The Detroit Red Wings won't find themselves near the top of the Atlantic Division power rankings, I'll tell you that much. Not unless Steve Yzerman makes a big trade this summer, which probably isn't happening now.
The upside? It's hard to call the Wings a bad team. Still, with the current projected lines, it's hard to get overly optimistic. I'd love to see a big trade for a top-six forward before the preseason begins but, as I said, the projected big club rosters for all 32 teams are all but set in stone.
In just two short months, a little more than that, really, you'll see that live when those 32 teams, and the eight teams listed below take the ice for training camp. That said, now that free agency is all but in the books, I thought an Atlantic Division power ranking would be fun to draw up.
Again, I wasn't kind to the Red Wings, but at least they're not hopeless, like the bottom two teams on this list.
8: Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have essentially become the Pittsburgh Pirates of the NHL. The burning question now is: Which brewing star or star player will they trade next for a couple of mid-tier youngsters? Hey, at least the Yzerplan's more effective than whatever Kevyn Adams is doing over there.
7: Boston Bruins
Tanner Jeannot was the prize free agent signing this offseason and he's a bottom-six forward who basically gets fourth-line minutes. This means the Bruins probably won't be that good this season.
6: Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings made improvements, but until they prove they can keep pace with the No. 5 and No. 4 teams on this list, they're still a fringe contender at best. The upside is that they at least brought in some stopgaps, so they'll compete.
5: Ottawa Senators
One of two teams in the Atlantic to surprise everyone in 2024-25, the Ottawa Senators didn't do much to improve. If they made one big trade like the team ahead of them did, maybe they'd have moved up to No. 4 in these rankings.
4: Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens surprised even the most pessimistic fans last season and then traded for Noah Dobson. No, they're not a top-three team yet in the Atlantic, but wow, way to go from the Atlantic's most dormant team to a contender in 12 calendar months.
3: Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are running it back with an identical group. But unless they make a big trade this summer, they look like they're a step behind the top two teams on the list.
2: Toronto Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner may be gone, but Matthew Knies will step up and keep the Core Four going now that John Tavares is back. The Leafs may not be as stacked as the Panthers, but they'll still compete for the division crown.
1: Florida Panthers
A masterclass of how to retain a championship-caliber lineup. Red Wings fans should hope Steve Yzerman took a few notes from Bill Zito on how to build the NHL's next great dynasty.
