Several NHL contenders enter the 2026-27 season with realistic paths to 100 points in the expanded 84-game schedule, driven by deep rosters and star cores at teams like the Avalanche, Hurricanes, Oilers, Stars, and Wild. Preseason projections from multiple models consistently place six to eight clubs in or near that range, reflecting last season’s distribution where Colorado, Carolina, and Dallas all exceeded 110 points. Early results show hot starts from Carolina, Edmonton, and Boston, though 10-12 games provide limited signal amid schedule variance and rest factors. Key variables include injury management for high-minute players such as Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, goaltending stability, and special-teams execution over the long regular season.