The NHL 2024-25 season is true across the nook, and when the puck does drop, there might be a handful of groups worthy of some further consideration.

Do not get me flawed. Each NHL workforce has intriguing plot threads, however eight of them stand out above the remainder for one motive or one other. Whether or not it is a veteran workforce trying to capitalize on a championship window, a younger core attempting to take the following step or a legend attempting to cement his place in NHL historical past, they simply have some further juice as we method opening night time.

The Nashville Predators, as an example, made an enormous splash within the offseason and considerably raised expectations within the blink of an eye fixed. The Detroit Crimson Wings, however, might be counting on continued growth from key items of their core.

This is a have a look at the eight groups to maintain a detailed eye on all through the 2024-25 NHL season.

One thing tells me Connor McDavid won’t be happy with the Conn Smythe Trophy after coming inside one win of his first Stanley Cup final season. McDavid is already the very best participant on the planet, and I count on he’ll solely take his recreation to a different degree this yr. On high of that, his good good friend and fellow goalie-tormenter Leon Draisaitl obtained the bag to remain in Edmonton long-term.

The true distinction for the Oilers could be the truth that their ahead depth has never seemed this robust in McDavid’s profession. The additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson give Edmonton some good secondary scoring, and that’s one thing Edmonton has lacked in recent times. This was already an elite offensive workforce, however this group goes to make scoreboard operators across the league work for his or her cash this season.

Detroit Crimson Wings

Steve Yzerman is a franchise legend, and he has sufficient hockey information to fill a couple of bookshelves. That stated, it is most likely time for “The Yzerplan” to begin coming collectively in Detroit. The Crimson Wings have not reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2016, and I am uncertain they are going to finish that drought this season.

Detroit almost ended its prolonged playoff absence final season, dropping a tiebreaker to the Washington Capitals for the second wild card spot. Regardless of that, this workforce looks like a adverse regression candidate in 2024-25. Final yr, the Wings wildly outperformed some troubling underlying metrics, they usually did not get a lot better within the offseason. Do not get me flawed, Detroit has some thrilling younger gamers in Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Simon Edvinsson, however I am unsure Yzerman has constructed a robust sufficient supporting solid round them. Can the Crimson Wings exceed expectations once more, or will the rebuild plateau?

Nashville Predators

It did not take lengthy for GM Barry Trotz to get aggressive in his retooling of the Predators. On the primary day of free company, he opened up the financial institution vault and spent $108.5 million to usher in Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. That instantly opened up a championship window in Nashville, however given the age of the workforce’s core, the clock is already ticking to profit from it.

At the least on paper, the Predators ought to be competing for a Central Division title and the Western Convention crown. The one query is whether or not stars like Stamkos, Marchessault, Roman Josi, and Ryan O’Reilly can preserve Father Time at arm’s size. If they will, Nashville might be poised for its first deep playoff run since 2017. If not, that offseason spending spree will look ugly. Both approach, the Preds might be one of many NHL’s most intriguing groups all through the 2024-25 season.

Washington Capitals

Let’s simply begin with the truth that Alex Ovechkin is simply 41 objectives behind Wayne Gretzky for the all-time objectives document. That may require a bounce-back season from Ovechkin, however the Capitals will do every part they will to assist him get there, and there may be extra expertise round him now than there was in 2023-24.

Along with Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky, Washington made some fascinating additions within the offseason. Essentially the most notable was the mercurial Pierre-Luc Dubois, whom the Kings shipped out only one season after he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract. Can he discover his footing in a brand new position with the Caps? Washington additionally acquired Andrew Mangiapane to assist with its ahead depth, and its blue line seems to be a lot better because of the arrival of Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy. The Capitals have been a shock playoff workforce final season, however they will not sneak up on anybody this yr.

The debut of NHL hockey in Salt Lake Metropolis is actually attention-grabbing, however the product on the ice is worthy of consideration by itself. After leaving the desert, Utah made a few offseason strikes to enhance its protection, and now this workforce seems to be like it’ll contend for a Western Convention playoff spot.

Utah obtained a brand new No. 1 defenseman when it acquired Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it landed one other top-four choice when it introduced in John Marino from the New Jersey Devils. Placing these two behind a younger ahead group led by Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther is an thrilling mixture. Do not be stunned to see Utah steal a playoff spot from one of many extra established groups within the convention.

During the last six seasons, the Hurricanes have been one of many NHL’s greatest groups, however that hasn’t actually translated into postseason success. Now, after a summer season of change, Carolina should regulate and overcome the lack of key items because it tries to recover from that playoff hurdle.

Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, two staples on this Carolina blue line for years, at the moment are gone. Ahead Teuvo Teravainen is a Chicago Blackhawk as soon as once more. Jake Guentzel, the Hurricanes’ huge commerce deadline acquisition final yr, bolted for Tampa in free company. Carolina remains to be going to be a strong workforce, particularly with its present core and Rod Brind’Amour behind the bench, however will or not it’s ok to go the space within the playoffs?

Of their first full season beneath head coach Rick Tocchet, the Canucks put up 50 wins and 109 factors en path to profitable the Pacific Division. That made Vancouver one of many NHL’s most nice surprises final season, however now it has to maintain constructing upon that. If the Canucks can take one other step, they’re going to be a really harmful Stanley Cup contender.

With Tocchet behind the bench, stars like Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser unlocked their ceilings. That core at all times had the potential to be particular, and that got here to fruition in 2023-24. Regardless of dropping their two greatest commerce acquisitions from final season, the Canucks are nonetheless in place to problem the Oilers within the division. The one main concern for this workforce because the season approaches is the standing for beginning goaltender Thatcher Demko, who obtained injured within the postseason. If he misses prolonged time, that may very well be an actual downside.

Montreal GM Kent Hughes simply continues his methodical rebuild of this roster, and I wish to see the way it develops this season. The Canadiens have some actually promising younger gamers on the roster, and though they’re most likely a pair years away from being a playoff workforce once more, they need to nonetheless be loads enjoyable to observe.

A type of promising younger gamers is former No. 1 general decide Juraj Slafkovsky, who I used to be skeptical about after a gradual begin final season. Slafkovsky actually picked up his recreation because the yr progressed, and he completed with 50 factors on the age of 20. This yr, Lane Hutson wll be on the blue line with Kaiden Guhle, and the duo of Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki will lead the forwards. That is a whole lot of expertise at or beneath the age of 25, and remember the Habs added 26-year-old sharpshooter Patrik Laine to the combo as properly.