Early 2022-23 Stanley Cup Predictions
The NHL season is right around the corner, which means it's the perfect time to accurately predict who will be playing for Lord Stanley’s cup this summer.
Anthony’s Prediction: Colorado Avalanche vs. New York Rangers
The chances of a repeat happening in the NHL are very low, but over the last decade, we’ve seen a couple of teams do just that. The Colorado Avalanche has the skill to make it back to the final.
General Manager Joe Sakic built a talented team that wouldn’t surprise me to see them making another deep run. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen help make up one of the scariest lines in the NHL, with all three players being over a point per game.
On the blue line, Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, Cale Makar, looks to continue his dominant career as one of the league’s most dynamic young stars.
With goaltender Darcy Kuemper gone, Colorado looks to a tandem of Alex Georgiev and Pavel Francouz to bring them back to the promised land, and if they can at least get average goalie play, Colorado will be the team to beat yet again.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers built a contender overnight. Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider lead the way offensively, while elite defenseman Adam Fox continues to develop as one of the league’s best blueliners.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin is one of, if not the best goaltenders in the league. Last season he posted 2.07 goals against average, and a very impressive .935 save percentage winning him the Vezina Trophy for league’s best goalie.
Younger players, like Alexis Lafreniére and Kaapo Kakko, need to develop properly, and if they can do that, the Rangers could see their first Stanley Cup victory since 1994.
Ben’s Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Edmonton Oilers
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final was one to remember, and the 2023 Stanley Cup Final will be a rematch to remember.
In the Eastern Conference, we have the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes made it to game seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season before falling to the New York Rangers.
This offseason had a couple of key contributors exit in free agency. Forwards Vincent Trochek, Nino Niederreiter and Max Domi moved on. While on defense, the Hurricanes lost Tony DeAngelo, Ian Cole and Brendan Smith.
General Manager Don Waddell made some big splashes in hopes of replacing these departures.
The Hurricanes traded for six-time thirty-goal scorer Max Pacioretty and Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Brent Burns. Alongside signing forwards Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan and Ondrej Kase.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen should be healthy for this year's playoff run. He will look to anchor the team to its first Stanley Cup Final appearance since they lifted Lord Stanley in 2006.
In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers will look to build on their appearance in the Western Conference Final this season, where they got swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche.
Hart Trophy-winning forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will likely continue to carry the load offensively while being helped by a supporting cast of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman.
Defenseman Tyson Barrie and Darnell Nurse will help secure the blueline, contributing offensively as they combined for 76 points last season.
The Oilers' main issue last season was goaltending, and this offseason, General Manager Ken Holland inked Jack Campbell to a five-year 25 million dollar deal in hopes of solving that problem.
If the Oilers can stay healthy, they have a great chance to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
Owen’s Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Calgary Flames
Following a second-round exit for the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames, both franchises remain hungry for a quest to the cup.
Heading into this season, the Hurricanes have the firepower capability to reach the promised land with the offseason acquisitions of former Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, who will back the blue line, and veteran forward Max Pacioretty, who they hope will fill the voids of Tony DeAngelo and Vincent Trochek.
Carolina also added some depth signings, adding Ondrej Kase, Lane Pederson, and Paul Statsny over the off-season to guide their young core of Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas, and Andrei Svechnikov as they hope to raise a banner to the rafters of PNC Arena for the first time since 2006.
Despite the losses of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, the Calgary Flames of the Western Conference remain optimistic that this is their year.
General Manager Brad Treliving worked this offseason tirelessly to make up for those losses by picking up Jonathan Huberdeau, a consistent 60-point scorer, the gritty defensemen MacKenzie Weegar, and two-way center Nazem Kadri, who just came off of his best season, with a great postseason performance.
The Flames are now easily one of the deepest teams in the Western Conference. They’re backed by one of the best goaltenders in the league, Jacob Markstrom, who averaged a .922 save percentage last year and needs to stay solid in net as Calgary looks to earn their second title.
Matt’s Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Edmonton Oilers
While the Tampa Bay Lightning just missed out on making history by completing a three-peat. This Tampa team is still deep enough to make it back to the finals.
Captain Steven Stamkos had a career year, tallying 106 points after years of battling injuries. Tampa was also able to lock up key factors in their depth by extending Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli.
On defense Tampa’s biggest loss was trading away Ryan McDonagh for Philippe Myers. Tampa extended Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak, and went out to sign Ian Cole and Haydn Fleury.
Andrei Vasilevsky is still the real deal in net as a top-two goaltender. Tampa’s quest for a dynasty is still at large.
Over in the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers finally made some noise for their passionate fanbase. Sadly the Oilers were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Finals, who went on to hoist the Stanley Cup.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been tearing up the Pacific lately along with Zach Hyman and Evander Kane. Prospect Dylan Holloway has looked promising throughout the preseason.
At the blue line, it seems a little thin for Edmonton it may not be the deepest defense. But Darnell Nurse, Tyson Barrie and Evan Bouchard are still a solid three.
The Oilers have finally gotten help to fix the goaltending issues. Edmonton went out to sign Jack Campbell, who agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with the hope to relieve the problem in net. Edmonton looks to win its first Stanley Cup since the Great One’s era.
Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.
Ben Palillo is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bgp5079@psu.edu.
Owen Gelber is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email omg5144@psu.edu.
Matt Cabram is a third-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email
mwc5817@psu.edu.
