After an electric NHL Playoffs, it's never too late to start thinking about the value that next season brings us.
Our staff whipped up some of the best predictions for the 2026-27 NHL season, and you're going to want to be on the lookout for some of our best value picks.
Let's dive into our NHL future picks, predictions, best bets and NHL picks.
NHL Futures Predictions
Montreal Canadiens to Win the Stanley Cup (4.9 Cents, Polymarket)
By Greg Liodice
I’m all for sneaky value, so this pick shouldn’t surprise you.
If you’ve read my stories over the past season, you’ll remember how much of a fan I was of the Montreal Canadiens.
I don’t think this past season was a fluke, because most of the pieces are in place for the Habs.
They have most of their core locked up; now it’s about enhancing the roster.
General Manager Kent Hughes has always been a shrewd businessman, even dating back to when he was an agent. And given how he built this team, I have a feeling he already has an idea what he wants to do.
As of right now, Montreal has just under $11 million in cap space, and based on what we heard after its season ended, it was that Brendan Gallagher and his $6.5 million contract were likely moving on from the team.
Whether he gets bought out or traded, that still means a ton of cap room opens up.
The Habs will need to re-sign Zack Bolduc and possibly Kirby Dach, and they will also have to make an (albeit, inexpensive) Arber Xhekaj decision.
But beyond that, the core is exceptional. Adding a depth forward like an Oliver Bjorkstrand or an Ilya Mikheyev can really bolster this roster.
Prediction markets are still pretty behind on Montreal. Even though the Canadiens made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, they also aren’t a sexy pick.
Which is why I'm looking at Polymarket here.
You can buy a Canadiens ‘Yes’ contract for 4.9 cents on Polymarket’s “2027 NHL Champion,” and if you put $100 on it, it could end up winning you $815.
I genuinely believe that now is the best time to buy stock on the Habs, because I have to imagine that they’re going to be active on the free agent market. And should they coup a top free agent, the value will ultimately sink.
Connor Bedard Hart Trophy Winner (+1000)
By Tony Sartori
Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid both won the Hart Trophy within their first two NHL seasons. At +1000, it is not unrealistic to think Connor Bedard could join them as he prepares to enter his fourth season.
His game has improved each year, with noticeable gains in speed and strength last season. Bedard’s production followed, as he set career highs in goals per game, assists per game and points per game.
He will be 21 when the season begins in October, and there is reason to expect continued development as he gains experience. In 2025-26, Bedard recorded 1.09 points per game, an increase of 0.27 from the previous season.
If he remains healthy, a similar increase is possible. Over a full season, that would put him in the range of 110 to 120 points, which would likely place him among the league leaders.
That projection is reasonable (if not conservative) given his age and expected progression, along with improvements to the Chicago Blackhawks roster. Chicago is going to add scoring support from Anton Frondell and Roman Kansterov, both of whom could see time alongside Bedard at even strength and on special teams.
Frondell, the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, brings a strong shot that could benefit from Bedard’s playmaking. Meanwhile, Kansterov set a KHL record with 36 goals and 64 points in a single season by a player under 22.
Additional roster improvements are likely, given Chicago’s salary cap flexibility and trade assets. General manager Kyle Davidson has indicated the team will be aggressive this offseason as it builds around Bedard.
Macklin Celebrini Hart Trophy Winner (+400)
By Nick Griffith
As much as I'm a big believer in Bedard having a big season next year, I'm looking toward the Pacific Coast instead.
Macklin Celebrini doesn't need to improve much on last season to win the Hart Trophy. The bigger question is whether the Sharks can take a step forward as a team.
In his second season, Celebrini finished fourth in both points (115) and goals (45) while San Jose stayed in the playoff race into April despite rolling out one of the league's worst defensive groups. With more than $40 million in cap space and an already loaded young forward core, the Sharks are well positioned to address that this offseason.
I'll take a closer look at San Jose's points total and playoff odds once those markets open, but for now, I'm jumping on Celebrini for the Hart.
He would be the fourth player to win the award before turning 21, joining Sidney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, and Connor McDavid.
Might as well add the next Canadian superstar to the list.
Minnesota Wild Western Conference Winner (+600)
By Nick Griffith
The Minnesota Wild have some work to do this offseason, and finding a top-six center sits at the top of the list.
They will almost certainly be involved in the Dylan Larkin sweepstakes, though whether they have enough left to pull it off after moving substantial pieces for Quinn Hughes is a fair question.
That said, Bill Guerin has a knack for getting into the trade and free agent mix. He also assembled the pieces for a gold medal run at the Olympics, and this is essentially a bet on him doing it again.
If Larkin does not end up in Minnesota, Guerin will find another way to upgrade down the middle. That need became painfully clear in the playoffs when Joel Eriksson Ek went down and left the Wild badly exposed against Colorado.
The offensive talent is already there. Minnesota was one of just two teams in the league with multiple 40-goal scorers this season, with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy both reaching the mark. Add Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber on the back end, and the foundation looks like a Cup contender.
The goaltending picture is equally encouraging. Rumblings about moving Jesper Wallstedt feel unlikely given how well he played down the stretch and into the playoffs, though Guerin would certainly listen if it opened the door to a significant upgrade elsewhere.
Having Filip Gustavsson alongside him gives Minnesota one of the better tandems in the league, and Carolina just proved how effective the previously unconventional two-goalie postseason model can be.
The Wild were a popular sleeper pick this past season, so why not go back to them in 2026-27? Kaprizov, Hughes, Faber, Boldy, a capable situation in net, and an aggressive general manager with a full understanding that the window is open.
Sign me up.
Colorado Avalanche Western Conference Winner (+600)
Time for me to play contrarian.
The Colorado Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy last season and appeared positioned for a deep playoff run. They opened the postseason by winning eight of their first nine games.
However, injuries and fatigue affected the team in the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Participation in a grueling Olympic run may have contributed to the challenges for Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, who are central to the team’s success but were battered by injuries during the Western Conference final.
There is little reason to expect similar issues in a normal 2026-27 season. On paper, Colorado remains one of the top teams in the league and should be motivated following last season’s playoff exit.
Furthermore, most of the roster is expected to return. Each of Colorado’s top 10 point scorers from 2025-26 is under contract for next season.
Goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood are also under contract, providing continuity in net. With this core intact, another deep playoff run is a strong possibility.
