Sportsnet NHL Insider predictions for 2023-24 season

With the new NHL season upon us, what better way to begin than to share predictions for what lies ahead?

We've assembled a panel of 20 Sportsnet insiders and experts to share their thoughts on such things as who will win the Stanley Cup, how many goals Connor Bedard will score as a rookie, how many Canadian teams will qualify for the playoffs and more.

TEAM QUESTIONS

Atlantic Division regular season winner

Elliotte Friedman: Toronto
Caroline Cameron: Toronto
Christine Simpson: Toronto
Jeff Marek: Toronto
David Amber: Toronto
Luke Fox: Toronto
Mark Spector: Toronto
Eric Francis: Toronto
Wayne Scanlan: Toronto
Eric Engels: Toronto
Iain MacIntyre: Toronto
Nick Kypreos: Toronto
Justin Bourne: Toronto
Sonny Sachdeva: Toronto
Sean Reynolds: Toronto
Gene Principe: Boston
Ryan Dixon: Toronto
Jason Bukala: Toronto
Sam Cosentino: Toronto
Rory Boylen: Toronto

Metropolitan Division regular season winner

Elliotte Friedman: Carolina
Caroline Cameron: Carolina
Christine Simpson: Carolina
Jeff Marek: New Jersey
David Amber: NY Rangers
Luke Fox: Carolina
Mark Spector: New Jersey
Eric Francis: New Jersey
Wayne Scanlan: Carolina
Eric Engels: Carolina
Iain MacIntyre: New Jersey
Nick Kypreos: Carolina
Justin Bourne: Carolina
Sonny Sachdeva: New Jersey
Sean Reynolds: New Jersey
Gene Principe: Pittsburgh
Ryan Dixon: New Jersey
Jason Bukala: Carolina
Sam Cosentino: Carolina
Rory Boylen: New Jersey

Pacific Division regular season winner

Elliotte Friedman: Edmonton
Caroline Cameron: Edmonton
Christine Simpson: Edmonton
Jeff Marek: Edmonton
David Amber: Edmonton
Luke Fox: Edmonton
Mark Spector: Edmonton
Eric Francis: Edmonton
Wayne Scanlan: Edmonton
Eric Engels: Edmonton
Iain MacIntyre: Edmonton
Nick Kypreos: Vegas
Justin Bourne: Edmonton
Sonny Sachdeva: Vegas
Sean Reynolds: Edmonton
Gene Principe: Edmonton
Ryan Dixon: Edmonton
Jason Bukala: Edmonton
Sam Cosentino: Edmonton
Rory Boylen: Vegas

Central Division regular season winner

Elliotte Friedman: Dallas
Caroline Cameron: Dallas
Christine Simpson: Colorado
Jeff Marek: Colorado
David Amber: Dallas
Luke Fox: Dallas
Mark Spector: Colorado
Eric Francis: Dallas
Wayne Scanlan: Colorado
Eric Engels: Colorado
Iain MacIntyre: Colorado
Nick Kypreos: Dallas
Justin Bourne: Colorado
Sonny Sachdeva: Colorado
Sean Reynolds: Dallas
Gene Principe: Colorado
Ryan Dixon: Colorado
Jason Bukala: Colorado
Sam Cosentino: Minnesota
Rory Boylen: Dallas

Conference champions

Elliotte Friedman: Edmonton, Carolina
Caroline Cameron: Edmonton, Toronto
Christine Simpson: Edmonton, Carolina
Jeff Marek: Edmonton, Carolina
David Amber: Edmonton, Toronto
Luke Fox: Dallas, Carolina
Mark Spector: Edmonton, Carolina
Eric Francis: Dallas, Carolina
Wayne Scanlan: Edmonton, Carolina
Eric Engels: Los Angeles, Carolina
Iain MacIntyre: Colorado, NY Rangers
Nick Kypreos: Dallas, Carolina
Sonny Sachdeva: Edmonton, Carolina
Sean Reynolds: Edmonton, New Jersey
Gene Principe: Edmonton, Pittsburgh
Ryan Dixon: Colorado, Carolina
Jason Bukala: Edmonton, Carolina
Sam Cosentino: Edmonton, Toronto
Rory Boylen: Edmonton, Tampa Bay

Stanley Cup winner

Elliotte Friedman: Edmonton
Caroline Cameron: Edmonton
Christine Simpson: Edmonton
Jeff Marek: Carolina
David Amber: Edmonton
Luke Fox: Dallas
Mark Spector: Carolina
Eric Francis: Carolina
Wayne Scanlan: Edmonton
Eric Engels: Los Angeles
Iain MacIntyre: Colorado
Nick Kypreos: Dallas
Justin Bourne: Colorado
Sonny Sachdeva: Edmonton
Sean Reynolds: Edmonton
Gene Principe: Edmonton
Ryan Dixon: Carolina
Jason Bukala: Carolina
Sam Cosentino: Edmonton
Rory Boylen: Edmonton

Team most likely to exceed expectations

Elliotte Friedman: I'm beginning to think too many people are writing off Tampa Bay
Caroline Cameron: Buffalo
Christine Simpson: Montreal
Jeff Marek: Arizona
David Amber: Buffalo
Luke Fox: Calgary
Mark Spector: Calgary
Eric Francis: Buffalo
Wayne Scanlan: Ottawa
Eric Engels: Calgary
Iain MacIntyre: Arizona
Nick Kypreos: Buffalo
Justin Bourne: Calgary
Sonny Sachdeva: Pittsburgh
Sean Reynolds: Buffalo
Gene Principe: Ottawa
Ryan Dixon: Washington
Jason Bukala: Boston
Sam Cosentino: Buffalo
Rory Boylen: Calgary

Team most likely to disappoint

Caroline Cameron: Tampa Bay
Christine Simpson: Boston
Jeff Marek: Boston
David Amber: Florida
Luke Fox: Pittsburgh
Mark Spector: Toronto
Eric Francis: Boston
Wayne Scanlan: Vegas
Eric Engels: Ottawa
Iain MacIntyre: Ottawa
Nick Kypreos: Boston
Justin Bourne: Los Angeles
Sonny Sachdeva: Florida
Sean Reynolds: NY Rangers
Ryan Dixon: Florida
Jason Bukala: Vegas
Sam Cosentino: Tampa Bay
Rory Boylen: Florida

AWARD QUESTIONS

Hart Trophy winner

Elliotte Friedman: Nathan MacKinnon
Caroline Cameron: Connor McDavid
Christine Simpson: Connor McDavid
Jeff Marek: Jack Hughes
David Amber: Connor McDavid
Luke Fox: Connor McDavid
Mark Spector: Connor McDavid
Eric Francis: Jack Hughes
Wayne Scanlan: Connor McDavid
Eric Engels: Connor McDavid
Iain MacIntyre: Connor McDavid
Nick Kypreos: Connor McDavid
Justin Bourne: Connor McDavid
Sonny Sachdeva: Connor McDavid
Sean Reynolds: Connor McDavid
Gene Principe: Connor McDavid
Ryan Dixon: Jack Hughes
Jason Bukala: Connor McDavid
Sam Cosentino: Connor McDavid
Rory Boylen: Connor McDavid

Art Ross Trophy winner

Elliotte Friedman: Connor McDavid
Caroline Cameron: Connor McDavid
Christine Simpson: Connor McDavid
Jeff Marek: Connor McDavid
David Amber: Connor McDavid
Luke Fox: Connor McDavid
Mark Spector: Connor McDavid
Eric Francis: Connor McDavid
Wayne Scanlan: Connor McDavid
Eric Engels: Connor McDavid
Iain MacIntyre: Connor McDavid
Nick Kypreos: Connor McDavid
Justin Bourne: Connor McDavid
Sonny Sachdeva: Connor McDavid
Sean Reynolds: Connor McDavid
Gene Principe: Connor McDavid
Ryan Dixon: Connor McDavid
Jason Bukala: Connor McDavid
Sam Cosentino: Connor McDavid
Rory Boylen: Connor McDavid

Calder Trophy winner

Elliotte Friedman: Connor Bedard
Caroline Cameron: Connor Bedard
Christine Simpson: Connor Bedard
Jeff Marek: Connor Bedard
David Amber: Connor Bedard
Luke Fox: Connor Bedard
Mark Spector: Connor Bedard
Eric Francis: Connor Bedard
Wayne Scanlan: Connor Bedard
Eric Engels: Connor Bedard
Iain MacIntyre: Logan Cooley
Nick Kypreos: Connor Bedard
Justin Bourne: Connor Bedard
Sonny Sachdeva: Connor Bedard
Sean Reynolds: Connor Bedard
Gene Principe: Connor Bedard
Ryan Dixon: Connor Bedard
Jason Bukala: Logan Cooley
Sam Cosentino: Connor Bedard
Rory Boylen: Logan Cooley

Norris Trophy winner

Elliotte Friedman: Miro Heiskanen
Caroline Cameron: Miro Heiskanen
Christine Simpson: Cale Makar
Jeff Marek: Rasmus Dahlin
David Amber: Miro Heiskanen
Luke Fox: Adam Fox
Mark Spector: Quinn Hughes
Eric Francis: Cale Makar
Wayne Scanlan: Adam Fox
Eric Engels: Cale Makar
Iain MacIntyre: Adam Fox
Nick Kypreos: Cale Makar
Justin Bourne: Cale Makar
Sonny Sachdeva: Cale Makar
Sean Reynolds: Cale Makar
Gene Principe: Cale Makar
Ryan Dixon: Rasmus Dahlin
Jason Bukala: Cale Makar
Sam Cosentino: Cale Makar
Rory Boylen: Miro Heiskanen

Vezina Trophy winner

Elliotte Friedman: Thatcher Demko
Caroline Cameron: Jake Oettinger
Christine Simpson: Igor Shesterkin
Jeff Marek: Igor Shesterkin
David Amber: Igor Shesterkin
Luke Fox: Jake Oettinger
Mark Spector: Jake Oettinger
Eric Francis: Jake Oettinger
Wayne Scanlan: Igor Shesterkin
Eric Engels: Jake Oettinger
Iain MacIntyre: Igor Shesterkin
Nick Kypreos: Jake Oettinger
Justin Bourne: Ilya Sorokin
Sonny Sachdeva: Ilya Sorokin
Sean Reynolds: Jake Oettinger
Gene Principe: Igor Shesterkin
Ryan Dixon: Ilya Sorokin
Jason Bukala: Juuse Saros
Sam Cosentino: Ilya Sorokin
Rory Boylen: Juuse Saros

Jack Adams Award winner

Elliotte Friedman: DJ Smith, OTT
Caroline Cameron: Don Granato, BUF
Christine Simpson: Rod Brind'Amour, CAR
Jeff Marek: Don Granato, BUF
David Amber: Don Granato, BUF
Luke Fox: Don Granato, BUF
Mark Spector: Lindy Ruff, NJ
Eric Francis: Rick Tocchet, VAN
Wayne Scanlan: D.J. Smith, OTT
Eric Engels: Don Granato, BUF
Iain MacIntyre: Lindy Ruff, NJ
Nick Kypreos: Pete DeBoer, DAL
Justin Bourne: Rod Brind'Amour, CAR
Sonny Sachdeva: Mike Sullivan, PIT
Sean Reynolds: Don Granato, BUF
Gene Principe: Jay Woodcroft, EDM
Ryan Dixon: Jared Bednar, COL
Jason Bukala: Don Granato, BUF
Sam Cosentino: Don Granato, BUF
Rory Boylen: DJ Smith, OTT

MISCELLANEOUS

How many goals will Connor Bedard score?

Elliotte Friedman: 35
Caroline Cameron: 33
Christine Simpson: 38
Jeff Marek: 28
David Amber: 37
Luke Fox: 41
Mark Spector: 35
Eric Francis: 33
Wayne Scanlan: 28
Eric Engels: 41
Iain MacIntyre: 38
Nick Kypreos: 37
Justin Bourne: 38
Sonny Sachdeva: 35
Sean Reynolds: 23
Gene Principe: 38
Ryan Dixon: 42
Jason Bukala: 36
Sam Cosentino: 40
Rory Boylen: 41

How many points will the Art Ross winner get?

Elliotte Friedman: 150
Caroline Cameron: 148
Christine Simpson: 160
Jeff Marek: 140
David Amber: 160
Luke Fox: 142
Mark Spector: 160
Eric Francis: 135
Wayne Scanlan: 145
Eric Engels: 162
Iain MacIntyre: 142
Nick Kypreos: 142
Justin Bourne: 155
Sonny Sachdeva: 160
Sean Reynolds: 145
Gene Principe: 162
Ryan Dixon: 124
Jason Bukala: 173
Sam Cosentino: 140
Rory Boylen: 171

How many Canadian teams will make the playoffs?

Elliotte Friedman: 5
Caroline Cameron: 5
Christine Simpson: 5
Jeff Marek: 3
David Amber: 4/5
Luke Fox: 4
Mark Spector: 4
Eric Francis: 4
Wayne Scanlan: 5
Eric Engels: 5
Iain MacIntyre: 4
Nick Kypreos: 3
Justin Bourne: 4
Sonny Sachdeva: 3
Sean Reynolds: 4
Gene Principe: 6
Ryan Dixon: 4
Jason Bukala: 5
Sam Cosentino: 4
Rory Boylen: 5