Which teams need the final playoff spots the most?

With NHL teams entering the final spell of the 2025-26 regular season, the races for the final few spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to come down to the wire. 

For some teams, missing the postseason could be chalked up to being part of a long-term improvement process, while for others, falling short could be catastrophic to years of work within an organization. 

On a recent episode of Daily Faceoff Live, co-hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton dove into which teams most need a playoff berth in each conference. 

Tyler Yaremchuk: When we look at the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, who needs it the most, and the same for the Western Conference? I think it’s the Detroit Red Wings. Like, when you look at these standings, Travis Green is not losing his job if the Ottawa Senators miss. The Boston Bruins are fine, and Patrick Roy isn’t getting fired if the New York Islanders miss. Jobs are going to be lost in Detroit, and I’m sure you agree. Is there a team in the West that you think needs it more than anyone else?

Carter Hutton: The West is so tricky. I think I’d have to go with…the only one for me would be the Utah Mammoth. If Utah is to drop off, I think they might be the team that faces repercussions, because it’s been a bit of a run. 

I don’t know if I can pick a team honestly in there, unless, worst-case scenario, the Vegas Golden Knights drop out, then Bruce Cassidy’s maybe hitting the curb. But I feel like the East is definitely more defined in the sense that if Detroit misses, that is going to be bad news.

You can catch the rest of the segment and the entire Daily Faceoff LIVE episode here…