The 2024-25 NHL season is officially in the rearview mirror. Sixteen teams in the league created postseason brackets, with 16 being eliminated.
Before the first round series began, ESPN experts identified picks for each matchup, along with teams that will win the Stanley Cup in June and players who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP).
Details: Full schedule
Megapreview
A guide to a wrapped fan
Bet Intel
Flaws in candidates
Atlantic Division
Editor’s Pick
2 Related
Sean Allen: Maple Leafs in 7
Blake Bolden: 6 Maple Leafs
John Buccigross: Maple Leafs in 7
Ryan Callahan: Maple Leafs in 6
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Maple Leafs in 5
Sachin Chandan: Six Senators
Meghan Chayka: 5 Maple Leafs
Ryan S. Clark: Seven Senators
Rachel Dorily: 6 Maple Leafs
Ray Ferraro: Maple Leafs in 7
Tim Cabana: 5 Maple Leafs
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Maple Leafs in 5
Vince Masi: Seven Senators
Victoria Mattiash: Maple Leafs in 6
Sean McDonough: Six Senators
Mark Messier: 6 Maple Leafs
ArdaÖcal: Maple Leafs 6
Christencilton: 6 Maple Leafs
Bob Wishsen: 6 Maple Leafs
Greg Wyshynski: Maple Leafs in 5
Consensus prediction: Maple Leafs (16 out of 20 picks)
Sean Allen: Six Panthers
Blake Bolden: Seven Lightning
John Buccigross: 7-year-old lightning
Ryan Callahan: Seven Lightning
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in 6
Sachin Chandan: Five Lightning
Meghan Chayka: Six Lightning
Ryan S. Clark: 7-year-old Panthers
Rachel Dorily: 7-year-old lightning
Ray Ferraro: Six Lightning
Tim Cabana: 7-year-old lightning
Peter Lawrence Liddell: 7-year-old lightning
Vince Mai: Six Lightning
Victoria Mattiash: Six Panthers
Sean McDonough: 7-year-old lightning
Mark Messier: Seven Lightning
ArdaÖcal: 6 Panthers
Kristen Silton: 7-year-old lightning
Bob Wischusen: 7-year-old lightning
Greg Wyshynski: 7-year-old lightning
Consensus Prediction: Lightning (15 out of 20 picks)
Metropolitan Division
Sean Allen: 6 Capitals
Blake Bolden: Canadiens in 6
John Buccigross: 7 Capitals
Ryan Callahan: Five Capitals
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Capital of 5 people
Sachin Chandan: 5 Capitals
Meghan Chayka: Capital of 5 people
Ryan S. Clark: Six Capitals
Rachel Doerrie: Five Capitals
Ray Ferraro: Five Capitals
Tim Kabana: Five Capitals
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Capital of 5 People
Vince Masi: 6 Capitals
Victoria Mattiash: The 7-year-old Canadian
Sean McDonough: Six Canadians
Mark Messier: 6 Capitals
ArdaÖcal: Seven Canadians
Kristen Shilton: Seven Capitals
Bob Wishsen: The 7-year-old Canadian
Greg Wyshynski: Capital of 5 people
Consensus forecast: Capital (16 out of 20 picks)
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Sean Allen: 5 hurricanes
Blake Bolden: Seven Demons
John Buccigross: 7 hurricanes
Ryan Callahan: Five Hurricanes
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: 6 hurricanes
Sachin Chandan: Six Demons
Meghan Chayka: 5 hurricanes
Ryan S. Clark: Seven Hurricanes
Rachel Doriley: Six Hurricanes
Ray Ferraro: 6 hurricanes
Tim Kabana: Seven Demons
Peter Lawrence Liddell: Six Hurricanes
Vince Masi: 7 hurricanes
Victoria Mattiash: Six Hurricanes
Sean McDonough: Seven Hurricanes
Mark Messier: 7 hurricanes
ArdaÖcal: Six Demons
Kristen Shilton: Four Hurricanes
Bob Wischusen: Six Hurricanes
Greg Wyshynski: 6 hurricanes
Consensus prediction: Hurricanes (16 out of 20 picks)
Central part
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Sean Allen: 5 Jets
Blake Bolden: 6 Jets
John Buccigross: Jet
Ryan Callahan: Six Jets
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: 5-person jet
Sachin Chandan: Four Jets
Meghan Chayka: Blues in 6
Ryan S. Clark: Jet
Rachel Doerrie: Blues in 7
Ray Ferraro: 7 Jets
Tim Cabana: The Jets are 7 years old
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: 6 Jets
Vince Masi: Jet
Victoria Mattiash: Six Jets
Sean McDonough: 5 Jets
Mark Messier: 6 Jets
Ardaöcal: Six Blues
Kristen Silton: Six Jets
Bob Wischusen: 6 Jets
Greg Wyshynski: 5 Jets
Consensus prediction: Jet (17 out of 20 picks)
Sean Allen: Seven Stars
Blake Bolden: Avalanche in 6
John Buccigross: Avalanche at 7 years old
Ryan Callahan: Avalanche at 7 years old
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche at 7 years old
Sachin Chandan: Avalanche in 6
Meghan Chayka: Avalanche of 6 people
Ryan S. Clark: Seven Stars
Rachel Doerrie: Avalanche in 6
Ray Ferraro: Six Avalanches
Tim Kabana: Seven Stars
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche at 7 years old
Vince Masi: Avalanche of 5 people
Victoria Matiash: Avalanche in 6
Sean McDonough: Six Avalanches
Mark Messier: 5 avalanches
ArdaÖcal: Avalanche at 7 years old
Kristen Silton: Six Avalanches
Bob Wischusen: Six Avalanches
Greg Wyshynski: Stars in 7
Consensus prediction: Avalanche (16 out of 20 picks)
Pacific Sector
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Sean Allen: Seven Wilds
Blake Bolden: 5 Golden Knights
John Buccigross: 7 Golden Knights
Ryan Callahan: Six Golden Knights
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: 6 Golden Knights
Sachin Chandan: 5 Golden Knights
Meghan Chayka: 5 Golden Knights
Ryan S. Clark: Six Golden Knights
Rachel Dorily: 6 Golden Knights
Ray Ferraro: 5 Golden Knights
Tim Cabana: 5 Golden Knights
Peter Lawrence Liddell: 5 Golden Knights
Vince Masi: 6 Golden Knights
Victoria Mattiash: Six Golden Knights
Sean McDonough: 5 Golden Knights
Mark Messier: 5 Golden Knights
ArdaÖcal: 5 Golden Knights
Kristen Shilton: 5 Golden Knights
Bob Wischusen: Six Golden Knights
Greg Wyshynski: 5 Golden Knights
Consensus prediction: Golden Knights (19 out of 20 picks)
Sean Allen: Six Kings
Blakebolden: The Seven Kings
John Buccigross: The Seven Kings
Ryan Callahan: Six Kings
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Seven Oilers
Sachin Chandan: Seven Kings
Meghan Chayka: Six Oilers
Ryan S. Clark: Seven Oilers
Rachel Dorily: The Seven Kings
Ray Ferraro: The Seven Kings
Tim Cabana: The Five Kings
Peter Lawrence Liddell: The Seven Kings
Vince Masi: Seven Oilers
Victoria Mattiash: Six Kings
Sean McDonough: Seven Kings
Mark Messier: Six Oilers
ArdaÖcal: Six Oilers
Kristen Shilton: Six Oilers
Bob Wischusen: The Seven Kings
Greg Wyshynski: Six Oilers
Consensus prediction: Kings (12 out of 20 picks)
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Stanley Cup
Sean Allen: Maple Leafs
John Batchgross: Avalanche
Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche
Sachin Chandan: Avalanche
Meghan Chaika: Golden Knights
Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights
Rachel Dorily: Avalanche
Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights
Tim Cabana: Golden Knights
Peter Lawrence Liddell: Golden Knights
Vince Masi: Lightning
Victoria Mattiash: Jets
Sean McDonough: Golden Knights
Mark Messier: Oilers
ArdaÖcal: Maple Leafs
Kristen Silton: Avalanche
Bob Wisshen: Jets
Greg Wyshynski: Star
Prediction breakdown: Golden Knights (7), Avalanches (5), Maple Leafs (2), Jets (2), Lightning (1), Oilers (1), Stars (1)
Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP)
Shawn Allen: Mitch Marner
John Batchgross: Brock Nelson
Ryan Callahan: Jack Eychel
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Cale Makar
Sachin Chandan: Nathan McKinnon
Meghan Chaika: Jack Eychelle
Ryan S. Clark: Jack Eychelle
Rachel Dorily: Nathan McKinnon
Ray Ferraro: Jack Eychel
Tim Cabana: Jack Eychelle
Peter Lawrence Liddell: Jack Eyschel
Vince Mai: Braden Point
Victoria Mattiash: Conor Helebuick
Shawn McDonough: Jack Eychelle
Mark Messier: Conor McDavid
ArdaÖcal: William Nylander
Kristen Silton: Nathan McKinnon
Bob Wischzen: Connor Helebuick
Greg Wyshynski: Jake Oettinger
The collapse of predictions: Jack Eychelle (8), Nathan McKinnon (3), Conor Helebuick (2), Mitch Marner (1), Brock Nelson (1), Kare McCal (1), Braden Point (1), Conor McDavid (1), William Nylander (1), Jake Ottingter (1).
