Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, division predictions by NHL.com staff

Avalanche, Hurricanes, Canadiens among favorites to win it all

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By NHL.com
@NHLMedia

The race for the Stanley Cup is wide open, according to a panel of NHL.com writers and editors who made their predictions for the 2026-27 season. 

Of the 14 staffers who made picks, six believe the Colorado Avalanche will hoist the Cup at the end of the season, while the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes were picked by two staffers. 

The Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers also received two picks each, while the Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars each got one.

The race for the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, is also wide open. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was selected by four staffers, while center Nathan MacKinnon was picked by two. Eight others each received one vote. 

The 2026-27 season begins with five games on Sept. 29, including a tripleheader on ESPN: Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (5 p.m. ET), New York Rangers at Boston Bruins (8 p.m. ET) and Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET). 

Here are the predictions for the NHL.com staffers:

Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Montreal Canadiens | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. Boston Bruins
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. Edmonton Oilers| 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. San Jose Sharks | 2. Utah Mammoth

Conference champions

East: Montreal Canadiens
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Brian Compton, managing editor

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Montreal Canadiens | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. New York Islanders
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Minnesota Wild | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Anaheim Ducks | 2. San Jose Sharks | 3. Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference wild cards
1. Dallas Stars | 2. Vegas Golden Knights

Conference champions

East: Montreal Canadiens
West: Minnesota Wild
Stanley Cup champion: Montreal Canadiens
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Florida Panthers | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1. Dallas Stars | 2. Colorado Avalanche | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Minnesota Wild | 2. San Jose Sharks

Conference champions

East: Florida Panthers
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Tom Gulitti, senior writer

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Montreal Canadiens | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning 
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. New York Islanders
Central Division
1. Dallas Stars | 2. Colorado Avalanche | 3. Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. San Jose Sharks

Conference champions

East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche 
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Pete Jensen, senior director, fantasy

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Montreal Canadiens | 3. Buffalo Sabres
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Tampa Bay Lightning | 2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. Edmonton Oilers | 3. San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. Anaheim Ducks

Conference champions

East: Washington Capitals
West: Minnesota Wild
Stanley Cup champion: Washington Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Atlantic Division
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. Montreal Canadiens | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Florida Panthers | 2. New York Islanders
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. San Jose Sharks | 3. Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference wild cards
1. Minnesota Wild | 2. St. Louis Blues

Conference champions

East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Tracey Myers, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 3. Buffalo Sabres
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Philadelphia Flyers| 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Florida Panthers | 2. New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. Edmonton Oilers | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. Nashville Predators

Conference champions

East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Buffalo Sabres | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Boston Bruins
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Minnesota Wild | 3. Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. San Jose Sharks | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. Edmonton Oilers

Conference champions

East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes

Bill Price, VP, Editor-in-Chief

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 3. Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals I 3. Philadelphia Flyers 
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres | 2. New York Islanders
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. San Jose Sharks 
Western Conference wild cards
1. Minnesota Wild | 2. Anaheim Ducks

Conference champions

East: Florida Panthers 
West: Colorado Avalanche 
Stanley Cup champion: Florida Panthers  
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Jacob Markstrom, Florida Panthers

Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Florida Panthers | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Boston Bruins | 2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Minnesota Wild | 3. Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. San Jose Sharks | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. Nashville Predators

Conference champions

East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Dan Rosen, senior writer

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Florida Panthers | 3. Buffalo Sabres
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Tampa Bay Lightning | 2. Boston Bruins
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Minnesota Wild | 3. Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. Edmonton Oilers | 3. San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. St. Louis Blues

Conference champions

East: Montreal Canadiens
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Montreal Canadiens
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens

David Satriano, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Buffalo Sabres | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning 
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference wild cards
1.  Montreal Canadiens | 2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Minnesota Wild | 2. Nashville Predators

Conference champions

East: Florida Panthers
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

Derek Van Diest, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers | 2. Buffalo Sabres | 3. Montreal Canadiens
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Boston Bruins | 2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Minnesota Wild | 3. Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. Anaheim Ducks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Utah Mammoth | 2. San Jose Sharks

Conference champions

East: Florida Panthers
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1. Montreal Canadiens | 2. Florida Panthers | 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes | 2. Washington Capitals | 3. New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Buffalo Sabres| 2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche | 2. Dallas Stars | 3. Utah Mammoth
Pacific Division
1. Edmonton Oilers | 2. Vegas Golden Knights | 3. San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1. Minnesota Wild | 2. Anaheim Ducks

Conference champions

East: Montreal Canadiens
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche 
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

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