Who will win Stanley Cup? 2026 NHL playoff predictions, bracket and picks

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are wide open after the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers missed the postseason.

There are plenty of recent Stanley Cup winners in the field, such as the Vegas Golden Knights (2023), Colorado Avalanche (2022) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021).

And there are teams that are back in the hunt after long absences, such as the Buffalo Sabres, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

So who survives the four-round grind and gets to skate around the ice with the Stanley Cup in June? USA TODAY’s Mike Brehm, Jace Evans and Kevin Skiver make their predictions:

NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV, streaming for first-round games

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup winner: Colorado Avalanche

Playoff MVP: Nathan MacKinnon

Yes, I know that the Presidents’ Trophy winner rarely wins the Stanley Cup, but this Avalanche team is deep and has run the gauntlet before. The same applies to the Lightning. Both teams are coached by Stanley Cup winners who know how to push the right buttons. The Avalanche will prevail again in a rematch of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Jace Evans, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers

Stanley Cup winner: Edmonton Oilers

Playoff MVP: Connor McDavid

Canada, rejoice! Your drought will end! Or, I think it will, anyways. Yes, I am putting a lot of faith in the Connor Ingram (or Tristan Jarry!) Experience in net, but I am also putting my faith in Connor McDavid, the best player in the NHL. He just wrapped up his sixth scoring title and has led the playoffs in scoring three of the past four seasons. He’s a proven postseason performer in the prime of his career. You could say the same for Leon Draisaitl, assuming he’s on the verge of a return. The biggest factor for Edmonton, though, might be its potential postseason path — the Pacific Division road is the smoothest, on paper.

Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup winner: Dallas Stars

Playoff MVP: Mikko Rantanen

The Stars have been knocking on the door in the playoffs for a while, but something in the West has continued to hold them back. This year, they harness that experience and get over the hump to win the Stanley Cup, overcoming a Lightning team with a wealth of experience itself.

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