The Colorado Avalanche are among a few other NHL teams that should go further next season

But hope springs eternal, and several of the NHL teams eliminated from this year's playoffs still have legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations in the not-so-distant future.

With that in mind, here's a look at three teams that fell short in the early rounds of this year's NHL playoffs but have the potential to bounce back next year.

The Avalanche were just one period away from eliminating the Dallas Stars in the first round. However, former Avs standout Mikko Rantanen led a stunning third-period surge, powering the Stars to a comeback win and sending his former team packing, writes Adam Proteau from The Hockey News.

Somewhat overshadowed by Colorado's early playoff exit is the fact that this remains a highly talented team.

With $8.7 million in cap space to work with this summer, the Avalanche have flexibility to make key moves. Notably, Brock Nelson, Jonathan Drouin, and Ryan Lindgren are among their pending unrestricted free agents.

Mikko Rantanen may have torched the Avalanche in their playoff exit, but GM Chris MacFarland might have made the right long-term move by trading the star forward to strengthen the team's overall depth, Proteau also writes.

That decision will truly be tested during the 2025-26 season, but don't be surprised if Colorado makes a deeper playoff push next spring. With elite talent still on the roster, this team has the potential to contend, and even win the Stanley Cup next year.

Source:
The Hockey News
NHL Playoffs: Three Eliminated Teams That Should Go Further Next Year