Going into the 2026-27 NHL season, there has been some big roster turnover throughout the league. Some of the teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season made some big upgrades that have them in a position to have a big bounce-back season.
One of those teams is the Florida Panthers, who added Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators. They did have some big changes in goal. As for other teams in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division, some have gotten better, including the Washington Capitals.
One team that hasn't really improved on paper is the Boston Bruins. General manager Don Sweeney added JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in a draft-day deal, but other than that, it's been an underwhelming offseason so far. Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report listed 10 teams most likely to disappoint in 2026-27, and four of the teams were in the Atlantic Division.
4 Atlantic Division team predicted to disappoint in 2026-27
Yerdon listed the Buffalo Sabres, Panthers, Senators, and Detroit Red Wings as teams that could disappoint this upcoming season. Truth be told, the Red Wings have been disappointing for years now, but maybe a leadership change is what they need. However, as the others go, if a couple of them disappoint during the regular season, that could open the door for the Black and Gold to have another season better than what some think they're going to have.
Also not listed were the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. As for the Sabres, if they end up landing goalie Connor Hellebuyck in a trade, then that's a complete game-changer. Offensively, they might take a small step back, but adding an elite goalie like Hellebuyck would be bad news for the rest of the division.
Just as many questions surround the Senators as do the Bruins, while the Canadiens and Lightning are going to be good teams again. It is a little odd that more of the national media isn't pointing out the potential fall of the Black and Gold in 2026-27. They surprised a lot of people by getting the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 100 points last year, but really haven't upgraded key areas on their roster. Expecting them to run it back with the moves they've made and asking Marco Sturm's system to carry them to the postseason is not what will lead to much success.
There is still time to make some additions and subtractions to the roster for generla manager Don Sweeney before training camp begins this month, but given the lack of moves by Boston and the moves by other teams in the conference, the Bruins feel like a major omission from Yerdon's list.
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