The NHL preseason kicks off this weekend, and while these games won’t influence the overall standings, they are still crucial for long-term success.
The preseason is a series of games where coaches and scouts have a chance to evaluate the talent on their rosters. The NHL odds for the preseason matchups will be released on game day, which gives you the chance to make NHL preseason predictions for every preseason matchup.
What is the NHL Preseason?
The NHL preseason was created more than 50 years ago as a way to get players back into shape before the regular season begins.
Flash forward to the present, and the preseason has transformed into a pseudo-tryout for the fringe players on the roster. Each team will play six to eight preseason games in the coming weeks, but these games will not count towards the regular season standings.
Why Preseason Predictions Matter
The NHL preseason offers a fantastic opportunity to make NHL preseason predictions before the regular season gets underway. Using your preseason NHL predictions to get ready for the 2025-26 NHL season can be a great strategy to hit the ground running in the opening weeks of the season.
Key Factors for NHL Preseason Predictions
There are a variety of key factors that must be taken into account when making NHL preseason predictions. The first, and most important one, is the gameday roster.
Different teams have different mentalities when it comes to preseason play. Some will elect to play their top players in an attempt to build chemistry, while others rest their stars to avoid a potential injury.
Evaluating the strength of each team’s roster is crucial when making 2025 NHL predictions in the preseason. The lowly San Jose Sharks may be favorites on the NHL odds over the Florida Panthers if they elect to play their best players while the Panthers rest their superstars.
Additionally, the NHL odds on your sportsbook will have a huge role to play when making NHL preseason predictions.
Top NHL Teams to Watch in the Preseason:
All 32 teams will be in action this preseason, but a few stand out as teams to watch before the season officially gets underway on October 7th, 2025.
Team 1: Toronto Maple Leafs
Player Roster Updates and Trades
The ‘Core Four’ is no more in Toronto after Mitch Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. His departure will influence the Leafs’ top line and both their power play and penalty kill.
Marner’s production will not be easy to replicate, but the Maple Leafs did a good job at bringing in new talent. Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli will slot into the top nine nicely, and a new-look Leafs power play will instantly find success led by Auston Matthews.
Rookie and Draft Picks Impact
The Leafs traded away their top draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft before selecting Tinus Luc Koblar with the 64th overall selection. Toronto is unlikely to see its rookies or draft picks make an impact this season, as their priority is winning the cup while the window is still open.
Preseason Team Chemistry
The departure of Marner will influence the Leafs’ preseason chemistry. The top forward will be retooled to maximize their production, and building preseason team chemistry is crucial. Expect Toronto to play its top player more often than not in the NHL preseason, and make your NHL preseason predictions accordingly.
Coaching Strategies and Adjustments
Losing the top special teams player and Matthews’ right-hand man will not be easy for Craig Berube to overcome. Toronto will look to use the preseason to find their groove before embarking into a competitive Atlantic division.
Team 2: Chicago Blackhawks
Player Roster Updates and Trades
The Chicago Blackhawks’ big signing of the offseason was acquiring Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken. Burakovsky is a quality forward who can play alongside Connor Bedard. Otherwise, the Blackhawks prioritized developing their young talent rather than looking for prospects in free agency or via trade.
Rookie and Draft Picks Impact
Connor Bedard is no longer a rookie, but his development both in the preseason and throughout the year will be crucial for the Blackhawks’ success.
After another poor season in Chicago, the Blackhawks earned the third overall selection in the 2025 NHL draft. They picked Anton Frondell out of Sweden, who will look to make an instant impact. Transitioning to North American hockey can be a difficult process for some Europeans, but not for Frondell.
His bulky frame and quick hands will allow him to thrive in the NHL, and his inclusion on the roster will have a massive impact on your NHL preseason predictions.
Preseason Team Chemistry
The Blackhawks are a young team with minimal expectations to worry about. As a result, the preseason is an additional opportunity to evaluate their long list of talents in Chicago.
This team played with good chemistry last season and, with minimal turnover, will be looking to solidify those bonds in the preseason.
Coaching Strategies and Adjustments
Head coach Jeff Blashill spent seven years in Detroit as a head coach before joining the Lightning alongside the legendary Jon Cooper. Blashill will need to get the most out of his unproven talents in the preseason, as he will not have a long leash in Chicago.
Team 3: Montreal Canadiens
Player Roster Updates and Trades
The Montreal Canadiens are ready to contend and have no shortage of cap space after trading Carey Price’s contract to the San Jose Sharks.
Their big offseason signing was Noah Dobson, who is looking like a truly dominant NHL defenseman. Dobson will instantly slot into the top pairing on the blue line in Montreal and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary PK Subban.
Rookie and Draft Picks Impact
The Canadiens were without their first-round pick this year, but they still had four picks inside the first three rounds. One player to watch is goaltender Arseny Radkov, who will have a chance to impress between the pipes this preseason.
Preseason Team Chemistry
There isn’t a fanbase more excited with their young core than the Canadiens, and rightfully so.
Montreal has an electric atmosphere at the Bell Centre, and it finally has the talent to make a deep playoff run. They made the playoffs for the first time since the Carey Price era last year, and their chemistry could not be better heading into the preseason.
Coaching Strategies and Adjustments
Martin St. Louis has done a great job at elevating this team out of the NHL basement and now needs to take the next step this season.
He has the enviable job of deciding which of his talents get into the lineup each night, and he will need to manage expectations in the Montreal locker room after a shocking playoff berth last season.
Team 4: Edmonton Oilers
Player Roster Updates and Trades
The Oilers have qualified for the Stanley Cup Finals in back-to-back seasons and have been quiet this offseason. Viktor Arvidsson was their marquee signing, while they also traded Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks.
Rookie and Draft Picks Impact
It was an uneventful offseason for Edmonton, as they were without a pick inside the first three rounds. Tommy Lafreniere was their first choice at 83rd overall, but he will struggle to break into the lineup without a stunning preseason performance.
Preseason Team Chemistry
No chemistry issues here. Edmonton has its top six solidified, a strong defensive group, and is running it back with a similar roster this season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to dominate, and the biggest concern will be elevating the rest of the roster up to their lofty standards.
Coaching Strategies and Adjustments
The biggest coaching decision this preseason will be how much to play their star players. Two shortened offseasons after Stanley Cup Final runs have left this squad fatigued heading into the year.
Transitioning from the Stanley Cup Finals to meaningless preseason play is not easy, and fading the Oilers is generally a good NHL prediction for the preseason.
Standout Players in the Preseason
The NHL has seen numerous standout performances in the preseason in recent years. Mats Zuccarello leads the way with 18 preseason points in the last five seasons.
One interesting player to watch for your NHL preseason predictions is Kaapo Kakko on the Seattle Kraken. Kakko has 10 points in 11 preseason games and had a fantastic end to last season after escaping the New York Rangers.
Expert Insights and Historical Trends
It may seem logical to expect preseason success to translate into the regular season, but that has not been the case in recent years.
Teams don’t roll out their strongest lineup in the preseason as they prioritize developing their talent and building a complete roster. The Senators won the NHL preseason last year while the Avalanche came in last, but the two were not close to each other in the standings after Colorado put together an excellent regular season.
Since 2003, the correlation between preseason victories and regular season success has been steadily declining, as teams use the preseason as an experimental period rather than fine-tuning their current squad.
Our NHL Preseason Predictions for 2025
- The Leafs will shine: Toronto is desperate to build team chemistry after their flurry of offseason moves and will thrive as a result. The Maple Leafs will start their best players more often than other teams and will be a successful NHL preseason prediction as a result.
- Fade Edmonton: The Oilers are tired after two Final runs, and avoiding them this preseason is a great NHL prediction. Other teams will be tuning their squad, while Edmonton will be waiting for another long season to begin.
- Avoid the big names: In the regular season, making NHL preseason predictions on teams like the Golden Knights, Lightning, and Oilers is often a good move. Not in the preseason. Look for which of the young teams, like San Jose, Chicago, and Buffalo, are playing their stars, and predict them to win whenever possible.
FAQs About NHL Preseason Predictions
How Long is the NHL Preseason?
The NHL preseason is two weeks long, with each team playing between six and eight games. The first NHL preseason game is on Saturday, September 20th, with the preseason wrapping up on Saturday, October 4th.
Do Preseason Wins Matter?
NHL preseason wins do not matter, nor do they influence the upcoming regular season. For example, the Colorado Avalanche came in last in the NHL preseason last year with a 1-5 record before finishing 49-33 in the regular season.
Which Rookies Should We Watch this Preseason?
Matthew Schaefer will hog the spotlight after he was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL draft. He is a dynamic defenseman who can get involved in the scoring and will look to slot into the Islanders’ roster on the opening day. Caleb Desnoyers was taken fourth overall, and the highly skilled center will make an instant impact for the Utah Mammoth this preseason.
Conclusion
Making correct NHL preseason predictions is all about the rosters on the ice. Some teams will elect to play their stars, while others will rest them for the grueling year ahead.
Checking the lineups and the NHL odds before making a prediction is crucial to navigating the NHL preseason.
