The National Hockey League just entered the halfway point of the 2025-2026 regular season. It is this time when hockey fanatics, analysts, and journalists start looking into the teams with playoff potential.
Some teams look solid at the halfway point of the season. Other teams are in treacherous situations for their playoff future.
The teams currently facing disappointing seasons are the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and Calgary Flames.
Atlantic Division: Toronto Maple Leafs
Heading up to where the Hockey Hall of Fame resides, we take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a dominant 2024-25 season, the Leafs entered the 2025-26 campaign with high expectations. In 2024-2025, Toronto posted an impressive record of 52 wins, 26 losses, and 4 overtime losses, finishing first in the Atlantic Division.
The Leafs also secured a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, advancing past the Ottawa Senators in the first round. However, they were eliminated in the second round by the Florida Panthers.
This season, though, the Leafs have struggled to match last year’s success. The expectations after their playoff run have put considerable pressure on the team, and now they find themselves in a challenging position. As of the halfway point of the 2025-2026 season, the Leafs are sitting with a 20-15-7 record, placing them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Compared to their success last season, the Leafs are facing an uphill battle if they hope to secure a playoff spot.
Metropolitan Division: New Jersey Devils
Now, looking inside New Jersey, where the Devils have experienced a season filled with both promise and setbacks. The Devils were off to an excellent start, riding a nine-game winning streak to open the season.
However, in mid-November, Jack Hughes suffered an injury during a team dinner on November 13th. Hughes slipped on a piece of glass, resulting in a deep cut to his pinky.
The alternate captain required surgery, which benched him for 18 games. Hughes finally returned to action on December 21st, but by then, the Devils’ season had already taken a downward turn.
Before Hughes’ injury, the Devils were atop the Metropolitan Division, but without him in the lineup, they fell all the way to second-to-last place.
Despite Hughes’ return, New Jersey has struggled to regain its early-season form, and unless it can find a way to reignite their play, their playoff hopes will continue to plummet.
Central Division: Chicago Blackhawks
Now checking inside the Windy City to report on the faltering Chicago Blackhawks.
https://twitter.com/CHSN_Blackhawks/status/2005450999969046700?s=20
The Blackhawks had a strong start to the 2025-26 season, showing early promise and even making a push to be among the top five in the Central Division by Thanksgiving. Their performance through the first month of the season indicated potential for a successful campaign.
However, following Thanksgiving, the Blackhawks began a troubling pattern. While they still managed to defeat weaker teams, their losses mounted, and they struggled against stronger opponents.
As of mid-season, Chicago holds a record of 18 wins, 18 losses, and seven overtime losses. If they continue to falter, their playoff chances will slip further away.
Pacific Division: Calgary Flames
Finally, heading west to Calgary, where the Flames have struggled from the start of the season.
Calgary began the 2025-2026 campaign with a shootout win against the Edmonton Oilers on October 8th, but after that, its next victory wouldn’t come until October 26th, when the club defeated the New York Rangers. This created a rough start to the season, with the Flames enduring a two-week losing streak that set the tone for the first month of the season.
In the highly competitive Pacific Division, starting the season in a losing slump is a difficult hurdle to overcome. As of now, the Flames sit at 18-21-4, in second-to-last place in the division. If they don’t ignite a spark soon, their playoff hopes may go up in flames.
Final Thoughts
These four teams—Toronto, New Jersey, Chicago, and Calgary—are facing uphill battles this season.
There is still time for recovery, but the window for turning things around is closing. Only time will tell if they can reignite their playoff aspirations before it’s too late.
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