Get ready, hockey fans, because the 2026-27 NHL season is about to drop the puck in less than a week, and the Carolina Hurricanes are already looking like they’re coming for another championship. We are talking about potential back-to-back Stanley Cups here, and if GM Eric Tulsky pulls off what everyone thinks he can, this team is going to be unstoppable.
Tulsky’s Big Move Could Seal the Deal
The Hurricanes lost goalie Freddie Andersen to the Oilers, which, okay, not ideal. But that’s their *only* significant roster change. Think about that for a second. This team is already stacked! Now, picture this: what if GM Eric Tulsky works his magic and brings Connor Hellebuyck to Raleigh? Hellebuyck has serious leverage right now, and word on the street is he’s got his sights set on an American contender. Carolina has the cap space, they’ve got the open net, and if anyone can make that happen, it’s Tulsky. If they land Hellebuyck, seriously, how do you bet against a two-peat? It’s almost too easy to imagine.
Buffalo’s ‘Optimism’ Is Hiding a Real Problem, While Boston’s Peak Is Behind Them
Remember how the Buffalo Sabres’ young core made real strides last season? That two-round playoff run felt like the start of something big, right? An era of optimism, they called it. But let’s be real, the losses of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram make this roster objectively worse. Are we even talking about it enough? GM Jarmo Kekalainen might be playing the long game here, maybe waiting to address deficits at the trade deadline after seeing how the first half shakes out. But for now, that “optimism” has some serious holes.
Over in Boston, the Bruins’ roster feels like it’s already peaked. It’s not on David Pastrňák, Charlie McAvoy, or Jeremy Swayman, those guys are studs. But after last year’s first-round exit, it’s hard to see them getting any better. Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie had career seasons, and that honestly just covered up the depth issues. JJ Peterka is a great addition, and Marco Sturm has been solid as head coach, but the whole thing just feels like a collection of pieces that might or might not come together one day. It doesn’t feel like ‘today’.
Anaheim’s Young Guns Are Locked In, Calgary’s Kid Is Ready for a Trial By Fire
Switching gears to some teams on different trajectories, the Anaheim Ducks faced a tough spot with that Leo Carlsson offer sheet. But guess what? They got him signed! And top goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier? Locked him down too. Are these youngsters overpaid? Maybe. But they’re signed, they’re focused, and they’re ready to roll. That’s a huge win for the Ducks heading into the season.
Then you’ve got the Calgary Flames, right at that turning point in their rebuild. The prospect pool is overflowing, but the team on the ice isn’t quite ‘there’ yet. Šimon Nemec, acquired from the Devils in the offseason, is their first big NHL-ready piece to arrive. He’s got the potential to be a core player and a power play quarterback, no doubt. But taking on big minutes on a bad team? Yeah, he’s gonna struggle at first. And that’s totally fine; it’s part of the process. The Chicago Blackhawks, by the way, got highly criticized for the price they paid for Byram.
So, with the puck dropping next week, there are some wild storylines already in play. Can the Hurricanes actually pull off a two-peat? Will the Sabres’ hidden roster issues derail their ‘era of optimism’? We’ve got a whole season ahead to watch these predictions unfold, and I, for one, can’t wait to see which teams rise and which ones face some hard truths. Get ready, folks, because the 2026-27 NHL season is going to be a ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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