2024-25 NHL Season Preview – The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

It’s unlikely that the New York Islanders will win the Stanley Cup this season. They are a middling team, and their odds reflect that – at +4000 or +5000, according…

Earlier today, we concluded our month-long analysis of and predictions for the young forwards of the Anaheim Ducks by looking at Trevor Zegras. Let’s do the same for the last (but certainly…

Having watched the Edmonton Oilers during their dynasty years, I can’t help but notice that the 2024-25 version, especially the forward group, resembles the high-flying Oilers of the 80s and…

Earlier today, we concluded our month-long analysis of and predictions for the young forwards of the Anaheim Ducks by looking at Trevor Zegras. Let’s do the same for the last (but certainly not the least) young defenseman of the bunch: Olen Zellweger.  Related: Ducks September Series: 2024-25 Expectations for Trevor Zegras Zellweger…

Barring a miraculous yet unlikely outcome, the Anaheim Ducks will not be contending for the playoffs but should take a meaningful step forward in their path back to competitive play. They cannot afford another bottom-five finish in the NHL standings. In their post-Cup-contending era (2018-present), they have made numerous first- and…

The Anaheim Ducks must improve in various areas for a successful season, as the keys to progress could differ from person to person. After all, this organization has the fourth-longest playoff drought at six seasons and has finished in the bottom five of the NHL standings four times over that…

Training camp is in full swing and it is nearing go time for the 2024-25 NHL season. Teams are getting a glimpse of what’s in their pipeline and how the NHL regulars look. From positional battles to teams starting to gel, this is a great time for hockey.  The Boston…

If you’re a fan of the Boston Bruins, it’s very likely you’ve heard the names Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov quite a bit this offseason. It makes sense, given that they are arguably the two best forward prospects in the Bruins system and have the best chances of filling a…

Training camp has officially begun for the NHL, and the 2024-25 season is underway. The biggest story dominating Boston Bruins’ headlines is of course Jeremy Swayman, who remains unsigned. It would certainly be bad news for the team if he were to remain unsigned when the season begins in October,…

The 2024-25 regular season is nearly upon us. The Buffalo Sabres have been talked about at nauseam, and with good reason. Results have looked good so far in the preseason, but the roster will look different when opening night rolls around. New/old head coach Lindy Ruff has already begun transforming…

More than a few members of the Buffalo Sabres will be facing sizable pressure going into the 2024-25 season. One name on that list will be 21-year-old defenseman Owen Power. The first overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, he appeared briefly during the 2021-22 season before ultimately making an…

There were very few bright spots during the 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres season. Among them was Rasmus Dahlin, arguably the heart and soul of the franchise. Given the expectations placed upon him after being selected first overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, it’s safe to say he’s lived up to the…

We’re midway through September; NHL rookie camps and tournaments are well underway and the preseason is under a week away. Rosters will need to be finalized before the regular season begins on Oct. 4. Fans of the Calgary Flames have been eagerly watching the team’s Young Stars Tournament, which takes…

Last but not least in our offseason division roundup is the Pacific. The race in the top four was one of the most competitive in 2023-24, but some of the league’s worst teams were also in the Pacific. While many teams improved, it might not necessarily lead to change in…

The Calgary Flames may not be a very good team in 2024-25, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be exciting. They’re doing so quietly, but under general manager (GM) Craig Conroy, they have acquired some great young pieces, some of which are expected to play a large part of the…

The Carolina Hurricanes and their fans are 18 days away from opening night of the 2024-25 season. Furthermore, training camp has been fully underway for almost a week now with a preseason hockey coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 24 in Tampa, Florida. While everyone is excited for the start of…

The Carolina Hurricanes open training camp this week, and all eyes will be on a roster that’s undergone a serious change since last season. Gone are long-tenured fan favorites like Brett Pesce, Teuvo Terävainen, Brady Skjei, and several others, while new faces include Sean Walker, Jack Roslovic, Will Carrier, and…

Good news hockey fans: hockey is officially back. Well, it’s just training camp but for most, it’s the official kickoff to the 2024-25 season. While today will be filled with mainly meetings and getting the players back together, we know we aren’t too far away from preseason and regular-season hockey….

Welcome to this preseason edition of Blackhawks Bytes, a series featuring quotes and comments from players, coaches, management, journalists and fans alike concerning everything Chicago Blackhawks. The purpose of this ongoing column is to capture a slice of the existing outlook, attitudes and culture surrounding the team. Please join me as we…

It’s almost impossible for a team to go from worst to first in the NHL. A lot must go right for a rebuilding team to take a significant leap in the standings and go from last place in the division one season to first place the next. The New Jersey…

The preseason is in full swing for the Chicago Blackhawks. Veteran and new players alike are trying to find their way and etch out their roles with this new-look team. We know that Nick Foligno is the Blackhawks’ 35th captain in franchise history, and Connor Bedard is primed to begin…

As the Colorado Avalanche prepare to weather several key absences to start the season, they will look to one of their reliable pillars, defenseman Devon Toews, now entering his fifth season with the club. While many eyes will be on position battles and the performance of Casey Mittelstadt, fans and…

The Colorado Avalanche have become all too familiar with adversity over the last year. A solid regular season ended in a third-place finish in the Central Division. Valeri Nichushkin was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program in the middle of their series with the…

We’ve heard plenty about the issues facing the Colorado Avalanche entering the 2024-25 season. They will likely face cap issues as the season progresses, but there are a few pieces that the team can depend on without question. One of them happens to be the best defenseman in the NHL:…

The Columbus Blue Jackets have only played one preseason game going into Wednesday night’s home preseason opener against the St. Louis Blues. However, Tuesday’s practice gave some insight into where things stand with the potential NHL roster. Just one day after the Blue Jackets’ 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres,…

It’s almost impossible for a team to go from worst to first in the NHL. A lot must go right for a rebuilding team to take a significant leap in the standings and go from last place in the division one season to first place the next. The New Jersey…

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been busy rebuilding themselves over the last few months. A new general manager (GM) and coaching staff have been putting their stamp on the franchise, which meant the non-renewal of contracts and trades of several players who had been in the organization for a long…

The 2021-22 season is a vital one for Dallas Stars’ defenseman John Klingberg. In the final season of his seven-year contract, he will look to prove he is worthy of an extension as well as a raise.  Klingberg’s Bargain Contract  When Klingberg signed his seven-year, $29.75 million deal in 2015,…

The Dallas Stars are the envy of many teams across the NHL – and if they aren’t, they should be. Not only do they have a championship-caliber roster heading into the 2023-24 season, but they also have more than a handful of prospects that should be knocking on the NHL’s…

The 2024-25 season is around the corner as the offseason, and the action that came with it, is starting to wind down. It’s that time when fans and experts alike start to make some predictions. One of the things to look at is the top five offenses in the NHL….

The preseason is upon us – the Detroit Red Wings are scheduled to play eight games over the next two weeks before their home-opener on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Detroit’s roster is mostly set – 12 forwards, eight defenseman, and three goalies will likely make the team. That…

Finally, the Detroit Red Wings are about to begin training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season. Coming off of a season where they missed the playoffs by a single point, expectations haven’t been this high for the Red Wings in nearly a decade. Naturally there are a ton of storylines…

Steve Yzerman’s goal for the Detroit Red Wings is continuous improvement – both individually and as a team. For the 2024-25 team, this means improving upon a 91-point campaign that almost resulted in a playoff berth. Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane will lead the…

Having watched the Edmonton Oilers during their dynasty years, I can’t help but notice that the 2024-25 version, especially the forward group, resembles the high-flying Oilers of the 80s and early 90s, when they were an offensive powerhouse led by Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and anchored…

There has been a lot mentioned about the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup aspirations over the past couple of seasons, and it seems like when the conversation turns to the Oilers’ biggest weakness, almost every finger gets pointed in the direction of the defence. Related: Oilers Defense Will Be Achilles Heel…

It’s that time of year again, the leaves are turning golden yellow in Alberta, the combines are going 24/7 in the fields and players are in NHL Camps getting ready for the season. And, of course, it’s time for TSN’s Top 50 List of NHL Players. This is the 15th…

The Florida Panthers enter the 2024-25 season as defending Stanley Cup Champions for the first time in franchise history. They look to end this season the same way they finished their last by lifting Lord Stanley’s holy grail again. The last team to win back-to-back championships was the Tampa Bay…

The Florida Panthers are entering the 2024-25 season as first-time Stanley Cup Champions. They look to replicate this past season and win back-to-back Cups. The last team to accomplish that feat was their in-state rival in the Tampa Bay Lightning. One of the key pieces on the Cup-winning roster was…

The Florida Panthers enter their upcoming season as defending Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history. They look to end their 2024-25 campaign the same way last season ended. Throughout the summer, development camp was going on for the team’s prospects. But one player that was left…

A huge factor determining how successful an NHL team will be in any given season is how well they perform against the rest of the teams in their division. With the regular season right around the corner, let’s take a look at how the Los Angeles Kings stack up against…

A few years ago the Los Angeles Kings were en route to becoming contenders once again. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014, they began to decline as expected. What wasn’t expected, however, was how quickly the Kings turned their ship around. Their rebuild was surprisingly…

Last but not least in our offseason division roundup is the Pacific. The race in the top four was one of the most competitive in 2023-24, but some of the league’s worst teams were also in the Pacific. While many teams improved, it might not necessarily lead to change in…

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. Otherwise, it’s a rarity for a team to miss the playoffs one…

Now that the Minnesota Wild training camp for the 2024-25 season has gotten underway, we’ve been able to see what type of coach John Hynes is when he’s able to…

The Minnesota Wild’s regular season is right around the corner, and with that comes predictions, expectations, and a list of questions. As training camp continues, the main topic on everyone’s…

Oddsmakers have the Montreal Canadiens earning the same 76 points in the standings they just did, which flies in the face of all logic.

It’s almost impossible for a team to go from worst to first in the NHL. A lot must go right for a rebuilding team to take a significant leap in the standings and go from last place in the division one season to first place the next. The New Jersey…

To end 2023-24, the Montreal Canadiens iced a second line of Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher and Joel Armia. Each ended the season on a high.

The Nashville Predators have a stacked roster heading into the 2024-25 NHL season. The offense will be led by newly-signed forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, along with other Predators…

The Nashville Predators 2024-25 season is less than a month away. The puck drops on their regular season on Oct. 10 against the Dallas Stars. The organization has much to…

The NHL Network has been putting out top 20 lists in each of the positional categories this offseason. They most recently ranked the top 20 defensemen heading into the 2024-25…

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. Otherwise, it’s a rarity for a team to miss the playoffs one season and hoist Lord Stanley’s Mug the next. The only other time in the past decade a team won it…

As the final horn blew, ending the New Jersey Devils’ brutal 2023-24 campaign, general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew he had to make changes. The team needed more than just a fresh coat of paint. Atop Fitzgerald’s “punch list” had to be a bonafide starting goaltender, more depth and physicality throughout…

There are always position battles in training camp. This season, the New Jersey Devils camp is notable for lacking a battle in the crease. For the first time in nearly a decade, the team will enter camp with a bonafide starting goalie and one of the top backups in the…

It’s unlikely that the New York Islanders will win the Stanley Cup this season. They are a middling team, and their odds reflect that – at +4000 or +5000, according to most oddsmakers, they are in the same group as the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins. However,…

The New York Islanders saw their defense take a big step back last season. Injuries, age, and decline from key skaters all caught up to them, and the unit fell apart because of it. It’s easy to think that the best from this defensive unit, highlighted by the Barry Trotz…

The New York Islanders may have traded away many of their early draft picks in recent seasons to enhance the NHL roster, but general manager Lou Lamoriello has done an impressive job at finding talent in the later rounds. One of his best draft picks is looking to be his…

The date was Oct. 13, 2021, and for a New York Rangers organization seeking change, there was a sense that a new era might be dawning before its eyes. The Blueshirts were playing their season opener against the Washington Capitals, and for 60 minutes, fans saw a retooled roster that…

The New York Rangers made no major changes this offseason, especially on defense. Erik Gustafsson left in free agency, signing with the Detroit Red Wings, clearing the path for Zac Jones to make the opening night lineup. They held onto the other five defensemen they played last postseason, including captain…

Two of the biggest strengths for the New York Rangers over the past few seasons have been their power play and penalty kill. Last season, they finished third in the league on both the power play and penalty kill and this season will look to continue the trend of amazing…

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. Otherwise, it’s a rarity for a team to miss the playoffs one…

On the Sept. 12 episode of The Hockey Writers Roundtable, my colleague Jacob Billington and I disagreed on whether the Ottawa Senators were packing enough offensive punch to be successful…

After a few seasons of mediocrity and missed playoffs, the Ottawa Senators are looking for a breakthrough in 2024-25. With a mix of new faces and existing talent, the Sens…

For the Philadelphia Flyers to avenge their last-day-of-the-season playoff miss in 2023-24, they need a few things to go right. We can point to several “X-factors”, like the goaltending, how rookie Matvei Michkov will perform, and how the defense will adapt to essentially replacing Sean Walker with Jamie Drysdale. But…

The 2024-25 NHL season is nearly upon us, and with that comes change. While playoff teams might not look too much different than a season ago, there are always a few teams that take a step back and some who make the jump forward. Today, we’ll look at five teams…

With the addition of Matvei Michkov to the Philadelphia Flyers’ offense, there’s only one small, young winger on anyone’s mind right now. However, there’s another one to be taken notice of: Bobby Brink. Brink, a 23-year-old, signed a two-year extension worth $1.5 million annually in the 2024 offseason which reads…

Late last week, we looked at five NHL teams who could regress this coming season. Today, we’ll look at five teams who struggled a season ago and have bounce-back potential in 2024-25. Let’s get right to it. Seattle Kraken 2023-24 season: 34-35-13, 81 points, 6th in Pacific The Seattle Kraken…

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby has already had an incredible career thus far. The 19-season veteran has already won the Stanley Cup three times, Art Ross Trophy in 2006-07 and 2013-14, Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015-16 and 2016-17, Hart Memorial Trophy in 2006-07 and 2013-14, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in…

With NHL preseason beginning later this month, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the rest of the Metropolitan Division are getting ready for another season. Most of the big offseason moves have already happened so where do the Penguins currently stand among the other teams in the Metro? 1. New York Rangers Last…

Following one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the San Jose Sharks will enter 2024-25 with some optimism. They have a handful of exciting young players and also signed or traded for several veterans to upgrade the roster. However, despite the changes, the team has a lot of work…

Now that the San Jose Sharks‘ preseason is underway, the team’s new-look roster is more tangible than ever before. An exciting mix of veterans and young players who should either be part of the opening-night roster or reach the NHL soon will make them a very interesting team. But before…

It’s almost impossible for a team to go from worst to first in the NHL. A lot must go right for a rebuilding team to take a significant leap in the standings and go from last place in the division one season to first place the next. The New Jersey…

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. Otherwise, it’s a rarity for a team to miss the playoffs one season and hoist Lord Stanley’s Mug the next. The only other time in the past decade a team won it…

The Seattle Kraken’s rookie camp began on Thursday, Sept. 12. When the official list of players called up for the exercise was shared on official social media platforms, a few names stood out. Which ones have something to prove this month? Which ones just need to reassure the Kraken’s brass that they…

With training camp just around the corner, some players have already hit the ice, including those who wear the Seattle Kraken’s colors. Officially, camp commences on Sept. 19, but something else is just days away: rookie camp on Sept. 12. One name adds the spice of intrigue to the team’s strategy…

The St. Louis Blues shocked the hockey world when they extended offer sheets to restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg of the Edmonton Oilers. Both former first-round picks faced challenges earning regular spots in Edmonton’s lineup last season. While Broberg’s departure was more understandable given the vast compensation…

There is more to be optimistic about with the St. Louis Blues in 2024-25. They’ve improved their forward depth, raised their defensive ceiling, and are bringing back two above-average netminders. Under the now full-time head coach Drew Bannister, it’ll be interesting to monitor whether or not he can implement his…

The offseason is finally over, and the St. Louis Blues are set to begin their first preseason game tomorrow (Sep. 21) against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. From there, the Blues will play six more preseason games (one on the road, three at home, and two at a…

The Tampa Bay Lightning had a busy offseason in an attempt to reverse their playoff fortunes and make a run for another Stanley Cup. These moves were made to make one final push toward that goal as the team’s core group ages and starts to see some decline in their…

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be back in action this season with a new dynamic. The team added and subtracted this offseason, with players like Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev leaving and Jake Guentzel and J.J. Moser coming in. Related: Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy Healthy, Eager to Play as Season Approaches With all the changes,…

We’re less than a month away from the 2024-25 season, and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be back in action with a new dynamic to the roster. The team added and subtracted at forward and defense this offseason. Players like Steven Stamkos, Jake Guentzel, Mikhail Sergachev, and J.J. Moser are some of the players who have…

The Toronto Maple Leafs are working their way through the preseason as they try to finalize their opening-night roster for the 2024-25 season, and fans continue to watch the potential future of their team with prospects showcasing themselves in a big way. While the preseason is often a chance to…

As the preseason continues, the competition for spots in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ bottom six remains fierce. With several players fighting to prove they belong in the NHL, each preseason game offers a glimpse into who might secure a coveted roster spot. In their recent matchup against the Ottawa Senators,…

Every year, it feels like Toronto Maple Leafs fans experience déjà vu – all over again. While Yogi Berra likely wasn’t referring to the Maple Leafs per se, his famous line fits perfectly. The Blue and White faithful enter each season with high hopes, expecting their team to finally break…

After an eventful offseason, highlighted by the addition of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, here’s a look at who will lead the Utah Hockey Club in noteworthy statistical categories in 2024-25. Three…

We’re introducing a new segment here at The Hockey Writers called the ‘Utah HC Buzz.’ It’s similar to news and rumors pieces in the past, but just a new name…

When the Utah Hockey Club acquired top defenseman Mikhail Sergachev this summer, they hoped he could be a key player in their hunt for a postseason appearance. Let’s face it:…

The Vancouver Canucks shored up their goaltending on Saturday signing veteran Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract worth $875,000. With Thatcher Demko recovering from the unique injury he suffered last season, he will join rookie Arturs Silovs in what likely will be a 1A/1B tandem until the 2024 Vezina Trophy…

The Vancouver Canucks officially kicked off training camp in Penticton on Thursday with their first on-ice practice. We got to see the initial line combinations of the season, with the most exciting one being Elias Pettersson aligning with newcomer Jake DeBrusk and rookie Jonathan Lekkerimaki. However, that’s not set in…

The Vancouver Canucks are going into this season with higher expectations, both as a team and individually. They finished with their second-highest point total in franchise history, and many of their star players posted career-highs in goals and points. As such, it will be tough for everyone to replicate their…

Last but not least in our offseason division roundup is the Pacific. The race in the top four was one of the most competitive in 2023-24, but some of the league’s worst teams were also in the Pacific. While many teams improved, it might not necessarily lead to change in…

When your first prediction projects a playoff miss for the team that goes on to win the Stanley Cup, you know it isn’t a banner year in terms of prognostications. So, after taking some lumps on my 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights predictions, I am back for another round of looking…

With the NHL’s training camps completed and the preseason getting underway, it’s time to look at some of the biggest storylines for the Vegas Golden Knights heading into the 2023-24 season. The Golden Knights have played two divisional matchups in the preseason so far against the San Jose Sharks and…

In our first division roundup of the month, we looked at the Atlantic and how it may not change all that much this coming season. Today, we’ll finish the Eastern Conference by looking at the Metropolitan Division, which doesn’t look like the powerhouse division it used to be. New York…

Every season, we expect certain teams to perform to certain standards based on their roster. However, a few teams always decide to turn the tables on our predictions. Last season, the Vancouver Canucks, who, after missing the playoffs by 12 points in 2022-23, took the league by storm, winning the…

On Tuesday, the NHL announced the regular-season schedules for all 32 clubs, including the Washington Capitals. This season will be the Caps’ 50th Anniversary celebration with special nights to commemorate their entrance into the league, along with the Kansas City Scouts, in the 1974-75 season. Capitals’ Home Stretches The Capitals…

The Winnipeg Jets’ training camp opens Thursday, Sept. 19 and the 2024-25 season is less than a month away, with regular-season puck drop slated for Oct. 9 in Edmonton against the Stanley-Cup finalist Oilers. Related: Breaking Down the Winnipeg Jets’ 2024-25 Schedule It’s been an interesting offseason of additions and…

Central Division dominance is something the Winnipeg Jets have enjoyed over the past two seasons, but can and will it continue in 2024-25? Jets Have Owned Central Division Opponents For Last Two Seasons The Jets will clash with divisional opponents 26 times once again in 2024-25, facing the Colorado Avalanche,…

At the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets will have six unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and four restricted free agents (RFAs). Last season, the Jets re-signed Nino Niederreiter in early December before he could reach UFA status, and it’s likely fans will see a similar situation again….