NHL playoff predictions 2026: First-round winners, dark horse and Stanley Cup champion

Can Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche claim another Stanley Cup championship? Are the Buffalo Sabres ready to make their mark in the postseason after winning the Atlantic Division and ending a historic playoff drought?With the Stanley Cup playoffs upon us, The Athletic polled its NHL staff on their picks for who will win each first-round series, the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup, as well as picks for the most overrated team and a playoff dark horse.Advertisement