The 2026-27 NHL season opened in early October with a relatively balanced league landscape following Carolina’s Stanley Cup win and Colorado’s 121-point 2025-26 campaign. Preseason projections from models such as The Athletic and Stathletes place the majority of the 32 clubs in the 90-110 point range, driven by roster continuity among contenders (Avalanche, Hurricanes, Stars, Golden Knights) and targeted offseason additions including Brady Tkachuk joining the Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky moving to the Maple Leafs. Rebuilding or transition clubs in the bottom third face steeper paths to 80 points due to younger cores and thinner depth. Early schedule results, injury management across an 82-game slate, and divisional matchups will shape final tallies, with historical benchmarks showing 16-20 teams typically clearing the threshold in recent seasons.