In its NHL season simulation tied to the 2026-27 season, EA Sports predicts the Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup and that Connor McDavid leads the major individual awards.
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EA Sports has released its annual NHL season simulation predictions, with the 2026-27 campaign beginning Tuesday, and the company’s Stanley Cup champion pick is the Edmonton Oilers.
In the simulation, the Oilers are forecast to reach the Stanley Cup Final by defeating the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, then to beat the Buffalo Sabres in seven games to win the championship.
The forecast also has the Oilers making their third Stanley Cup Final showing in four seasons, along with their first simulated championship since 1990.
Other league outcomes in the EA Sports prediction include the Colorado Avalanche repeating as the NHL’s top regular-season team and capturing the Presidents’ Trophy for a second straight season, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs returning to the playoffs as a third-place team in the Atlantic Division.
In the simulated postseason, Toronto is predicted to be eliminated in the first round by the Florida Panthers, while the Montreal Canadiens are projected to reach the postseason on a wildcard berth before being knocked out in the opening round by the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes.
The simulation further predicts that the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators miss the playoffs.
Individually, EA Sports’ sim has McDavid winning the Art Ross Trophy with 148 points and being named the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as playoff MVP, along with predictions that he will also win the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.
On the goals side, the simulation projects Leon Draisaitl will score 57 goals, edging McDavid’s predicted 53 and David Pastrnak’s projected total, as Draisaitl is forecast to take home the Rocket Richard Trophy.
EA Sports also predicts that Auston Matthews will rebound to score 52 goals and 103 points, and that Gavin McKenna will win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
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