NHL predictions for 2026-27 season: Post experts make Stanley Cup, award picks

New York Post writers Mollie Walker, Ethan Sears, and Andrew Crane made their official predictions for the 2026-27 NHL season. Both Walker and Sears selected the Montreal Canadiens to defeat the Dallas Stars to capture the Stanley Cup title, with both analysts also picking Montreal to win the Atlantic Division and Dallas to advance out of the Western Conference.

For individual awards, both Walker and Sears selected San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini as the Hart Trophy winner and Ivar Stenberg as the Calder Trophy recipient. Walker predicted Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin to win the Vezina Trophy, while Sears chose Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy.