We’re deep in the trenches of the Conference Finals right now, and while some teams are still chasing the Cup, others? Well… they’ve been golfing for a while. Better late than never — it’s time to go through every team that missed the 2024-25 playoffs, and be brutally honest about what the hell happened.
Were they actually bad? Is there hope for next year? Let’s rip the band-aid off and take a real look.
PACIFIC DIVISION
4. Calgary Flames
This team was pure chaos. One night they looked like a playoff lock, the next they were giving up four goals in ten minutes. Kadri had a resurgence, and Huberdeau actually resembled a top-six forward again — progress! But this team still doesn’t have an identity. They’ve been spinning their wheels since the Tkachuk trade, and it shows. Going into next season, they either double down on retooling or start a real rebuild. No more half-measures.
5. Vancouver Canucks
You know what’s wild? The Canucks should’ve made it. But Pettersson’s second half was ice-cold, and without his offensive engine, this team looked... hollow. There’s still a lot of upside — Demko’s still elite, Hughes is THAT guy — but you need your stars to play like stars. Pettersson needs to hit reset this offseason. If he does, they’re back in it next year.
6. Anaheim Ducks
I actually liked what I saw here. Leo Carlsson is morphing into something scary — like top-15-in-the-league scary. The team’s still young, still makes dumb mistakes, but you see the path. If they can add a few veteran stabilizers and stay healthy, they could be sneaky in two years. For now? Patience, but optimism.
7. Seattle Kraken
This team is fine. They don’t suck. But “fine” doesn’t cut it when the league’s getting younger, faster, and nastier. They don’t have a true game-breaker, and that’s their ceiling problem. Matty Beniers took a step back, and the magic from their expansion playoff year is gone. They’re annoying to play against, sure. But someone’s gotta score. That has to be priority #1.
8. San Jose Sharks
Look, they were never supposed to compete this year. This was about letting the kids play — and hey, Celebrini and Will Smith flashed real promise.
They’re gonna be stars. But the rest of this team?
Still a dumpster fire. It’s a long road back, and the Sharks are still at the “collecting wood for the rebuild” stage.
CENTRAL DIVISION
6. Utah Hockey Club
New home, same mediocrity. This team’s vibes were immaculate but the actual product? Ehhh. It’s Year 1 in Utah — they’ve earned some patience — but there were too many nights where this team looked completely disted. Cooley looks great.
Maccelli’s for real. But if they want to matter, they need to figure out what kind of team they want to be. Right now it’s just vibes.
7. Nashville Predators
Yikes. After a fun run last year, this season felt like getting punched in the gut. Juuse Saros did what he could, but everything around him was falling apart. Young guys didn’t break out. Veterans looked cooked. Brunette has a lot of work to do this summer, because this can’t happen again.
Mulligan? Maybe. But the leash is shorter now.
8. Chicago Blackhawks
It’s not even about Bedard. He did what he could.
It’s about the fact that literally no one else on this team is NHL-ready. This roster is bare bones, and if you’re not surrounding your generational prospect with help, you’re asking for long-term problems.
They better draft well again, and they better sign real fast — or this rebuild’s gonna stall before it even gets going.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
They were close. Fantilli looked strong, and this team has flashes of real promise — but they’re inconsistent as hell. If they can get actual coaching stability and keep their young core healthy, they could turn the corner. But this fanbase is running out of patience. They need to show progress now, not in five years.
5. New York Rangers
This is where the wheels fell off. The core is aging, the kids haven’t stepped up, and Shesterkin can’t mask everything forever. You can’t fire the whole team, so Laviolette took the fall — but let’s be honest, this group just doesn’t have the same fire.
Unless they make a bold move this offseason, the window might already be closed.
6. New York Islanders
I don’t know what to say anymore. This team is stuck in 2019. Their stars are aging, they’ve committed too much cap to guys on the decline, and the system is too ive to compete with modern speed. Harsh? Maybe. But the league moved on, and the Isles haven’t.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
Let. It. Go. You missed the playoffs again. The core is ancient, and Dubas inherited a tough job — but come on. You can’t keep pretending 2017 is around the corner. Either tear it down or waste Crosby’s final years playing “almost good enough” hockey.
Make a damn choice already.
8. Philadelphia Flyers
Another season of development doesn’t mean another season of excuses. They showed flashes — Tippett, Cates, and York all had moments. But the second half? Brutal. They were running on fumes.
The rebuild’s on track technically, but don’t mistake effort for excellence. There’s still a lot of work to be done before this team competes with the big dogs.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
6. Detroit Red Wings
I feel bad for Wings fans. They were this close. But when the games mattered, they fell flat. This is what happens when your young guns don’t develop fast enough and your vets can’t pick up the slack.
Yzerman has to take a long look at this roster. You can’t stay in limbo forever.
7. Buffalo Sabres
Sabres fans have heard it all before: “Next year’s your year.” Problem is, they never do it. This season was just more of the same — streaky play, underwhelming goaltending, and zero killer instinct.
The roster’s talented, sure. But I’m done giving them benefit of the doubt until they actually do something.
8. Boston Bruins
This season was a wake-up call — the post-Bergeron/Krejci world is real, and it is not pretty.
They leaned too hard on a thin roster, and the magic ran out. Pastrnak is still a beast, but the Bruins need a new identity. Fast. Or this could spiral.
Let this be the benchmark. If I’m wrong by next season? Drag me. But for now, these are the teams that missed — and why.
Now, let’s get back to watching some real hockey.
The Stanley Cup is still up for grabs.
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