Avalanche, Stars Offer Value in 2026-27 Stanley Cup Predictions

The upcoming 2026-27 NHL season sees a familiar set of contenders at the top of the odds board, but valuable opportunities may exist for teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

Analytics and Modern Hockey

The landscape of professional hockey has been reshaped by advanced analytics, shifting the criteria for championship success. Pure skill is no longer the sole determinant, with teams prioritizing depth, structure, and shot suppression. Modern analytics departments focus on identifying forecheckers who excel in puck retrieval and zone exits, and bottom-six forwards who contribute to a strong expected goals share (xG%) and generate high-danger scoring chances, even with lower point totals.

Colorado Avalanche (7/1)

The Avalanche are positioned as a strong contender, returning a core group that boasted the league's top-ranked expected goals share and shot attempt differential at 5-on-5 during the previous season. Led by an offensive powerhouse featuring Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a league-leading 53 goals, and Martin Necas, who achieved 100 points, Colorado possesses a formidable attack. Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, anchors a defense that allowed an NHL-low 2.40 goals per game. The goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood proved to be a strength, with Wedgewood posting a 2.02 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Despite their strong metrics, the Avalanche are available at a discount compared to the co-favorites, partly due to the prominence of other top teams.

Dallas Stars (14/1)

The Dallas Stars present another compelling option, particularly given their consistent performance and willingness to invest in analytics-driven player evaluation. While their 5-on-5 play was middle-of-the-road, their special teams were exceptional, finishing second in the NHL with a 28.6 percent power play success rate. This was fueled by 45-goal scorers Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, with Johnston leading the league in power-play goals. Defensively, the Stars allowed just 2.71 goals per game, bolstered by Miro Heiskanen's 63 points and Esa Lindell's league-leading 179 blocked shots. Goaltender Jake Oettinger, despite a save percentage below .900 for the first time in his career, recorded four shutouts and has consistently posted positive goals saved above expected. With three consecutive 50-win seasons and three conference final appearances in the last four years, the Stars appear poised for a deep playoff run.

Top Contenders

The Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup, return with a largely unchanged roster and are priced as co-favorites (+650) alongside the Florida Panthers. The Panthers, after missing the playoffs last season due to fatigue and injuries following two consecutive Stanley Cup appearances, have reloaded with the addition of Brady Tkachuk. Other notable contenders with recent Stanley Cup Final experience include the Avalanche, Oilers, Golden Knights, and Lightning, all of whom have been prominent in the last seven championship series.