Which Non-Playoff Teams Will Top NHL Players Still Want to Play For?
Despite not getting in, will these teams still be attractive?
Connor Hellebuyck’s recent comments in Winnipeg got me thinking… It wasn’t that long ago that the Winnipeg Jets were viewed as a top contender. They won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025, but turned around in 2025-26 and collapsed, leaving one of the league's best goaltenders uncertain about his future.
“Complacency is not gonna get us moving forward. So, something’s got to happen,” he said when he spoke with the media this week.
In other words, he’s not completely quitting on a team that had a bad season, but the pressure is on in Winnipeg to do something.
It leads to an interesting question: if he’s not sure he’s willing to stick around with a team that was the league’s best in the regular season just a year ago, what chance do the non-playoff teams in 2025-26 have of attracting top talent?
The Florida Panthers
