2024-25 NHL The season is about to start, and that means it’s time to start projecting what could happen in the league throughout the regular season.
There has been a lot of movement throughout the offseason, and many teams will be starting fresh with hopes of contending for a Stanley Cup this upcoming season. In the Eastern Conference, several teams that missed the playoffs in 2023-24 are looking to qualify in 2024-25, including the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. One of these teams will almost certainly be in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoff field.
It’s time to make some spicy projections about which teams will or won’t make the playoffs and which players might take home some hardware when the dust settles on the year. Here’s a list of some bold predictions for the upcoming campaign that have a chance of coming true once all is said and done.
The Senators finally reach the playoffs
Many Eastern Conference teams are trying to break that proverbial glass ceiling and finally make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this upcoming season. The Buffalo Sabers and Detroit Red Wings are among the teams that could get the job done, but it’s the Ottawa Senators who will ultimately take the next step.
Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, but the Senators have what it takes to make the playoffs in 2024-25. One of Ottawa’s biggest issues last season came on the defensive end of the ice. As a team, the Senators had a 3.43 goals-against average, which was the fifth-worst mark in the NHL. Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg both had goals-against averages that eclipsed the 3.20 mark, so the Senators went out and got a starting frontcourt to occupy the field in the form of Linus Ullmark. Ullmark may not have a Vezina Trophy winning season in 2023-24, but could bounce back without a goaltender like Jeremy Swayman lurking behind his shoulder. According to Money Puck, the Senators had a -30 goal differential (fifth worst in the NHL), so stability in the defensive zone could seriously alter the team’s fortunes.
Ottawa has an impressive trio that includes players like Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux. The biggest question mark will be the health of likely second-line center Josh Norris, who has only played in 58 games over the past two seasons due to injury. If Norris can stay healthy and strengthen the middle of the ice, it’s not crazy to think the Senators can be a playoff team this season.
Filip Forsberg wins the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
It’s no secret the Nashville Predators were one of the most active teams in free agency. This is a franchise that has added forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to their top six, which could lead to Filip Forsberg playing crazy throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
Forsberg has consistently been a productive scorer since arriving in the NHL during the 2012-13 season. However, the Swedish star has two 40-goal seasons in the last three years, including a career-high 48 goals in 2023-24. That was a good sixth place in the NHL, with some of the league’s best players like Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov finishing above him. On the other hand, Nashville’s offseason additions could certainly lead to an increase in Forsberg’s offensive production. With Marchessault and Stamkos expected to join Forsberg on the Predators’ top power play unit, Forsberg should have the chance to score more power play goals than in the past. While it will likely take a huge effort for Forsberg to lead the league in goals, it’s not outside the realm of possibility.
Avalanche claim first Central Division playoff berth
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, the Colorado Avalanche have only won one playoff series in the last two Stanley Cup Playoff brackets. The Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets in five games in the 2024 playoffs, but health has certainly been a thorn in the team’s side.
The Avalanche have been without captain Gabriel Landeskog in each of the last two seasons due to multiple knee surgeries. In addition, his compatriot Artturi Lehkonen returns from shoulder surgery during the offseason. Assuming Landeskog and Lehkonen don’t miss significant time to start the season, the Avalanche have the scoring prowess to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference, especially if star center Nathan MacKinnon produces another MVP caliber. season. Expect the Avalanche to once again be a heavyweight in the Central Division race.
Jake Oettinger has shown shades of being an elite goaltender over the first four seasons of his NHL career. Even though his performance in 2023-24 hasn’t been ideal, Oettinger certainly has the ability to bounce back and produce an exceptional campaign this upcoming season.
The Dallas Stars should be one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Oettinger is therefore fortunate to have an elite team in front of him. Oettinger posted a 35-14-4 record, 2.72 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 2023-24. Yet, according to Money Puck, Oettinger recorded a .953 save percentage against blocked shots last season despite a down year. Oettinger’s career goals against average stands at 2.51, which is within the range it would take for Oettinger to be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender.
Sidney Crosby has been an icon for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the years and brought the franchise three Stanley Cups. He’s accomplished so much, but it’s not crazy to consider the possibility of the team moving him before the 2025 trade deadline.
It’s hard to fathom the Penguins trading Crosby, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. The Penguins added veteran forward Kevin Hayes to bring some grit to their controlling line, while also landing former first-round pick Rutger McGroarty. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Penguins aren’t in playoff contention when the trade deadline approaches. That’s when Kyle Dubas and company might have to make a very difficult decision. Even though Crosby just signed a contract extension, his cap hit isn’t astronomical at $8.7 million, so this is a transferable contract to the right team. It’s also worth noting that Crosby is 37 years old and may want to pursue one last ring. If he actually does and it doesn’t happen with Pittsburgh, maybe they’ll decide it’s time to part ways after two decades.
