The 2025-26 NHL season is here, and with that comes fun prediction articles. The team at the Hockey News' San Jose Sharks site has put together 32 predictions for the NHL season.

William Espy and I give our honest opinion on each question. Some answers that could make us look like geniuses and some that will make us look silly at season's end.

Happy opening week, Sharks fans. Enjoy.

Who will win the Hart Trophy? 

• William - At the end of the day, it’s a tough decision but I think it’s Nathan MacKinnon’s year.
• Spencer - Connor McDavid wins it.

Who will win the Art Ross?

• William - Assuming he stays healthy, Connor McDavid.
• Spencer - Connor McDavid, it’s hard to bet against him.

Who will win the Rocket Richard? 

• William - It’s hard for me to bet against Leon Draisaitl. McDavid took less money for them to win, so Draisaitl needs to live up to being the Oilers’ top paid player. 
• Spencer - Auston Matthews will return to form and prove he doesn’t need Mitch Marner on his wing.

Who will win the Norris Trophy?

• William - Zach Werenski took a major step forward last season, and I think he does the same this year while claiming his first Norris. 
• Spencer - Cale Makar will win again. It’s going to be a tight race between him, Werenski, and Quinn Hughes, but I think Makar takes it.

Who will win the Vezina Trophy?

• William - It’ll likely be Hellebuyck or Vasilevsky, this time, I’ll go with Vasilevsky. 
• Spencer - Connor Hellebuyck will win it again, but can he show up in the playoffs?

Who will win the Calder Trophy? 

• William - It’ll certainly be a tight race, while Demidov and Schaefer are great picks, I’ll go a little off the board with this one and select Ryan Leonard. 
• Spencer - As my colleague mentioned, it will be close. My picks are between Ivan Demidov and Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders. I do think Schaefer will beat out Demidov.

Who will win the Selke Trophy?

• William - Barkov being out really opened a door here, I think Nico Hischier finally gets his hardware. 
• Spencer - Anthony Cirelli will win it with Aleksander Barkov out for the year.

Who will win the Jack Adams Award?

• William - I think Martin St. Louis walks away with the trophy after what should be a strong season in Montreal.
• Spencer - Craig Berube, it’s about time a Maple Leafs coach gets some love from the voters.

Who will be the first coach fired? 

• William - If the Nashville Predators struggle again, as they likely will, Andrew Brunette will get the short end of the stick.
• Spencer - For me, it’s a toss-up between Andrew Brunette and Lindy Ruff. I would say that it will be Ruff, especially if they go on a long losing streak like years past.

Which GM is feeling the most heat?

• William - Kevyn Adams is a great answer, however I think Steve Yzerman could be in trouble if the Red Wings don’t finally break into the playoffs.
• Spencer - Kevyn Adams in Buffalo. The Buffalo Sabres have been a dumpster fire for the last 10 years. It may be time to start fresh and bring a whole new front office.

Which player is due for a breakout?

• William - Cutter Gauthier had a strong rookie season for the Ducks, and I think he takes it to another level this season.
• Spencer - For me, it’s a toss up between Connor Bedard and Shane Wright. Both players have so much pressure on them. I will ultimately say Bedard, I’d love to see him dominate this season.

Which team is due for a breakout? 

• William - Although I don’t see them necessarily making it all the way to the playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks should take a major step forward as a whole.
• Spencer - Detroit Red Wings, they have been rebuilding for a while but the NHL is better with them in the playoffs. Hopefully, this is the year they can figure it out and get into the playoffs. 

Which player will suffer a setback? 

• William - Matt Duchene, while he’s not the oldest player by any means, it seems as though Father Time should start affecting his play in the near future. 
• Spencer - Alex Ovechkin, after breaking the record it feels like he has done everything he wanted to do in the NHL. In what could be his last NHL year, it seems like he could struggle a bit this season.

Which team will suffer a setback? 

• William - Washington Capitals, I think they still make the playoffs, but they’ll definitely fall from 111 points. 
• Spencer - Washington Capitals, last season it was all about Ovechkin. Now that the chase is over, I feel like they will come back down to earth.

Who will win the Presidents’ Trophy as the best regular-season team? 

• William - Vegas Golden Knights, no notes.
• Spencer - Toronto Maple Leafs, this team has something to prove after losing Marner. They will want to show everyone they are just as good and the best way to do that is by winning the Presidents' Trophy. 

Who will win the Stanley Cup? 

• William - Winnipeg Jets, I know a lot of Maple Leafs and Canadiens fans won’t be happy if that’s the way the Stanley Cup returns to Canada, but I think they’re ready.
• Spencer - Dallas Stars, they’ve been a powerhouse in the West for years, this is the year they do it.

Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP? 

• William - Playoffs have never been Connor Hellebuyck’s strong suit, but Marc-Andre Fleury had the same issue early in his career and figured it out. Hellebuyck will do the same.
• Spencer - Mikko Rantanen will have a full year under his belt in Dallas, he will carry the club to the promised land and win playoff MVP.

What Canadian team will go the furthest? 

• William - Winnipeg Jets - see above.
• Spencer - Toronto Maple Leafs - it’s just their time.

Who will have the best odds of winning the Draft Lottery? 

• William - Nashville Predators. Unless something drastically changes, the Blackhawks and Sharks should take a step forward, while the Predators likely won’t. 
• Spencer - Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux had Crosby, Crosby will have McKenna.

What player will benefit the most from a change in scenery? 

• William - Matias Macceli, he’s penciled into the Maple Leafs’ top-six and as a result, his production will likely explode. 
• Spencer - Most will say Marner, but we all know he will be a no-show in the playoffs. So, I’m going to say Nikolaj Ehlers with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Which team will suffer the most from buyer’s remorse?. 

• William - Los Angeles, while Cody Ceci does some nice things, that contract likely won’t age well. 
• Spencer - It has to be the Nashville Predators still, no? They spent millions last off-season and had a terrible year. The same could happen again this season.

Which star player will be traded (and to where)? 

• William - Rasmus Andersson to the Toronto Maple Leafs, I wanted to say Vegas, but I don’t see how they make it work.
• Spencer - Evgeni Malkin to the Florida Panthers while Barkov is out injured.

Which rookie are you the most excited to see? 

• William - Matthew Schaefer, it’s not often we see a high-end defenseman immediately make the jump to the NHL, should be interesting to watch.
• Spencer -  Michael Misa, the Sharks remind me of the Maple Leafs. They have a ton of young stars. I’m excited to see what Misa can do. 

Who will challenge Connor McDavid for the Art Ross Trophy?

• William - Nathan MacKinnon, both are insanely talented and if anyone can beat McDavid, it’ll be MacKinnon.
• Spencer - Leon Draisaitl, how cool would that be? Two teammates and best friends battling it out for the Art Ross Trophy?

What off-season move will be the most impactful? 

• William - Mitch Marner, the Golden Knights are going to be unstoppable in the Pacific.
• Spencer - Noah Dobson of the Montreal Canadiens. He got traded, got the big extension, he has a huge opportunity to help that franchise.

Who is the NHL’s most overpaid player?

• William - At this point, I’d likely have to go with Seth Jones.
• Spencer - It’s always going to be Darnell Nurse, his contract is atrocious. 

Who is the NHL’s most underpaid player?

• William - Connor McDavid, as weird as it is to say, even with his new extension he won’t be the highest paid player on his own team, let alone the league. 
• Spencer - It has to be Sidney Crosby. For almost his entire career, he has earned $8.7 million to give his team a chance to win.

Whose bad season was an indicator of reality?

• William - The Boston Bruins, the days of Bergeron, Rask and Chara are well behind us at this point, and a rebuild should be around the corner despite some strong pieces. 
• Spencer - The Penguins, last season, were proof that they need to rebuild and fast.

Whose good season was an aberration?

• William - The Capitals, the end of the Ovechkin era is drawing closer and closer. 
• Spencer -  I’d have to agree with William and go with the Washington Capitals.

What older player will show signs of aging?

• William - Alex Ovechkin, it’s time for him to start slowing down. Now there’s no more build for a record, he’s the most accomplished goal scorer in NHL history and it’s almost time to wave goodbye.
• Spencer - Steven Stamkos, after leaving Tampa Bay, it felt like only a matter of time until he fell off completely. 

What backup goalie could end up as a No. 1?

• William - I think Jet Greaves is a phenomenal answer, but I think if Yaroslav Askarov struggles in San Jose, Alex Nedeljkovic could be given the net for a while. 
• Spencer - Jet Greaves may be the only viable answer. He will likely start as the backup, but will become the starter by season’s end.

Which city will get the next NHL team?

• William - Atlanta. I think the NHL is solely focused on expanding in the United States for the time being, and it’s a major market they need to reach. I also wouldn’t be surprised if another team pops up in Arizona sooner than later. 
• Spencer - I want to say Quebec, but I think it’ll be Houston.

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