The puck is down on the 2025-26 NHL season.
With temperatures outside cooling, it’s about to heat up indoors on the ice, as 32 hockey teams begin the long-term quest for the Stanley Cup at the beginning of October.
The defending champion entering this season is the last as last fall — the Florida Panthers. Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and the rest of Paul Maurice’s crew successfully defended their title this past spring, defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers yet again in the finals.
But it’s a new season, and there are plenty of hungry teams aiming to knock off the two-time champions from South Beach — including McDavid and an Edmonton coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup losses.
Who will win it all in 2026? The Sporting News hands out its staff predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season.
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NHL predictions 2025
Bryan Murphy, Deputy Editor
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic: Maple Leafs, Lightning, Senators
- Metro: Hurricanes, Devils, Rangers
- Wild cards: Panthers, Capitals,
Western Conference
- Central: Stars, Avalanche, Wild
- Pacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, Kings
- Wild cards: Jets, Mammoth
Awards
- MVP: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- Vezina: Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
- Norris: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
- Calder: Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens
Postseason
Eastern Conference: Hurricanes
Western Conference: Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Hurricanes
Without a doubt, the storyline I’m most interested in is Mitch Marner in Vegas. The talented winger finally got out of Toronto and is now paired to be a running mate of Jack Eichel’s. With the pressure and expectations of wearing the Maple Leaf gone, I think Marner shines in Sin City, helping Vegas get back to the Stanley Cup stage.
On the other side, is this finally the year the Hurricanes do it? Carolina has flirted with a Stanley Cup berth the last few seasons, but Rod Brind’Amour’s crew hasn’t been able to break through, falling to the Panthers twice in a span of three postseasons. At some point, it’s got to happen, and this might be the year.
Daniel Chavkin, Content Producer
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic: Maple Leafs, Panthers, Lightning
- Metro: Hurricanes, Devils, Rangers
- Wild cards: Senators, Capitals
Western Conference
- Central: Avalanche, Stars, Jets
- Pacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, Flames
- Wild cards: Wild, Ducks
Awards
- MVP: Nathan McKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
- Vezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
- Norris: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
- Calder: Calum Ritchie, New York Islanders
Postseason
Eastern Conference: Hurricanes
Western Conference: Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Stars
One of the most interesting storylines of the 2025-26 season is how Mitch Marner performs in Vegas, and how the Maple Leafs fare without Marner on their squad. However, that will be upstaged by the Stars, who will finally break through with a full season of Mikko Rantanen.
David Suggs, Content Producer
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic: Lightning, Maple Leafs, Panthers
- Metro: Hurricanes, Capitals, Devils,
- Wild cards: Senators, Rangers
Western Conference
- Central: Stars, Jets, Avalanche
- Pacific: Oilers, Golden Knights, Kings
- Wild cards: Wild, Flames
Awards
- MVP: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- Vezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
- Norris: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- Calder: Michael Misa, San Jose Sharks
Postseason
Eastern Conference: Panthers
Western Conference: Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Stars
I’m really interested to see how Jack Hughes plays this season. He has missed 20 games in each of the past two seasons and looks to be developing a reputation for niggling injuries. But if he’s healthy, he is electric. I think the Devils can make some serious noise if he’s able to stay on the ice for 75+ games this year.
Jake Mozarksy, Editorial Intern
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic: Panthers, Maple Leafs, Lightning
- Metro: Hurricanes, Devils, Rangers
- Wild cards: Capitals, Canadiens
Western Conference
- Central: Stars, Avalanche, Jets
- Pacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, Kings
- Wild cards: Wild, Blues
Awards
- MVP: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- Vezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
- Norris: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- Calder: Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens
Postseason
Eastern Conference: Hurricanes
Western Conference: Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Stars
The Panthers’ dynasty bid has run straight into a health crisis that perfectly aligns with the Dallas Stars’ Stanley Cup opportunity. The Panthers’ pursuit of a third consecutive championship has been crippled by injuries to their core, with captain Aleksander Barkov suffering a torn ACL and MCL that is expected to sideline the three-time Selke Trophy winner for the entire season. This loss is compounded by star winger Matthew Tkachuk also being out until at least December following offseason surgery.
The situation flips the script for one of the Western Conference frontrunners, the Dallas Stars, who are now poised to capitalize with a fully loaded, championship-caliber roster. While Florida scrambles to fill an irreplaceable hole in their 200-foot game, Dallas benefits immensely from having Mikko Rantanen for a full season. The Finnish power forward — a proven Stanley Cup winner — has not only solidified the Stars’ already elite top-six forward group but is now central to their attack on an eight-year, $96 million extension. With Dallas boasting superior offensive depth and an ascending goaltender in Jake Oettinger, this is the year they finally break through
