5 NHL Teams Poised for a Post-Olympic Turnaround

Matthew Tkachuk © Pinterest

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 have concluded, leaving the NHL landscape transformed. While some teams used the break to heal, others saw their stars ignite on the world stage. With NHL EDGE puck and player tracking data, there’s five teams with the statistical profile to surge up the standings and crash the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

1. Florida Panthers

Despite being eight points out of a playoff spot, the back-to-back champions are statistically “due” for a regression to the mean—in a good way.

• The Spark: Matthew Tkachuk returned from injury just before the break and dominated the Olympics with 6 assists.
• The EDGE: Florida ranks 4th in midrange shots (490) but a dismal 27th in midrange shooting percentage (10.2%).
• The Outlook: With Tkachuk ranking in the 99th percentile for offensive zone time (49.5%), the Panthers’ elite possession metrics suggest the goals are about to flood in.

2. Nashville Predators

The Predators are only four points out, and their turnaround rests on the shoulders of the tournament’s most consistent netminder.

• The Spark: Juuse Saros posted a .940 save percentage in Milan, proving he is still an elite “workhorse.”
• The EDGE: Saros ranks 3rd in high-danger saves (281).
• The Outlook: Nashville quietly ranks 3rd in the NHL in offensive zone time percentage (43.1%). If Saros maintains his Olympic form, their puck-possession style will finally translate into wins.

3. New Jersey Devils

Eleven points is a steep hill, but the Devils now have a healthy “Golden Boy” leading the charge.

• The Spark: Jack Hughes scored the “Golden Goal” for the USA and looks completely recovered from early-season injuries.
• The EDGE: Hughes sits in the 91st percentile for midrange shots despite missing over 20 games.
• The Outlook: New Jersey’s roster is loaded with Olympic standouts like Nico Hischier and Jacob Markstrom. Their 10th-ranked shot attempt percentage (51.1%) indicates they have been better than their record suggests.

4. San Jose Sharks

The league’s youngest team is staying relevant thanks to a generational rookie performance.

• The Spark: Macklin Celebrini led the Olympics in goals (5) and shots (28) at just 19 years old.
• The EDGE: Celebrini is 2nd in the NHL in midrange shots (101) and 6th in hardest shot (97.89 mph).
• The Outlook: With 27 games remaining and a boost from new acquisition Kiefer Sherwood, the Sharks have the speed to close a five-point gap.

5. Winnipeg Jets

The Presidents’ Trophy winners have struggled, sitting 11 points back, but their goaltending just hit a seasonal peak.

• The Spark: Connor Hellebuyck led the Olympics with a .956 save percentage, stopping 41 of 42 shots in the final.
• The EDGE: Hellebuyck’s high-danger save percentage is currently below his usual elite standards, suggesting a massive upward correction is coming.
• The Outlook: With Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor fresh and motivated, the Jets possess the top-tier talent to exploit their 11th-ranked offensive zone time.

With the Olympic flame extinguished, these five teams are ready to use their tracking data advantages to ignite a frantic climb up the NHL standings.

Source: article by Hockey Fantasy Staff on nhl.com, published February 24, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer