{"id":195464,"date":"2025-10-07T16:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T16:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/195464\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T16:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T16:31:08","slug":"sportsnet-nhl-insider-predictions-for-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/195464\/","title":{"rendered":"Sportsnet NHL Insider predictions for 2025-26 season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Major League Baseball playoffs have been thrilling sports fans nightly and in a large portion of Canada the Toronto Blue Jays have faithful north of the border hoping that a 2025 World Series banner will hang next to those from 1992 and 1993. But on this day a new NHL season also opens, and hopes spring anew for fams across the league that this will be their year, too.<\/p>\n<p>Will the Florida Panthers continue a dynastic run in the playoffs and do something no team has since the early-&#8217;80s Islanders? Will Connor McDavid, with a fresh contract in hand, become more of a shooter and goal scorer again, and chase multiple individual awards? Will Montreal&#8217;s hyped freshman Ivan Demidov earn the Calder Trophy and bring the team back-to-back rookie of the year winners? And how will players &#8212; or coaches &#8212; in new places impact the fortunes of those teams?<\/p>\n<p>Once again we&#8217;ve reached out to a wide range of Sportsnet hockey personalities to share their predictions for the season ahead, from divisional champions to award winners, who will win the Stanley Cup and more.<\/p>\n<p>Atlantic Division regular season winner<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Ottawa<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Tampa Bay<br \/>Justin Bourne: Tampa Bay<br \/>Jason Bukala: Toronto<br \/>Mark Spector: Toronto<br \/>Luke Fox: Tampa Bay<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Tampa Bay<br \/>Eric Francis: Ottawa<br \/>Eric Engels: Tampa Bay<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Tampa Bay<br \/>Alex Adams: Ottawa<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Toronto<br \/>Matt Marchese: Toronto<br \/>Mike Futa: Tampa Bay<br \/>Anna Dua: Toronto<br \/>Michael Amato: Tampa Bay<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Toronto<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Tampa Bay<br \/>Rory Boylen: Toronto<\/p>\n<p>Metro Division regular season winner<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: NY Rangers<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Carolina<br \/>Justin Bourne: Carolina<br \/>Jason Bukala: New Jersey<br \/>Mark Spector: Carolina<br \/>Luke Fox: Carolina<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: New Jersey<br \/>Eric Francis: Carolina<br \/>Eric Engels: Carolina<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Carolina<br \/>Alex Adams: Carolina<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Carolina<br \/>Matt Marchese: New Jersey<br \/>Mike Futa: New Jersey<br \/>Anna Dua: New Jersey<br \/>Michael Amato: Carolina<br \/>Ryan Dixon: New Jersey<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Carolina<br \/>Rory Boylen: Carolina<\/p>\n<p>Pacific Division regular season winner<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Vegas<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Vegas<br \/>Justin Bourne: Edmonton<br \/>Jason Bukala: Edmonton<br \/>Mark Spector: Vegas<br \/>Luke Fox: Vegas<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Vegas<br \/>Eric Francis: Vegas<br \/>Eric Engels: Vegas<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Vegas<br \/>Alex Adams: Edmonton<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Edmonton<br \/>Matt Marchese: Edmonton<br \/>Mike Futa: Vegas<br \/>Anna Dua: Edmonton<br \/>Michael Amato: Vegas<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Vegas<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Vegas<br \/>Rory Boylen: Edmonton<\/p>\n<p>Central Division regular season winner<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Dallas<br \/>Nick Kypreos: St. Louis<br \/>Justin Bourne: Winnipeg<br \/>Jason Bukala: Dallas<br \/>Mark Spector: Dallas<br \/>Luke Fox: Winnipeg<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Dallas<br \/>Eric Francis: Minnesota<br \/>Eric Engels: Dallas<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Colorado<br \/>Alex Adams: Colorado<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Winnipeg<br \/>Matt Marchese: Colorado<br \/>Mike Futa: Colorado<br \/>Anna Dua: Colorado<br \/>Michael Amato: Colorado<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Dallas<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Dallas<br \/>Rory Boylen: Colorado<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Tampa Bay<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Florida<br \/>Justin Bourne: Winnipeg<br \/>Jason Bukala: Toronto<br \/>Mark Spector: Tampa Bay<br \/>Luke Fox: Florida<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Toronto<br \/>Eric Francis: Dallas<br \/>Eric Engels: Tampa Bay<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Florida<br \/>Alex Adams: Florida<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Carolina<br \/>Matt Marchese: Toronto<br \/>Mike Futa: New Jersey<br \/>Anna Dua: Toronto<br \/>Michael Amato: Carolina<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Carolina<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Florida<br \/>Rory Boylen: Dallas<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Edmonton<br \/>Nick Kypreos: St. Louis<br \/>Justin Bourne: Florida<br \/>Jason Bukala: Colorado<br \/>Mark Spector: Edmonton<br \/>Luke Fox: Winnipeg<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Vegas<br \/>Eric Francis: Dallas<br \/>Eric Engels: Dallas<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Colorado<br \/>Alex Adams: Colorado<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Edmonton<br \/>Matt Marchese: Colorado<br \/>Mike Futa: Edmonton<br \/>Anna Dua: Edmonton<br \/>Michael Amato: Colorado<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Dallas<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Dallas<br \/>Rory Boylen: Florida<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/32-THOUGHTS_1280X720_V2-640x360.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"32 Thoughts: The Podcast\"\/>32 Thoughts: The Podcast<\/p>\n<p>Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/podcasts\/32-thoughts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Latest episode<\/a><\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Jack Eichel<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Nikita Kucherov<br \/>Justin Bourne: Connor McDavid<br \/>Jason Bukala: Cale Makar<br \/>Mark Spector: Connor McDavid<br \/>Luke Fox: Connor McDavid<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Leon Draisaitl<br \/>Eric Francis: Kirill Kaprizov<br \/>Eric Engels: Connor McDavid<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Nathan MacKinnon<br \/>Alex Adams: Connor McDavid<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Connor McDavid<br \/>Matt Marchese: Kirill Kaprizov<br \/>Mike Futa: Connor McDavid<br \/>Anna Dua: Connor McDavid<br \/>Michael Amato: Connor McDavid<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Jack Hughes<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Connor McDavid<br \/>Rory Boylen: Kirill Kaprizov<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Connor McDavid<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Nikita Kucherov<br \/>Justin Bourne: Connor McDavid<br \/>Jason Bukala: Nikita Kucherov<br \/>Mark Spector: Connor McDavid<br \/>Luke Fox: Connor McDavid<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Leon Draisaitl<br \/>Eric Francis: Nikita Kucherov<br \/>Eric Engels: Connor McDavid<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Connor McDavid<br \/>Alex Adams: Connor McDavid<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Nathan MacKinnon<br \/>Matt Marchese: Kirill Kaprizov<br \/>Mike Futa: Connor McDavid<br \/>Anna Dua: Connor McDavid<br \/>Michael Amato: Connor McDavid<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Leon Draisaitl<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Connor McDavid<br \/>Rory Boylen: Kirill Kaprizov<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Ryan Leonard<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Jimmy Snuggerud<br \/>Justin Bourne: Zayne Parekh<br \/>Jason Bukala: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Mark Spector: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Luke Fox: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Eric Francis: Zeev Buium<br \/>Eric Engels: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Alex Adams: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Jimmy Snuggerud<br \/>Matt Marchese: Michael Misa<br \/>Mike Futa: Matthew Schaefer<br \/>Anna Dua: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Michael Amato: Michael Misa<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Alexander Nikishin<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Ivan Demidov<br \/>Rory Boylen: Ivan Demidov<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Cale Makar<br \/>Justin Bourne: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Jason Bukala: Cale Makar<br \/>Mark Spector: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Luke Fox: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Eric Francis: Cale Makar<br \/>Eric Engels: Cale Makar<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Cale Makar<br \/>Alex Adams: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Matt Marchese: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Mike Futa: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Anna Dua: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Michael Amato: Zach Werenski<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Josh Morrissey<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Quinn Hughes<br \/>Rory Boylen: Cale Makar<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Igor Shesterkin<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Jordan Binnington<br \/>Justin Bourne: Connor Hellebuyck<br \/>Jason Bukala: Andrei Vasilevskiy<br \/>Mark Spector: Andrei Vasilevskiy<br \/>Luke Fox: Jake Oettinger<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Igor Shesterkin<br \/>Eric Francis: Andrei Vasilevskiy<br \/>Eric Engels: Jake Oettinger<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Connor Hellebuyck<br \/>Alex Adams: Dustin Wolf<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Jake Oettinger<br \/>Matt Marchese: Jacob Markstrom<br \/>Mike Futa: Dustin Wolf<br \/>Anna Dua: Dustin Wolf<br \/>Michael Amato: Jake Oettinger<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Igor Shesterkin<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Connor Hellebuyck<br \/>Rory Boylen: Jake Oettinger<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Jim Montgomery<br \/>Justin Bourne: Rod Brind&#8217;Amour<br \/>Jason Bukala: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Mark Spector: Adam Foote<br \/>Luke Fox: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Mike Sullivan<br \/>Eric Francis: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Eric Engels: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Martin St. Louis<br \/>Alex Adams: Andre Tourigny<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Martin St. Louis<br \/>Matt Marchese: Joel Quenneville<br \/>Mike Futa: Sheldon Keefe<br \/>Anna Dua: Ryan Huska<br \/>Michael Amato: Dean Evason<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Sheldon Keefe<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Mike Sullivan<br \/>Rory Boylen: Jim Montgomery<\/p>\n<p>Which country will win men\u2019s gold at the Olympics?<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Canada<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Canada<br \/>Justin Bourne: Canada<br \/>Jason Bukala: Canada<br \/>Mark Spector: Canada<br \/>Luke Fox: Canada<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Canada<br \/>Eric Francis: USA<br \/>Eric Engels: Canada<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: USA<br \/>Alex Adams: Canada<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Canada<br \/>Matt Marchese: Canada<br \/>Mike Futa: USA<br \/>Anna Dua: Canada<br \/>Michael Amato: Canada<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Finland<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Canada<br \/>Rory Boylen: Canada<\/p>\n<p>Which non-playoff team from last season do you believe in most to get back in this season?<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: NY Rangers<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Utah<br \/>Justin Bourne: Utah<br \/>Jason Bukala: Anaheim<br \/>Mark Spector: Vancouver<br \/>Luke Fox: NY Rangers<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Vancouver<br \/>Eric Francis: NY Rangers<br \/>Eric Engels: NY Rangers<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Anaheim<br \/>Alex Adams: NY Rangers<br \/>Sam Cosentino: NY Rangers<br \/>Matt Marchese: Anaheim<br \/>Mike Futa: Anaheim<br \/>Anna Dua: Calgary<br \/>Michael Amato: NY Rangers<br \/>Ryan Dixon: NY Rangers<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Vancouver<br \/>Rory Boylen: Utah<\/p>\n<p>Which team will Sidney Crosby be playing on after the trade deadline?<\/p>\n<p>David Amber: Pittsburgh<br \/>Nick Kypreos: Montreal<br \/>Justin Bourne: Pittsburgh<br \/>Jason Bukala: Montreal<br \/>Mark Spector: Pittsburgh<br \/>Luke Fox: Colorado<br \/>Iain MacIntyre: Montreal<br \/>Eric Francis: Pittsburgh<br \/>Eric Engels: Montreal<br \/>Wayne Scanlan: Montreal<br \/>Alex Adams: Colorado<br \/>Sam Cosentino: Montreal<br \/>Matt Marchese: Colorado<br \/>Mike Futa: Montreal<br \/>Anna Dua: Montreal<br \/>Michael Amato: Colorado<br \/>Ryan Dixon: Pittsburgh<br \/>Sonny Sachdeva: Pittsburgh<br \/>Rory Boylen: Pittsburgh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Major League Baseball playoffs have been thrilling sports fans nightly and in a large portion of Canada&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195465,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-195464","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-news","11":"tag-top-stories","12":"tag-topnews","13":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}