Here’s how the Globe’s hockey writers and columnists see the 2025-26 season playing out.
Bruins: 40-30-12, wild card
The popular prediction is pain for this rebuilding group. But why not a rebuild on the fly that includes a solid No. 1 line (hi-ya, Morgan Geekie-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak), solid D (welcome back, Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm), and elite goaltending (what’s up, Jeremy Swayman)? They may not bowl fans over (figuratively), but they just might bowl opponents over (literally) with the addition of muscle and mettle (howdy, Tanner Jeannot and Mikey Eyssimont).
Eastern Conference: Tampa Bay over Florida
The Sunshine State continues to be a hotbed of hockey, and this time Andrei Vasilevskiy slams the door on the Panthers’ thoughts of a three-peat.
Western Conference: Colorado over Dallas
Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, still bitter from their silver medal in Italy (yes, we’re calling Olympic gold for Uncle Sam), keep the Stars from shining again.
Stanley Cup Final: Colorado over Tampa Bay in seven
The usual Avalanche suspects (see Makar, MacKinnon above) won’t be denied this time around. It’s high times in the Rocky Mountains.
Bruins: 39-31-12, wild card
Because goals will be scarce, the Bruins will be forced 20 times into overtime, going 8-12 in extras, needing every one of those points to avoid another DNQ. Jeremy Swayman must return to “franchise” form in net. Charlie McAvoy needs to be the best defensive version of himself and finally become a force on the power play. Pastrnak just to needs to be Pastrnak (i.e. 40-plus goals/95-plus points). Character hires Mikey Eyssimont and Tanner Jeannot have to come in hot, and keep up the heat.
Eastern Conference: Panthers over Canadiens
Brad Marchand painfully reminds CH fans that the Habs had four picks (20, 49, 53, 66) in the ’06 draft before the Bruins plucked him out of the Quebec League at No. 71.
Western Conference: Golden Knights over Oilers
New Vegas winger Mitch Marner, out from under Toronto microscope, outproduces Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights over Panthers in six
Jack Eichel (10-16–26 in the postseason) adds a second Cup ring to his July 1 free agent bonafides.
Bruins: 40-32-10, wild card
With new coach Marco Sturm at the helm and Zdeno Chara back in the house (this time as an advisor), the rebuilding process might get off to a slow regular season start. But, eventually, the Bruins will begin to rediscover the toughness and identity of playoff years past. Nothing can be worse than last year’s last-place debacle, but the Bruins need their core to perform. That means Jeremy Swayman playing up to his contract, Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm proving to be healthy, and David Pastrnak finding the back of the net, a lot.
Eastern Conference: Carolina over Tampa Bay
The Hurricanes were Eastern Conference finalists a year ago, but for the second time in three years, were bounced by the Florida Panthers. However, they’re still contenders. Coach Rod Brind’Amour is tough, and his players have to be able to handle that. But could this be the year they get past those pesky two-time defending champion Panthers, especially if they get what they’re paying for from additions K’Andre Miller on defense and winger Nikolaj Ehlers.
Western Conference: Golden Knights over Colorado
Bruce Cassidy is back again to remind the Bruins of what they gave up in firing him a few seasons back, as he continues to build a powerhouse while they have been unable to get past the second round of the playoffs since he left. Vegas remains one of the big-game free agent hunters in the league, and this year, as Toronto’s Stanley Cup drought goes on, Mitch Marner and his eight-year, $96-million free agent contract will make a deep playoff run in Vegas.
Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights over Carolina in five
Make a checklist for what you want in an NHL roster and Vegas fills every box — with depth, experience (they won the Cup in 2023), and high-end talent. Jack Eichel, an all-around puck-driving machine (why can’t the Bruins get centers like that?) now gets to play with Marner, another 100-point threat. And even in the face of losing Alex Pietrangelo, defensemen Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin can step up.
Bruins: 40-31-11, wild card
There’s going to be a lot of growing pains this season for first-year bench boss Marco Sturm and an imperfect roster. Boston’s dearth of talent and established conduits of offense in the middle-six grouping will be an ongoing issue this winter. But the template for Boston to follow in hopes of going from a cellar-dweller to a fringe playoff team isn’t all that far-fetched. The return of a healthy Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy should help Boston regain its defensive rigidity, while Jeremy Swayman is far better than the .892 save percentage he sported last year. Boston has a lot of work to do offensively, but the presence of David Pastrnak as an offensive cheat code will keep Boston’s top line humming alongside Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie. If Boston’s 29th-ranked power play can at least improve to pedestrian production under assistant coach Steve Spott, the Bruins should be able to move the margins enough to be a competitive, flawed grouping that will play meaningful hockey down the stretch.
Eastern Conference: Lightning over Hurricanes
The Panthers’ hopes of a three-peat comes to a close, as injuries to Aleksander Barkov and an extended absence for Matthew Tkachuk are too much to overcome for Florida. Instead, it’s the other club from the Sunshine State that advances to the Stanley Cup Final — as a still-potent Tampa roster teeming with established veterans and depth take down a Carolina team that still refuses to address their situation between the pipes.
Western Conference: Golden Knights over Avalanche
As Connor McDavid and the Oilers flame out ahead of a consequential offseason, it’s Bruce Cassidy and the Golden Knights who emerge from the West. Leading the way is star center Jack Eichel — who breaks the hearts of Bruins fans after the North Chelmsford native re-ups in Vegas on an eight-year, $112 million contract. The good news for Bruins fans? Czech forward Martin Necas hits the open market as a top free-agent target after scoring 36 goals with the Avs.
Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights over Lightning in six
To the dismay of Toronto fans, Mitch Marner takes home the Conn Smythe Trophy after helping Vegas take home its second Stanley Cup in four seasons. Postgame, Gary Bettman continues to scoff at questions about the advantages given to NHL clubs with no state income tax after another bout between a Florida and Nevada-based club.
Bruins: 40-33-9, miss playoffs
They’ll shake the shock of last year and get back in the playoff race, only to be done in by a lack of scoring. Just not enough help around the otherworldly David Pastrnak (translate that to Czech during the Olympic break). They’ll be gritty, and competitive, and lead the league in one-goal losses. What really hurts: Ottawa and Montreal have finally passed them.
Eastern Conference: Devils over Maple Leafs
Banged-up Florida runs out of gas, and Toronto rides Auston Matthews to a surprise conference final, but a full year of good health lets New Jersey sneak up on everyone. Jack Hughes becomes a top-10 player, Luke Hughes breaks into the Norris Trophy conversation, and Quinn Hughes continues to dream of the summer of 2027.
Western Conference: Golden Knights over Stars
Dallas might have the best roster in the league, and Jake Oettinger’s nightly brilliance will earn him the starting role for Team USA. But the addition of Mitch Marner puts Vegas — suffocating defense, waves of scoring — over the top in a loaded West. Connor McDavid will describe this year as “frustrating,” and that won’t even scratch the surface of it.
Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights over Devils in six
With Aleksander Barkov on crutches and Anze Kopitar on a retirement tour, Jack Eichel becomes the NHL’s gold standard for two-way excellence at center, much to the continued delight of Bruce Cassidy. Eichel will hug Olympic teammates Jack and Luke Hughes in the handshake line before lifting the Cup. It will be the only time he’ll hold silver this hockey season.