The Colorado Avalanche is shaping up to be the Stanley Cup winner in 2026, according to my predictions.
A month ago, when I was asked to pick a Cup winner, I went with the Avalanche, instead of leaning towards favorites like the Edmonton Oilers, the Dallas Stars, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who added Mitch Marner in the offseason.
My surprise was great when I saw the predictions from the ESPN hockey family, where the Avalanche was also the favorite in a very close competition. A real nightmare for any prognosticator.
During the players’ media tour in Las Vegas, I shared my choice with a team member:
Me: I wanted to inform you that I choose you to win the Stanley Cup.
Cale Makar, Avalanche star
Makar: I appreciate that.
Me: I also wanted to inform you that I am not good at making Stanley Cup predictions.
Makar: Well, we hope to prove otherwise.
I see the Avalanche surpassing the Carolina Hurricanes, who, under the direction of Rod Brind’Amour, are looking to advance in the Eastern Conference. Below, I detail my predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season, divided by division.
Atlantic Division- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Ottawa Senators
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Florida Panthers
- Buffalo Sabres
- Montreal Canadiens
- Detroit Red Wings
- Boston Bruins
The domain in the Atlantic is constantly changing, as demonstrated by the fact that the Lightning haven’t led the division since 2018-19, despite having key players like Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Victor Hedman. The team led by Jon Cooper, considered one of the best coaches in the league, will win the division this season.
The Senators, who returned to the playoffs last season, will continue their rise if their offensive line holds up. Brady Tkachuk needs to score between 30 and 40 goals again, and Tim Stützle’s return to 90 points will be crucial. The Sens’ defense is solid, with Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot leading the way.
Mitch Marner’s departure from the Maple Leafs will impact their performance. Despite the arrival of Matthew Knies, the Leafs could struggle due to a lack of offensive talent.
The Panthers could face difficulties without Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, although their defensive structure, led by Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky, could keep them competitive.
The Sabres are an unpredictable team, but the hockey analytics community favors them this season. Players like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin could be key.
The Canadiens might take a step back before moving forward, as they need to improve their defense.
The Red Wings have acquired John Gibson, but they don’t have enough talent to make the playoffs.
The Bruins could be in trouble, despite Charlie McAvoy’s return, due to a lack of depth.
Metropolitan Division- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Washington Capitals
- New York Rangers
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New York Islanders
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Philadelphia Flyers
In the Metropolitan Division, the Hurricanes, Devils, Capitals, and Rangers are expected to dominate. The Hurricanes, with a solid training system and a mix of veteran players and young stars, are favorites to win the division.
The Devils seem satisfied with what they have, focusing on Jack Hughes’ health. With a talented defense and the goal covered by Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, they could surprise.
The Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin in the last year of his contract, will seek to repeat their successful season, focusing on the performance of young players and the stability of their squad.
