One bold prediction for every NHL team in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs

The Vegas Golden Knights will make a coaching change in the middle of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Buffalo Sabres will reach the Eastern Conference final.The Minnesota Wild advance past the first round for the first time since 2015.Those were among the responses The Athletic got this week when it asked its hockey staff for bold predictions for the postseason.Here are some prognostications from writers, with puck drop on playoff hockey just hours away.{"bracketTitle":"bracket-tool_H71mvBAYXZiP","isSymmetrical":true,"hasHeader":true,"rounds":[{"round":"Round 1","games":[{"id":"0-0","teams":[{"id":"XpeqM3IggPG4XXZZ","name":"Avalanche","color":"620018","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-19-72x72.png","seed":"C1"},{"id":"DrZslimoz0ImwXmh","name":"Kings","color":"1c1c1c","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-26-72x72.png?1728883509","seed":"W2"}]},{"id":"0-1","teams":[{"id":"HOOn75S2GlJkw1XX","name":"Stars","color":"06391a","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-18-72x72.png?1659417071","seed":"C2"},{"id":"dDnAlEn6BG2TVXEk","name":"Wild","color":"06391a","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-23-72x72.png","seed":"C3"}]},{"id":"0-2","teams":[{"id":"oSnc5xRSCpahbfX6","name":"Golden Knights","color":"C5AD7C","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-632-72x72.png","seed":"P1"},{"id":"67VlRfjq0TqiOaN3","name":"Mammoth","color":"6caedf","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-29-72x72.png?1719539684","seed":"W1"}]},{"id":"0-3","teams":[{"id":"XjKqbgF9gJsxk1bl","name":"Oilers","color":"ff6600","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-25-72x72.png","seed":"P2"},{"id":"fALTZviwr5oPLiJQ","name":"Ducks","color":"ff6600","logo":"https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/logos/team/team-logo-30-72x72.png?1728883513","seed":"P3"}]}]},{"round":"Round 2","games":[{"id":"1-0","teams":[{},{}]},{"id":"1-1","teams":[{},{}]}]},{"...