2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Series Expert Picks

The 2024-25 NHL season has concluded, and the playoffs are set. Sixteen teams will compete for the Stanley Cup, while the other sixteen have been eliminated.

Before the first-round matchups begin, ESPN`s analysts have made their predictions for each series, as well as their picks for the Stanley Cup winner and the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient (playoff MVP).

Atlantic Division

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs
vs.

Ottawa Senators

• Sean Allen: Maple Leafs in seven
• Blake Bolden: Maple Leafs in six
• John Buccigross: Maple Leafs in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Maple Leafs in six
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Maple Leafs in five
• Sachin Chandan: Senators in six
• Meghan Chayka: Maple Leafs in five
• Ryan S. Clark: Senators in seven
• Linda Cohn: Maple Leafs in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Maple Leafs in six
• Ray Ferraro: Maple Leafs in seven
• Emily Kaplan: Maple Leafs in six
• Tim Kavanagh: Maple Leafs in five
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Maple Leafs in five
• Steve Levy: Maple Leafs in six
• Vince Masi: Senators in seven
• Victoria Matiash: Maple Leafs in six
• Sean McDonough: Senators in six
• Mark Messier: Maple Leafs in six
• AJ Mleczko: Senators
• Mike Monaco: Maple Leafs in five
• Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs in six
• Kristen Shilton: Maple Leafs in six
• Bob Wischusen: Maple Leafs in six
• Greg Wyshynski: Maple Leafs in five

Consensus prediction: Maple Leafs (20 of 25 picks)

A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning
vs.

Florida Panthers

• Sean Allen: Panthers in six
• Blake Bolden: Lightning in seven
• John Buccigross: Lightning in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Lightning in seven
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in six
• Sachin Chandan: Lightning in five
• Meghan Chayka: Lightning in six
• Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
• Linda Cohn: Lightning in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Lightning in seven
• Ray Ferraro: Lightning in six
• Emily Kaplan: Lightning in seven
• Tim Kavanagh: Lightning in seven
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in seven
• Steve Levy: Panthers in seven
• Vince Masi: Lightning in six
• Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
• Sean McDonough: Lightning in seven
• Mark Messier: Lightning in seven
• AJ Mleczko: Lightning
• Mike Monaco: Lightning in six
• Arda Öcal: Panthers in six
• Kristen Shilton: Lightning in seven
• Bob Wischusen: Lightning in seven
• Greg Wyshynski: Lightning in seven

Consensus prediction: Lightning (19 of 25 picks)

Metropolitan Division

M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens

Washington Capitals
vs.

Montreal Canadiens

• Sean Allen: Capitals in six
• Blake Bolden: Canadiens in six
• John Buccigross: Capitals in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Capitals in five
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Capitals in five
• Sachin Chandan: Capitals in five
• Meghan Chayka: Capitals in five
• Ryan S. Clark: Capitals in six
• Linda Cohn: Capitals in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Capitals in five
• Ray Ferraro: Capitals in five
• Emily Kaplan: Capitals in 6
• Tim Kavanagh: Capitals in five
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Capitals in five
• Steve Levy: Capitals in five
• Vince Masi: Capitals in six
• Victoria Matiash: Canadiens in seven
• Sean McDonough: Canadiens in six
• Mark Messier: Capitals in six
• AJ Mleczko: Capitals
• Mike Monaco: Capitals in six
• Arda Öcal: Canadiens in seven
• Kristen Shilton: Capitals in seven
• Bob Wischusen: Canadiens in seven
• Greg Wyshynski: Capitals in five

Consensus prediction: Capitals (21 of 25 picks)

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Carolina Hurricanes
vs.

New Jersey Devils

• Sean Allen: Hurricanes in five
• Blake Bolden: Devils in seven
• John Buccigross: Hurricanes in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Hurricanes in five
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Hurricanes in six
• Sachin Chandan: Devils in six
• Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes in five
• Ryan S. Clark: Hurricanes in seven
• Linda Cohn: Devils in seven
• Rachel Doerrie: Hurricanes in six
• Ray Ferraro: Hurricanes in six
• Emily Kaplan: Hurricanes in seven
• Tim Kavanagh: Devils in seven
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Hurricanes in six
• Steve Levy: Devils in seven
• Vince Masi: Hurricanes in seven
• Victoria Matiash: Hurricanes in six
• Sean McDonough: Hurricanes in seven
• Mark Messier: Hurricanes in seven
• AJ Mleczko: Hurricanes
• Mike Monaco: Devils in six
• Arda Öcal: Devils in six
• Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes in four
• Bob Wischusen: Hurricanes in six
• Greg Wyshynski: Hurricanes in six

Consensus prediction: Hurricanes (18 of 24 picks)

Central Division

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues

Winnipeg Jets
vs.

St. Louis Blues

• Sean Allen: Jets in five
• Blake Bolden: Jets in six
• John Buccigross: Jets in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Jets in six
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Jets in five
• Sachin Chandan: Jets in four
• Meghan Chayka: Blues in six
• Ryan S. Clark: Jets in seven
• Linda Cohn: Jets in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Blues in seven
• Ray Ferraro: Jets in seven
• Emily Kaplan: Jets in six
• Tim Kavanagh: Jets in seven
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Jets in six
• Steve Levy: Jets in seven
• Vince Masi: Jets in seven
• Victoria Matiash: Jets in six
• Sean McDonough: Jets in five
• Mark Messier: Jets in six
• AJ Mleczko: Jets
• Mike Monaco: Blues in seven
• Arda Öcal: Blues in six
• Kristen Shilton: Jets in six
• Bob Wischusen: Jets in six
• Greg Wyshynski: Jets in five

Consensus prediction: Jets (21 of 25 picks)

C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars
vs.

Colorado Avalanche

• Sean Allen: Stars in seven
• Blake Bolden: Avalanche in six
• John Buccigross: Avalanche in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Avalanche in seven
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche in seven
• Sachin Chandan: Avalanche in six
• Meghan Chayka: Avalanche in six
• Ryan S. Clark: Stars in seven
• Linda Cohn: Avalanche in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Avalanche in six
• Ray Ferraro: Avalanche in six
• Emily Kaplan: Avalanche in seven
• Tim Kavanagh: Stars in seven
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Avalanche in seven
• Steve Levy: Avalanche in seven
• Vince Masi: Avalanche in five
• Victoria Matiash: Avalanche in six
• Sean McDonough: Avalanche in six
• Mark Messier: Avalanche in five
• AJ Mleczko: Avalanche
• Mike Monaco: Avalanche in six
• Arda Öcal: Avalanche in seven
• Kristen Shilton: Avalanche in six
• Bob Wischusen: Avalanche in six
• Greg Wyshynski: Stars in seven

Consensus prediction: Avalanche (21 of 25 picks)

Pacific Division

P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild

Vegas Golden Knights
vs.

Minnesota Wild

• Sean Allen: Wild in seven
• Blake Bolden: Golden Knights in five
• John Buccigross: Golden Knights in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights in six
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Golden Knights in six
• Sachin Chandan: Golden Knights in five
• Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights in five
• Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights in six
• Linda Cohn: Golden Knights in six
• Rachel Doerrie: Golden Knights in six
• Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights in five
• Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights in sixe
• Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights in five
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights in five
• Steve Levy: Golden Knights in five
• Vince Masi: Golden Knights in six
• Victoria Matiash: Golden Knights in six
• Sean McDonough: Golden Knights in five
• Mark Messier: Golden Knights in five
• AJ Mleczko: Golden Knights
• Mike Monaco: Golden Knights in six
• Arda Öcal: Golden Knights in five
• Kristen Shilton: Golden Knights in five
• Bob Wischusen: Golden Knights in six
• Greg Wyshynski: Golden Knights in five

Consensus prediction: Golden Knights (24 of 25 picks)

P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings
vs.

Edmonton Oilers

• Sean Allen: Kings in six
• Blake Bolden: Kings in seven
• John Buccigross: Kings in seven
• Ryan Callahan: Kings in six
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Oilers in seven
• Sachin Chandan: Kings in seven
• Meghan Chayka: Oilers in six
• Ryan S. Clark: Oilers in seven
• Linda Cohn: Kings in seven
• Rachel Doerrie: Kings in seven
• Ray Ferraro: Kings in seven
• Emily Kaplan: Oilers in seven
• Tim Kavanagh: Kings in five
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Kings in seven
• Steve Levy: Kings in seven
• Vince Masi: Oilers in seven
• Victoria Matiash: Kings in six
• Sean McDonough: Kings in seven
• Mark Messier: Oilers in six
• AJ Mleczko: Kings
• Mike Monaco: Oilers in six
• Arda Öcal: Oilers in six
• Kristen Shilton: Oilers in six
• Bob Wischusen: Kings in seven
• Greg Wyshynski: Oilers in six

Consensus prediction: Kings (15 of 25 picks)

Stanley Cup Winner Prediction

• Sean Allen: Maple Leafs
• John Buccigross: Avalanche
• Ryan Callahan: Golden Knights
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Avalanche
• Sachin Chandan: Avalanche
• Meghan Chayka: Golden Knights
• Ryan S. Clark: Golden Knights
• Linda Cohn: Jets
• Rachel Doerrie: Avalanche
• Ray Ferraro: Golden Knights
• Emily Kaplan: Golden Knights
• Tim Kavanagh: Golden Knights
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Golden Knights
• Steve Levy: Golden Knights
• Vince Masi: Lightning
• Victoria Matiash: Jets
• Sean McDonough: Golden Knights
• Mark Messier: Oilers
• AJ Mleczko: Golden Knights
• Mike Monaco: Avalanche
• Arda Öcal: Maple Leafs
• Kristen Shilton: Avalanche
• Bob Wischusen: Jets
• Greg Wyshynski: Stars

Prediction breakdown: Golden Knights (10), Avalanche (6), Jets (3), Maple Leafs (2), Lightning (1), Oilers (1), Stars (1)

Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP) Prediction

• Sean Allen: Mitch Marner
• John Buccigross: Brock Nelson
• Ryan Callahan: Jack Eichel
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Cale Makar
• Sachin Chandan: Nathan MacKinnon
• Meghan Chayka: Jack Eichel
• Ryan S. Clark: Jack Eichel
• Linda Cohn: Connor Hellebuyck
• Rachel Doerrie: Nathan MacKinnon
• Ray Ferraro: Jack Eichel
• Emily Kaplan: Jack Eichel
• Tim Kavanagh: Jack Eichel
• Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Jack Eichel
• Steve Levy: Jack Eichel
• Vince Masi: Brayden Point
• Victoria Matiash: Connor Hellebuyck
• Sean McDonough: Jack Eichel
• Mark Messier: Connor McDavid
• AJ Mleczko: Jack Eichel
• Mike Monaco: Nathan McKinnon
• Arda Öcal: William Nylander
• Kristen Shilton: Nathan MacKinnon
• Bob Wischusen: Connor Hellebuyck
• Greg Wyshynski: Jake Oettinger

Prediction breakdown: Jack Eichel (11), Nathan MacKinnon (3), Connor Hellebuyck (3), Mitch Marner (1), Brock Nelson (1), Cale Makar (1), Brayden Point (1), Connor McDavid (1), William Nylander (1), Jake Oettinger (1)