The Colorado Avalanche ice hockey team is projected to win the Stanley Cup in 2026, according to my predictions.
A month ago, when I was asked to choose a winner, I leaned towards them, in what I believed was a risky bet, considering the favoritism of teams like the Edmonton Oilers, consecutive finalists, the Dallas Stars, with three consecutive losses in the Western Conference finals, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who strengthened their squad with the incorporation of Mitch Marner.
My surprise was great when reviewing the predictions of ESPN’s hockey family and discovering that the Avalanche were, in fact, the favorites in a very competitive group. A real nightmare for a forecaster looking for a surprise.
As is tradition, I shared my pick for the Stanley Cup with a team member during the media event for players in Las Vegas:
Me: I wanted to let you know that I am picking your team to win the Stanley Cup.
Cale Makar, Avalanche star
Me: I also wanted to inform you that I am not good at predicting who will win the Stanley Cup.
Makar
My choice is for the Avalanche to overcome the Carolina Hurricanes, who have tried, at least six times, to break the barrier in the Eastern Conference under the direction of coach Rod Brind’amour. 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
A clear example of the constant restructuring of power in the Atlantic is that the Lightning have not led the division since the 2018-19 season, despite having key players like Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Victor Hedman, among others. The Tampa Bay team is poised to win the division this year, with an attack led by Kucherov, Point, and Guentzel.
The Senators, who returned to the playoffs last season, will look to move up, with Brady Tkachuk leading the way and Tim Stützle returning to the 90-point level. The defense, led by Jake Sanderson, is consolidated with the arrival of Jordan Spence and the good performance of Linus Ullmark in goal.
Mitch Marner’s departure represents a loss of points for the Maple Leafs, although the arrival of Matthew Knies could partially compensate. The team has William Nylander and Auston Matthews, but the lack of offensive talent could be their Achilles’ heel.
The Panthers, despite the possible absences of Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, could have difficulties repeating their successes, although their defensive solidity, led by Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky, could keep them competitive.
The Sabres, a team with many questions, are highly valued by data analysts, who predict a good performance. The combination of Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin could be key, although the team still has many questions to answer.
The Canadiens could take a step back this season before making a leap forward, as their defense is their biggest weakness. Sam Montembeault’s performance in goal will be crucial.
The Red Wings, with the arrival of John Gibson, could have a promising season, although they do not have the talent necessary to reach the playoffs. The youth of Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond is a point in their favor.
The Bruins, with a healthy defense, could get some wins, but their depth is limited. David Pastrnak is the team’s star, but he might be alone in his fight to score goals.
Metropolitan Division- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Washington Capitals
- New York Rangers
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New York Islanders
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Philadelphia Flyers
The Metropolitan Division is characterized by four teams with strong playoff possibilities and another four that will seek to score points. The Hurricanes are favorites, with a combination of veteran players and young talents, and an effective training system.
Carolina’s team was reinforced with Taylor Hall and Mikko Rantanen, although the latter was traded. Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Elhers are the new additions. The team could improve its second-line center and the goaltending, where Frederik Andersen is a constant concern due to his injuries.
The Devils could be waiting for an opportunity to sign Quinn Hughes. Jack Hughes is key to the team, so his health is fundamental. With a talented defense and the goaltending of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, the Devils could surprise.
The Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin in the last year of his contract, will seek to repeat their successful previous season. The team will focus on maintaining the level of play and the performance of their young players.
