NHL 2025-26 season picks: Stanley Cup, division winners, awards

The 2025-26 NHL season begins Tuesday with a tripleheader on ESPN: Chicago Blackhawks-Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET (including the Stanley Cup banner-raising), Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers at 8 p.m., and Colorado Avalanche-Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m.

But we’re looking beyond those contests.

Will the Panthers three-peat as Stanley Cup champions? Which teams will finish the season atop the division standings? And which players will take home the major individual awards?

We’ve gathered our cross-platform ESPN hockey family together to predict the winners of each division, along with the Stanley Cup champion and the players who will win all of the hardware.

Dive deep on all 32 teamsLapsed fan’s guide to the seasonBold predictions for every clubFantasy hockey hub pageGoalie mask guide for 2025-26

Atlantic Division

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Sean Allen: Maple LeafsJohn Buccigross: LightningStormy Buonantony: LightningCassie Campbell-Pascall: Maple LeafsSach Chandan: LightningMeghan Chayka: LightningRyan S. Clark: LightningRay Ferraro: LightningEmily Kaplan: LightningTim Kavanagh: SenatorsRachel Kryshak: LightningPeter Lawrence-Riddell: LightningSteve Levy: Maple LeafsVince Masi: LightningVictoria Matiash: LightningSean McDonough: LightningAJ Mleczko: LightningMike Monaco: LightningArda Öcal: LightningT.J. Oshie: LightningKristen Shilton: Maple LeafsP.K. Subban: LightningJohn Tortorella: PanthersBob Wischusen: LightningGreg Wyshynski: Lightning

Totals: Lightning (19), Maple Leafs (4), Senators (1), Panthers (1)

Metropolitan Division

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Sean Allen: DevilsJohn Buccigross: HurricanesStormy Buonantony: HurricanesCassie Campbell-Pascall: HurricanesSach Chandan: DevilsMeghan Chayka: HurricanesRyan S. Clark: HurricanesRay Ferraro: HurricanesEmily Kaplan: HurricanesTim Kavanagh: DevilsRachel Kryshak: HurricanesPeter Lawrence-Riddell: HurricanesSteve Levy: DevilsVince Masi: HurricanesVictoria Matiash: DevilsSean McDonough: RangersAJ Mleczko: HurricanesMike Monaco: HurricanesArda Öcal: DevilsT.J. Oshie: CapitalsKristen Shilton: HurricanesP.K. Subban: CapitalsJohn Tortorella: DevilsBob Wischusen: HurricanesGreg Wyshynski: Hurricanes

Totals: Hurricanes (15), Devils (7), Capitals (2), Rangers (1)

Central Division

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Sean Allen: StarsJohn Buccigross: AvalancheStormy Buonantony: AvalancheCassie Campbell-Pascall: AvalancheSach Chandan: AvalancheMeghan Chayka: AvalancheRyan S. Clark: AvalancheRay Ferraro: StarsEmily Kaplan: AvalancheTim Kavanagh: AvalancheRachel Kryshak: StarsPeter Lawrence-Riddell: StarsSteve Levy: StarsVince Masi: AvalancheVictoria Matiash: StarsSean McDonough: StarsAJ Mleczko: StarsMike Monaco: AvalancheArda Öcal: StarsT.J. Oshie: StarsKristen Shilton: StarsP.K. Subban: WildJohn Tortorella: WildBob Wischusen: AvalancheGreg Wyshynski: Avalanche

Totals: Avalanche (12), Stars (11), Wild (2)

Pacific Division

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Sean Allen: OilersJohn Buccigross: OilersStormy Buonantony: Golden KnightsCassie Campbell-Pascall: Golden KnightsSach Chandan: Golden KnightsMeghan Chayka: Golden KnightsRyan S. Clark: Golden KnightsRay Ferraro: Golden KnightsEmily Kaplan: Golden KnightsTim Kavanagh: Golden KnightsRachel Kryshak: OilersPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden KnightsSteve Levy: KingsVince Masi: Golden KnightsVictoria Matiash: Golden KnightsSean McDonough: OilersAJ Mleczko: Golden KnightsMike Monaco: OilersArda Öcal: Golden KnightsT.J. Oshie: Golden KnightsKristen Shilton: Golden KnightsP.K. Subban: OilersJohn Tortorella: Golden KnightsBob Wischusen: Golden KnightsGreg Wyshynski: Oilers

Totals: Golden Knights (17), Oilers (7), Kings (1)

Stanley Cup

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Sean Allen: PanthersJohn Buccigross: HurricanesStormy Buonantony: Golden KnightsCassie Campbell-Pascall: JetsSach Chandan: AvalancheMeghan Chayka: AvalancheRyan S. Clark: StarsRay Ferraro: Golden KnightsEmily Kaplan: PanthersTim Kavanagh: StarsRachel Kryshak: StarsPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden KnightsSteve Levy: KingsVince Masi: AvalancheVictoria Matiash: Golden KnightsSean McDonough: OilersAJ Mleczko: AvalancheMike Monaco: OilersArda Öcal: Maple LeafsT.J. Oshie: OilersKristen Shilton: StarsJohn Tortorella: DevilsBob Wischusen: PanthersGreg Wyshynski: Avalanche

Totals: Avalanche (5), Golden Knights (4), Stars (4), Panthers (3), Oilers (3), Hurricanes (1), Jets (1), Kings (1), Maple Leafs (1), Devils (1)

Hart Trophy (MVP)

Sean Allen: Kirill KaprizovJohn Buccigross: Connor McDavidStormy Buonantony: Jack EichelCassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor McDavidSach Chandan: Nathan MacKinnonMeghan Chayka: Nathan MacKinnonRyan S. Clark: Kirill KaprizovRay Ferraro: Nikita KucherovEmily Kaplan: Nathan MacKinnonTim Kavanagh: Nathan MacKinnonRachel Kryshak: Connor McDavidPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Nikita KucherovSteve Levy: Connor McDavidVince Masi: Connor McDavidVictoria Matiash: Nikita KucherovSean McDonough: Connor McDavidAJ Mleczko: Connor McDavidMike Monaco: Connor McDavidArda Öcal: Connor McDavidT.J. Oshie: Connor McDavidKristen Shilton: Auston MatthewsP.K. Subban: Kirill KaprizovJohn Tortorella: Kirill KaprizovBob Wischusen: Connor McDavidGreg Wyshynski: Nathan MacKinnon

Totals: McDavid (11), MacKinnon (5), Kaprizov (4), Kucherov (3), Eichel (1), Matthews (1)

Art Ross Trophy (points leader)

Sean Allen: Connor McDavidJohn Buccigross: Connor McDavidStormy Buonantony: Nikita KucherovCassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor McDavidSach Chandan: Nikita KucherovMeghan Chayka: Connor McDavidRyan S. Clark: Mitch MarnerRay Ferraro: Connor McDavidEmily Kaplan: Nathan MacKinnonTim Kavanagh: Nikita KucherovRachel Kryshak: Connor McDavidPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Nikita KucherovSteve Levy: Kirill KaprizovVince Masi: Connor McDavidVictoria Matiash: Nikita KucherovSean McDonough: Connor McDavidAJ Mleczko: Mitch MarnerMike Monaco: Connor McDavidArda Öcal: Connor McDavidT.J. Oshie: Nikita KucherovKristen Shilton: Nathan MacKinnonP.K. Subban: Connor McDavidJohn Tortorella: Kirill KaprizovBob Wischusen: Connor McDavidGreg Wyshynski: Nathan MacKinnon

Totals: McDavid (12), Kucherov (6), MacKinnon (3), Marner (2), Kaprizov (2)

Rocket Richard Trophy (goals leader)

Sean Allen: Auston MatthewsJohn Buccigross: Auston MatthewsStormy Buonantony: Connor McDavidCassie Campbell-Pascall: Auston MatthewsSach Chandan: Leon DraisaitlMeghan Chayka: Leon DraisaitlRyan S. Clark: Nikita KucherovRay Ferraro: Leon DraisaitlEmily Kaplan: Leon DraisaitlTim Kavanagh: Kirill KaprizovRachel Kryshak: Leon DraisaitlPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Auston MatthewsSteve Levy: Leon DraisaitlVince Masi: Brayden PointVictoria Matiash: Auston MatthewsSean McDonough: Leon DraisaitlAJ Mleczko: Auston MatthewsMike Monaco: Auston MatthewsArda Öcal: Auston MatthewsT.J. Oshie: Leon DraisaitlKristen Shilton: Auston MatthewsP.K. Subban: Jake GuentzelJohn Tortorella: Connor McDavidBob Wischusen: Auston MatthewsGreg Wyshynski: Leon Draisaitl

Totals: Matthews (10), Draisaitl (9), McDavid (2), Kucherov (1), Kaprizov (1), Point (1), Guentzel (1)

Norris Trophy (best defenseman)

Sean Allen: Cale MakarJohn Buccigross: Cale MakarStormy Buonantony: Shea TheodoreCassie Campbell-Pascall: Cale MakarSach Chandan: Zach WerenskiMeghan Chayka: Cale MakarRyan S. Clark: Cale MakarRay Ferraro: Quinn HughesEmily Kaplan: Zach WerenskiTim Kavanagh: Quinn HughesRachel Kryshak: Cale MakarPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Cale MakarSteve Levy: Quinn HughesVince Masi: Quinn HughesVictoria Matiash: Quinn HughesSean McDonough: Cale MakarAJ Mleczko: Quinn HughesMike Monaco: Cale MakarArda Öcal: Cale MakarT.J. Oshie: Cale MakarKristen Shilton: Quinn HughesP.K. Subban: Lane HutsonJohn Tortorella: Quinn HughesBob Wischusen: Cale MakarGreg Wyshynski: Rasmus Dahlin

Totals: Cale Makar (12), Hughes (8), Werenski (2), Theodore (1), Hutson (1), Dahlin (1)

Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)

Sean Allen: Jake OettingerJohn Buccigross: Jake OettingerStormy Buonantony: Jake OettingerCassie Campbell-Pascall: Connor HellebuyckSach Chandan: Andrei VasilevskiyMeghan Chayka: Andrei VasilevskiyRyan S. Clark: Andrei VasilevskiyRay Ferraro: Andrei VasilevskiyEmily Kaplan: Jake OettingerTim Kavanagh: Jacob MarkstromRachel Kryshak: Igor ShesterkinPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Andrei VasilevskiySteve Levy: Jake OettingerVince Masi: Linus UllmarkVictoria Matiash: Andrei VasilevskiySean McDonough: Igor ShesterkinAJ Mleczko: Jake OettingerMike Monaco: Jake OettingerArda Öcal: Andrei VasilevskiyT.J. Oshie: Connor HellebuyckKristen Shilton: Igor ShesterkinP.K. Subban: Andrei VasilevskiyJohn Tortorella: Sergei BobrovskyBob Wischusen: Igor ShesterkinGreg Wyshynski: Andrei Vasilevskiy

Totals: Vasilevskiy (9), Oettinger (7), Shesterkin (4), Markstrom (1), Ullmark (1), Bobrovsky (1)

Calder Trophy (rookie of the year)

Sean Allen: Alexander NikishinJohn Buccigross: Ivan DemidovStormy Buonantony: Ivan DemidovCassie Campbell-Pascall: Ivan DemidovSach Chandan: Michael MisaMeghan Chayka: Ivan DemidovRyan S. Clark: Ivan DemidovRay Ferraro: Ivan DemidovEmily Kaplan: Zeev BuiumTim Kavanagh: Jimmy SnuggerudRachel Kryshak: Ivan DemidovPeter Lawrence-Riddell: Ivan DemidovSteve Levy: Zeev BuiumVince Masi: Jimmy SnuggerudVictoria Matiash: Jimmy SnuggerudSean McDonough: Ivan DemidovAJ Mleczko: Zeev BuiumMike Monaco: Ivan DemidovArda Öcal: Yaroslav AskarovT.J. Oshie: Ryan LeonardKristen Shilton: Ivan DemidovP.K. Subban: Matthew SchaeferJohn Tortorella: Ryan LeonardBob Wischusen: Ivan DemidovGreg Wyshynski: Alexander Nikishin

Totals: Demidov (12), Buium (3), Snuggerud (3), Nikishin (2), Leonard (2), Misa (1), Askarov (1), Schaefer (1)