NHL power rankings: Hurricanes, Avalanche, Lightning top starting list of Stanley Cup favorites

Daily Faceoff has released its first NHL power rankings for the 2026-27 regular season, placing the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Tampa Bay Lightning at the top as the leading Stanley Cup favorites. The rankings, compiled by writers Mike Gould and Scott Maxwell, sort all 32 NHL teams into five tiers including 'Cup Contenders,' 'Playoff Contenders,' 'On the Bubble,' 'Long Shots,' and a fifth category. The 2026-27 regular season kicks off on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with 10 teams opening the campaign on the same night.