The NHL 2024-25 season is correct across the nook, and when the puck does drop, there shall be a handful of groups worthy of some further consideration.
Do not get me unsuitable. Each NHL staff has intriguing plot threads, however eight of them stand out above the remainder for one purpose or one other. Whether or not it is a veteran staff trying to capitalize on a championship window, a younger core attempting to take the following step or a legend attempting to cement his place in NHL historical past, they only have some further juice as we strategy opening night time.
The Nashville Predators, as an example, made an enormous splash within the offseason and considerably raised expectations within the blink of an eye fixed. The Detroit Pink Wings, however, shall be counting on continued growth from key items of their core.
This is a take a look at the eight groups to maintain an in depth eye on all through the 2024-25 NHL season.
One thing tells me Connor McDavid is not going to be glad with the Conn Smythe Trophy after coming inside one win of his first Stanley Cup final season. McDavid is already the perfect participant on this planet, and I count on he’ll solely take his sport to a different degree this yr. On prime of that, his good good friend and fellow goalie-tormenter Leon Draisaitl received the bag to remain in Edmonton long-term.
The actual distinction for the Oilers is perhaps the truth that their ahead depth has never seemed this sturdy in McDavid’s profession. The additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson give Edmonton some good secondary scoring, and that’s one thing Edmonton has lacked lately. This was already an elite offensive staff, however this group goes to make scoreboard operators across the league work for his or her cash this season.
Detroit Pink Wings
Steve Yzerman is a franchise legend, and he has sufficient hockey information to fill a couple of bookshelves. That stated, it is in all probability time for “The Yzerplan” to begin coming collectively in Detroit. The Pink Wings have not reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2016, and I am uncertain they may finish that drought this season.
Detroit practically ended its prolonged playoff absence final season, dropping a tiebreaker to the Washington Capitals for the second wild card spot. Regardless of that, this staff looks as if a detrimental regression candidate in 2024-25. Final yr, the Wings wildly outperformed some troubling underlying metrics, they usually did not get a lot better within the offseason. Do not get me unsuitable, Detroit has some thrilling younger gamers in Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Simon Edvinsson, however I am undecided Yzerman has constructed a powerful sufficient supporting forged round them. Can the Pink Wings exceed expectations once more, or will the rebuild plateau?
Nashville Predators
It did not take lengthy for GM Barry Trotz to get aggressive in his retooling of the Predators. On the primary day of free company, he opened up the financial institution vault and spent $108.5 million to herald Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. That instantly opened up a championship window in Nashville, however given the age of the staff’s core, the clock is already ticking to profit from it.
At the very least on paper, the Predators ought to be competing for a Central Division title and the Western Convention crown. The one query is whether or not stars like Stamkos, Marchessault, Roman Josi, and Ryan O’Reilly can preserve Father Time at arm’s size. If they’ll, Nashville shall be poised for its first deep playoff run since 2017. If not, that offseason spending spree will look ugly. Both approach, the Preds shall be one of many NHL’s most intriguing groups all through the 2024-25 season.
Washington Capitals
Let’s simply begin with the truth that Alex Ovechkin is simply 41 targets behind Wayne Gretzky for the all-time targets document. That can require a bounce-back season from Ovechkin, however the Capitals will do every little thing they’ll to assist him get there, and there’s extra expertise round him now than there was in 2023-24.
Along with Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky, Washington made some fascinating additions within the offseason. Probably the most notable was the mercurial Pierre-Luc Dubois, whom the Kings shipped out only one season after he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract. Can he discover his footing in a brand new function with the Caps? Washington additionally acquired Andrew Mangiapane to assist with its ahead depth, and its blue line seems a lot better because of the arrival of Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy. The Capitals have been a shock playoff staff final season, however they will not sneak up on anybody this yr.
The debut of NHL hockey in Salt Lake Metropolis is definitely attention-grabbing, however the product on the ice is worthy of consideration by itself. After leaving the desert, Utah made a few offseason strikes to enhance its protection, and now this staff seems like it is going to contend for a Western Convention playoff spot.
Utah received a brand new No. 1 defenseman when it acquired Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it landed one other top-four possibility when it introduced in John Marino from the New Jersey Devils. Placing these two behind a younger ahead group led by Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther is an thrilling mixture. Do not be stunned to see Utah steal a playoff spot from one of many extra established groups within the convention.
Over the past six seasons, the Hurricanes have been one of many NHL’s greatest groups, however that hasn’t actually translated into postseason success. Now, after a summer time of change, Carolina must regulate and overcome the lack of key items because it tries to recover from that playoff hurdle.
Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, two staples on this Carolina blue line for years, at the moment are gone. Ahead Teuvo Teravainen is a Chicago Blackhawk as soon as once more. Jake Guentzel, the Hurricanes’ massive commerce deadline acquisition final yr, bolted for Tampa in free company. Carolina continues to be going to be a strong staff, particularly with its present core and Rod Brind’Amour behind the bench, however will it’s ok to go the space within the playoffs?
Of their first full season below head coach Rick Tocchet, the Canucks put up 50 wins and 109 factors en path to profitable the Pacific Division. That made Vancouver one of many NHL’s most nice surprises final season, however now it has to maintain constructing upon that. If the Canucks can take one other step, they’re going to be a really harmful Stanley Cup contender.
With Tocchet behind the bench, stars like Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser unlocked their ceilings. That core all the time had the potential to be particular, and that got here to fruition in 2023-24. Regardless of dropping their two largest commerce acquisitions from final season, the Canucks are nonetheless in place to problem the Oilers within the division. The one main concern for this staff because the season approaches is the standing for beginning goaltender Thatcher Demko, who received injured within the postseason. If he misses prolonged time, that may very well be an actual drawback.
Montreal GM Kent Hughes simply continues his methodical rebuild of this roster, and I wish to see the way it develops this season. The Canadiens have some actually promising younger gamers on the roster, and though they’re in all probability a pair years away from being a playoff staff once more, they need to nonetheless be a lot enjoyable to observe.
A kind of promising younger gamers is former No. 1 total decide Juraj Slafkovsky, who I used to be skeptical about after a gradual begin final season. Slafkovsky actually picked up his sport because the yr progressed, and he completed with 50 factors on the age of 20. This yr, Lane Hutson wll be on the blue line with Kaiden Guhle, and the duo of Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki will lead the forwards. That is a number of expertise at or below the age of 25, and do not forget the Habs added 26-year-old sharpshooter Patrik Laine to the combo as properly.
