The NHL season is here! The action gets underway Tuesday evening at 5:00 pm ET as the defending champion Florida Panthers take on the Chicago Blackhawks. There are then two more games that follow to make up an opening night triple header on ESPN. The New Jersey Devils then get underway on Thursday at 7:30 pm ET against Carolina.
With that in mind, let’s get into some predictions. Below are our staff predictions for the 2025-26 season. Let us know your’s in the comments below!
James Villani
Devils Record: 46-29-7
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Jack Hughes
Stanley Cup Results: Edmonton over Carolina
League MVP: Connor McDavid (EDM)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay, Florida, Toronto, Ottawa*, New York (R)*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Colorado, Dallas, Jets, Edmonton, Vegas, Kings, Minnesota*, Utah*
Jacob Goren
Devils Record: 46-27-9
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Jack Hughes
Stanley Cup Results: Colorado over Florida
League MVP: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, New York (R), Tampa Bay, Florida, Toronto, Washington*, Ottawa*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Vegas, Utah*, St. Louis*
Jordan Kooper
Devils Record: 45-31-6
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Nico Hischier
Stanley Cup Results: Winnipeg over Carolina
League MVP: Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Detroit*, New York (R)*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, Vancouver*, Minnesota*
Tommy Bennett
Devils Record: 46-29-7
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Nico Hischier
Stanley Cup Results: Vegas over Carolina
League MVP: Mitch Marner (VGK)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, New York (R), Toronto, Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa*, Washington*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, Vegas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota*, Utah*
Garrett Zirkman
Devils Record: 46-29-7
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Jack Hughes
Stanley Cup Results: Edmonton over Carolina
League MVP: Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, Washington, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Florida, Ottawa*, Columbus*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Colorado, Dallas, St. Louis, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, Winnipeg*, Los Angeles*
Eli Goren
Devils Record: 46-30-6
Result: Second round loss
Devils MVP: Jack Hughes
Stanley Cup Results: Stars over Hurricanes
League MVP: Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams: Carolina, New Jersey, New York (R), Toronto, Florida, Montreal, Tampa Bay*, New York (I)*
Western Conference Playoff Teams: Winnipeg, Dallas, Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Calgary, Nashville*, St. Louis*