For the past two seasons, I attempted to predict the 2023-24 NHL season and the 2024-25 NHL season. Let’s just say, it didn’t go so well for me. I wrote a piece highlighting just how wrong my season predictions for 2023-24 were, and I did the same for the 2024-25 season, highlighting how wrong my season predictions were. Here I am, doing the same for the 2025-26 season.
Training camp is behind us, preseason is over, and it’s finally the day when the 2025-26 regular season begins. Let’s get right into my 2025-26 season predictions.
Individual Award & Player Predictions
The race begins for individual awards, and as the league’s dynamics have shifted in the last few years, I think player awards will continue to be a different race every year.
Hart Memorial Trophy – Connor McDavid
I think that McDavid’s lack of hardware acquired last year is not going to continue. Being one of the best players in the league, there’s always a chance that a big season to carry your team to the Stanley Cup Finals again could net you a Hart Trophy. Admittedly, I was torn about choosing Hellebuyck as a repeat winner, but that hasn’t been done since Dominik Hasek repeated as Hart winner in 1997 and 1998.
Previous Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – Jaccob Slavin
I think the Lady Byng is always going off of which player doesn’t rattle the pots and pans the most. Jaccob Slavin is usually a good pick to win the Lady Byng, as he’s consistently in the running for it. Kopitar’s win in 2024-25 made me want to potentially choose him as a repeat winner, but I think Kopitar’s focused on a different trophy this season.
Previous Winner: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Vezina Trophy – Connor Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuyck has a unique chance to put himself in some elite company. Winning three consecutive Vezina Trophies isn’t done a lot, and the last time was Dominik Hasek’s run from 1997 to 1999. Before Hasek, it was Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque in Montreal winning it from 1977 to 1979. After that, as you go down the list of NHL history, Jacques Plante’s five straight from 1956 to 1960 and Bill Durnan’s four from 1944 to 1947 stand out as likely never to be done again. If Hellebuyck can win three straight, one has to wonder if he might put himself back in the Hart Trophy conversation.
Previous Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Calder Memorial Trophy – Ryan Leonard
Ryan Leonard looks ready to go in the 2025-26 season, but the chase for the Calder Memorial Trophy won’t be easy. The hardworking, two-way forward has had an immediate impact after stepping right into Ovechkin’s goal chase and being on the Capitals when Ovechkin scored goal 895. If Leonard continues to show his intensity, he could easily be an impactful top-six NHLer and net the Calder this season.
Previous Winner: Lane Huston, Montreal Canadiens
Art Ross Trophy – Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon is going to have a mission this season, and having his captain, Gabriel Landeskog, back for the season could inject more into MacKinnon’s season. The Colorado Avalanche are going to be an interesting team, but MacKinnon’s dominance on the ice could be the difference if the Avalanche sink or swim this year.
Previous Winner: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
James Norris Memorial Trophy – Quinn Hughes
I said it on the Inside The Rink podcast, and the Norris is going to be incredibly close for the next few seasons between Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. As long as the Canucks are consistent throughout the season and Hughes leads the charge, he should be a lock for the Norris or close to being a lock.
Previous Winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Ted Lindsay Award – Kirill Kaprizov
I think a lot is riding on Kaprizov this season, especially after signing a record-setting extension in Minnesota. The Ted Lindsay is voted on by members of the NHLPA, and I think if Kaprizov shows that he’s Minnesota’s top guy consistently and plays a full 82-game season, I don’t see this being an outlandish pick.
Previous Winner: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Adams Award – Martin St. Louis
Martin St. Louis was a finalist in 2024-25 alongside Scott Arniel. Both coaches lost to Spencer Carberry after Carberry’s great season in Washington, but I think St. Louis is going to get the Jack Adams this season after another big year in Montreal. The Canadiens are on the rise in the Atlantic, and I think they’ll put the division on notice.
Previous Winner: Spencer Carberry, Washington Capitals
Frank J. Selke Trophy – Anze Kopitar
I originally had Aleksander Barkov winning a third consecutive Selke trophy, but his season-ending injury suffered in training camp completely derailed that prediction before I even got to share it. Kopitar’s entering his final season before retirement, and I think Kopitar is going to chase to end his career on a high note.
Previous Winner: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
William M. Jennings Trophy – Connor Hellebuyck
Unless the Jets show signs of regressing significantly, they’ll be the defensive standard in 2025-26, similar to the past two seasons, that’s earned Hellebuyck consecutive Jennings trophies. Hellebuyck has a lot riding on him in 2025-26, but I don’t think it’s totally unrealistic that he’s still in the running to defend his awards.
Previous Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy – Auston Matthews
The biggest question of the season was McDavid’s contract situation heading into 2025-26, but he signed a two-year extension with Edmonton. The biggest question for me, at least, is can Matthews is still able to perform big without Marner on his line anymore? There’s an opportunity, but I’m certain that Matthews will be able to prove that he’s as advertised and doesn’t need another elite player on his wing.
Previous Winner: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award – Jim Nill
At this rate, it’s going to take a lot to have a general manager who challenges Jim Nill for the Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award. When it came out over the summer that Nill does right by the players by trading them to a market that the player prefers to play in, that shows why he’s won the past three Jim Gregory awards.
Previous Winner: Jim Nill, Dallas Stars
Team Awards & Standing Predictions
Stanley Cup – Florida Panthers
Previous Winner: Florida Panthers
Prince of Wales Trophy – Florida Panthers
Previous Winner: Florida Panthers
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl – Edmonton Oilers
Previous Winner: Edmonton Oilers
Presidents’ Trophy – Carolina Hurricanes
Previous Winner: Winnipeg Jets
Eastern Conference Predictions
Atlantic Division
Toronto Maple Leafs (y)
Tampa Bay Lightning (x)
Montreal Canadiens (x)
Florida Panthers (x)
Ottawa Senators (e)
Boston Bruins (e)
Buffalo Sabres (e)
Detroit Red Wings (e)
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes (p)
New York Rangers (x)
Washington Capitals (x)
Columbus Blue Jackets (x)
New Jersey Devils (e)
New York Islanders (e)
Pittsburgh Penguins (e)
Philadelphia Flyers (e)
Western Conference Predictions
Central Division
Winnipeg Jets (z)
Colorado Avalanche (x)
Utah Mammoth (x)
Dallas Stars (x)
St. Louis Blues (e)
Minnesota Wild (e)
Nashville Predators (e)
Chicago Blackhawks (e)
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights (y)
Los Angeles Kings (x)
Edmonton Oilers (x)
Vancouver Canucks (x)
Anaheim Ducks (e)
Seattle Kraken (e)
Calgary Flames (e)
San Jose Sharks (e)
Playoff Key
p – President’s Trophy
y – Clinched Division
z – Clinched Conference
x – Clinched Playoff Spot
e – Eliminated
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