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NHL predictions 2025: Sporting News' expert picks for conference winners, awards, Stanley Cup champion

The puck is down on the 2025-26 NHL season.

With temperatures outside cooling, it's about to heat up indoors on the ice, as 32 hockey teams begin the long-term quest for the Stanley Cup at the beginning of October.

The defending champion entering this season is the last as last fall — the Florida Panthers . Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and the rest of Paul Maurice's crew successfully defended their title this past spring, defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers yet again in the finals.

But it's a new season, and there are plenty of hungry teams aiming to knock off the two-time champions from South Beach — including McDavid and an Edmonton com

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