**Preseason projections from models like Stathletes and The Athletic place roughly 26–28 of the 32 NHL teams above the 80-point threshold for the 84-game 2026-27 regular season.** Defending champion Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Vegas, and Edmonton anchor the top with forecasts in the 106–112 range, while mid-tier clubs in the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions (Tampa, Montreal, Washington, New Jersey) sit comfortably in the mid-90s to low-100s. Only a handful of bottom clubs—most notably Chicago, Nashville, and potentially one or two Pacific or Central rebuilders—project in the low-to-mid 70s or low 80s, reflecting ongoing roster gaps and limited recent success. Early October results have not yet altered these baselines, though injury developments, goaltending stability, and special-teams execution will determine whether marginal teams clear or fall short of the mark.