The NHL playoffs are always unpredictable, and every season, a few teams that once looked strong suddenly fall out of contention. This season, something similar happened where a few strong teams got eliminated in the first round.

This was a setback for those teams, but the bigger problem may come next season. They could miss the NHL playoffs due to reasons like weak team balance, key players retiring, or other issues. In this article, we will talk about three such teams. Let’s begin.

Three Teams That Could Miss NHL Playoffs Next Season

Before we start, please understand that this is purely an analysis based on opinion and understanding of the game. 

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings might be one of those teams that are at risk of missing the playoffs next season. Their record of 35-27-20 looks decent on paper, but it is not as strong as the top NHL teams. Many of their points came from overtime losses, which only give extra points in the standings.

In the first-round playoffs, they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, which showed that they could not compete at a high level when it mattered most.

The biggest concern for the future is the retirement of Anze Kopitar, who was a franchise legend and a key leader for the team. He played an important role in both offense and leadership. 

Another problem is the poor performance of Quinton Byfield, who was expected to become a strong young center. Since he did not perform well, the team now has weak depth at the center position.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Another team that should be concerned about falling off the playoffs next season is the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins had a strong season after being expected to struggle. They finished second in the Metropolitan Division with a 41-25-16 record and 98 points. 

However, they were not successful in the playoffs and lost in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers. Now there is uncertainty about whether they can repeat this success next season. Key players like Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, and Stuart Skinner may become free agents. 

Several players also had career-best seasons, but they must maintain this performance if Pittsburgh wants to reach the playoffs again.

Boston Bruins

Even though the Bruins have a strong goalie in Jeremy Swayman, good goaltending alone may not be enough for them to stay a playoff team next season. They need to improve the players in front of him.

Their main problem is roster depth. They have clear gaps, especially on the right side of the defense and in their top-six forward group, which weakens their overall attack and balance.

The situation could get worse if they cannot re-sign Viktor Arvidsson, a pending free agent who scored 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games this season. Losing him would reduce their scoring strength.

Because other Atlantic Division teams like the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings are improving, the Bruins could be passed by them if they do not upgrade their roster in the off-season.

In today’s time, winning in the NHL playoffs does not always mean a team will stay strong next season. One bad offseason, older star players, or weak team depth can quickly change a team’s performance.

So, which one out of these three teams do you think is the most vulnerable to falling off?

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Souvik Roy