NHL Drought Teams Poised for Contention by 2027

Zach Werenski captured the Norris Trophy in 2025-26 after posting his second straight season above a point per game.

Blue Jackets Build Immediate Window

Adam Fantilli improved his faceoff winning percentage from 41.2 percent in 2024-25 to 49.8 percent in 2025-26 while increasing physicality from 113 hits to 139. Jet Greaves appeared in 55 games during his first full NHL season as an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. Zach Werenski’s Norris win and back-to-back point-per-game campaigns provide a stable foundation that GM Don Waddell can supplement with one major addition this offseason. Denton Mateychuk posted 13 goals in the NHL last season while 19-year-old Jackson Smith develops at Penn State. These elements together place Columbus one trade or signing from genuine contention rather than another extended rebuild.

The Blue Jackets’ path contrasts with longer timelines elsewhere because their young talent has already translated to NHL production. Werenski’s elite play at the peak of his powers creates urgency for Waddell to capitalize before that window closes. Success in 2026-27 would validate the patient development approach over the past two seasons.

Detroit Faces Trade Uncertainty

Dylan Larkin requested a trade after the Red Wings missed the playoffs despite Alex DeBrincat tying his career high with 41 goals and setting new marks of 44 assists and 85 points. Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson form one of the league’s strongest defensive pairs, yet the captain’s departure would remove the veteran leadership anchoring a group that includes Lucas Raymond, Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson. Two promising young goalies, Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, offer long-term stability but cannot accelerate the timeline alone.

Contending teams pursuing Larkin will likely offer futures rather than roster players, extending Detroit’s drought beyond the 2016 cutoff. Building around the Seider-Edvinsson pair remains the clearest route forward, though the loss of Larkin risks stalling progress for multiple seasons.

Sharks and Blackhawks Project Later Arrivals

San Jose landed the second overall pick in 2026 after playing meaningful April games and already features Macklin Celebrini alongside Will Smith, William Eklund and Michael Misa as a strong young forward group. This core could reach true contender status by the 2027-28 season under current coach Ryan Warsofsky, mirroring the trajectory the Montreal Canadiens followed recently. Chicago holds the fourth overall pick and must sign restricted free agent Connor Bedard to a long-term deal while seeking a number-one defenseman or further development from Alex Vlasic. A win-now trade of the pick carries risk given the league’s increasing speed, pointing to a 2028-29 arrival as contenders.

The Pacific Division’s relative weakness gives the Sharks a shorter path than Chicago’s need for defensive upgrades, yet both lag behind Columbus’s more complete roster readiness. Delaying aggressive moves preserves assets but cedes ground to teams already closer to the playoff threshold.