With the 2025-26 NHL season getting underway Tuesday, here are Evan Rawal’s predictions for the major award winners, conference finalists, and, yes, the Stanley Cup champion:

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP of regular season) – Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Eichel is Mr. Everything for Vegas and finished fifth on the Hart ballot last season. With 100-point winger Mitch Marner now by his side, he’ll reach a new level and take home the trophy. 

Vezina Trophy (Top goal tender) – Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

The 29-year-old will take home his second Vezina after carrying an average New York team to the postseason. The Rangers go as far as Shesterkin carries them.

James Norris Memorial Trophy (Top goal defenseman) – Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche 

It’ll be a battle between Makar and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks for the foreseeable future for the Norris, but Makar will take home his second straight after flirting with a 100-point season. 

Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) – Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens  

If Zeev Buium catches his footing in Minnesota, he’ll be Demidov’s biggest competition, but the Russian with the magic hands will beat him out. 

Rocket Richard Trophy (Top goal scorer – Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers  

McDavid decided he wanted to score goals a few years back and dropped 64 in one year. He’s mentioned wanting to do that again this year, and when he puts his mind to something, no one has shown they can really stop him. 

Art Ross Trophy (Top point scorer) – Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Can anyone slow down the Russian in the regular season? No one has shown they can, so it’s a safe bet that he’ll take home this award yet again.

Presidents’ Trophy (Top overall record) – Carolina Hurricanes  

Carolina is a very good regular season that will rack up points playing all the bad teams in the Metro. Whether that regular season success will finally translate to a Stanley Cup is very much up in the air.

Eastern Conference final – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes 

The Hurricanes will find themselves in a familiar spot, while the Lightning will take advantage of a tired Panthers team missing their most important player. 

Western Conference final – Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

It’s about time we see the last two Cup winners to come out of the West meeting again in the postseason. This time, a trip to the final will be on the line. Two stacked teams that would put on one heck of a show.

Stanley Cup champion – Vegas Golden Knights 

Vegas is a stacked roster up and down with a general manager who won’t be afraid to make improvements come the trade deadline.