NHL teams' offseason keys, including free agency, draft needs - ESPN

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are about to begin, which means that while 16 NHL teams are looking forward to their shot at the best trophy in sports, 16 others will be looking ahead to the offseason.

What went right and wrong for each of the eliminated teams? How should they modify their rosters this summer via trades, free agency and the draft? And what is each club's outlook for 2026-27?

Read on for full breakdown on every team that is no longer eligible to win the Stanley Cup in 2026. More teams will be added to this story as they are eliminated, so keep this page bookmarked.

Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Metro teams were written by Kristen Shilton. Ryan S. Clark analyzed the Central and Pacific teams. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Projected cap space per PuckPedia. Dates listed with each team are when the entry was published. Teams are listed alphabetically by publication date.

Jump ahead to a team:
CGY | CHI | CBJ | DET
FLA | NSH | NJ | NYI
NYR | OTT | SJ | SEA
STL | TOR | VAN
WSH | WPG

Projected cap space: $17.3 million
2026 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 3rd (FLA), 3rd (DAL), 4th (CBJ), 5th, 6th

What went right? Ottawa went from being tied for last place in the Eastern Conference in mid-January to making the playoffs. The Senators' defense was a strength all season, and coach Travis Green made the necessary tweaks — such as changing who ran the team's penalty kill to take it from 31st in late January to top six in the league post-Olympic break — to keep Ottawa on track.

Jake Sanderson established himself as one of the league's emerging elite defenders (and formed a strong pairing with Artem Zub). Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson shone in terrific