately in disappointment. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to form hockey’s most dominant duo, powering a lethal offence and top-ranked power play.
Edmonton retooled in the offseason, moving on from Evander Kane and adding Andrew Mangiapane for secondary scoring. Defence has steadied, but goaltending remains the lingering concern, with Stuart Skinner yet to prove he can lead a championship run. With McDavid entering the final year of his contract, the urgency is real: it’s Cup or bust in Edmonton.
Dallas Stars
The Stars enter 2025/26 as the West’s team to beat after three straight trips to the Conference Final. Dallas retained its core and made a blockbuster move by adding Mikko Rantanen, giving them another elite scorer alongside Jason Robertson. Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski bring leadership, while Miro Heiskanen anchors the blue line and Jake Oettinger provides stability in the net.
Glen Gulutzan replaces Peter DeBoer behind the bench, but he has pledged to keep the successful formula intact. The challenge is clear: convert regular-season and playoff consistency into a Stanley Cup Final berth. This roster looks ready to deliver.
Playoff Outlook for the West’s Elite
The West’s top tier looks formidable, led by Dallas, Edmonton, and Vegas. Each has recent deep playoff experience and elite strengths. Dallas has goaltending and depth, Edmonton leans on McDavid and Draisaitl’s form, and Vegas adds Mitch Marner to an already balanced roster. Winnipeg and Colorado sit just below, both capable of breaking through if they overcome recent setbacks.
The Jets’ defensive structure and Hellebuyck’s goaltending make them dangerous, while Colorado’s championship core returns healthy and motivated. The gap between these five and the rest of the conference is clear, and one of them is the likeliest West finalist in 2026.