The 2026-27 NHL regular season opened in late September with defending champion Carolina Hurricanes and elite clubs like the Avalanche, Stars, and Golden Knights projected for 105-112 points by major models, positioning them comfortably above the 80-point mark. Contenders such as the Lightning, Wild, and Mammoth sit in the 95-105 range, while rebuilding sides including the Blackhawks, Red Wings, and Flames project closer to or below 85 amid roster turnover and goaltending questions. Early results, injury developments like Barkov’s exit and Larkin’s absence, and schedule difficulty will shape outcomes for borderline teams, with depth, power-play efficiency, and special-teams consistency serving as key differentiators in a league where roughly half the clubs typically clear 80 points.