Which 2025 Eastern playoff team currently outside the playoff picture has the best chance to return?

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs could have quite the shakeup from 2025 if the season continues on its current trend as the Olympic break nears. 

With incredible parity in the Eastern Conference this year, five 2025 playoff teams as of Wednesday sat outside the postseason spots, with the condensed schedule providing little time for teams to turn things around in the final third of the regular season. 

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Steve Peters discussed which of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators would, and would not make the playoffs. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: The season is flying by, and we’re about to have three and a half weeks with no games at all. With the condensed schedule, it’s going to get late early for some clubs.

I feel like Ottawa may not quite belong in this conversation, since they’re recognized as a bit of a mess, though they won last night. Toronto is the closest. If they win their game in hand against the Boston Bruins, they’ll tie them in the standings. Is there one of these teams that missed last year is on the outside right now, that you think is sort of most likely to kick things into high gear in the final third of the season? 

Steve Peters: This is a tough one… with the Olympics coming up, it’s getting tight. Matthew Tkachuk is back in Florida now, but can he move the needle enough to give that team a boost? I think he can. I think he’s a guy who can help push them to play more Florida Panther-style hockey. I think the Devils are going through some turmoil right now, and I think they’re going to have some difficulties at the trade deadline, so I don’t think New Jersey is going to be there. 

The Washington Capitals need to acquire at the trade deadline. I think they need to get more scoring. I think they need to get a little bit faster. I think last year they overshot their skills, and they were a little better than I thought they were.

I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are in when you look at all these five teams that have to get there. The Maple Leafs have a really good roster. When everybody’s healthy, you need to get stronger goal-tending, and you’ve got to get that timely scoring. But of those teams, Toronto is first and Florida is second in the Eastern Conference in making the playoffs.

You can catch the full discussion and the rest of the episode here…