The NHL season is just around the corner. For the Calgary Flames, it’ll once again be a year of uncertainty, but that’s not the case for all the teams within the Pacific Division. We already previewed the Flames, so today, we’re briefly going to preview the rest of the Pacific Division for the 2025–26 season. Let’s get started.
Anahiem Ducks
Key additions:
Mikael Granlund
Chris Kreider
Ryan Poehling
Petr Mrazek
Key Subtractions:
Trevor Zegras
John Gibson
The Anaheim Ducks are once again looking to take a step this season. The team traded away Trevor Zegras and long-time veteran John Gibson, as they didn’t fit their vision. With that being said, the Ducks are looking to get the offence going, as they finished at the bottom of the league last season for goals-for. Adding veterans such as Mikael Granlund and Chris Kreider should help their offence improve.
As for the future, it looks quite promising for the Ducks. Leo Carlsson will likely take another step, as well as players like Olen Zellweger and Jackson Lacombe, on the blueline. As of the time this article is being written, the Ducks still haven’t signed RFA Mason MacTavish, but you’d have to think it’ll get done soon.
Overall, this team likely won’t make the playoffs, but don’t be surprised if the Ducks show a considerable improvement in points. Hiring Joel Quenneville as the team’s head coach should help get the most out of this group as well.
Edmonton Oilers
Key additions:
Andrew Mangiapane
Issac Howard
Curtis Lazar
Key subtractions:
Evander Kane
Derek Ryan
Connor Brown
Viktor Arvidsson
Corey Perry
Jeff Skinner
John Klingberg
After losing the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons, the Oilers are, in a way, at their wits’ end. There’s no doubt that the team lost a lot of depth this summer, and the team’s biggest distraction right now is franchise player Connor McDavid’s status as a pending UFA.
However, the Oilers will still be a Stanley Cup contender as long as their main core remains intact. The team did make some intriguing moves, bringing in Andrew Mangiapane and rookie Issac Howard to help with the forward core. However, goaltending and defence remain mostly the same on an aging team.
The main concern for the Oilers is whether Stuart Skinner can be the guy they fall back on when it counts. Also, will their additions be enough to make up for the amount of depth lost in the offseason? Only time will tell.
Los Angeles Kings
Key additions:
Corey Perry
Cody Ceci
Joel Armia
Brian Dumoulin
Anton Forsberg
Key subtractions:
Vladislav Gavrikov
Tanner Jeannot
Jordan Spence
David Rittich
Being knocked out of the first round four seasons in a row hurts, but being eliminated by the same team only adds salt to the wound. The Los Angeles Kings are trying to get over the hump, but have they been convincing enough to make an impact?
For starters, the team traded young defenceman Jordan Spence and lost Vladislav Gavrikov to free agency. New GM Ken Holland would then go on to replace them with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, both NHL veterans in their mid-thirties. The moves were seen as confusing, and no doubt made the Kings’ blueline worse.
The team didn’t lose much when it comes to forwards, but some players need a major breakout year. Quinton Byfield strikes me as someone who needs to hit a new level, as his role will increase heavily once long-time King Anze Kopitar retires. While the Kings have a decent forward core, will it be enough to contend with the heavy hitters of the West?
San Jose Sharks
Key additions:
Michael Misa
Jeff Skinner
Ryan Reaves
Dmitry Orlov
Nick Leddy
John Klingberg
Alex Nedeljkovic
Key subtractions:
Thomas Bordeleau
Henry Thrun
Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Jan Rutta
Alexander Georgiev
The San Jose Sharks are another team unlikely to make the playoffs, but this is a team that is truly building something special. GM Mike Grier has done a fantastic job accumulating high-end talent, and he’ll be adding 2025 second-overall pick Michael Misa into the mix.
This offseason, the Sharks were busy adding more veteran presence to their roster. This is a team that wants to improve and likely will. While the kids get the priority, veterans are still important for mentorship.
I fully expect the Sharks to take a step this season, with players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund taking the next step. While this won’t be a playoff team, Sharks fans have so much to be excited about for the future
Seattle Kraken
Key additions:
Mason Marchment
Ryan Lindgren
Frederick Gaudreau
Key subtractions:
Andre Burakovsky
Mikey Eyssimont
The Seattle Kraken are in a weird spot. In fact, they’re in the dreaded spot of being mediocre. I honestly have no clue what the Kraken are aiming for. Besides that surprise playoff run in 2023, the Kraken haven’t had much to brag about.
Despite that, this team still has some intriguing pieces. Shane Wright is bound to take another step, and maybe Berkly Catton could see some NHL action. They drafted Jake O’Brien eighth overall, and Matty Beniers is bound to break out at some point, right? Either way, the Kraken really need to choose a direction to get themselves out of the grey area of not being bad enough for a high draft pick and not being good enough for the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks
Key additions:
Evander Kane
Vitali Kravtzov
Key subtractions:
Arturs Silovs
Dakota Joshua
The Vancouver Canucks are another team that is hard to predict. On one hand, a bounce-back season from Elias Pettersson and a healthy Thatcher Demko could push this team right back into the playoffs. On the flip side, the lack of a true second-line centre could hurt the team, as well as another down year from core players.
The Canucks didn’t have a terribly busy offseason. They traded for Evander Kane, who will help with scoring. Trading away Arturs Silovs was a given when they extended Kevin Lankinen. They also traded fan favourite Dakota Joshua for cap relief. The biggest win, in my opinion, was re-signing Brock Boeser, who easily could’ve left for nothing.
Expect to see rookies like Jonathan Lekkerimaki make a push to make the lineup as well. The Canucks are in a position where management expects quite a bit, but do they have the tools to live up to expectations?
Vegas Golden Knights
Key additions:
Mitch Marner
Colton Sissons
Jeremy Lauzon
Key subtractions:
Alex Pietrangelo?
Nic Hague
Nic Roy
Ilya Samsonov
Finally, we have the Vegas Golden Knights, who got their big fish in Mitch Marner. All eyes will be on the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward as he looks to hit a new stride in Sin City. Besides that, the Golden Knights are mostly bringing back the same roster following some smaller trades.
A big player in question, however, is Alex Pietrangelo. The consensus as of right now is that his career is in jeopardy due to injury. If he doesn’t play again, the Golden Knights still have a solid blueline despite Pietrangelo’s absence. Vegas will very likely end first in the Pacific, remaining a Stanley Cup contender.
