It’s onerous to imagine, however the NHL is again. The puck drops on Tuesday afternoon with the 2024-25 season opening in Seattle with the Kraken internet hosting the Blues at 4:30 p.m. ET, after which we’re into the complete swing of the season.
Because it stands the season is shaping as much as be a continuation of what we noticed final 12 months. The identical elite groups are nonetheless going to be excellent. Organizations who had been within the strategy of rebuilding aren’t fairly there but, with a number of groups slotting someplace within the center attempting to take the following step into playoff contenders.
In a number of methods that is the most effective the NHL has been in a very long time. Parity is ruling throughout the league in terms of expertise, with teaching and endurance being the important thing markers of groups who will nonetheless be alive and competing because the ice thaws subsequent 12 months. Right now we break down every thing it’s good to know concerning the upcoming season earlier than motion will get underway.
Who’re the contenders in 2024-25?
Realistically we’re taking a look at a number of the identical groups as final 12 months. This could roughly be damaged down into 4 legit Stanley Cup potential groups within the East, 4 within the West — with the remainder of the playoff spots up for grabs.
East
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Florida Panthers
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Rangers
West
- Edmonton Oilers
- Dallas Stars
- Vancouver Canucks
- Colorado Avalanche
The most important query (because it tends to be yearly) is whether or not or not that is the 12 months Toronto can recover from the hump. The Leafs went 46-26-10 a 12 months in the past, however the playoffs proved they wanted to enhance defensively. Organizationally they made very sensible choices, buying and selling for Chris Tanev, arguably the most effective out there defenseman in the marketplace, whereas additionally including defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and upgrading their goaltending with Anthony Stolarz. These strikes ought to make the Leafs a power.
There’s an accepted perception that the elite of the East is lagging behind the West. Edmonton nonetheless has the NHL’s most fearsome skaters, however didn’t go a lot to handle their points on protection and in internet. That might maintain them again somewhat. Nonetheless, when you’ve got the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl it affords you wiggle room on the again finish.
Which groups could make the most important jumps in 2024-25?
Don’t sleep on Utah HC. The newly-relocated crew is seeking to make a mark after leaving Arizona and there’s a really actual likelihood they might shock folks of their first season in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Final 12 months’s crew completed exterior the playoffs at 36-41-5, however they profit in a couple of huge methods. Firstly, a number of their promising younger gamers like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther are poised to interrupt out. Secondly, the crew spent huge in free company to win now. Lastly, Utah actually advantages from a softer Central Division with the Blues and Wild taking huge steps again. That units the stage for this crew to nab a playoff spot so long as they’ll sustain with Nashville.
The East is much more tough to determine. The hole between final 12 months’s playoff groups and the hopefuls is bigger, with solely the Pink Wings and Penguins actually feeling like they might discover a means in. That requires somewhat little bit of luck and regression from different groups, however the door is definitely open.
Who’re the new rookies to observe?
On the subject of the 2024-25 Calder Trophy there are actually two guys to control: Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Matvei Michkov from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Celebrini was the No. 1 general choose within the 2024 NHL Draft, touchdown him in an ideal spot the place he could make an influence. Coming into the league with a lot much less fanfare than 2023 No. 1 choose Connor Bedard, Celebrini’s throughout play is good to rack up a number of factors and switch heads, even on a somewhat hopeless crew just like the Sharks.
In the meantime Michkov lastly makes the soar to the NHL after being taken with the No. 7 choose within the 2023 draft. The 19-year-old Russian is coming off an excellent KHL season with Sochi that noticed him register 41 factors in 47 video games as an 18-year-old. Michkov had No. 2 choose potential, and solely fell final 12 months as a result of there was an expectation he may keep three or 4 years within the KHL earlier than making the soar. Now he’s in early, and already confirmed wonderful potential by scoring three targets in preseason.
Rule modifications for 2024-25
There isn’t something earth-shattering on this regard, however there’s one key tweak to observe because the season progresses.
Coaches will now be capable of problem a penalty for delay of sport within the occasion of a puck touring out of play. Upon assessment a minor penalty might be erased if it’s discovered the puck deflected off a participant, stick, or the boards. Nonetheless, if the problem fails a crew shall be assessed a second minor penalty as well as to the delay of sport.
Exterior of this different modifications are minor, and relate to warnings for gamers sitting on the boards, or how face-off violations happen after icing. Issues so small you received’t actually discover them in 2024-25.
One daring prediction for 2024-25 …
That is the 12 months Canada breaks its Stanley Cup Curse. The final time a crew from Canada received the cup was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, and the stage is about for this to finish. Edmonton are the scariest crew within the west, whereas an improved protection ought to propel the Maple Leafs ahead within the east.
We would not get an all-Canadian Stanley Cup Finals, however the stage may be very a lot set for considered one of these groups to make an enormous run. Issue within the huge potential of the Canucks and Jets, and the 31-year drought may lastly be over.
