{
  "id": 8901844,
  "title": "Which NHL teams could make postseason after missing last season?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/which-nhl-teams-could-make-postseason-after-missing-last-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T10:31:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nhl-teams-could-postseason-missing-103126441.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 NHL playoff field experienced significant changes compared to the previous year. Teams that had been missing the playoffs for the past season, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators, are now in the mix.\n\nThe Maple Leafs, who had enjoyed a nine-season playoff run, are looking to end their postseason drought after the addition of a strong goaltender, Bobrovsky, and a talented defenseman, Darren Raddysh. New general manager John Chayka has also restructured the bottom six forward group, which could prove crucial for their playoff push.\n\nThe Florida Panthers, who won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, saw key players Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk miss the entire season due to injuries. However, their return and the addition of Brady Tkachuk and other gritty players have bolstered their chances for a playoff berth. The goaltending situation remains uncertain after Sergei Bobrovsky left for free agency, and the team traded for Jacob Markstrom.\n\nThe Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues also missed the playoffs due to narrow margin. Both teams have made moves to improve their squads, with the Predators acquiring former Avalanche players and the Blues bringing back steady Connor McMichael. The New York Islanders, on the other hand, have a full season ahead with their new coach, Peter DeBoer, who made a late-season hire. Matthew Schaefer's impressive play could be a key factor in their success.",
  "summary": "There was a six-team turnover in the playoff field from 2025 to 2026. Which NHL teams could make the postseason this year after missing last season?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}