The Athletic writers predict 2026 NHL playoff winners and Stanley Cup champion
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 4
The Athletic writers predict 2026 NHL playoff winners and Stanley Cup champion
6 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 4
Six national writers mostly backed Carolina over Philadelphia, Colorado over Minnesota, Vegas over Anaheim and Buffalo over Montreal, with Carolina and Colorado already holding 1-0 second-round leads.
Most updated conference and Cup picks favoured Carolina in the East and Colorado in the West, with Nathan MacKinnon’s Avalanche the dominant choice to win the Stanley Cup.
Writers cited Carolina’s depth, Colorado’s completeness, Buffalo’s momentum and concerns over Minnesota injuries and Vegas goaltending as the second round got under way.
Will Minnesota's star power be enough to challenge the dominant Avalanche despite key injuries?
Is Buffalo's magical run sustainable against Montreal's deep roster in this classic rivalry matchup?
Can coach Quenneville's adjustments help the Ducks exploit Vegas's goaltending for another major upset?