Story Summary
Dan Rosen names seven teams he considers the best bets to win the Stanley Cup in 2026-27. He puts the Montreal Canadiens first, citing playoff experience, young stars and a settled No. 1 goalie, followed by the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. Rosen highlights depth, elite forwards and defencemen, and goaltending – while flagging questions in net for several contenders – as the main variables in the Cup race.
Key Facts
- Dan Rosen lists his top seven Stanley Cup favourites for the 2026-27 season.
- Rosen ranks the Montreal Canadiens first, saying they have playoff experience, scoring and a true No. 1 goalie in Jakub Dobes.
- Montreal’s roster notes in Rosen’s piece include Nick Suzuki (Selke Trophy winner), Cole Caufield (50-goal scorer, 25), Lane Hutson (Norris-calibre defenceman, 22), Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky.
- Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis signed a new contract Monday.
- Rosen places the Colorado Avalanche second, noting they were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final last season and remain loaded with stars such as Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar.
- Colorado’s forward depth shifted, with Jaden Schwartz, Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov replacing Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Valeri Nichushkin, per Rosen.
- Rosen lists the Florida Panthers third and describes them as former back-to-back champions (2024 and 2025) who regained Aleksander Barkov and added Brady Tkachuk alongside Matthew Tkachuk; Jacob Markstrom replaces Sergei Bobrovsky in goal.
- The Carolina Hurricanes are fourth on Rosen’s list; he highlights the loss of Frederik Andersen to the Edmonton Oilers and the expectation that Brandon Bussi will carry a heavier workload with Pyotr Kochetkov returning as backup.
- Minnesota Wild are fifth; Rosen raises questions about centre depth but praises Joel Eriksson Ek, Jonas Brodin, the defence pairing referenced as Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, and the goalie tandem Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson, and notes Kirill Kaprizov up front.
- Washington Capitals are sixth; Rosen points to new impact forwards Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner and says, if they cohere, Washington will be a Cup contender with Alex Ovechkin returning.
- Vegas Golden Knights are seventh; Ryan Craig replaces the previous coach after six seasons as a Golden Knights assistant and three seasons with AHL affiliate Henderson, and Rosen notes Carter Hart’s subpar Cup Final performance and trade rumours linking Vegas to Connor Hellebuyck, who has requested a trade.
- Rosen frames goaltending, roster continuity and depth as major determinants of Cup readiness across his seven picks, and notes the NHL season is set to start on Sept. 29.
IHM Discussion
Rosen’s list is a blend of established elite talent, recent playoff form and perceived roster balance. Montreal sits atop because he sees a rare convergence of young high-end scorers, two-way strength down the middle, an answered goaltending question in Jakub Dobes and coaching continuity under Martin St. Louis. Colorado and Florida follow as teams with top-end stars and recent Cup pedigree: Colorado for its elite trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar, and Florida for returning champions reinforced by Brady Tkachuk’s arrival and Aleksander Barkov’s return. The Hurricanes and Wild are framed as organisationally sound sides with specific goaltending and depth questions; Carolina’s loss of Frederik Andersen and Minnesota’s centre depth are singled out as uncertainties that could shape a deep run. Washington and Vegas round out the list as clubs with clear upside but questions about integrating new pieces and goaltending, respectively.
Why It Matters
Rosen’s selection highlights the variables that usually decide playoff success: elite top-end talent, depth across four forward lines and three defensive pairs, and dependable goaltending. Naming Montreal the favourite signals how much weight Rosen places on a balanced roster with emerging young stars and recent deep-playoff experience. His placement of Colorado, Florida and Carolina underlines that a team’s ceiling is defined as much by structure and depth as by headline names. For readers, the list frames early-season narratives to watch: goalie form, how new arrivals fit, and whether teams with recent success can maintain continuity.
Mini Q&A
Who does Dan Rosen name as his top Stanley Cup favourite for 2026-27?
Rosen names the Montreal Canadiens as his No. 1 favourite to win the Stanley Cup.
What reasons does Rosen give for putting Montreal first?
He cites playoff experience, young high-end players such as Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky, a Selke winner in Nick Suzuki, dependable No. 1 goalie Jakub Dobes and a coach in Martin St. Louis who recently signed a new contract.
Which teams fill Rosen’s next two spots behind Montreal?
Rosen places the Colorado Avalanche second and the Florida Panthers third.
What goaltending questions does Rosen identify?
Rosen points to pressure on Jacob Markstrom to replace Sergei Bobrovsky in Florida, the need for Brandon Bussi to handle a heavier workload for Carolina after Frederik Andersen left, and lingering concerns about Vegas’s goaltending after Carter Hart’s Cup Final performance.
Does Rosen treat his list as definitive?
No – Rosen frames the rankings as pre-season opinions amid training camps opening and before any regular-season games, with the season set to start on Sept. 29.
Coach Mark Comment
Montreal’s appeal is the balance Rosen identifies: a trusted No. 1 goalie, four-line depth and three workable defensive pairs give a coaching staff more options in tight games and over a long series. The goaltending questions around Carolina and Vegas matter because uncertainty in net can quickly affect how aggressively a team manages matchups and momentum.
What Comes Next
The NHL regular season is set to start on Sept. 29; Rosen’s rankings arrive with training camps open and before teams have played any regular-season games, making the list a pre-season assessment rather than a season verdict.
IHM Final View
Dan Rosen’s top-seven list is a status check: Montreal receives the highest grade for balance and answered questions; Colorado and Florida follow as talent-laden threats; Carolina and Minnesota are structurally strong but carry goalie or depth question marks; Washington and Vegas must integrate new pieces and resolve netminding concerns. Rosen’s argument is straightforward – top-end skill plus dependable goaltending and depth are the clearest path to the Stanley Cup in 2026-27.