Stanley Cup predictions for 2022-23 NHL season

The Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, according to NHL.com staff writers and editors.

Of the 15 staffers who made their preseason predictions, six picked Carolina to win the Cup for the first time since 2006, while four predicted the Avalanche to repeat as champs.
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers got two votes each, and the Tampa Bay Lightning had one.
If the Hurricanes win the Cup, forward Sebastian Aho will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs, five of the six who picked Carolina to win said. Forward Andrei Svechnikov got the other two votes.
Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon got three Conn Smythe picks, with the other going to last season's winner, defenseman Cale Makar.
Connor McDavid of the Oilers got two picks for Conn Smythe, and Panthers forwards Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, and Lightning forward Brayden Point each got one vote.
Though they weren't picked to win the Cup, the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames were each picked by three staffers to reach the Cup Final. The Nashville Predators also got one pick to reach the Final.
Here is how our staffers picked:

Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Islanders | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference champions
East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Jim Cerny, managing editor

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: New York Islanders
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: Ottawa Senators
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Nashville Predators | 2: Winnipeg Jets
Conference champions
East: Florida Panthers
West: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Brian Compton, managing editor

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Columbus Blue Jackets | 2: New York Islanders
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference champions
East: New York Rangers
West: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup champion: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Washington Capitals
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vegas Golden Knights
Western Conference wild cards
1: Los Angeles Kings | 2: St. Louis Blues
Conference champions
East:Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

William Douglas, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Washington Capitals
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: St. Louis Blues
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Nashville Predators
Conference champions
East: New York Rangers
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Anna Dua, fantasy editor

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Ottawa Senators
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: Vancouver Canucks | 2: Nashville Predators
Conference champions
East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes

Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Washington Capitals | 2: New York Islanders
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Dallas Stars
Conference champions
East:Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Boston Bruins
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Ottawa Senators | 2: Detroit Red Wings
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: Vegas Golden Knights | 2: Vancouver Canucks
Conference champions
East:Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion:Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: New Jersey Devils
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Vancouver Canucks | 3: Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Vegas Golden Knights
Conference champions
East:Tampa Bay Lightning
West:Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup champion: Tampa Bay Lightning
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

Tracey Myers, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Boston Bruins | 2: Columbus Blue Jackets
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Vegas Golden Knights
Western Conference wild cards
1: Dallas Stars | 2: Los Angeles Kings
Conference champions
East:Tampa Bay Lightning
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Toronto Maple Leafs | 3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Columbus Blue Jackets
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Ottawa Senators
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Nashville Predators | 3: Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Los Angeles Kings
Western Conference wild cards
1: Vancouver Canucks | 2: Vegas Golden Knights
Conference champions
East: Florida Panthers
West: Calgary Flames
Stanley Cup champion: Florida Panthers
Conn Smythe Trophy winner:Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Columbus Blue Jackets
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Colorado Avalanche | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Minnesota Wild | 2: Los Angeles Kings
Conference champions
East:Carolina Hurricanes
West: Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion:Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Dan Rosen, senior writer

Atlantic Division
1: Florida Panthers | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: New York Islanders | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Los Angeles Kings | 2: Nashville Predators
Conference champions
East: Carolina Hurricanes
West: Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup champion: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

David Satriano, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Tampa Bay Lightning | 2: Florida Panthers | 3: Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
1: Carolina Hurricanes | 2: New York Rangers | 3: Columbus Blue Jackets
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Pittsburgh Penguins | 2: Boston Bruins
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: Minnesota Wild | 3: Nashville Predators
Pacific Division
1: Calgary Flames | 2: Edmonton Oilers | 3: Vegas Golden Knights
Western Conference wild cards
1: St. Louis Blues | 2: Dallas Stars
Conference champions
East: Carolina Hurricanes
West:Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion: Carolina Hurricanes
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes

Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Atlantic Division
1: Toronto Maple Leafs | 2: Tampa Bay Lightning | 3: Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
1: New York Rangers | 2: Carolina Hurricanes | 3: Pittsburgh Penguins
Eastern Conference wild cards
1: Washington Capitals | 2: Columbus Blue Jackets
Central Division
1: Colorado Avalanche | 2: St. Louis Blues | 3: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1: Edmonton Oilers | 2: Calgary Flames | 3: Vancouver Canucks
Western Conference wild cards
1: Minnesota Wild | 2: Vegas Golden Knights
Conference champions
East:New York Rangers
West:Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champion:Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe Trophy winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche