The 2024-25 NHL season is about to start, and that means it’s time to start anticipating what could happen in the league throughout the regular season.
There has been a lot of action throughout the offseason, and many teams will be starting over with hopes of competing for the Stanley Cup next season. In the Eastern Conference, there are several teams that missed the postseason in 2023-24 that are looking to qualify in 2024-25, including the Buffalo Sabers, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. One of these teams will almost certainly be in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoff field.
This is a good time to make some exciting predictions regarding teams making or missing the playoffs and what players could take home with some hardware when the dust settles on the year. Here is a list of some bold predictions for the upcoming campaign that have a chance of coming true when all is said and done.
The Senators finally made the playoffs
There are quite a few teams in the Eastern Conference that are trying to break that proverbial glass ceiling and finally qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season. The Buffalo Sabers and Detroit Red Wings are among the teams that can 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 the pieces to be a playoff team in 2024-25. One of the biggest issues Ottawa faced last season came on the defensive side of the ice. As a team, the Senators posted a 3.43 goals-against average, the fifth-worst mark in the NHL. Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg both posted goals against averages that topped the 3.20 mark, so the Senators went out and got a starter on the front line to man the crease in the form of Linus Ullmark. Ullmark may not have had a Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2023-24, but he could return to form without a goaltender like Jeremy Swayman lurking over his shoulder. According to Money Puck, the Senators had a -30 goal differential (fifth-worst as a team in the NHL), so stability in the defensive zone could severely change the team’s fortunes.
Ottawa has an impressive lineup that includes the likes of Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux. The biggest question mark will be the health of potential midfielder Josh Norris, who has made only 58 appearances over the past two seasons due to injury. If Norris can stay healthy and bolster the middle of the ice, it’s not crazy to think the Senators could be a playoff team this season.
Filip Forsberg wins the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
It’s no secret that the Nashville Predators have been among the most active teams in free agency. This is a franchise that has added forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to its top six, and that could see Filip Forsberg playing out of his mind throughout the 2024-25 season.
Forsberg has consistently been a productive scorer since breaking into the NHL in the 2012-13 season. However, the Swedish star has scored 40 goals in two seasons over the past three years, including a career-high 48 goals in 2023-24. That was good for 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 uptick in Forsberg’s offensive production. With Marchessault and Stamkos expected to join Forsberg at the top of the Predators’ power play unit, Forsberg should have a chance to score more power play goals than he has in the past. While it would likely take a significant effort for Forsberg to lead the league in goals, it’s not outside the realm of possibility.
The Avalanche are in first place in the Central Division playoffs
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, the Colorado Avalanche have won just one playoff series in the last two Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche took down the Winnipeg Jets in five games in the 2024 postseason, but health has certainly been a thorn in the team’s side.
The Avalanche have been without captain Gabriel Landeskog each of the past two seasons due to multiple knee procedures. Additionally, fellow forward Artturi Lehkonen returned from offseason shoulder surgery. Assuming both Landeskog and Lehkonen don’t waste too much 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. Look for the Avalanche to be the juggernaut once again in the Central Division race.
Jake Oettinger showed shades of being an elite goalie during the first four seasons of his NHL career. Although his performance in the 2023-2024 season was not perfect, Oettinger certainly has the ability to bounce back and have an exceptional season next season.
The Dallas Stars are expected to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference, so Oettinger has the good fortune of having an elite team playing against him. Oettinger posted a 35-14-4 record to go along with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in 2023-24. However, according to Money Puck, Oettinger posted a .953 save percentage when facing unblocked shots last season despite having a down year. Oettinger’s career goals against average is 2.51, which is in the ballpark it would take for Oettinger to be a Vezina Trophy finalist as the league’s top goaltender.
Sidney Crosby has been an icon for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the years and has given the franchise three Stanley Cups. He’s accomplished a lot, but it’s not crazy to think the team could move him before the 2025 trade deadline.
It’s hard to wrap your head around the Penguins trading Crosby, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. The Penguins added veteran forward Kevin Hayes to add some grit to their checking line, while also landing former first-round pick Rutger McGroarty. However, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Penguins aren’t in contention for the playoffs when the trade deadline approaches. That’s when Kyle Dubas and company have to make a very difficult decision. While Crosby just signed a contract extension, his cap hit is not astronomical at $8.7 million, so it is a transferable contract for the right team. It’s also worth noting that Crosby is 37 years old and might want to chase one last ring. If he really did and it didn’t happen with Pittsburgh, they might have decided it was time to part ways after two decades.