We’re not knee-deep into the semifinals of the 2026 NHL Playoffs just yet, but the predictions keep coming in for who will take home the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Eight teams remain at this stage: Buffalo Sabres Vs. Montreal Canadiens (0-0), Carolina Hurricanes Vs. Philadelphia Flyers (2-0), Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Anaheim Ducks (1-0), and Colorado Avalanche Vs. Minnesota Wild (1-0).
Former Washington Capitals star T. J. Oshie made a visit to Donald Trump’s White House this week, and with the 47th President of the United States as his witness, the 2018 champ revealed his pick for which team could go all the way.
2018 Capitals Champ T. J. Oshie Picks Between Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche
On Tuesday, May 5, T. J. Oshie suited up and paid a visit to the Oval Office at the White House to watch President Donald Trump speak before signing a proclamation.
When everything was said and done, Trump made some conversation with Oshie, asking him for his pick for who will win the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
TJ Oshie tells Trump that he thinks the Minnesota Wild will win he Stanley Cup pic.twitter.com/cNMHYudaPi
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 5, 2026
“Who’s gonna win in hockey” Trump asked the 2018 Stanley Cup champion.
“It’s a tough one. Colorado’s the favorite. I like Minnesota, though,” Oshie said.
“We’re gonna watch okay? We’re gonna watch,” Trump promised.
Appearing with Matthew Tkachuk on the Wingmen podcast earlier this week, however, Oshie struck a different tone. He picked the Avs to win in seven games against the Minnesota Wild, but he did add that he believes whichever teams wins the Colorado-Minnesota series will go on to win at all.
Not exactly a hot take, but that’s where the consensus lies. Both teams have more than enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with any team in the playoffs. The grit-and-grind Carolina Hurricanes slot in as the next-best bet on the other side of the bracket.
The Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL at the moment, but a series against the electric Montreal Canadiens could take too much out of Buffalo’s roster. The Flyers, meanwhile, are already in an 0-2 hole against Carolina, so there’s little hope at the end of that tunnel.
Vegas and Anaheim will battle it out for a spot against one of Minnesota and Colorado, but the Wild and the Avs simply have too many options to throw at the Ducks and Golden Knights in that matchup.
DON’T MISS: ‘Holy F**king S**t’: Maple Leafs GM John Chayka’s Press Conference Goes Off The Rails
