The rinks are freshly iced, the rosters are locked in, and the echoes of last season have faded. Welcome to the dawn of the 2025-26 NHL campaign! With the preseason in the rearview mirror and the free-agent frenzy a distant memory, the only question left is: Who will hoist the Stanley Cup next June?
We’re breaking down every division, projecting the final standings, and mapping out the entire playoff bracket to crown our 2026 champion. Let’s dive in.
Eastern Conference: A Tale of Two Divisions
In the Atlantic, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are on a collision course for the division crown. For Toronto, the perennial question looms larger than ever: Can their superstar core finally break through and reach the Stanley Cup Final? Further down the standings, expect a fierce “Battle of the Rebuilds” as the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens are predicted to duke it out for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Division appears more top-heavy this year. We’re projecting only three teams—the Hurricanes, Devils, and Capitals—to clinch playoff berths, leaving a wide-open race for the rest of the pack.
Western Conference: An Offensive Arms Race
All eyes are on the Edmonton Oilers, who enter the season as clear favorites to emerge from the West. With the unparalleled offensive firepower of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they are a nightmare matchup for any team. However, their path is anything but easy. The Colorado Avalanche, boasting one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league, will challenge them for conference supremacy.
Don’t sleep on the Vegas Golden Knights. After their blockbuster offseason acquisition of Mitch Marner, they have the star power to go toe-to-toe with Edmonton in a potential Western Conference Final showdown. The stingy Dallas Stars, built on a foundation of strong defense and elite goaltending, also remain a formidable contender.
Under the Microscope: Teams to Watch
Detroit Red Wings: The pressure is mounting in the Motor City. After regressing last season, expectations are sky-high for the young Red Wings. Anything short of a playoff appearance this season will be seen as a major disappointment.
Utah Mammoth: The league’s newest team is more than just a novelty. With a passionate fanbase and a roster full of young, exciting talent, Utah could make a legitimate push for the final Wild Card spot in the West. They’ll be an exciting team to follow all season long.
Hot Takes & Bold Predictions
While the Oilers are the popular pick, I believe the Vegas Golden Knights will be the team to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final. Should that happen, the hockey world will be holding its breath as Connor McDavid’s future hangs in the balance heading into his free agency summer.
In the East, my dark horse is the New Jersey Devils. If they can finally avoid the injury bug that has plagued them, their combination of speed and high-end skill gives them the potential to surprise everyone and make a deep playoff run.
Projected NHL Standings 2025-26
Here’s how we see the divisions shaking out. (WC = Wild Card, MP = Missed Playoffs)
Eastern Conference
Metropolitan Division
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Washington Capitals
- New York Rangers (MP)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (MP)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (MP)
- Philadelphia Flyers (MP)
- New York Islanders (MP)
Atlantic Division
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Florida Panthers
- Ottawa Senators (WC)
- Montreal Canadiens (WC)
- Detroit Red Wings (MP)
- Buffalo Sabres (MP)
- Boston Bruins (MP)
Western Conference
Central Division
- Dallas Stars
- Colorado Avalanche
- Winnipeg Jets
- Utah Hockey Club (WC)
- Minnesota Wild (WC)
- St. Louis Blues (MP)
- Nashville Predators (MP)
- Chicago Blackhawks (MP)
Pacific Division
- Edmonton Oilers
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Los Angeles Kings
- Vancouver Canucks (MP)
- Anaheim Ducks (MP)
- Calgary Flames (MP)
- Seattle Kraken (MP)
- San Jose Sharks (MP)
Official 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions
Eastern Conference Playoffs
Round 1
- (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens – Toronto wins (4-2)
- (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators – Carolina wins (4-3)
- (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Florida Panthers – Florida wins (4-2)
- (M2) New Jersey Devils vs. (M3) Washington Capitals – New Jersey wins (4-3)
Round 2
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers – Toronto wins (4-3)
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils – New Jersey wins (4-2)
Eastern Conference Final
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils – Toronto wins (4-2)
Western Conference Playoffs
Round 1
- (P1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (WC2) Minnesota Wild – Edmonton wins (4-1)
- (C1) Dallas Stars vs. (WC1) Utah Hockey Club – Dallas wins (4-2)
- (C2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (C3) Winnipeg Jets – Winnipeg wins (4-3)
- (P2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings – Vegas wins (4-2)
Round 2
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Vegas wins (4-3)
- Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets – Dallas wins (4-2)
Western Conference Final
- Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Vegas wins (4-3)
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final Prediction
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vegas Golden Knights
This is it. After decades of heartbreak and crushing playoff defeats, the prophecy is fulfilled. In a grueling, back-and-forth series, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally exorcise their demons.
Winner: Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup (4-3)
The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history is finally over. Auston Matthews, with a dominant performance throughout the postseason, is your Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Of course, the thrill of an 82-game season is its unpredictability. Injuries, slumps, and surprise performances can derail even the most carefully crafted predictions. But as we stand on the cusp of puck drop, this is how we see the 2025-26 season unfolding.
Ready to dominate your fantasy hockey league? View our full NHL player point projections for the 2025-26 season! See if anyone can challenge Connor McDavid for the scoring title and predict how many goals Auston Matthews will score on his way to glory.
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The post Stanley Cup or Bust: Our Official NHL Predictions 2025-26 appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
