2025–26 NHL Atlantic Division Preview: Can Florida Keep Rolling and Toronto Break the Curse?

With the Florida Panthers chasing a three-peat and the Leafs trying to shake off postseason ghosts, the Atlantic Division is once again one of the NHL's most compelling storylines heading into 2025–26.

If you want to make sure you don’t miss a moment of what should be another fantastic season, make sure to keep an eye on the Atlantic Division NHL broadcast listings on our website, where you will find full schedules, broadcast information, and streaming options.

Team-by-Team Storylines for 2025–26 Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Arena: Scotiabank Arena
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 52-26-4
• It’s been an offseason full of change in the Six: top scorer and hometown hero Mitch Marner abandoned ship after yet another year of playoff disappointment under first-year head coach Craig Berube.

Tampa Bay Lightning

• Arena: Benchmark International Arena
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 47-27-8
• Knocked out of the playoffs by their instate rivals, the Lightning will look to rally behind Nikita Kucherov, their Ted Lindsay Award-winning right wing. 

Florida Panthers

• Arena: Amerant Bank Arena
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 47-31-4
• The Panthers are on the hunt for a three-peat and will aim to capture the division for the second time on their incredible run. 

Ottawa Senators

• Arena: Canadian Tire Centre
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 45-30-7
• Building around their young core of Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle must be the priority in the Canadian capital. 

Montreal Canadiéns

• Arena: Bell Centre
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 40-31-11
• Getting to the playoffs was a huge win for Montreal, but after conceding 18 goals in their 5 game series against Washington, defense was clearly their biggest area of need. 

Detroit Red Wings

• Arena: Little Caesars Arena
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 39-35-8
• The Wings had the division’s second-worst goal differential in 2024-25, which they desperately need to resolve if they are to stay afloat in the division.

Buffalo Sabres

• Arena: KeyBank Center
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 36-39-7
• Owners of the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, in the eyes of many, Buffalo has shot itself in the foot this offseason, dooming their fanbase to further disappointment. 

Boston Bruins

• Arena: TD Garden
• 2024/25 Record (W-L-OT): 33-39-10
• It’s no secret that the Bruins have struggled to score points, and instead of addressing that need head-on, they’ve been timid this offseason when it comes to acquiring players. Perhaps new head coach Marco Sturm can help them turn that around, providing a fresh approach on the Boston bench. 

Remember to keep an eye on the Atlantic Division TV Schedule, giving you a rundown of everything on each day of this weekend, with timings and broadcast information.

Looking Back: 2024-25 Standings & Playoff Surprises

The Atlantic was the NHL’s toughest division last season, with quality and consistency across the board. The Maple Leafs won their first-ever Atlantic Division title since they were realigned back in 2013, but as expected, they fell flat once they reached the playoffs. It was a different story for the two Floridian sides, who were strong but not impassable during the regular season, finishing with 47 wins apiece. Tampa was the highest scoring team of the 2024-25 campaign, while the Panthers truly came to life in the playoffs. Their first two series came against division rivals, the Lightning and Leafs, respectively, who were bested in tight battles en route to a second consecutive Stanley Cup. 

There was cause for optimism in Ottawa, where the Senators enjoyed their long-awaited breakout campaign, snapping an 8-year-long playoff drought. Under first-year head coach Travis Green, the defense improved leaps and bounds, helping to reignite hope for the organization. Montreal similarly snuck into the postseason, but a leaky defense capped their ceiling fairly low. Detroit’s goaltending woes delayed their return to the playoffs for another season, while Buffalo’s free-scoring offense was weighed down by inconsistent defense. The Bruins were massively disappointing on virtually every level, as they regressed from second to eighth in the division from year to year. 

What to Expect from the 2025-26 NHL Season?

Favorites to Watch This Season

The Leafs' dominance last season is hard to look past, but the truth is, Florida is just too good. They really turned it on in the playoffs, but they’ve given fans every reason to believe that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in 2025. There was no mass free-agent exodus. Instead, their stars chose to stay on board for far below their market values because what Paul Maurice has going in Miami is just that special. Matthew Tkachuk will miss significant time through injury, which will likely affect them in the early goings. But make no mistake: this is the strongest, most well-rounded roster in the division, who always show up when it counts. 

Dark Horses That Could Shake Things Up

Ottawa took a huge leap last year, and with their talented young core, which includes the likes of Jake Sanderson, Brady Tkachuk, and Tim Stutzle, they should be a playoff contender for years to come. While a 4th place finish was respectable, they could easily be knocking on the door of the vaunted top 3, as they finished last season just 2 wins behind the Panthers. The depth players need to step up for the Sens, as they lacked a truly prolific scorer last season. Keeping pace with Toronto and the Florida sides is going to be tough, but there’s no questioning that the Senators are on the up. 

Offseason Moves That Could Define 2025–26

Toronto, of course, lost Mitch Marner to Vegas. They’ve tried to replace him with Matias Maccelli and forward Dakota Joshua in the aggregate via trade, but they may not be enough to get the Leafs over the hump.

For Tampa, this offseason has been about securing depth, with veteran forward Yanni Gourde signing a six year, $13.98 million deal, as well as the additions of left-wing Pontus Holmberg and forward Sam O’Reilly. 

The Panthers' priority was keeping their championship core intact, which they did brilliantly by securing playoff MVP Sam Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad for the next 8 years, at $64 million and $48.8 million, respectively. Furthermore, they tied down winger Brad Marchand for $31.5 million over the next 6.

Ottawa focused on depth to try and capitalize on their momentum, which came in the form of defenseman Jordan Spence, forward Fabian Zetterlund, and veteran centre Lars Eller, who should continue the Sens’ trend of year-on-year growth. 

Montreal’s trade for defenseman Noah Dobson, sending New York Emil Heineman and two first-round picks in return, could help them become a factor in the postseason once again.

Detroit also made a significant trade for veteran goaltender John Gibson, who enjoyed his highest save percentage since 2018-19 last season. They sent Petr Mrázek and two draft picks in the other direction for his services.

Buffalo puzzled many across the league by sending their most reliable point scorer, JJ Peterka, out west to Utah in exchange for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. The Sabres have yet to replace the German youngster adequately, raising concerns about the direction of this team going forward.  

The Bruins' biggest splash came on Tanner Jeannot, who doesn’t help from a scoring perspective, and came at a bit of an overpay on his five-year, $17 million deal.

How to Watch Atlantic Division NHL Games in 2025–26?

This season’s Atlantic Conference action will be pure sporting drama. Games will be available for viewing on broadcast channels such as ESPN, TNT, and ABC, with streaming options that include ESPN+, Hulu, and Max. The most comprehensive coverage, as well as out-of-market games, comes with the NHL Center Ice package, available for purchase through most cable providers. 

To view full Atlantic Division schedules, streaming options, and up-to-date puck drop times, visit our NHL TV & Streaming Guide.

Written by: Venuse, Inc. (Sports Content Creator)

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