Spotlight These five questions still must be answered before NHL offseason ends MIKE BREHM USA Today Aug 9, 2026 Aug 9, 2026 Updated Oct 5, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save August is often a down period for NHL transactions, and that mostly has been the case this year after a very eventful July.kAm|2?J E@A 7C66 286?4J D:8?:?8D H6C6 5@?6 @? yF=J `[ p=6I ~G649<:? C6\D:8?65 @? yF=J a 2?5 !2EC:4< z2?6 >256 9:D 564:D:@? E@ 4@>6 9@>6 E@ E96 r9:428@ q=24<92H<D @? yF=J ab] %96 2C3:EC2E:@? A6C:@5 6?565 H:E9 2== `d A=2J6CD D6EE=:?8 367@C6 E96:C 962C:?8D]k^AmkAmp=D@ :? yF=J[ E96 !9:=256=A9:2 u=J6CD D:8?65 E96 p?296:> sF4<DV {6@ r2C=DD@? E@ 2 C64@C5 S`g >:==:@? 2G6C286 2??F2= G2=F6 @776C D966E[ H9:49 E96 E62> >2E4965] q=24<92H<D DE2C r@??@C q652C5 D:8?65 7@C S`d >:==:@? pp' 2?5 E96 $2? y@D6 $92C<DV |24<=:? r6=63C:?: A2DD65 r2C=DD@? E@ 364@>6 E96 }w{VD 9:896DE\A2:5 A=2J6C H:E9 2? 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Which NHL teams could make postseason after missing last season? The 2026 playoff field saw major turnover from 2025 as the Buffalo Sabres ended a record 14-season playoff drought, and the Anaheim Ducks retu…