We’re roughly three weeks into the 2024-25 NHL season and most groups have both performed, or are approaching 10 video games within the books. From the surface wanting in there’s numerous similarity to final season, however there’s some vital traits taking place across the league which can be value taking a look at as we transfer ahead.
It may be harmful to attract any huge conclusions this early within the season, however right here’s what we assume we all know from the NHL primarily based on what we’ve seen to this point.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are astonishingly good
On paper the Lightning had been at all times going to be improved this season with the extra Jake Guentzel through free company, however by way of 9 video games the workforce is trending to be a power.
A case the place their 6-3 document hides simply how good they’re, the Lightning have performed the No. 2 ranked hardest schedule of their opening a part of the yr — and are available out of it smelling like roses. Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel all have double-digit factors to this point, with a handful of fellows simply behind them.
Defensively the Lightning are strong, their goalies have been above-average contemplating the competitors they’ve performed, and Tampa already has some notable wins in opposition to elite opponents just like the Hurricanes, Golden Knights, and Canucks.
There are some issues to tighten up like their PK and general self-discipline on the subject of permitting Energy Performs, however in whole coach Jon Cooper has the Lightning already wanting like a workforce who can contend within the east.
Connor Bedard is changing into the participant we thought he would
Make no mistake: The Blackhawks are nonetheless completely trash and will probably be trash this season, however my goodness has Connor Bedard taken a step ahead this yr already.
With three objectives and 6 assists in 10 video games he’s nicely on tempo to greatest his spectacular rookie totals, however the true story behind Bedard’s play comes from his superior stats — in addition to his angle off the ice.
Bedard has lifted his Corsi and Fenwick considerably this season on either side of the puck, however significantly on protection the place he’s remodeled right into a extra dependable forechecker and keen to struggle for the puck within the the robust elements of the ice extra. Most-impressively, Bedard’s stats have gone by way of the moon in 5v5 conditions in shut video games, the place he’s lifted his Corsi For from a -10.0 to a +1.2 throughout his video games to this point.
What Chicago actually wished from Bedard isn’t only a stellar on-ice participant, however somebody who might anchor this franchise and reform the tradition for the following 10-15 years. Already this season he’s been a vocal chief, who’s already advocating that the workforce makes strikes within the commerce market to get him some assist.
It is smart contemplating the Blackhawks’ abysmal offense outdoors of the 19-year-old, and if the entrance workplace will get the assistance Bedard wants then this workforce might begin to flip issues round rapidly — particularly contemplating how simply he makes a scorer’s life together with his prolific passing.
Rumors of the Hurricanes’ demise had been drastically exaggerated
No workforce was pressured to bear extra of an overhaul than the Hurricanes this offseason, who not solely whiffed on re-signing Jake Guentzel who was their No. 1 goal, however had been pressured to let Brady Skjei, Brent Pesce, Teuvo Teräväinen, Stefan Noesen, and Michael Bunting to depart through free company — with Evgeny Kuznetsov selecting to depart the NHL all collectively and head again to Russia.
At the least on paper the stage was set for a large regression, or at the least some very critical retooling by Carolina, however someway the workforce seems to be even higher this season regardless of the roster overhaul. The Canes are 6-2 amid their brutal opening street journey to begin the season, and gamers everywhere in the roster are stepping as much as fill the void.
Martin Necas is again to his outdated self, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are enjoying at a excessive stage — and maybe the largest shock has been 21-year-old Jackson Blake, who has 4 level in his first full season of being known as as much as the primary roster.
The Hurricanes’ heralded protection remains to be robust regardless of the lack of Skjei and Pesce, whereas their forwards are acting at a better stage than at this level final season. It’s mixed to make Carolina appear like a really actual risk within the Metropolitan this yr, identical to final — and most figured they’d be preventing in 2024-25 to remain related.
The Oilers have to hit the panic button
Regardless of making the Stanley Cup in 2023-24 and seemingly having the desk set for one more run, every thing goes flawed in Edmonton.
The Oilers are off to a horrible 4-5-1 begin, and now Connor McDavid is injured. Final yr they had been the NHL’s most dominant offensive workforce, however now they’re thirtieth in objectives scored, regardless of enjoying a comparatively straightforward schedule that ranks sixteenth in hockey this yr.
Defensively the workforce is a multitude. The goalies are underperforming. If you couple these components with an offense that may’t rating outdoors of a now-hurt McDavid and Leon Draisaitl it makes for an unpleasant combo. There’s some critical soul-searching that must be performed, as a result of because it stands it appears the Oilers are nearer to having a High 5 decide than contending for a cup this yr, and their early-season regression has been merely astonishing.
The Rangers are actually, actually good — however we have to see extra
Not a lot a shock right here, however New York is nice this season. The issue is that this might be constructed on a home of playing cards.
Make no mistake: The Rangers are going to be a top-tier workforce within the East regardless, however there are just a few components which might point out the new begin is idiot’s gold.
- The Rangers are thirty first in power of schedule to this point
- Artemi Panarin seemingly can’t sustain his astonishing tempo
- Their schedule has allowed the Rangers to learn from enjoying low-scoring groups
There’s completely the potential that every one of this holds and the Rangers show themselves to be one of the best workforce within the Nationwide Hockey League, however their 3-1 loss to the Panther at house (the one actual check they’ve confronted) might point out that extra gamers past their established stars have to step up.
