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 2025Bryan Murphy, Deputy EditorEastern ConferenceAtlantic: Maple Leafs, Lightning, SenatorsMetro: Hurricanes, Devils, RangersWild cards: Panthers, Capitals,
Western Conference
Central: Stars, Avalanche, WildPacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, KingsWild cards: Jets, Mammoth
Awards
MVP: Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersVezina: Jake Oettinger, Dallas StarsNorris: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver CanucksCalder: 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, LightningMetro: Hurricanes, Devils, RangersWild cards: Senators, Capitals
Western Conference
Central: Avalanche, Stars, JetsPacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, FlamesWild cards: Wild, Ducks
Awards
MVP: Nathan McKinnon, Colorado AvalancheVezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg JetsNorris: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver CanucksCalder: 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, PanthersMetro: Hurricanes, Capitals, Devils,Wild cards: Senators, Rangers
Western Conference
Central: Stars, Jets, AvalanchePacific: Oilers, Golden Knights, KingsWild cards: Wild, Flames
Awards
MVP: Cale Makar, Colorado AvalancheVezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg JetsNorris: Cale Makar, Colorado AvalancheCalder: 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 InternEastern ConferenceAtlantic: Panthers, Maple Leafs, LightningMetro: Hurricanes, Devils, RangersWild cards: Capitals, Canadiens
Western Conference
Central: Stars, Avalanche, JetsPacific: Golden Knights, Oilers, KingsWild cards: Wild, Blues
Awards
MVP: Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersVezina: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg JetsNorris: Cale Makar, Colorado AvalancheCalder: 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