It’s the 2025 NHL Fearless Playoff Predictions – Round One

It’s time again for the most wonderful time of the year. The Stanley Cup Playoffs. 16 teams left in the standings.  In two weeks, half of those teams will be gone…and so on…and so on…

And here we go, yet again, with the World Famous SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction Pool. This is the 19^th year we’ve gone for silver. There have been 13 different winners over those years. Shane Malloy is the defending champion.

Remember to listen to all the action on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and on the SiriusXM app.

Does anybody really know for sure who’s going to hoist the big mug in late June? Are you brave (foolish) enough to put your money where your mouth is? We’re not…so we’ll just keep our predictions to this pool.

Remember, this is all for fun. So many of the opening round series are coin flips.

The league-leading Winnipeg Jets take on the resurgent St. Louis Blues. It’s the Welcome Back Miko Rantanen Bowl as the Dallas Stars battle with the Colorado Avalanche. The Vegas Golden Knights face the Minnesota Wild, and once again (for the fourth time in a row), the Los Angeles Kings take on the Edmonton Oilers…except this time it’s the Kings with home ice advantage.

In the East, the ageless wonder Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have a showdown with the Montreal Canadiens (the final team to qualify for the playoffs this season). The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils face off against each other.  For the first time in over two decades, it’s the Battle of Ontario, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators renew post-season hostilities, and it’s the Battle of the Sunshine State, as the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning slug it out.

What’s not to like???

A quick glance at the last time the 16 current NHL playoff teams held a Stanley Cup championship parade:

Florida Panthers                   2024
Vegas Golden Knights          2023
Colorado Avalanche             2022
Tampa Bay Lightning            2021
St. Louis Blues                      2019
Washington Capitals            2018
Los Angeles Kings                2014
Carolina Hurricanes             2006
New Jersey Devils                2003
Dallas Stars                          1999
Montreal Canadiens            1993
Edmonton Oilers                 1990
Toronto Maple Leafs           1967
Ottawa Senators                  never
Minnesota Wild                   never*
Winnipeg Jets                      never*
(*have yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Final)

Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge. We will submit our predictions round-by-round. Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific, for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.

2024 FINAL STANDINGS

Shane Malloy (13 for 15 = 28 Points)
Russ Cohen (13 for 15 = 27 Points)
Anthony Stewart (11 for 15 = 25 Points)
Steve Kouleas (11 for 15 = 24 Points)
Victoria Matiash (12 for 15 = 22 Points)
Ryan Paton (10 for 15 = 22 Points)
Lucas Critelli (12 for 15 = 21 Points)
Peter Berce (11 for 15 = 21 Points)
Bernie Corbett (10 for 15 = 21 Points)
Jonathan Davis (11 for 15 = 20 Points)
Martin Biron (11 for 15 = 19 Points)
Mick Kern (11 for 15 = 18 Points)
Scott Laughlin (10 for 15 = 18 Points)
Jake Hahn (10 for 15 = 18 Points)
Linda Cohn (9 for 15 = 18 Points)
Joe Thistel (10 for 15 = 17 Points)
Jim Gordon (9 for 15 = 17 Points)
Bruce Bolton (9 for 15 = 17 Points)
Gord Stellick (8 for 15 = 16 Points)
Mikey Bonora (8 for 15 = 16 Points)
Dennis Bernstein (8 for 15 = 14 Points)
Tyler Madarasz (8 for 15 = 13 Points)
Dave McCarthy (7 for 15 = 12 Points)

ALL-TIME FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
2024 Champion – Shane Malloy
2023 Champion – Dennis Bernstein (2)
2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas
2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern

REMEMBER: This is NOT a bracket challenge.  We will make subsequent picks every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016.  Steve Kouleas went 15-for-16 for series correctly chosen back in 2022.

• 1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1^st round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2^nd round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3^rd round series
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Conn Smythe winner
• 1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin (no points for choosing the other finalist)
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2024 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin

As for favoured teams this time around, here is the statistical breakdown (22 votes in all):

2025 Stanley Cup Champion:

Colorado Avalanche 12 votes
Vegas Golden Knights 4 votes
Winnipeg Jets 4 votes
Washington Capitals 1 vote
Los Angeles Kings 1 vote

And Now…Our 2025 Fearless Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Shane Malloy – DEFENDING CHAMPION
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 5
Carolina in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Jets
Conn Smythe: Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets

Russ Cohen
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 5
New Jersey in 7
Winnipeg in 5
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 5
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Anthony Stewart
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 5
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 5
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 4
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Steve Kouleas
Toronto in 6
Florida in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe: Adin Hill – Vegas Golden Knights

Victoria Matiash
Toronto in 6
Florida in 6
Montreal in 7
Carolina in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Jets over Florida
Conn Smythe: Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets

Ryan Paton
Toronto in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 5
Carolina in 5
St. Louis in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 5
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Lucas Critelli
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Peter Berce
Toronto in 7
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 7
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Minnesota in 7
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche over Tampa Bay
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Bernie Corbett
Toronto in 7
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Winnipeg in 5
Avalanche in 7
Vegas in 5
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Jonathan Davis
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Montreal in 6
Carolina in 6
St. Louis in 6
Colorado in 5
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe: Pavel Dorofeyev – Vegas Golden Knights

Martin Biron
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 7
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 5
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche over Tampa Bay
Conn Smythe: Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning

Mick Kern
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup Winner: Winnipeg Jets over Toronto
Conn Smythe Winner: Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets

Scott Laughlin
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 5
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 7
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Washington Capitals over Vegas
Conn Smythe: Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals

Jake Hahn
Toronto in 7
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 5
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 5
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 7
Los Angeles in 5
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Joe Thistel
Ottawa in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 5
Carolina in 6
Winnipeg in 5
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Los Angeles Kings
Conn Smythe: Darcy Kuemper – Los Angeles Kings

Jim Gordon
Toronto in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 5
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe: Jack Eichel – Vegas Golden Knights

Bruce Bolton
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Gord Stellick
Toronto in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 6
New Jersey in 6
Winnipeg in 5
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Jets
Conn Smythe: Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets

Mikey Bonora
Ottawa in 7
Tampa Bay in 7
Washington in 6
Carolina in 7
St. Louis in 7
Colorado in 7
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Dennis Bernstein
Ottawa in 6
Tampa Bay in 5
Washington in 5
Carolina in 7
Winnipeg in 7
Colorado in 5
Vegas in 4
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

Tyler Madarasz
Toronto in 7
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 5
Carolina in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche
Conn Smythe: Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche

Dave McCarthy
Toronto in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Washington in 6
Carolina in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Colorado in 5
Vegas in 5
Los Angeles in 6
Stanley Cup: Vegas Golden Knights
Conn Smythe: Jack Eichel – Vegas Golden Knights