Stanley Cup predictions for 2019-20

Lightning favorites among NHL.com staff preseason picks

TBL Stanley Cup predictions

© Scott Audette/Getty Images

By NHL.com @NHLdotcom

The Tampa Bay Lightning will not be derailed on their way to the Stanley Cup this season, according to a majority of NHL.com panelists who have made their preseason predictions.

The Lightning, who tied an NHL record with 62 wins last season only to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference First Round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, will win it all this season, 11 of the 20 panelists said.
Of the other nine experts, two each picked the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators. The other panelist picked the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Each of the 20 NHL.com writers and editors picked the winner of each division, the wild cards in each conference, the participants in the Cup Final and the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player of the postseason.
Here are their picks:

Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning 2 | Boston Bruins | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Islanders | 2: Florida Panthers
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Winnipeg Jets
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion:Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mark Stone (VGK)

Mark Stone lands at No. 13 on the list

Tim Campbell, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Montreal Canadiens
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Washington Capitals | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Colorado Avalanche | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Vegas Golden Knights | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Arizona Coyotes
Conference championsEast:Toronto Maple Leafs
West:Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:John Tavares (TOR)

Brian Compton, deputy managing editor

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Islanders | 2: Washington Capitals | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Colorado Avalanche |3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Minnesota Wild
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West:Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

Top 10 plays of 2018-19: Kucherov

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Columbus Blue Jackets
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Colorado Avalanche | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Calgary Flames
Conference championsEast:Tampa Bay Lightning
West:Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

Sebastien Deschambault, LNH.com managing editor

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Boston Bruins | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins |3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Montreal Canadiens
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Colorado Avalanche | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Winnipeg Jets | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Ben Bishop (DAL)

Top 10 saves of 2018-19: Bishop

William Douglas, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Islanders | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Colorado Avalanche |3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames |3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Winnipeg Jets
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL)

Sergei J. Feldman, NHL.com International senior manager, editorial

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference wild cards
1. Florida Panthers | 2: Philadelphia Flyers
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Winnipeg Jets | 2: Colorado Avalanche
Conference championsEast: Pittsburgh Penguins
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion:Pittsburgh Penguins
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Evgeni Malkin (PIT)

Malkin lands at No. 28 on the Top 50 Players list

Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: New York Islanders
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: San Jose Sharks | 2: Vegas Golden Knights | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Winnipeg Jets
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup champion: Nashville Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Victor Hedman (TBL)

Pete Jensen, senior fantasy hockey editor

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Philadelphia Flyers | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference Wild Cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Steven Stamkos (TBL)

Stamkos lands at No. 17 on the Top 50 Players list

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning | 2. Toronto Maple Leafs | 3. Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 2. Philadelphia Flyers | 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1. Nashville Predators | 2. Colorado Avalanche | 3. St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 2. San Jose Sharks | 3. Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
No. 1: Dallas Stars | No. 2: Arizona Coyotes
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

Jon Lane, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning | 2. Toronto Maple Leafs | 3. Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 2. New Jersey Devils | 3. Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Montreal Canadiens | 2: New York Rangers
Central Division
1. Nashville Predators | 2. St. Louis Blues | 3. Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Calgary Flames | 2. San Jose Sharks | 3. Vegas Golden Knights
Western Conference wild cards
1: Chicago Blackhawks | 2: Arizona Coyotes
Conference championsEast:Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL)

Andrei Vasilevskiy claims the No. 1 spot on the list

Mike Morreale, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: New York Islanders
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Vegas Golden Knights | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Winnipeg Jets
Conference championsEast:Tampa Bay Lightning
West:Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL)

Tracey Myers, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: Washington Capitals | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Islanders | 2: Florida Panthers
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Arizona Coyotes
Conference championsEast:Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nikita Kucherov (TBL)

31 in 31: Tampa Bay Lightning 2019-20 season preview

Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: New Jersey Devils | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Dallas Stars | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2. Chicago Blackhawks
Conference championsEast: Toronto Maple Leafs
West:Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Mark Stone (VGK)

Rob Reese, fantasy editor

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Montreal Canadiens
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Chicago Blackhawks
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference wild cards
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference championsEast: Toronto Maple Leafs
West:Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Auston Matthews (TOR)

Ranking the Maple Leafs' big three

Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Dallas Stars | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2. Calgary Flames | 3. San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2. Arizona Coyotes
Conference ChampionsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West:Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup Champion: Nashville Predators
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Matt Duchene (NSH)

Dan Rosen, senior writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: New Jersey Devils | 3: Carolina Hurricanes
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Dallas Stars | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Arizona Coyotes
Conference championsEast:Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Victor Hedman (TBL)

31 in 31: Vegas Golden Knights 2019-20 season preview

David Satriano, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Philadelphia Flyers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: San Jose Sharks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Winnipeg Jets | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion:Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Ben Bishop (DAL)

Dave Stubbs, columnist

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Philadelphia Flyers | 3: New York Islanders
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Dallas Stars | 3: Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Vegas Golden Knights | 3: Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference wild cards
1. Winnipeg Jets | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Brayden Point (TBL)

Point checks in at No. 20 on the Top 50 Players list

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Washington Capitals | 2. New Jersey Devils | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Philadelphia Flyers
Central Division
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Colorado Avalanche | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: San Jose Sharks | 3: Calgary Flames
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Conference championsEast: Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL)

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