NHL 2025-26 Season Preview: Predictions, Storylines, and award Favorites
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The 2025-26 NHL season kicks off Tuesday with a compelling tripleheader on ESPN – the Chicago Blackhawks facing the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET (including the Panthers’ Stanley Cup banner-raising), followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins versus the New York Rangers at 8 p.m.,and concluding with a Western Conference clash between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. But beyond these opening contests, the hockey world is already looking ahead, pondering whether the Panthers can achieve a historic three-peat and which teams will rise to the top of their divisions. A panel of ESPN hockey experts has weighed in with predictions for
In the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes emerged as the clear favorite with 15 votes. The New Jersey Devils secured seven votes,followed by the washington Capitals with two,and the New York Rangers with one.
The Central division appears to be a tight race, with the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars finishing nearly tied in predictions, receiving 12 and 11 votes respectively. The Minnesota Wild received the remaining two votes.
Out West, the Pacific Division leans heavily towards the vegas Golden Knights, who received 17 votes.The Edmonton oilers garnered seven votes,with the Los angeles Kings receiving a single vote.
Stanley Cup Contenders: Who Will Lift the Trophy?
When it comes to predicting the Stanley Cup champion, the Avalanche and golden Knights are considered frontrunners, each receiving five votes.The Dallas Stars also appear to be strong contenders with four votes, while the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers each received three. The Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New Jersey Devils each received a single vote, indicating a wide range of potential champions.
Individual awards: The league’s Elite
The race for the Hart Trophy (MVP) is expected to be fiercely contested. Connor McDavid leads the pack with 11 votes, followed by Nathan MacKinnon with five. Kirill Kaprizov received four votes, while Nikita Kucherov secured three. Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews each received a single vote.
For the Art Ross Trophy (points leader), Connor McDavid is again the favorite, receiving 12 votes. Nikita Kucherov is predicted to challenge him with six votes,while Nathan MacKinnon received three. Mitch Marner and Kirill Kaprizov each received two votes.
The Rocket Richard Trophy (goals leader) is predicted to go to auston Matthews, who received 10 votes. Leon Draisaitl is a close second with nine votes, while Connor McDavid received two. Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, Brayden Point, and Jake Guentzel each received a single vote.
on the defensive side, Cale Makar is the overwhelming favorite for the Norris Trophy (best defenseman), receiving 12 votes. Quinn Hughes is predicted to be a strong contender with eight votes, while Zach Werenski received two. shea Theodore, Lane Hutson, and Rasmus Dahlin each received a single vote.
The Vezina Trophy (best goaltender) is expected to be awarded to andrei Vasilevskiy,who received nine votes. Jake Oettinger is predicted to be a close second with seven votes, while Igor Shesterkin received four. Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, and Sergei Bobrovsky each received a single vote.
the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) is predicted to go to Ivan Demidov, who received 12 votes. Zeev Buium and Jimmy Snuggerud each received three votes, while Alexander Nikishin and ryan Leonard each received two. Michael misa, Yaroslav Askarov, and Matthew Schaefer each received a single vote.
Fans can dive deeper into each of the 32 teams with resources including a lapsed fan’s guide, bold predictions for every club, and a fantasy hockey hub.The enhanced ESPN App is also available for fans to watch their favorite events and stay up-to-date with the latest news and scores.
