As the NHL 2025-26 season approaches, now is a good time for a Western Conference preview. There will be plenty of excitement and thrilling matchups.
The Western Conference has some of the most talented teams and players, and they will be on display this year. There will be fun matchups, like the opening-day faceoff between early favorites the Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche. Here is everything to know ahead of the new season.
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The Pacific was once considered one of the strongest divisions in the NHL, with three elite California teams, but then it struggled for a while. That being said, there are other teams that are taking steps to be more competitive this season. Such as the Vancouver Canucks, who won the division in 2023-24, and the Calgary Flames, who made a surprise run last season.
The Los Angeles Kings added size, experience, and toughness to a good roster, making them a fun team to watch. In the eight seasons that the Golden Knights have been an NHL team, they have only missed the playoffs once and won a championship. This season looks no different for them. Also, the Oilers will still have roster questions that may affect their chances.
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 The Colorado Avalanche are expected to be one of the top contenders in the Central Division. Since they won the Stanley Cup in 2021, the Avalanche have failed to make a deep playoff run. Colorado hopes to fare better with a talented roster, including their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, who will start the season for the first time in three years. The Winnipeg Jets will again be a contender, but they will have more competition this year as other teams are on the rise.
The St Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are shaping up to be competitive teams. They each had a good offseason and shored up their lineups. The Dallas Stars will be another team to watch with their talented and experienced roster. The first time they meet up, the Avalanche will be fun to watch, considering the rivalry they built up over the last two years.
The Western Conference will feature heated rivalries, tight division battles, and more talent than ever this season. There are only two weeks until the 2025-26 season begins, and hockey is officially back. Stay tuned for more sports and entertainment content.
Features Image: Photo by Jeff Bottari /NHLI via Getty Images
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