Preseason projections and roster evaluations position roughly two dozen NHL teams to clear 80 points in the 2026-27 season, anchored by proven cores such as the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and Dallas Stars that posted 112-plus points last year. Strong depth across the Atlantic and Central divisions, combined with expected goaltending stability for clubs like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild, supports that baseline. Recent offseason additions for the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, along with youth infusions in San Jose and Utah, introduce upside variance for borderline squads, while schedule length and injury risk across an 84-game slate could compress or expand the group by a handful of teams. Trader consensus reflects these established hierarchies tempered by typical season-to-season fluctuation in performance and health.