NHL’s Mushy Middle REVEALED in Shocking Analysis | Which Teams Will RISE?

The 2025-26 NHL season is just around the corner, and Nick Zararis (Locked On Oilers) and Hunter Hodies (Locked On Penguins) break down which teams can take the next step. From rebuilding squads like the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks, to bubble teams like the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, to contenders like the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, and Montreal Canadiens — we sort all 32 NHL teams into tiers: rebuilding, bubble, playoff, or Stanley Cup contender.

We discuss:
🏒 Can Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl carry the Edmonton Oilers to a third straight Stanley Cup Final?
🏒 Will Leo Carlsson Mason McTavish, and Joel Quenneville push the Anaheim Ducks into playoff contention?
🏒 Are the Philadelphia Flyers with Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras ready to surprise?
🏒 Can the New York Rangers, led by Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Igor Shesterkin, bounce back?
🏒 Do the Vancouver Canucks with Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko have what it takes?
🏒Are the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and New Jersey Devils the next wave of Eastern Conference powerhouses?

Plus, we look at the futures of the Boston Bruins without Brad Marchand, the Pittsburgh Penguins in full rebuild, and whether the Toronto Maple Leafs can win without Mitch Marner.

Locked On NHL is your daily podcast for everything around the National Hockey League, brought to you by the Locked On Podcast Network.

0:00 Intro: NHL season preview and team analysis

5:06 Blackhawks’ struggles and lack of additions

10:10 Islanders’ rebuild and roster changes

17:36 Young teams with playoff potential

24:49 Playoff regulars seeking deeper runs

29:48 Oilers’ window closing after missed opportunities

34:26 Devils and other teams on the rise

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6 comments

  2. The amount of time the guy on the right just straight out cut the other guy off mid speech interrupting him and then just kept talking himself, wow. Counted 4 times already, and that's only in the first 10mins.

  5. Does Greeves unseat Elvis? I do think Tampa has a shot. Got to agree with the Oilers sliding and the Jets and Minny need some more fire power. I like Vegas or Dallas for the Cup vs Florida again.

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