32 Teams, 32 Nightmares: The Burning Question Haunting Every NHL Club This Preseason

Hockey's back, and the 2026-27 preseason is officially a vibe. The Hurricanes are still basking in championship glory, but every other franchise has at least one glaring question mark that could turn training camp into a full-blown crisis. We combed through all 32 rosters to find the burning issue that will define the next few weeks — and maybe the entire season.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: How will they respond to a roster retool? The B's dropped two first-rounders on JJ Peterka and are betting on a breakout. But with Arvidsson and Peeke gone, the margin for error is thinner than a hockey skate blade. Can James Hagens crack the lineup for real? Is Matthew Poitras ready? Boston needs answers fast.

Buffalo Sabres: Does Buffalo need an iron man goaltender? It's an open secret: the Sabres want Connor Hellebuyck. Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got them to the dance, but the postseason was a disaster. Hellebuyck wants out of Winnipeg, but he's not exactly Mr. Playoff himself. Is that a Buffalo problem or a Jets problem?

Detroit Red Wings: How will the new GM right the ship? Steve Yzerman walked away, and the search has been weirdly quiet. Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin wants out, and the captaincy is in limbo. Whoever takes the job has to fix a fractured franchise before the puck drops. Oh, and Simon Edvinsson still needs a contract. Good luck.

Florida Panthers: Will a face-lift help them bounce back? Brady Tkachuk is now in the same lineup as his brother Matthew. That's terrifying — or a complete circus. Sergei Bobrovsky is gone, replaced by the unpredictable Jacob Markstrom. Bill Zito loves chaos, but can the Panthers actually contend again?

Montreal Canadiens: Are the young stars ready to take the next step? Jakub Dobes got paid like a No. 1. Ivan Demidov got paid like a superstar. Juraj Slafkovsky looked like a problem in the playoffs. Montreal is running it back with the kids, and the East better be ready.

Ottawa Senators: Is Ottawa ready to break out after saying goodbye to Tkachuk? Losing Brady Tkachuk hurts. Getting William Eklund helps. The Senators have talent up front and a goalie in Linus Ullmark who showed up in the postseason. But can they shake off the loss of their former captain and finally become something more than a first-round exit?

Tampa Bay Lightning: Do they have the right mix on defense? John Carlson is in. Darren Raddysh is out. Victor Hedman is 35 and coming off a nightmare season. If Hedman can't bounce back, Tampa's defensive core could be the reason they miss the playoffs for the first time in forever.

Toronto Maple Leafs: What does Sergei Bobrovsky have left to offer? New GM John Chayka went all-in on a 38-year-old goalie coming off the worst season of his career. Bobrovsky has the rings, but he also posted a sub-.900 save percentage. If he's cooked, Toronto is toast. That’s the gamble.

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes: Are special teams the key to unlocking another Cup run? The PK was mediocre last season, and the goalie tandem of Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov is scary. But with Jaccob Slavin healthy, the Canes might be the best team in the East — if their netminders don't ruin it.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Will stability end their postseason drought? Coach Rich Bowness called out the culture. Zach Werenski wanted out (maybe). Kirill Marchenko won't sign. Columbus is a mess, and the pressure is on to show they're more than a country club.

New Jersey Devils: What is the prognosis offensively? Jack Hughes can't stay healthy, so GM Sunny Mehta paid up for Luke Evangelista and added Anthony Mantha. But is that enough? The Devils need four lines that can score, not just hope and prayers.

New York Islanders: How well will they respond to a full season of Pete DeBoer? Ilya Sorokin is still elite, but he needs help. DeBoer has to fix the blue line and get more offense out of a team that's been carried by Sorokin for years. If he can't, the Isles are stuck in mediocrity.

New York Rangers: Are they actually better off after this offseason's transactions? Pavel Dorofeyev is a star addition, but Vincent Trocheck is gone. The top six is stacked, but the bottom six is a question mark. Igor Shesterkin can't do it all by himself.

Philadelphia Flyers: How do they line up down the middle? They swung and missed on Leo Carlsson. Now it's Trevor Zegras, Noah Cates, and maybe Jett Luchanko. The Flyers need a true No. 1 center, and they're hoping one of these guys steps up.

Pittsburgh Penguins: What is this team's identity for 2026-27? Malkin is 40. Silovs is unproven. Crosby is still great, but Pittsburgh needs to decide: rebuild or compete? The fans want a playoff run, but the roster might not be good enough.

Washington Capitals: How do all of the new faces fit in? Jordan Kyrou. Alex Tuch. Boone Jenner. And Alex Ovechkin, who refused to age. This is a lot of new toys for Spencer Carbery. If it clicks, watch out. If it doesn't, it's another early summer.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks: How much impact will Bowen Byram have in his first season in Chicago? He's getting $12.5 million per year, and the Hawks need him to be a difference-maker on a blue line that was a sieve. Byram had 42 points last season; Chicago needs that and more.

Colorado Avalanche: What must happen for them to win the Stanley Cup? Cale Makar just became the NHL's first $20 million player. But the Avs got swept by Vegas last year. Joe Sakic added Jaden Schwartz and some kids. Is that enough to get over the hump?

Dallas Stars: Do they have enough depth to challenge for a Stanley Cup? Three straight Western Conference finals, then a first-round flop. Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson scored nine of 15 goals against Minnesota. The Stars need more from the rest of the roster, or it's another wasted season.

Minnesota Wild: What ends up happening with Quinn Hughes by the time the season is over? He's the best defenseman in the world, and he's on an expiring contract. Bill Guerin says he's confident, but Hughes isn't rushing. If he walks, Minnesota will never forgive him.

Nashville Predators: Exactly where do they fit within the Western Conference? Four points out of a playoff spot, but that was last year. The Preds added some veterans, but the West got stronger. Can they keep pace, or are they stuck in no-man's land?

St. Louis Blues: What path will the Blues' young core guide the franchise on this season? Trade Kyrou, bring in McTavish and McMichael, and suddenly the Blues are young and hungry. The rebuild is supposed to be over, but they need goals — and fast.

Utah Mammoth: Will the Mammoth disrupt the power structure in the Western Conference? They took Vegas to double-overtime in the first round. Now they added Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck. Utah isn't just knocking on the door — they might be about to kick it down.

Winnipeg Jets: Can the Jets plot the right course to reach their desired destination? Hellebuyck wants out. Their top line accounted for 46% of the goals. They missed the playoffs. This is a franchise in crisis.

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks: Do they have enough to make a significant defensive improvement? They lost Carlson, Gudas, and Trouba. That leaves a blue line under 25, anchored by LaCombe and Mintyukov. They made the playoffs last year — can they actually stop pucks this time?

Calgary Flames: How will they foster the next wave of their youth movement? Coronato and Wolf were phase one. Now it's Gridin, Honzek, and Nemec. The Flames have a real pipeline, and it's time to let the kids play.

Edmonton Oilers: Can Mike Babcock succeed where others didn't and win a Stanley Cup? Connor McDavid is on a two-year extension. That means the window is now. Babcock is a controversial hire, but the only thing that matters is a championship. Anything less is a failure.

Los Angeles Kings: Did they do enough this offseason to ensure they'll score more goals? They were the lowest-scoring playoff team by a mile. Peter Laviolette is behind the bench, and they brought in Haula and Zuccarello. It's better, but is it enough?

San Jose Sharks: Is this the year the rebuild officially ends and the Sharks make the playoffs? They improved by 34 points last season. Macklin Celebrini is a star. The Sharks are four points away from a playoff spot. This could be the breakthrough season.

Seattle Kraken: How much can this season shape the Kraken in the years to come? They missed on Panarin and Robertson, but they still have $17 million in cap space and prospects to burn. The problem: key players like Dunn and McCann are free agents after this season. This year matters.

Vancouver Canucks: What can Canucks expect from their centers this season? Elias Pettersson needs to be a star again. Marco Rossi needs to stay healthy. Filip Chytil needs to stop getting hurt. The Canucks' entire season depends on this trio.

Vegas Golden Knights: How will they define success in Ryan Craig's first season? The Knights were two wins away from a Cup, and now they have a rookie head coach. Craig has no excuses — this roster is loaded. It's Cup or bust in Sin City.