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Six NHL Teams That Disappointed in 2025-26 Season
From the Maple Leafs to the Panthers, these squads failed to live up to preseason expectations.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:09pm
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Disappointing seasons for several NHL powerhouses expose roster flaws and set the stage for major offseason changes.NYC TodayWith the 2025-26 NHL regular season coming to a close, USA TODAY highlights six teams that have been the most disappointing this year, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers.
Why it matters
These underperforming teams will likely face significant roster changes and pressure to bounce back next season, as they failed to meet high preseason expectations and playoff aspirations.
The details
The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the season expected to be a playoff team but instead have a 31-30-13 record and are 13 points out of a wild card spot. The Vancouver Canucks are the NHL's worst team at 21-43-8 after winning their division just two seasons ago. The Winnipeg Jets, last year's Presidents' Trophy winners, have a 31-30-12 record and are barely clinging to playoff position. The New York Rangers took a step back after missing the playoffs last season, currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 30-35-9 record. The New Jersey Devils, expected to be much better, have a 38-33-2 record and are 19 points out of a playoff spot. Injuries to stars like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk have plagued the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who have a 35-35-3 record and are 15 points out of a playoff spot.
- The 2025-26 NHL regular season is coming to a close in April.
The players
Mitch Marner
A star right winger who left the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason.
Quinn Hughes
A defenseman traded away by the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks.
Nikolaj Ehlers
A forward who left the Winnipeg Jets to join the Carolina Hurricanes.
Aleksander Barkov
The star center for the Florida Panthers who has missed the entire season due to injury.
Matthew Tkachuk
The star left winger for the Florida Panthers who missed a significant portion of the season due to injury.
What’s next
With the regular season coming to a close, these disappointing teams will face tough decisions this offseason as they look to make changes and bounce back next year.
The takeaway
This season has exposed significant flaws for several high-profile NHL teams that were expected to be playoff contenders. The offseason will be crucial as they look to retool their rosters and regain their footing for the 2026-27 campaign.
