As the 2025-26 NHL season kicks off with an exciting tripleheader, our focus extends beyond the opening puck drop. The burning questions remain: Can the Florida Panthers secure a historic third consecutive Stanley Cup? Which teams are poised to dominate their respective divisions? And who will claim the prestigious individual accolades?
We’ve brought together a panel of hockey experts to share their comprehensive predictions for the upcoming season, covering division champions, the ultimate Stanley Cup winner, and all the major player awards.
Atlantic Division
- Sean Allen: Maple Leafs
- John Buccigross: Lightning
- Stormy Buonantony: Lightning
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Maple Leafs
- Sach Chandan: Lightning
- Meghan Chayka: Lightning
- Ryan S. Clark: Lightning
- Ray Ferraro: Lightning
- Emily Kaplan: Lightning
- Tim Kavanagh: Senators
- Rachel Kryshak: Lightning
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning
- Steve Levy: Maple Leafs
- Vince Masi: Lightning
- Victoria Matiash: Lightning
- Sean McDonough: Lightning
- Mark Messier: Lightning
- AJ Mleczko: Lightning
- Mike Monaco: Lightning
- Arda Öcal: Lightning
- T.J. Oshie: Lightning
- Kristen Shilton: Maple Leafs
- P.K. Subban: Lightning
- John Tortorella: Panthers
- Bob Wischusen: Lightning
- Greg Wyshynski: Lightning
Totals: Lightning (20), Maple Leafs (4), Senators (1), Panthers (1)
Metropolitan Division
- Sean Allen: Devils
- John Buccigross: Hurricanes
- Stormy Buonantony: Hurricanes
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes
- Sach Chandan: Devils
- Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes
- Ryan S. Clark: Hurricanes
- Ray Ferraro: Hurricanes
- Emily Kaplan: Hurricanes
- Tim Kavanagh: Devils
- Rachel Kryshak: Hurricanes
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes
- Steve Levy: Devils
- Vince Masi: Hurricanes
- Victoria Matiash: Devils
- Sean McDonough: Rangers
- Mark Messier: Hurricanes
- AJ Mleczko: Hurricanes
- Mike Monaco: Hurricanes
- Arda Öcal: Devils
- T.J. Oshie: Capitals
- Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes
- P.K. Subban: Capitals
- John Tortorella: Devils
- Bob Wischusen: Hurricanes
- Greg Wyshynski: Hurricanes
Totals: Hurricanes (16), Devils (7), Capitals (2), Rangers (1)
Central Division
- Sean Allen: Stars
- John Buccigross: Avalanche
- Stormy Buonantony: Avalanche
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche
- Sach Chandan: Avalanche
- Meghan Chayka: Avalanche
- Ryan S. Clark: Avalanche
- Ray Ferraro: Stars
- Emily Kaplan: Avalanche
- Tim Kavanagh: Avalanche
- Rachel Kryshak: Stars
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Stars
- Steve Levy: Stars
- Vince Masi: Avalanche
- Victoria Matiash: Stars
- Sean McDonough: Stars
- Mark Messier: Avalanche
- AJ Mleczko: Stars
- Mike Monaco: Avalanche
- Arda Öcal: Stars
- T.J. Oshie: Stars
- Kristen Shilton: Stars
- P.K. Subban: Wild
- John Tortorella: Wild
- Bob Wischusen: Avalanche
- Greg Wyshynski: Avalanche
Totals: Avalanche (13), Stars (11), Wild (2)
Pacific Division
- Sean Allen: Oilers
- John Buccigross: Oilers
- Stormy Buonantony: Golden Knights
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Golden Knights
- Sach Chandan: Golden Knights
- Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights
- Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights
- Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights
- Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights
- Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights
- Rachel Kryshak: Oilers
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights
- Steve Levy: Kings
- Vince Masi: Golden Knights
- Victoria Matiash: Golden Knights
- Sean McDonough: Oilers
- Mark Messier: Oilers
- AJ Mleczko: Golden Knights
- Mike Monaco: Oilers
- Arda Öcal: Golden Knights
- T.J. Oshie: Golden Knights
- Kristen Shilton: Golden Knights
- P.K. Subban: Oilers
- John Tortorella: Golden Knights
- Bob Wischusen: Golden Knights
- Greg Wyshynski: Oilers
Totals: Golden Knights (17), Oilers (8), Kings (1)
Stanley Cup
- Sean Allen: Panthers
- John Buccigross: Hurricanes
- Stormy Buonantony: Golden Knights
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Jets
- Sach Chandan: Avalanche
- Meghan Chayka: Avalanche
- Ryan S. Clark: Stars
- Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights
- Emily Kaplan: Panthers
- Tim Kavanagh: Stars
- Rachel Kryshak: Stars
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights
- Steve Levy: Kings
- Vince Masi: Avalanche
- Victoria Matiash: Golden Knights
- Sean McDonough: Oilers
- Mark Messier: Oilers
- AJ Mleczko: Avalanche
- Mike Monaco: Oilers
- Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs
- T.J. Oshie: Oilers
- Kristen Shilton: Stars
- John Tortorella: Devils
- Bob Wischusen: Panthers
- Greg Wyshynski: Avalanche
Totals: Avalanche (5), Golden Knights (4), Stars (4), Oilers (4), Panthers (3), Hurricanes (1), Jets (1), Kings (1), Maple Leafs (1), Devils (1)
Hart Trophy (MVP)
- Sean Allen: Kirill Kaprizov
- John Buccigross: Connor McDavid
- Stormy Buonantony: Jack Eichel
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor McDavid
- Sach Chandan: Nathan MacKinnon
- Meghan Chayka: Nathan MacKinnon
- Ryan S. Clark: Kirill Kaprizov
- Ray Ferraro: Nikita Kucherov
- Emily Kaplan: Nathan MacKinnon
- Tim Kavanagh: Nathan MacKinnon
- Rachel Kryshak: Connor McDavid
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Nikita Kucherov
- Steve Levy: Connor McDavid
- Vince Masi: Connor McDavid
- Victoria Matiash: Nikita Kucherov
- Sean McDonough: Connor McDavid
- Mark Messier: Connor McDavid
- AJ Mleczko: Connor McDavid
- Mike Monaco: Connor McDavid
- Arda Öcal: Connor McDavid
- T.J. Oshie: Connor McDavid
- Kristen Shilton: Auston Matthews
- P.K. Subban: Kirill Kaprizov
- John Tortorella: Kirill Kaprizov
- Bob Wischusen: Connor McDavid
- Greg Wyshynski: Nathan MacKinnon
Totals: McDavid (12), MacKinnon (5), Kaprizov (4), Kucherov (3), Eichel (1), Matthews (1)
Art Ross Trophy (points leader)
- Sean Allen: Connor McDavid
- John Buccigross: Connor McDavid
- Stormy Buonantony: Nikita Kucherov
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor McDavid
- Sach Chandan: Nikita Kucherov
- Meghan Chayka: Connor McDavid
- Ryan S. Clark: Mitch Marner
- Ray Ferraro: Connor McDavid
- Emily Kaplan: Nathan MacKinnon
- Tim Kavanagh: Nikita Kucherov
- Rachel Kryshak: Connor McDavid
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Nikita Kucherov
- Steve Levy: Kirill Kaprizov
- Vince Masi: Connor McDavid
- Victoria Matiash: Nikita Kucherov
- Sean McDonough: Connor McDavid
- Mark Messier: Connor McDavid
- AJ Mleczko: Mitch Marner
- Mike Monaco: Connor McDavid
- Arda Öcal: Connor McDavid
- T.J. Oshie: Nikita Kucherov
- Kristen Shilton: Nathan MacKinnon
- P.K. Subban: Connor McDavid
- John Tortorella: Kirill Kaprizov
- Bob Wischusen: Connor McDavid
- Greg Wyshynski: Nathan MacKinnon
Totals: McDavid (13), Kucherov (6), MacKinnon (3), Marner (2), Kaprizov (2)
Rocket Richard Trophy (goals leader)
- Sean Allen: Auston Matthews
- John Buccigross: Auston Matthews
- Stormy Buonantony: Connor McDavid
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Auston Matthews
- Sach Chandan: Leon Draisaitl
- Meghan Chayka: Leon Draisaitl
- Ryan S. Clark: Nikita Kucherov
- Ray Ferraro: Leon Draisaitl
- Emily Kaplan: Leon Draisaitl
- Tim Kavanagh: Kirill Kaprizov
- Rachel Kryshak: Leon Draisaitl
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Auston Matthews
- Steve Levy: Leon Draisaitl
- Vince Masi: Brayden Point
- Victoria Matiash: Auston Matthews
- Sean McDonough: Leon Draisaitl
- Mark Messier: Auston Matthews
- AJ Mleczko: Auston Matthews
- Mike Monaco: Auston Matthews
- Arda Öcal: Auston Matthews
- T.J. Oshie: Leon Draisaitl
- Kristen Shilton: Auston Matthews
- P.K. Subban: Jake Guentzel
- John Tortorella: Connor McDavid
- Bob Wischusen: Auston Matthews
- Greg Wyshynski: Leon Draisaitl
Totals: Matthews (11), Draisaitl (9), McDavid (2), Kucherov (1), Kaprizov (1), Point (1), Guentzel (1)
Norris Trophy (best defenseman)
- Sean Allen: Cale Makar
- John Buccigross: Cale Makar
- Stormy Buonantony: Shea Theodore
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Cale Makar
- Sach Chandan: Zach Werenski
- Meghan Chayka: Cale Makar
- Ryan S. Clark: Cale Makar
- Ray Ferraro: Quinn Hughes
- Emily Kaplan: Zach Werenski
- Tim Kavanagh: Quinn Hughes
- Rachel Kryshak: Cale Makar
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Cale Makar
- Steve Levy: Quinn Hughes
- Vince Masi: Quinn Hughes
- Victoria Matiash: Quinn Hughes
- Sean McDonough: Cale Makar
- Mark Messier: Cale Makar
- AJ Mleczko: Quinn Hughes
- Mike Monaco: Cale Makar
- Arda Öcal: Cale Makar
- T.J. Oshie: Cale Makar
- Kristen Shilton: Quinn Hughes
- P.K. Subban: Lane Hutson
- John Tortorella: Quinn Hughes
- Bob Wischusen: Cale Makar
- Greg Wyshynski: Rasmus Dahlin
Totals: Makar (13), Hughes (8), Werenski (2), Theodore (1), Hutson (1), Dahlin (1)
Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)
- Sean Allen: Jake Oettinger
- John Buccigross: Jake Oettinger
- Stormy Buonantony: Jake Oettinger
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor Hellebuyck
- Sach Chandan: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Meghan Chayka: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Ryan S. Clark: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Ray Ferraro: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Emily Kaplan: Jake Oettinger
- Tim Kavanagh: Jacob Markstrom
- Rachel Kryshak: Igor Shesterkin
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Steve Levy: Jake Oettinger
- Vince Masi: Linus Ullmark
- Victoria Matiash: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- Sean McDonough: Igor Shesterkin
- Mark Messier: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- AJ Mleczko: Jake Oettinger
- Mike Monaco: Jake Oettinger
- Arda Öcal: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- T.J. Oshie: Connor Hellebuyck
- Kristen Shilton: Igor Shesterkin
- P.K. Subban: Andrei Vasilevskiy
- John Tortorella: Sergei Bobrovsky
- Bob Wischusen: Igor Shesterkin
- Greg Wyshynski: Andrei Vasilevskiy
Totals: Vasilevskiy (10), Oettinger (7), Shesterkin (4), Markstrom (1), Ullmark (1), Bobrovsky (1)
Calder Trophy (rookie of the year)
- Sean Allen: Alexander Nikishin
- John Buccigross: Ivan Demidov
- Stormy Buonantony: Ivan Demidov
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Ivan Demidov
- Sach Chandan: Michael Misa
- Meghan Chayka: Ivan Demidov
- Ryan S. Clark: Ivan Demidov
- Ray Ferraro: Ivan Demidov
- Emily Kaplan: Zeev Buium
- Tim Kavanagh: Jimmy Snuggerud
- Rachel Kryshak: Ivan Demidov
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Ivan Demidov
- Steve Levy: Zeev Buium
- Vince Masi: Jimmy Snuggerud
- Victoria Matiash: Jimmy Snuggerud
- Sean McDonough: Ivan Demidov
- Mark Messier: Ivan Demidov
- AJ Mleczko: Zeev Buium
- Mike Monaco: Ivan Demidov
- Arda Öcal: Yaroslav Askarov
- T.J. Oshie: Ryan Leonard
- Kristen Shilton: Ivan Demidov
- P.K. Subban: Matthew Schaefer
- John Tortorella: Ryan Leonard
- Bob Wischusen: Ivan Demidov
- Greg Wyshynski: Alexander Nikishin
Totals: Demidov (13), Buium (3), Snuggerud (3), Nikishin (2), Leonard (2), Misa (1), Askarov (1), Schaefer (1)
Duncan Priestley