The Avalanche, who are the top seed in the Western Conference, were picked by seven of 16 staffers to win it all. The Flames, the second seed in the West, were picked by four staffers.
The only other team to be picked by more than one staffer was the Florida Panthers, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, which got two picks.
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, as did the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs each received one pick.
As for the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon got four picks while Colorado defenseman Cale Makar got three picks.
Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom got two picks, while Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk got one pick.
The others to get votes for the Conn Smythe were forwards Jonathan Huberdeau of the Panthers (two), Sebastian Aho of the Hurricanes, and Mitchell Marner of the Maple Leafs, and defenseman Victor Hedman of the Lightning.
Here is how the 16 NHL.com staffers picked:
