The 2024-25 season is about to get underway, and that implies that it is time to get out the crystal ball.

It is a clear slate for all 32 NHL franchises as they obtain a recent begin in 2024-25. Following a big quantity of motion within the offseason, the Florida Panthers will probably be coming off their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past, and can start their title protection towards the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. 

As many Stanley Cup winners do, the Panthers will undergo some turnover. Florida noticed the likes of defenseman Brandon Montour and winger Vladimir Tarasenko signal elsewhere in free company. Many groups will probably be seeking to give all of them that they will deal with all through the season, together with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and Bruins simply to call just a few.

With the puck set to drop on a brand new marketing campaign, now we have unveiled our particular person picks for every of the main awards, what the playoff discipline might appear to be, and who will probably be elevating the Stanley Cup this season.

Award predictions

Chris Bengel

Austin Nivison

Playoff seeding predictions

Bengel

• Atlantic Division: 1. Florida Panthers 2. Boston Bruins 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
• Metropolitan Division: 1. New York Rangers 2. New Jersey Devils 3. Carolina Hurricanes 
• Japanese Convention Wild Card: 1. Toronto Maple Leafs 2. Philadelphia Flyers
• Central Division: 1. Colorado Avalanche 2. Dallas Stars 3. Nashville Predators
• Pacific Division: 1. Edmonton Oilers 2. Seattle Kraken 3. Vancouver Canucks
• Western Convention Wild Card: 1. Winnipeg Jets 2. Utah Hockey Membership

Nivison

• Atlantic Division: 1. Florida Panthers 2. Toronto Maple Leafs 3. Boston Bruins
• Metropolitan Division: 1. New Jersey Devils 2. Carolina Hurricanes 3. New York Rangers
• Japanese Convention Wild Card: 1. Tampa Bay Lightning 2. New York Islanders
• Central Division: 1. Dallas Stars 2. Nashville Predators 3. Colorado Avalanche
• Pacific Division: 1. Edmonton Oilers 2. Vancouver Canucks 3. Vegas Golden Knights
• Western Convention Wild Card: 1. Utah Hockey Membership 2. Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup predictions

Bengel

• Western Convention Remaining: Edmonton Oilers over Dallas Stars
• Japanese Convention Remaining: New York Rangers over Florida Panthers
• Stanley Cup Remaining: Edmonton Oilers over New York Rangers

The Edmonton Oilers practically reached the top of the game throughout the 2023-24 season, however fell simply quick towards the Florida Panthers in final season’s Stanley Cup Remaining. This time round, the Oilers will get the job performed. Edmonton arguably has a deeper roster than a yr in the past after including veteran forwards like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to their prime six. For the primary time in a number of years, the Oilers even have a powerful netminder within the crease within the type of Stuart Skinner, who tallied a 2.45 goals-against-average throughout Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Remaining in 2023-24. The Oilers might simply be essentially the most proficient staff within the West, and it will not be an enormous shock in the event that they lastly attain the mountaintop of the NHL throughout the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Nivison

• Western Convention Remaining: Dallas Stars over Edmonton Oilers
• Japanese Convention Remaining: New Jersey Devils over Florida Panthers
• Stanley Cup Remaining: Dallas Stars over New Jersey Devils

The Dallas Stars have misplaced within the Western Convention Remaining in every of the final two seasons, however they recover from that hump this season. The Stars did downgrade their defensive depth within the offseason, however that’s made up for after which some by a ahead group that has extra firepower than the Galactic Empire. That, together with elite goaltending from Jake Oettinger, helps them sneak previous the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of final yr’s convention ultimate. Coming off a disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign, the New Jersey Devils plugged holes of their roster and as soon as once more appear to be a real Cup contender. Jack Hughes, coming off a Hart Trophy common season, will assist New Jersey overcome the reigning Cup champs within the Japanese Convention Remaining. In a Stanley Cup Remaining that ought to present loads of offense, the Stars outlast the Devils in an extended sequence.