Stanley Cup predictions for 2021-22 NHL season
Avalanche, Golden Knights, Islanders favorites among NHL.com staff preseason picks
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
The Colorado Avalanche have not gotten past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2001-02 season, but they will win the Stanley Cup this season, according to a panel of NHL.com writers and editors.
Nine of the 16 NHL.com staffers who made their predictions for the 2021-22 NHL season believe the Avalanche win their first championship since the 2000-01 season, and eight of them say center Nathan MacKinnon will be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The other Colorado Conn Smythe pick went to forward Gabriel Landeskog.
The Vegas Golden Knights, who defeated the Avalanche in the second round of the playoffs last season, were picked by three staff members to win the Cup, and the New York Islanders, who have been defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semifinal round for two straight seasons, were picked by two staffers.
The Lightning, who are trying to win the Cup for the third straight season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't won the Cup since 1967, each were picked by one staff member to win the Cup.
Vegas forward Mark Stone received three votes for the Conn Smythe. Others receiving votes were goalie Ilya Sorokin and forward Mathew Barzal of the Islanders, forward Nikita Kucherov of the Lightning and forward Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs.
The 2021-22 NHL season will feature 32 teams, with the Seattle Kraken playing their inaugural season. The NHL, which realigned last season because of travel complications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, will go back to its previous four-division, two-conference format -- Metropolitan, Atlantic in the Eastern Conference, Central and Pacific in the Western Conference. The Kraken will play in the Pacific, and the Arizona Coyotes will move from the Pacific to the Central.
The top three teams in each division and two wild cards in each conference will qualify for the playoffs.
With the season set to begin Tuesday, here are the picks of the NHL.com writers and editors:
Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Philadelphia Flyers
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Dallas Stars | 3: Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference wild cards
1: Minnesota Wild | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference champions
East: Toronto Maple Leafs
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Video: Vegas Golden Knights 2021-22 Season Preview
Tim Campbell, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Philadelphia Flyers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Minnesota Wild
Conference champions
East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Winnipeg Jets
Stanley Cup champion: New York Islanders
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders
Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Chicago Blackhawks | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
William Douglas, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Boston Bruins | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Washington Capitals | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Winnipeg Jets | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor
Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Washington Capitals | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Rangers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Los Angeles Kings
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Vancouver Canucks | 3: Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference wild cards
1: Chicago Blackhawks | 2: Dallas Stars
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Video: Tampa Bay Lightning 2021-22 Season Preview
Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Washington Capitals
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Minnesota Wild
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: New York Islanders
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
Video: New York Islanders 2021-22 Season Preview
Tracey Myers, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: New York Rangers
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Chicago Blackhawks | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Seattle Kraken
Conference champions
East: Toronto Maple Leafs
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Rob Reese, fantasy editor
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: New York Rangers
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference champions
East: Florida Panthers
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Director of Editorial
Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Vegas Golden Knights | 3: Seattle Kraken
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars| 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Dan Rosen, senior writer
Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: New York Rangers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Washington Capitals
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Minnesota Wild | 2: Seattle Kraken
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Video: Colorado Avalanche 2021-22 Season Preview
Dave Stubbs, columnist
Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Philadelphia Flyers | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference Wild Cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference Wild Cards
1: Minnesota Wild | 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference champions
East: New York Islanders
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Boston Bruins | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Islanders | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: New York Rangers
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Winnipeg Jets | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Minnesota Wild
Conference champions
East: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche