The 2026-27 NHL season opened with an 84-game schedule, placing a premium on depth, goaltending durability, and injury management for teams targeting 110-plus points. Preseason projections highlighted the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights as the clearest candidates, drawing from their prior 112-121 point campaigns and largely intact cores. Early results from opening night games and power rankings underscore the Hurricanes' title-defense challenge against motivated opponents, while the Avalanche's elite five-on-five play and special-teams edge position them for another high total. Competitive balance in the Atlantic and Central divisions, along with schedule strength and potential midseason trades, will determine how many clubs sustain the required consistency through the regular season grind.