Every season, experts try to pin down which teams will be the favourites to hoist the Stanley Cup. However, these prognostications don’t account for teams making surprising runs. These forecasts don’t take into account coaching and player or changes or shifts in culture.
Every season sees teams come out of nowhere to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs or at least challenge for a spot.
We take a look at the teams that have defied expectations and overachieved in the 2025-26 NHL season.
NHL Teams That Overachieved in 2025-26 Season
Buffalo Sabres
Western New York’s hockey team is as popular amongst bettors Stateside as those looking to an online casino app Bangladesh. has been in the wilderness for the last 14 years. Buffalo last qualified for the postseason in the 2010-11 season. Since then, there has been a change of ownership to Terry Pegula, who has tried numerous combinations or coaches and general managers.
Sabres goalie Alex Lyon stops a shot on net as Collin Graf (51) and Bowen Byram (4) look for the rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Many thought the Sabres were doomed to miss out again. However, the hiring of Jarmo Kekalainen and improved play jolted the team awake. Buffalo booked its place in the postseason after the New York Rangers got a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on April 4.
The Sabres ending their lengthy drought was something no one saw coming.
Boston Bruins
We look at another Atlantic Division team on our list of overachievers this season.
Many thought the B’s would have some growing pains after trading away stars like Brad Marchand at the last trade deadline. There was also the uncertainty of how first-year head coach Marco Strum would do behind the bench.
However, the improved play of Jeremy Swayman and the offensive talents of David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie have guided the Bruins into a potential playoff spot.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks haven’t appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the last seven seasons. General manager Pat Verbeek had already started making some important moves like adding Jacob Trouba from the New York Rangers last season. The result has been positive, and bettors at melbet casino app watched the seesaw playoff battle with Pacific foes Edmonton and Vegas play out in the backstretch of the season.
Goalie Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks stops Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers shot during the third period. Photo by Jack.Smart@prohockeynews.com
However, the additions of Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier have made the offence formidable. The other addition to the team was bringing back the controversial but decorated Joel Quenneville behind the bench.
The Ducks are helped by being in a Pacific Division that’s struggling. However, Anaheim has shown a massive improvement from where they were a few seasons ago.
San Jose Sharks
Speaking of Pacific Division teams that have improved, the Sharks are starting to put things together on and off the ice.
Macklin Celebrini is making his case for the Hart Trophy for the league’s most valuable player along with greats like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Celebrini also showed that he’s a future force with some great play at the Olympics.
The emergence of Will Smith and Yaroslav Askarov should make the Sharks a team to be worried about. General manager Mike Grier has made all the right moves in stockpiling young talent that’s ready to take the next step.
New York Islanders
The Islanders were fortunate to win the 2025 NHL Draft lottery and be able to draft defenceman Matthew Schaefer. However, no one accounted for how quickly he would acclimate to the NHL game.
Schaefer will get Calder Trophy consideration for the league’s top rookie. He even got consideration for Team Canada at the Olympics.
Improved defensive play and the scoring of Mathew Barzal have given the Isles a shot at making the postseason. Ilya Sorokin has put himself into the Vezina Trophy conversation with some stellar play in goal.
Other teams that deserve consideration as overachievers this season are the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Nashville Predators. All three teams were projected to be an also-ran, but all are in the mix to get back into the playoffs.
