Welcome back, hockey!
On Tuesday, the 2024-25 NHL season officially kicks off in North America, beginning another six-plus months of heart-stopping action on ice. When we last saw the NHL, the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, denying Canada another chance at a championship. Now, the Panthers will look to defend their Stanley Cup, hoping to become yet another Florida team to win back-to-back titles in the NHL.
MORE NHL: Ranking all 32 NHL teams for the 2024-25 season from least to most watchable.
Ahead of the newest hockey season, we thought we’d get in on everyone’s favorite — and most fun — aspect of a new sports year: predictions! To help me in this venture, I asked For The Win‘s own Blake Schuster to join me in making our annual season predictions. From which team will win the Stanley Cup to who will be the first head coach fired, here’s what we think will happen in the 2024-25 NHL season.
All odds via BetMGM
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Mary:
I think the Devils bounce back big and challenge New York all season long for the top of the Metro. The Hurricanes are still a great team, but I think they lost a few too many pieces to be the division’s top dog by season’s end.
Blake:
I also love the Hurricanes, but can’t imagine any team out East will get better goaltending than the Rangers see from Igor Shesterkin amid his contract dispute.
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mary:
I won’t overlook the Panthers again, that’s for sure. The Bruins and Maple Leafs feel destined to head to another first round playoff matchup too, as is tradition. As for the Lightning? They’re the true wild card to me, which is where I see them landing by season’s end. Anything could happen, though!
Blake:
I’m just not ready to write off Tampa Bay just yet. It feels like this group has one more big run in them, but the Bolts will be chasing the Panthers in the standings all year long.
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Mary:
The Predators are going to be the team to watch this season, as if everything goes right, they could be one of the top teams in the Central. Of course, the Avalanche are still in the mix, but I truly believe the Stars are going to top this division. It will be close between these three for sure.
Blake:
Dallas takes a slight step back this year if only because the Stars played at an impossible pace last season. They’ll get over 100 points again, but expecting another 113 is really pushing it. Also, the division got a lot better.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mary:
Connor McDavid won’t be denied this season and Edmonton won’t repeat their flat start after last year’s Stanley Cup Final. I also think the Golden Knights have a real chance to drop to the wild card like last season after losing a lot of offensive depth.
Blake:
As long as Connor McDavid is on the team, it’s hard to pick against Edmonton. I do really worry about a postseason hangover after such an intense run ended with a Game 7 loss in Florida. I’m also pretty sure bringing Stan Bowman as general manager is not going to make anything better.
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Mary: New York Rangers
I like the Panthers, a lot, but I think their two long playoff runs will catch up to them by season’s end, leaving the door open for the Rangers to grab the Eastern Conference crown. Artemi Panarin is coming off the best season of his career, Alexis Lafrenière is finally starting to live up to his pedigree and Adam Fox is going to have another Norris Trophy-level season. Plus, Igor Shesterkin is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. It’s all coming together for New York.
Blake: New York Rangers
Forgive me for picking the team with the best/most consistent goaltending, but when you consider everything else the Rangers have going for them this year, it’s impossible not to expect big things. Don’t be surprised if this is one of the best defensive teams we’ve seen in awhile.
Codie McLachlan/Getty Images
Mary: Dallas Stars
I am so high on the Stars this year. Dallas boasts one of the deepest lineups in the NHL, marrying exciting young talent with productive veterans into an electric mix. This isn’t Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn’s team anymore, it’s now Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Miro Heiskanen’s time to shine. Dallas has built a team to be excited about and I can’t wait to see what they do this season.
Blake: Vancouver Canucks
I just can’t get myself to pick the Oilers. I tried. I really did. But the way the playoffs went last year — and how hard the Oilers battled to get back in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida — I just don’t know how they’re supposed to find that next gear. So instead I’m going with an elite Canucks team that shouldn’t have any trouble scoring this season.
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Mary: Dallas Stars
I get it, the Oilers are the popular pick to run it back and McDavid winning his first Stanley Cup is a great story, but this is Dallas’ year. Book it.
Blake: New York Rangers
Oh Igor Shesterkin is going to get paid paid.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Mary: Connor McDavid
McDavid didn’t win last season — that honor went to Nathan MacKinnon — so the votes will swing back to the Oilers’ captain this year. Plus, we all know how much McDavid wants to get back to the Stanley Cup Final. If he stays healthy, another 150 point season doesn’t feel out of the realm of possibility.
Blake: Connor McDavid
It’s almost insulting we even have to ask for a prediction on this one.
Rich Gagnon/Getty Images
Mary: Jeremy Swayman
Yes, even with shaking the rust off after missing training camp due to contract negotiations, I think Jeremy Swayman is going to do everything in his power to prove to the Bruins why he’s being paid like a No. 1 goaltender.
Blake: Igor Shesterkin
See literally everything I said about the Rangers above.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Mary: Matvei Michkov
It’s Matvei Mania, baby! The Flyers are set to put Michkov on their first line to begin the season and fans are already expecting greatness from him. And I really think he delivers.
Blake: Macklin Celebrini
He was the youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award in college, which says a lot about his ability to adapt to a significantly more intense game, but more than that the Sharks are going to feed him every chance they get in an otherwise lost season.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Mary: Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins
If the Penguins start cold, I don’t think management is going to waste time giving this team a kick. Mike Sullivan is a great coach, but only he can do so much with this aging Penguins’ core.
Blake: Martin St. Louis, Montreal Canadiens
The Habs finished last in the Atlantic each of the last two seasons, and while that’s not entirely on Martin St. Louis, a slow start in the Year 3 after Montreal took the interim tag off his title will cost him the job.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Mary: Matvei Michkov scores more points than Connor Bedard’s rookie season
If Michkov can stay healthy, I really think he can clear Bedard’s 61 points from his Calder Trophy-winning season. The hype is real.
Blake: The Blackhawks make the playoffs for the first time since 2021
This team has so much young, raw talent that I’m not even sure they know how good they could be in 2024-25. Does that mean the Hawks reach their ceiling? Probably not, but they’ll be knocking on the postseason door much sooner than anyone expected.
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