The final edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2025-26 campaign breaks down the last teams standing. In this installment, we highlight a player who could make or break each playoff team's Stanley Cup aspirations.
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ANA | BUF | BOS | CAR | COL | DAL | EDM | LAK | MIN | MTL | OTT | PHI | PIT | TBL | UTA | VGK
1. Colorado Avalanche
Previous: 1
Nazem Kadri. Colorado brought Kadri back to provide center depth while beefing up for the Central Division gauntlet. The 35-year-old has always been at his best come playoff time, and one would assume he'll be fired up to be back in the picture after three years of missing the postseason with the Calgary Flames. The last playoff game Kadri played ended with the Avalanche hoisting the Stanley Cup.
2. Dallas Stars
Previous: 2
Justin Hryckowian. The 25-year-old rookie isn't one of the top names in the blockbuster Stars-Wild series, but he could become one of the stories of the first round. Hryckowian has been effective in Dallas' bottom six and plays a pesky game that could get under Minnesota's skin. He drew four penalties against the Oilers on March 12 and got Connor McDavid to drop the gloves, for example.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous: 6
Nikolaj Ehlers. The Hurricanes have been a second-round fixture since 2020 but have struggled to compete with the truly elite teams in the conference. Ehlers, Carolina's big forward addition last summer, needs to be a game-breaker if the Hurricanes are finally going to break through in the East.
4. Minnesota Wild
Previous: 5
Quinn Hughes. It's a bit of a cop-out picking a top player for this exercise, but the Wild have a potentially dominant weapon at their disposal as they seek their first series win in 11 years. Hughes will likely average nearly 30 minutes per night in the playoffs, giving Minnesota a tremendous opportunity to tilt the ice for half the game in what should be an incredibly tight series against the Stars.
5. Buffalo Sabres
Previous: 3
Alex Tuch. Even at just 29 years old, Tuch is one of the elder statesmen on a young Sabres squad. As a team, Buffalo doesn't have much postseason experience, but Tuch accumulated plenty during his four seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, including an improbable run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. The Sabres will count on Tuch to not only produce, but also to steady the ship if things go awry.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous: 4
Victor Hedman. The Lightning have managed well without Hedman for all but 31 games this season, but it goes without saying that getting the captain back for the playoffs would be a major boost. Though his availability is up in the air after he took a personal leave in March, the odds of beating Montreal shift dramatically in Tampa Bay's favor if Hedman returns.
7. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous: 17
Mitch Marner. Is anyone surprised? Marner took a ton of heat for his playoff performance in Toronto. He has a chance to change the narrative in his first postseason with Vegas.
8. Montreal Canadiens
Previous: 8
Whichever goalie starts. The Canadiens have stars at every position, but inconsistent goaltending might be what holds one of the league's top up-and-coming teams back this spring. Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler have similarly pedestrian numbers this season, but one of them will need to take the reins if Montreal is going to make any noise in the East bracket.
9. Ottawa Senators
Previous: 13
Linus Ullmark. The Senators have posted excellent defensive metrics all season but have been largely let down by goaltending. However, Ullmark has been great recently, recording a .961 save percentage over his last three starts and potentially finding his form at the perfect time.
10. Edmonton Oilers
Previous: 16
Evan Bouchard. McDavid will play his part, and hopefully for the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl is healthy enough to be his usual playoff self. If not, Bouchard will need to be at his best at both ends of the ice for Edmonton to find success again this spring. Bouchard is fresh off a career year and can silence a lot of doubters with strong two-way play when it matters most.
11. Boston Bruins
Previous: 14
Jeremy Swayman. The last time the Bruins made the playoffs in 2023-24, Swayman posted a .933 save percentage in 12 games. The 27-year-old has had a splendid season and will need to be lights out if Boston is to make a deep run.
12. Utah Mammoth
Previous: 11
Mikhail Sergachev. He didn't have to be "the guy" during back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning, but Sergachev is the undisputed No. 1 defenseman for the Mammoth. The bank of playoff experience he possesses will be extremely valuable for a team that mostly lacks it, especially against a far more seasoned Round 1 opponent in the Golden Knights.
13. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous: 15
Evgeni Malkin. While the hockey world is thrilled to have Sidney Crosby back in the playoffs, it may mean more to Malkin at this point. The 39-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent and has been adamant about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh. Turning back the clock in the playoffs would be a good way to prove he's worth another financial commitment.
14. Anaheim Ducks
Previous: 7
Leo Carlsson. It's been an up-and-down campaign for Carlsson. He went wild with 11 goals in his first 16 games but then cooled off with 10 in his next 38. He's been rounding into form again down the stretch with eight goals and 14 points in his last 15 contests. A dominant Carlsson could take the Ducks deep in the underwhelming Pacific.
15. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous: 20
Rasmus Ristolainen. At last, Ristolainen will get the first taste of playoff hockey in his 13-year NHL career. The 6-foot-4 blue-liner has quietly become an extremely reliable shutdown defenseman in recent campaigns, and his game could be perfectly suited for the postseason. The Flyers are going to have to muddy the waters to win the Battle of Pennsylvania, and that starts with Ristolainen and partner Travis Sanheim slowing down Sidney Crosby and Co.
16. Los Angeles Kings
Previous: 21
Brandt Clarke. Although he doesn't receive much fanfare, Clarke is one of Los Angeles' most important players. He ranks fourth on the team with 40 points this season, runs the top power play, and leads all Kings blue-liners in goal share at 58.9%. The Kings struggle to score, so he'll need to be dynamic offensively for them to make any noise this postseason.
