2021-22 NHL Season Predictions

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 Drive4Five Featured

The 2021-22 NHL season is almost here! To celebrate, five Drive4Five contributors predicted how they think the year will go.

Stanley Cup winners included the Jets, Avalanche, Golden Knights and Islanders (x2). Only two contributors predicted Connor McDavid to win the Hart Trophy – Brayden Point got two votes and Auston Matthews got one, too. All contributors have the Islanders making the playoffs – and finishing in the top-three of the Metropolitan Division.

For the full predictions, read below!

David

Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. New York Islanders
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. New York Rangers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Atlantic Division
1. Boston Bruins
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Florida Panthers
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC1)
5. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)
6. Ottawa Senators
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Buffalo Sabres

Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Minnesota Wild (WC1)
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Dallas Stars
7. Nashville Predators
8. Arizona Coyotes

Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Vancouver Canucks
3. Edmonton Oilers
4. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)
5. Seattle Kraken
6. San Jose Sharks
7. Anaheim Ducks
8. Calgary Flames

First Round
Bruins over Canadiens in 5
Maple Leafs over Capitals in 7
Islanders over Hurricanes in 6
Lightning over Panthers in 6
Avalanche over Kings in 4
Golden Knights over Wild in 6
Jets over Blackhawks in 5
Oilers over Canucks in 7

Second Round
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 6
Islanders over Lightning in 7
Avalanche over Oilers in 4
Jets over Golden Knights in 7

Third Round
Bruins over Islanders in 6
Jets over Avalanche in 7

Stanley Cup
Jets over Bruins in 6
Conn Smyth Trophy Winner: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jets

Hart Trophy Winner: Brayden Point, Lightning
James Norris Trophy Winner: Charlie McAvoy, Bruins
Vezina Trophy Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Jets
Frank J. Selke Trophy Winner: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Calder Trophy Winner: Trevor Zegras, Ducks
Maurice Richard Trophy Winner: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
Jack Adams Award Winner: Peter Laviolette, Capitals
General Manager of the Year Award: Kevin Cheveldayoff, Jets

David has the Jets taking the league by storm in his 2021-22 NHL season predictions (Photo courtesy of Jason Halstead/Getty Images).

Jacob

Metropolitan Division
1. New York Islanders
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. Washington Capitals
4. New York Rangers (WC2)
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Boston Bruins
3. Florida Panthers
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC1)
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Ottawa Senators
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Buffalo Sabres

Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Dallas Stars
7. Nashville Predators
8. Arizona Coyotes

Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Vancouver Canucks
3. Edmonton Oilers
4. Los Angeles Kings (WC1)
5. Seattle Kraken (WC2)
6. San Jose Sharks
7. Anaheim Ducks
8. Calgary Flames

First Round
Islanders over Rangers in 5
Hurricanes over Capitals in 7
Lightning over Maple Leafs in 7
Bruins over Panthers in 5
Avalanche over Kraken in 6
Golden Knights over Kings in 4
Wild over Jets in 7
Oilers over Canucks in 5

Second Round
Islanders over Hurricanes in 7
Bruins over Lightning in 6
Avalanche over Wild in 5
Golden Knights over Oilers in 6

Third Round
Islanders over Bruins in 5
Golden Knights over Avalanche in 7

Stanley Cup
Islanders over Golden Knights in 6
Conn Smyth Trophy Winner: Mathew Barzal, Islanders

Hart Trophy Winner: Brayden Point, Lightning
James Norris Trophy Winner: Victor Hedman, Lightning
Vezina Trophy Winner: Semyon Varlamov, Islanders
Frank J. Selke Trophy Winner: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Calder Trophy Winner: Cole Caufield, Canadians
Maurice Richard Trophy Winner: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
Jack Adams Award Winner: Jon Cooper, Lightning
General Manager of the Year Award: Lou Lamoriello, Islanders

Coming off of back-to-back Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Awards, Lou Lamoriello will win a third in Jacob’s 2021-22 NHL season predictions (Photo courtesy of Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke/Newsday).

Aidan

Metropolitan Division
1. New York Islanders
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
4. Washington Capitals (WC2)
5. New York Rangers
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Boston Bruins
4. Florida Panthers (WC1)
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Buffalo Sabres

Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Minnesota Wild
3. Winnipeg Jets
4. Dallas Stars (WC2)
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. Nashville Predators
8. Arizona Coyotes

Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Calgary Flames
3. Seattle Kraken
4. Edmonton Oilers (WC1)
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Los Angeles Kings
7. San Jose Sharks
8. Anaheim Ducks

First Round
Lightning over Capitals in 5
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Islanders over Panthers in 6
Hurricanes over Penguins in 6
Avalanche over Stars in 5
Jets over Wild in 7
Golden Knights over Oilers in 5
Kraken over Flames in 6

Second Round
Lightning over Bruins in 6
Islanders over Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche over Jets in 5
Golden Knights over Kraken in 6

Third Round
Lightning over Islanders in 7
Avalanche over Golden Knights in 6

Stanley Cup
Avalanche over Lightning in 7
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Nathan MacKinnon

Hart Trophy Winner: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
James Norris Trophy Winner: Charlie McAvoy, Bruins
Vezina Trophy Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning
Frank J. Selke Trophy Winner: Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Calder Trophy Winner: Cole Caufield, Canadiens
Maurice Richard Trophy Winner: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
Jack Adams Award Winner: Barry Trotz, Islanders
General Manager of the Year Award: Ron Francis, Kraken

Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best goalies in hockey and in Aidan’s 2021-22 NHL season predictions, he thinks Vasilevskiy will be recognized as such (Photo courtesy of Nick Wass/AP Photo).

Jack

Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes
2. New York Islanders
3. Washington Capitals
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (WC2)
5. New York Rangers
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Boston Bruins
4. Florida Panthers (WC1)
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Buffalo Sabres

Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Minnesota Wild
4. Chicago Blackhawks (WC1)
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Dallas Stars
7. Nashville Predators
8. Arizona Coyotes

Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Los Angelo’s Kings
4. Seattle Kraken (WC2)
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Calgary Flames
8. San Jose Sharks

First Round
Lightning over Penguins in 6
Panthers over Hurricanes in 7
Islanders over Capitals in 6
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Avalanche over Kraken in 5
Golden Knights over Blackhawks in 6
Jets over Wild in 7
Oilers over Kings in 6

Second Round
Lightning over Bruins in 7
Islanders over Panthers in 6
Avalanche over Jets in 7
Oilers over Golden Knights in 7

Third Round
Islanders over Lightning in 7
Avalanche over Oilers in 6

Stanley Cup
Islanders over Avalanche in 7
Conn Smyth Winner: Mathew Barzal, Islanders

Hart Trophy Winner: Connor McDavid, Oilers
James Norris Trophy Winner: Cale Makar, Avalanche
Vezina Trophy Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning
Frank J. Selke Trophy Winner: Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
Calder Trophy Winner: Trevor Zegras, Ducks
Maurice Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals
Jack Adams Award Winner: Barry Trotz, Islanders
General Manager of the Year Award: Lou Lamoriello

Will

Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. New York Islanders
4. Philadelphia Flyers (WC1)
5. New York Rangers
6. Pittsburgh Penguins
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Boston Bruins
4. Florida Panthers (WC2)
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Ottawa Senators
7. Detroit Red Wings
8. Buffalo Sabres

Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. St. Louis Blues
4. Minnesota Wild (WC1)
5. Nashville Predators (WC2)
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. Dallas Stars
8. Arizona Coyotes

Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Los Angeles Kings
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Calgary Flames
6. Seattle Kraken
7. Anaheim Ducks
8. San Jose Sharks

First Round
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Lightning over Panthers in 5
Islanders over Hurricanes in 6
Capitals over Flyers in 6
Golden Knights over Predators in 6
Oliers over Kings in 7
Avalanche over Wild in 5
Jets over Blues in 4

Second Round
Lightning over Bruins in 5
Islanders over Capitals in 5
Golden Knights over Oilers in 4
Avalanche over Jets in 6

Third Round
Islanders over Lightning in 6
Colorado over Golden Knights in 7

Stanley Cup
Golden Knights over Islanders in 7
Conn Smyth Trophy Winner: Robin Lehner, Golden Knights

Hart Trophy Winner: Connor McDavid, Oilers
James Norris Trophy Winner: Charlie McAvoy, Bruins
Vezina Trophy Winner: Carter Hart, Flyers
Frank J. Selke Trophy Winner: Mark Stone, Golden Knights
Calder Trophy Winner: Trevor Zegras, Ducks
Maurice Richard Trophy Winner: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs
Jack Adams Award Winner: Todd McLellan, Kings
General Manager of the Year Award: Ron Francis, Kraken

Robin Lehner beating the Islanders in the Stanley Cup? Will thinks it will happen in his 2021-22 NHL season predictions (Photo courtesy of Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images).

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