6 bold predictions on the eve of the 2026–27 NHL season

Hockey is back.

The season kicks off Tuesday with a five-game slate. What better way to prepare than with some irresponsible predictions?

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I’ve published predictions, in one way or another, since long before I became a full-time NHL beat reporter. I’m not always right, but I’ve been known to hit a home run here and there. Remember, these are meant to be bold predictions — not safe ones.

Here’s what I’m thinking for 2026–27.

2026–27 NHL predictions

Breakout season: San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini could very well take home some hardware this year. At just 19 years old, he placed fourth in points and goals (albeit in a four-way tie) — and he’s only going to get better.

But Celebrini isn’t the only reason the Sharks will be good this year. They added a ton of defensive depth and experience with Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Michael Kesselring. They got bigger and more dynamic up front with the addition of Mason Marchment, and Kiefer Sherwood will help in those areas if he stays healthy this year.

All the “Baby Sharks” should grow significantly, too: Will Smith, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson could really break out this year and 2026 No. 2 pick Ivar Stenberg will get his first chance to prove himself.

Playing in the Pacific Division, the Sharks won’t have as much high-level competition as most other teams. They play the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken a combined 12 times, and with the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks both taking steps back this season, there’s a playoff spot to be won.

Lock it in: The San Jose Sharks will take a top-three spot in the Pacific Division this season.

Calder Trophy winner: Alberts Šmits

In a rookie-of-the-year race that features the likes of Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone and Cole Hutson, it’s extremely bold to predict that the Calder Trophy will go to 2026 No. 5 pick Alberts Šmits.

Šmits showed up big-time for Team Latvia on virtually every international stage available to him last season — including the Olympics. He’s a big, strong defenseman with a physical edge and an ability to produce offensively.

According to the New York Post, Šmits could become the first 18-year-old defenseman to ever play for the Rangers on opening night. That’s especially impressive considering the franchise is entering its 101st season.

Stanley Cup Final: A re-rematch (with a new result)

The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers in both the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. Both took a year off in 2026, but they’ll both get back at it in 2027.

Florida gets captain Aleksander Barkov back after he missed the full season with an injury last year. They also acquired the Ottawa Senators’ captain, Brady Tkachuk, giving them arguably one of the deepest forward groups the NHL has ever seen.

But it won’t be enough to take down the Oilers this time.

Some teams make significant changes after coming close to success. Others, including the 2026-champion Carolina Hurricanes, stay the course and eventually accomplish their goal.

The Oilers have largely remained the same, and that might be the best thing to do.

The key difference this year is the coach. Regardless of what you think of him as a person or a motivator, there’s one thing he does better than any other bench boss: He finds roles for his depth players.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don’t need a fancy coach to unlock their scoring potential. But with Babcock at the helm, they won’t be the only ones producing offense for the Oilers. That will decrease the strain on the defense and goaltending, which have been the subject of much scrutiny throughout the current decade.

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2026–27 Utah Mammoth predictions

The trendy pick among NHL experts right now is to put the Utah Mammoth in a top-three playoff spot in the Central Division, meaning one of Minnesota, Colorado and Dallas misses.

That’s been said so many times that it can no longer be classified as “bold.” Instead, my Mammoth predictions will focus on individuals.

Dylan Guenther joins the 50-goal club

Just two players scored 50 goals or more last season: Nathan MacKinnon and Cole Caufield. Dylan Guenther will get it done this year.

The 24-year-old scored 40 last season. The extra 10 goals will come from four areas:

• Experience: He’s older, more seasoned and maybe even bigger and stronger.
• Steady line mates: Anders Lee seems to be a great fit on that second line.
• Improved power play: If Utah can match its post-Olympic break power play production throughout the full season, Guenther will score a lot more than he did last year.
• Extra games: Each team plays 84 games this season, rather than 82.

Logan Cooley leads the Mammoth in points

The last time anyone but Clayton Keller led Utah/Arizona in points, the world was still locked down for the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the year it switches.

I don’t think Keller necessarily takes a step down — provided he’s healthy, he’ll probably fall right around that 90-point mark once again. Instead, I think Logan Cooley takes a massive step up.

Playing on a line with Guenther, those same bullet points apply to Cooley. It’s even possible that with all those factors, their group pushes for top-line minutes.

Health will be key. Cooley missed 28 games last season after crashing into the net at full speed. If he plays all 84, he’s due to emerge as a true star.

Sebastian Cossa is named to the all-rookie team

After grinding out four seasons in the minors, Sebastian Cossa is finally poised to get his first real NHL opportunity.

The 23-year-old played excellent hockey for four of the five periods he played in the preseason, the one exception coming with late pressure in Las Vegas on Thursday, resulting in a multigoal comeback for his opponents.

Assuming that’s a rare anomaly rather than a norm, Cossa has a good chance to be the best rookie goaltender in the NHL this season, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Cossa’s top competition could be Jacob Fowler, though he didn’t make the Montreal Canadiens’ opening-night roster. Sergei Murashov of the Pittsburgh Penguins could also be in the running.

Thoughts?

We’d love to know what you think. Post your predictions — bold or otherwise — in the comments.

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