NHL playoff predictions 2026: First-round winners, dark horse and Stanley Cup champion

Can Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche declare one other Stanley Cup championship? Are the Buffalo Sabers able to make their mark within the postseason after profitable the Atlantic Division and ending a historic playoff drought?

With the Stanley Cup playoffs upon us, TheAthletic polled their NHL workers on their picks for who will win every first-round sequence, the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup, in addition to picks for probably the most overrated group and a playoff dark horse.

To analyze and critique the picks, we have introduced in senior writers Sean Gentille, James Mirtle and Mark Lazerus and analytics know-it-all Shayna Goldman.

Lazerus: The Wild tied the NHL report for the fewest regulation wins (31) in a 100-point-plus season. And there is no three-on-three or shootouts within the playoffs. I learn Dallas right here primarily based on that, and additionally due to its ahead depth, goaltending and expertise. But the Stars are banged up and Quinn Hughes is able to taking up any sport on his personal. Should be enjoyable — and, primarily based on these predictions, lengthy.

Goldman: If anybody says the playoff format is ok, present them this matchup. The Wild and Stars ought to face one another in Round 2 on the earliest, however right here we’re. It is smart why all of us see this one going lengthy; Roope Hintz’s damage and the uncertainty round Miro Heiskanen solely add to that closeness.

Myrtle: I picked up this stat elsewhere, but it surely’s value repeating right here: Eight of the NHL’s prime 9 groups are enjoying each other in Round 1! Dallas has sufficient benefits — together with most likely in aim — that it appears like the best choose, however that is most likely coming all the way down to a aim or two both approach to resolve it.

Gentille: I really feel just like the Stars usually tend to finish it shortly, however the Wild usually tend to win a Game 7. That’s primarily based on nothing and is unnecessary, however no matter.

Lazerus: Beware the group that needed to struggle and scratch and claw simply to get into the playoffs, as a result of it has been in postseason mode for weeks. The Penguins haven’t. I do not assume the Flyers are all that good, however I’m nonetheless stunned that is so lopsided.

Goldman: I picked the Penguins, so I added to the lopsidedness of this, however the Flyers have Cinderella Story written throughout them.

Myrtle: The story for Philadelphia all season has been its underrated defensive play and normal stinginess (plus Dan Vladar’s stunning as a No. 1). If the Flyers can discover a approach to restrict a Penguins group that is been stunning the opposite approach — piling up the offense — this might be a really shut sequence.

Gentille: Vladar hasn’t been spectacular, however he is been dependable. In a sequence towards Stuart Skinner, that is related.

Lazerus: Boston followers have had a lot success in so many sports activities within the final decade-plus. Buffalo followers have…not. For followers of groups that missed the playoffs, that is the simplest bandwagon selection ever.

Goldman: The Bruins really feel like such a wild card as a result of some nights they appear to be such a menace, and different instances it is simply patchy protection lined up by Jeremy Swayman. I believe the Sabers are taking issues — they seem to be a wagon in spite of everything — however I will not be stunned if it goes seven.

Myrtle: Finally, it is Rasmus Dahlin’s time to shine in video games that matter — and I predict he does simply that. That constructing goes to be a whole lot of enjoyable come Game 1.

Gentille: The survey would not let me choose “Sabres in three.”

Lazerus: Covering a playoff sport on the Bell Center is on my journalism bucket checklist. This sequence could possibly be nearer than our picks recommend.

Goldman: Jakub Dobeš appears like such an X-factor to shake this sequence up, particularly if playoff-mode Andrei Vasilevskiy would not get again on monitor. But the Lightning are only a a lot stronger and extra superior model of the Canadiens.

Myrtle: Tough draw for Montreal — not a lot of a reward for a 106-point season. It appears like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki are going to should be otherworldly to win this one.

Gentille: The prime of Montreal’s lineup is nice sufficient to beat a whole lot of groups, however Tampa Bay’s depth is hard to choose towards.

Lazerus: The Hurricanes are getting into the postseason as a favourite however with no dependable goaltender? How unique!

Goldman: The Senators have large dark horse vitality, so I do not purchase this one! I’m one of many 23.3 p.c selecting Ottawa.

Myrtle: As somebody who lined their sequence final 12 months, I would not name the Senators’ goaltending dependable both. A ton rests on Linus Ullmark, as he’ll see a whole lot of rubber right here.

Gentille: Ullmark’s been fairly good since he returned to the lineup, however I simply cannot get there with the Sens general. This appears like an overcorrection to earlier Carolina disappointments.

Lazerus: I’m far too lazy to look this up, however I’ve to assume that is the primary time we have ever had greater than half the workers choose a sweep in a playoff sequence.

Goldman: Upsets occur, even to probably the most stacked groups (assume Columbus over Tampa Bay in 2019 or Florida over Boston in 2023). It simply feels unlikely right here. Sorry, LA, that is what you get for less than having 22 regulation wins!

Gentille: That’s 11 fewer than the Blues. The Blues!

Myrtle: All the opposite prime groups are enjoying golf equipment with 100 factors or these with dark horse potential. The Avs are enjoying a group that had fewer factors than 4 groups that missed the playoffs.

Lazerus: For these of us who needed a Ducks-Sharks sequence due to the whole disregard for protection each groups have, this can be a fairly satisfactory substitute.

Goldman: A real chaos sequence, this is hoping we get six or seven video games of it.

Myrtle: Lukáš Dostál has been considerably meh this season, however he has the potential to steal a sequence. And I believe he’ll have to to be able to pull off the upset right here — although these groups’ information are so shut.

Gentille: Sometimes, the Oilers are ok to outscore their issues, and I believe that’ll be on show right here. They’ve additionally been oddly competent defensively down the stretch, so we’ll see how that goes.

Lazerus: I’ve Utah profitable this one in my lone “upset” of the primary spherical. The Mammoth would have run away with the Pacific Division this season.

Goldman: This appears like the one actual potential upset within the West. Vegas is figuring it out, however the Mammoth have a whole lot of velocity and high-octane offense.

Myrtle: I additionally picked the Mammoth to upset in what wouldn’t be a mammoth upset. The “Zammoth” vibes are one key cause why.

Gentille: I believe I went Mammoth right here too, largely to hedge towards my preseason Stanley Cup choose, the Vegas Golden Knights.

Lazerus: Did I miss the Hurricanes signing a goalie? Honestly, these are affordable predictions. The East is deeper than the West, however there are not any nice groups within the East. It actually is broad open.

Myrtle: Yeah, I actually did not know who to choose right here; it feels prefer it could possibly be virtually anybody, particularly given how sizzling groups such because the Sens and Bruins have been down the stretch.

Gentille: I went with the Lightning, a group I additionally practically picked to lose within the first spherical. That says one thing concerning the subject.

Lazerus: The solely factor that may stand in the best way of the Avs (or the Stars, for that matter) is that if the second spherical is so brutal that it softens them up for whoever emerges from the pillow struggle. Well, that and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Goldman: One of the few who picked Dallas right here — sure, it has to undergo Colorado, but when that group is wholesome… look out.

Myrtle: I’m listening to a whole lot of constructive buzz for Edmonton. Hard to guess towards McDavid and Draisaitl merely turning it on and dominating after what’s been an underwhelming 12 months for the Oilers.

Gentille: Tiebreaker goes to the group probably to get a free move in Round 1. Congrats, Avs.

Lazerus: This is chalkier than these little Valentine’s Day coronary heart candies.

Goldman: The Avalanche are a pressure, however to get by what is probably going a gauntlet of a path and win all of it… that might be spectacular.

Myrtle: Stars ought to most likely be increased.

Gentille: Nobody picked the Sabres? Gutless, all of us.

Lazerus: Jackson Blake! I find it irresistible. Shoot your shot.

Goldman: One of those picks shouldn’t be like the opposite. I prefer it.

Myrtle: Were we imagined to be consuming once we made these?

Lazerus: Again, Utah ought to have been the choose right here. That’s a harmful lineup.

Goldman: I actually really feel prefer it could possibly be anybody right here, aside from possibly Anaheim.

Gentille: Ducks have caught a whole lot of strays right here, huh?

Myrtle: Penguins can be the funnest possibility.

Lazerus: If the Wild lose to the Stars, the second-best group within the league, is that basically a disappointment? Well, yeah, I assume after eight straight first-round exits and the largest commerce in franchise historical past, it will be.

Goldman: Dallas-Minnesota is not honest right here. Tampa Bay or Carolina really feel like extra honest picks, as a result of on paper, these sequence look so lopsided of their favor.

Myrtle: This one proved quite a bit more durable with out the Leafs within the combine.

Gentille: To be clear, I believe the Sabers are about to go 16-0, however there is a world through which Swayman goes into sicko mode and they take up a very devastating first-round loss.