March 31, 2026
Headlines

Ranking the top 2026 Stanley Cup playoff bandwagons

Sagar08 mins

Last week in this space, I ranked most exciting matchups The number of teams still in the hunt for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — and what else might be possible.

This week, we’re going to take a similar spin but focus specifically on teams.

Let’s say you’re an NHL fan and your team is out of the playoffs. You’re looking for someone with a keen interest to make it fun.

even if it’s for something “The old man without the cup,” Various teams are going to become increasingly popular among the general hockey fan public in the coming weeks.

So, here are the top five potential playoff teams for 2026 based on their “bandwagon jumpability.”

Note: Playoff odds are according to Statlets as of March 29.

Playoff Possibilities: 62.4%

They may have the most hated people on this list, simply due to historical success and geographic proximity to teams like ranger guys, Bruins, passengers And DevilsBut this has really felt like a franchise reset year for the Isles, and it starts with this Matthew Schaefer.

I will always argue that the biggest reason for Schaefer not playing in the Olympics was the number of NHL games played in his career – if he had even had one more season, I believe he would have been selected. He’s been dynamite in all categories for Long Island – saying all the right things to make the fan base love him, and doing all the right things on the ice (including breaking copious amounts of rookie, teen, and franchise records).

Can you imagine Schaefer and the Isles reaching the Cup Final in their first season?

Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%

Since their inception in 2000, the Wild have won only four playoff series. The Minnesota North Stars Cup Final run in 1991 is a distant memory.

But now we’re at the beginning of a golden age for the state of hockey, led by the NHL quinn hughes And Kirill Kaprizov. And of all the teams on this list, they might have the best shot on paper to win the Cup… that is, if they didn’t have the full strength of the Central Division to contend with in Rounds 1 and 2. It would be a mistake if I didn’t mention my friend and Wild reporter Jessie Pierce, who, along with her three children, will be an emotional rallying point for Wild hockey fans during the postseason.

Playoff Possibilities: 68.3%

The 2025 Stadium Series really showed us that Columbus has hockey in its blood. Of all the teams on this list, the Blue Jackets have experienced the least postseason success, with only one series win to its name (although it was a letdown).

The Jackets came very close last season, they are on a roll this season, and it will be great to see Ohio’s NHL team get some meaningful wins in May. Its front office is also full of amazing people who represent the team and the game very well, among the best in the league.

The late Johnny Gaudreau was a presence in the Team USA dressing room for over a year and continues to be a presence in the CBJ room as well. Would love nothing more than to hand over to the team “Donkey Hat” Following a crucial postseason series win.

Playoff Possibilities: 40.4%

McLean Celebrini In the playoffs? Sign me up.

The second year student had a fantastic Olympics and proved that he can shine on the brightest stage. His game just screams “I’m winning cups in my future,” even if you can’t actually see him screaming.

This season, the Sharks have become many fans’ “second favorite team” in the NHL – they are young, exciting, fun and have a bona fide superstar. They may miss the playoffs – but there’s an outside chance they qualify and face the juggernaut colorado avalanche In the first round. Imagine if they won that?

Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%

It’s not even close. After 14 years of waiting, the Sabers are finally making their way to the postseason, saying goodbye New York Jets Holding the record for the dubious “longest playoff drought in professional sports”.

Unless you hate Buffalo, you can’t be disappointed to see this happen for a hockey-loving city that is hungry for success. In my opinion, there is no other city in North America that deserves greater sporting success than Buffalo, New York City.

I mean, they already are changing road signs!

The content coming from the city will be fantastic. I expect Sabers fans to take to the streets by the thousands before Game 1. A “We Made It Back” Parade! March to the first home game at KeyBank Center to cheer on the team.

Proceed:
games of the week
what i liked this weekend
Hart Trophy candidates
social post of the week
paste tap

biggest games of the week

I’m off on detroit red wings And ottawa senators As they enter the week outside the playoff picture.

capture ottawa Florida Panthers on Tuesday, the Sabers on Thursday and the Wild on Saturday. Red Wings face off pittsburgh penguins on tuesday, philadelphia flyers on Thursday and New York Rangers On Saturday.

The East wild-card race still looks like it will be a photo finish.

Blue Jacket has a house and a home carolina stormAnd raising those points will not be easy.

meanwhile, boston bruins They have a trip to Florida coming up, facing the Panthers and tampa bay lightning After stepping on the ice opposite to dallas stars On Tuesday – that’s not an easy week either!

Hart Trophy contenders if the season ended today

Nikita Kucherov The order of this thing is making it extremely difficult. connor mcdavid Was out of the points race for a minute, but he is back on top.

McDavid remains No. 1 in my individual poll and also leads the scoring race with 124 points, including nine in his last five games. Kucherov is trying to make a difference up top nathan mackinnon And remains ahead of McDavid with 121 points, including 10 points in his last five.

MacKinnon is third in the points race with 117, as he currently leads the team at the top of the overall NHL standings.

I believe it will depend on these three as MVP finalists this season and may decide who wins the scoring title.

what i liked this weekend

I’m the unofficial “ESPN Star Wars Sports Reporter”, so this caught my attention. The Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, held their Star Wars Night on Saturday and once again knocked it out of the park with their jerseys. Last season, Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni designed the Star Wars Knight jerseys, so the bar was set pretty high!

This season was one of Filoni’s previous designs, celebrating “The Mandalorian”. The team added the Star Wars language “Aurebesh” around the helmet. It reads “Wills-Barre Scranton Penguins” at the top and “This is the way” at the bottom. Incredible details:

weekend social media posts

One of the highlights of my year is coming up this Sunday – the “Inside Out Classic” – which is Sunday at 7pm ET. This is a special broadcast of washington capitals-New York Rangers games (on Disney Plus, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN app), with real-time animation using NHL Edge and Sony Hawk-Eye innovation tracking data. We’ve got a lot of goodies coming this week in anticipation of the big game, so keep an eye out for them all.

But speaking of entertainment, my social posts from the weekend fall into the “haven’t seen this, shoulda” category (“Sportscenter,” shout IYKYK). Based on Connor McDavid’s recent “pillow fight” comment regarding the Pacific Division, we staged a pillow fight on the set of our NHL broadcast. This included throwing a pillow at Steve Levy while he was trying to finish his studies, and hitting TJ Oshie before he picked up the pillow and flew it at PK Subban off the top rope!

paste tap

Stick Taps this week will go to each NHL team that has remembered Jesse Pierce by either donating to the GoFundMe set up for her grieving husband and/or leaving a seat empty with his name in the press box along with flowers. The hockey community is the best.

Source link

Please follow and like us:
fb-share-icon
Tweet
Pin Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News