32 daring predictions to open the 2026-27 NHL season

Making daring predictions is somewhat bit like signing as much as throw darts at your native watering gap on a Wednesday night time.

You will catch the uncommon bullseye, throw a number of that land close to the goal and blend in a bunch that simply make you appear to be you’ve been overserved.

Welcome to our 32 daring predictions for the 2026-27 NHL season:

1. The Ottawa Senators will knock off the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

How about that for the Ottawa’s first collection win since 2017? It will come right down to Linus Ullmark, however don’t sleep on the Sens’ prime three D of Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub. Prettttty, fairly good.

2. Dylan Larkin can be traded to the Minnesota Wild earlier than Christmas

It’s no secret the curiosity is mutual. After years of looking out, a real No. 1 centre is true in entrance of the Wild, and GM Bill Guerin will current a suggestion that addresses extra of Detroit’s quick must get it finished — identical to he did for Quinn Hughes.

3. Bright spot in a darkish 12 months: Elias Pettersson will rating 30 objectives for the primary time in three seasons

Unable to generate important return to commerce him, the one approach out for EP40 is thru, and he’ll pique curiosity now. He hasn’t had the most effective relationship with the Sedins, however maybe this season is a good reset for all.

4. Four 18-year-olds from the 2026 NHL Draft class will stick for the season: San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg, Winnipeg’s Viggo Bjorck, New York’s Alberts Smits and Toronto’s Gavin McKenna

That’s greater than the final two drafts mixed. It’s Smits who’s essentially the most bodily prepared for the NHL grind, one thing the Rangers knew once they picked him.

5. Connor McDavid doesn’t signal a contract extension in Edmonton subsequent summer time, when first eligible, and performs out 2027-28

My perception: Though undecided, if McDavid is in the end altering groups, it gained’t be by way of commerce, as he gained’t need to weaken the following group earlier than his arrival. Think small sign-and-trade with a chunk for his rights, just like Mitch Marner.

6. The Seattle Kraken will win the 2027 NHL Draft Lottery and the proper to pick Landon DuPont from Michigan

Kraken GM Jason Botterill is a Michigan man. He’s received work to do to reshape Seattle — and the easiest way to do this is to draft the top-end expertise that the Kraken have failed to amass of their brief franchise historical past.

7. Macklin Celebrini will tie Connor McDavid because the third-youngest Hart Trophy winner in league historical past

It’s not down the road that Celebrini nips at McDavid’s heels, it’s proper now that he takes on the mantle as finest participant on this planet because the Sharks return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2019.

8. Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec every hit 45 factors on the Calgary Flames’ blue line

The Flames are actually well-positioned for the long run with two dynamic 22-and-under defencemen. The remainder of the group’s battle to attain continues to be actual, however depend on Calgary being one of the crucial lively groups on the commerce entrance in its final season on the Saddledome.

9. With a shot within the arm from rookie set off man Porter Martone and a svelte Matvei Michkov, the Philadelphia Flyers will vault right into a top-10 energy play

They have completed thirty second in power-play effectivity 4 of the final 5 years.

10. The Anaheim Ducks will miss the playoffs

Forget the salary-cap construction and contracts. They stated goodbye to John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas and Olen Zellweger. No group survives that a lot turnover on one blue line in a single summer time.

11. Darren Raddysh will rating fewer than 65 factors; Raddysh will end with 52 factors in his first 12 months on the Leafs’ blue line

It’s a regression for positive from the 70 that Raddysh put up final season with Tampa Bay. But, general, it’s not a poor begin and manufacturing definitely commensurate along with his contract, given the league’s new pay scale.

12. John Tortorella is as soon as once more summoned as a late-season substitute, this time returning to the place all of it started — in Buffalo with the Sabres

He’ll be reunited with GM Jarmo Kekalainen within the place the place he spent six seasons as an assistant. Full circle, certainly.

13. Montreal’s Sam Montembeault would be the first participant traded in 2026-27

Just 18 months in the past, Montembeault was Team Canada’s third goalie on the 4 Nations Face-Off. Jakub Dobes stole his job and now waiver exempt Jacob Fowler will emerge this season because the Habs’ goaltender of the current and future with 35-plus begins.

14. Boston’s JJ Peterka emerges as the most effective low season pickup in 2026

Acquired on draft night time for 2 first-round picks, Peterka is reunited with German head coach Marco Sturm and assistant Matt McIlvane, whom Peterka has recognized for practically a decade. Peterka will notch a career-best 77 factors. Remember, final 12 months in Utah he had 25 objectives with out power-play time.

15. Regular-season regressions: Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Colorado

The latter two will nonetheless qualify for the playoffs, it simply gained’t go as swimmingly as final season. It’s the Penguins, although, that can battle to seek out lightning in a bottle once more.

16. The 16 playoff groups are …

Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, Montréal, New Jersey, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Washington; Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Jose, Utah, Vegas.

17. The Los Angeles Kings exceed all expectations and hit 103 factors within the common season

They get the patented Peter Laviolette bump in his first 12 months. Artemi Panarin had his finest season beneath Laviolette in New York, and the Kings are higher supported down the center from soar road. It’s not a superbly constructed roster or a long-term resolution, nevertheless it’s about attempting to win now in L.A.

18. This can be Chris Drury’s closing season as New York Rangers common supervisor

This appears like a giant 12 months within the Big Apple, Drury’s fifth as GM and eleventh within the entrance workplace. He has a brand new boss in 32-year-old Quentin Dolan, son of MSG government chairman James. Though Quentin Dolan and Drury have labored collectively for a number of years, Dolan should ask the foundational questions most Rangers followers are pondering: Who are the Rangers? What’s their id? And the place do they go from right here? None have a transparent reply now.

19. Chicago Blackhawks will get greater than 79.5 factors

This 12 months, the Hawks will take the identical step ahead the Sharks skilled final 12 months — knocking on the door of 90 factors, with a jam-packed United Center for significant March video games. It’s not simply captain Connor Bedard or the return of Patrick Kane, it’s Bowen Byram who is able to step into the highlight as a real No. 1 defenceman. It doesn’t damage to have two stealth Calder candidates in Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, both.

20. Connor Hellebuyck will sit out his 33-year-old season and forfeit $7 million in wage

One of essentially the most adorned goaltenders of all-time can be one of the crucial principled, assured and cussed. Right now, it appears like there are solely three options: 1. The Jets relent and scale back their ask; 2. Hellebuyck returns to Winnipeg; or 3. An enormous damage or poor begin adjustments a group’s dynamic.

21. After lastly mandating a everlasting EBUG place for all 32 groups, we’ll see extra EBUG appearances than ever

Yes, groups will nonetheless favor to summon a netminder from the AHL each time attainable, nevertheless it appears like goalie accidents are at an all-time excessive and groups gained’t need to overexert or overextend a banged-up goaltender in the event that they be ok with the EBUG who hangs round their group.

22. The Islanders’ Cal Ritchie would be the NHL’s breakout star of 2026-27

Very quietly, Ritchie collected 30 factors in 65 video games final season. He’ll greater than double that utilizing his elite Hockey IQ and work fee in his sophomore season, and supply a dynamism desperately required for the all-star weekend hosts.

23. Zach Werenski will dominate the 2026 commerce deadline

Only as soon as has the reigning Norris Trophy winner been traded (Erik Karlsson, in 2023) and it’s by no means occurred with a participant squarely in his prime like Werenski. He has full management and one 12 months left on his deal, nevertheless it’s a scenario the Blue Jackets can be pressured to handle. Deadline day is March 1.

24. Devon Levi will lead the Edmonton Oilers on to the ice as starter for opening night time of the playoffs

After wandering from Mikko Koskinen to Jack Campbell, Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry and Cal Pickard, the Oilers lastly have one thing within the 24-year-old who simply wanted a change of surroundings. Levi has earned rave critiques for his work ethic, which counts with group management.

25. The NHL and Friedkin Group will announce in December plans to broaden to Austin, Texas, for the thirty third franchise

This is solely primarily based on intestine really feel and never ‘inside’ information because the league nonetheless doesn’t know but which approach this can go. Though Houston is a bigger market, Austin continues to be fairly huge (and rising) and it matches the NHL playbook of being first-in-market prefer it was in Vegas.

26. The Utah Mammoth are quietly one of the crucial improved groups within the West

Playing in a glowing (and unrecognizable) Delta Center, the additions of Swiss Army knife Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee assist vault the already scrappy Mammoth into their first window of competition.

27. Gavin McKenna will seize the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year

Rightfully name me a little bit of a skeptic from his draft 12 months, however McKenna’s outburst on the NHL stage is the most important reminder that atmosphere issues within the scouting course of. “He was playing with insurance salesmen last year at Penn State,” one NHL GM says. The Yukon child is off and working now.

It’s not the return to 60 objectives that some Leafs followers are banking on, however Matthews seems to be more healthy and extra strong than the least two seasons when he had a mixed 60.

29. Florida Panthers can have fewer than 107.5 factors

There’s little doubt the Cats can be a drive to be reckoned with. They have an opportunity to be one of many greatest, most bruising and disliked groups for the reason that Broad Street Bullies. They’re additionally lacking some parts — significantly in internet, the place their goaltending with Jacob Markstrom can be their Achilles heel.

30. The 4 division winners are …

Montréal, Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton. With a greater and extra centered begin to the season beneath Mike Babcock, the Oilers will unbelievably seize their first division title since 1987.

31. In Alex Ovechkin’s final kick on the can, the Washington Capitals advance to the Stanley Cup Final

The huge and brawny Caps will match up properly with the defending champs in Round 2; traditionally, Carolina has struggled with greater groups who bully them. Only two of Washington’s forwards are beneath six toes. This is a deep group with nice goaltending.

32. The Minnesota Wild will hoist the Stanley Cup for the primary time in franchise historical past

With the addition of Dylan Larkin (see No. 2), the Wild are Minnesota Mild no extra — they’ve superstars at each place and plenty of with gold-medal expertise. Winners win.