What Happened
Sportsnet published Justin Bourne's two-sentence preview of all 32 NHL teams on Sept. 25, ahead of the 2026-27 season opener next Tuesday. Bourne wrote that Buffalo, which won the Atlantic with 109 points, may fall back without Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch, placing pressure on the goaltending, Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. He called Tampa Bay's 106-point season quiet and expects another top-three division finish with Jon Cooper behind the bench.
Key Details
- Sportsnet's Justin Bourne wrote a two-sentence outlook for every NHL team.
- The 2026-27 season starts next Tuesday, per the article.
- Teams were ordered by last season's final standings.
- Buffalo won the Atlantic with 109 points on strong defence and forward depth.
- Bourne expects Buffalo to regress without Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch.
- Tampa Bay had 106 points and still has Jon Cooper as coach.
What It Means
The piece frames Buffalo as a team facing a possible step back after a division-winning season, with the losses of Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch shifting weight onto the goaltending and core players Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. Tampa Bay is cast as a stable contender whose veteran core and coaching keep it in the division's top tier.
What's Next
The 2026-27 regular season opens next Tuesday, when the outlooks Bourne described will begin to be tested.