When the puck drops on opening night time of the NHL season, each fan base has hope. A few of that hope is irrational, nevertheless it’s there nonetheless as a result of everybody can discuss themselves into their group popping out of nowhere to go on a particular run.

Having stated that, it is time to verify a few of these prior beliefs whereas additionally squashing the goals of others. That is as a result of we’re Stanley Cup contender tiers in the present day. We have put each group in one in every of six tiers based mostly on how lifelike their Cup chances are high. These tiers are as follows:

• Stanley Cup or bust: Groups that may (and have to) get the job executed now.
• Stanley Cup contenders: Real looking threats to win all of it.
• Darkish horses: A few issues have to come back collectively, nevertheless it’s doable.
• Squint and you may see it: Quite a lot of issues have to come back collectively.
• Strive once more subsequent 12 months: Some good items in place, however not fairly there but.
• Strive once more in 3-5 years: There may be some actual work to be executed right here.

Now let’s check out which groups are on the cusp of glory this and which of them are just a few miles behind.

Stanley Cup or bust

Edmonton Oilers: They had been one win away from the Stanley Cup final 12 months, and the Oilers will attempt to end the job this time round. On paper, Edmonton may be the perfect group within the league. It does assist to have two of the highest 5 gamers within the NHL, however this ahead group is deeper, and Evan Bouchard has emerged as a legit No. 1 defenseman to enhance Mattias Ekholm.

Toronto Maple Leafs: I am not completely satisfied the Maple Leafs’ roster makes them a transparent Stanley Cup favourite, however the urgency must be at an 11 out of 10. Toronto determined to run it again with the “Core 4” another time, however John Tavares and Mitch Marner are on expiring contracts. It is now or by no means for this group.

New York Rangers: The core of this group is not getting any youthful, and it has suffered devastating playoff exits in every of the final three seasons. The Rangers’ 4 highest-paid forwards are all on the flawed facet of 30, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin is reportedly seeking to break the financial institution along with his subsequent contract.

Dallas Stars: After bowing out within the convention finals for the second straight season, the stress to recover from that hump will solely develop in 2024-25. Apart from some questionable tweaks to their blue line, the Stars may come again even stronger this season. Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque will get the possibility to make an already deep ahead group even higher.

Florida Panthers: They did simply win their first Stanley Cup in group historical past, however the Panthers have the roster to repeat, and they should capitalize on that championship window whereas it is nonetheless extensive open. Florida does not have the identical stage of desperation as another groups on this tier, nevertheless it does have a fantastic alternative to carry the Cup once more.

Stanley Cup contenders

Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon is coming off a Hart Trophy marketing campaign, and Cale Makar is the perfect defenseman within the league at his peak. These two alone make the Avs true contenders, however I do assume the addition of Casey Mittelstadt late final season will show to be a fantastic transfer in 2024-25. He ought to remedy Colorado’s second-line heart situation, which can take a few of the burden off MacKinnon.

New Jersey Devils: The Devils determined they had been executed permitting targets this summer time, in order that they added Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon to the blue line whereas additionally buying goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Add that to an elite younger core of forwards, and New Jersey has the recipe for one thing particular. Search for the Devils to shake off final 12 months’s disappointment and go on a deep run.

Vegas Golden Knights: Remember concerning the 2023 Stanley Cup champions simply due to their early postseason exit final 12 months. This roster nonetheless has loads of juice, and now the Golden Knights will get a full season of Tomas Hertl, who was acquired proper on the buzzer on commerce deadline day. The most important query for the Golden Knights will probably be their potential to remain wholesome for a full season.

Carolina Hurricanes: Few groups may afford to lose two top-four high quality defensemen to free company, however Carolina is constructed completely different. The Hurricanes are as deep as any group on the blue line, they usually nonetheless have loads of expertise up entrance, even after shedding Jake Guentzel to the Lightning. As is normally the case with Carolina, the query is the shortage of a very elite goal-scorer. Who can the Canes depend on for constant scoring within the postseason?

Nashville Predators: Nashville has had elite goaltending and a celebrity defenseman for some time now, however they’ve lacked elite finishers on the prime of the lineup. That is now not the case. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault be a part of Filip Forsberg to create a fearsome trio of set off males. Age is a priority with this group, however they are going to be harmful if Father Time is not an element this 12 months. 

Boston Bruins: After shedding to the Panthers within the playoffs two seasons in a row, the Bruins determined they wanted to make some upgrades. Boston introduced in Elias Lindholm to supply a greater No. 1 heart choice, and Nikita Zadorov provides some measurement and physicality to the again finish. So long as the Bruins can get star goaltender Jeremy Swayman signed and do not must roll with Joonas Korpisalo because the starter, they will be on the prime of the East standings all season.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts had a chaotic offseason. They traded away star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, reacquired 35-year-old Ryan McDonagh, let Steven Stamkos stroll in free company and signed Jake Guentzel to an enormous contract in his place. Ultimately, I do assume Tampa acquired higher at ahead however worse on protection, so that could be a wash. This group nonetheless has high-end expertise, and if all else fails, Andrei Vasilevskiy is again there to cease the puck.

Vancouver Canucks: After a powerful 2023-24 season in Rick Tocchet’s first full season as the top coach, the Canucks are in search of an encore efficiency. The potential for Vancouver to interrupt out as a contender was at all times there. It is simply that it hadn’t been realized till final season. Now the Canucks simply must show they’ll replicate that success with the defending Western Convention champs in the identical division.

Darkish horses

Los Angeles Kings: Previously couple seasons, I’ve favored the Kings rather a lot and doubtless would have positioned them within the contenders tier. Nevertheless, three straight first-round losses to the Oilers mixed with some roster turnover have Los Angeles in the dead of night horse class. Throw in an ankle damage to Drew Doughty, and now the Kings have some very critical questions. The important thing for the Kings will probably be whether or not some highly-touted prospects (i.e. Brandt Clarke) can begin taking on.

Minnesota Wild: The trail is obvious sufficient that I bumped Minnesota up a tier whereas scripting this. Kirill Kaprizov will get extra assist from children like Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Brock Faber continues to develop right into a Norris Trophy defenseman. The goaltending elevates above putrid. The blue line stays wholesome. The Wild may very well be a sneaky group within the Central Division.

Winnipeg Jets: The Jets had been a fantastic group final season. They notched 52 wins and 110 factors whereas using nice depth and elite goaltending. Then the underside fell out within the playoffs. The group was unhealthy, and Connor Hellebuyck was even worse. I’ve little doubt about Hellebuyck’s potential to bounce again, and that alone could make the group a contender, however I do wonder if Winnipeg has the horses on the prime of the lineup to go toe-to-toe with the West’s finest within the postseason.

Squint and you may see it

New York Islanders: You do not even actually need to squint to see how the Islanders can go on a deep run. Ilya Sorokin is without doubt one of the finest goaltenders on the earth, and he is able to stealing a number of collection. It simply seems like the identical film another time with the remainder of the lineup.

Utah Hockey Membership: In accordance with the Vegas odds, this group ought to most likely be a tier or two decrease, however I really like this roster. It could be a 12 months too early for Utah, however the addition of Mikhail Sergachev provides the group a real No. 1 defenseman, and there may be potential littered up and down the ahead group. Clayton Keller. Dylan Guenther. Logan Cooley. Matias Maccelli. Salt Lake Metropolis is in for a deal with.

Washington Capitals: In Spencer Carbery’s first season behind the bench, the Capitals had been a shock playoff group, thanks largely to Charlie Lindgren standing on his head in objective. That components is not sustainable, however Washington did improve its protection. Counting on Pierre-Luc Dubois as a No. 1 heart hasn’t precisely labored for different groups, however perhaps he could make it work in Washington.

Pittsburgh Penguins: This period of Penguins hockey is simply hanging on by a thread. Sidney Crosby can attempt to will this group right into a playoff spot, and he simply may, nevertheless it may additionally get ugly. Are Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes the options to Pittsburgh’s ahead depth? Most likely not, however we’ll see how a lot magic Crosby nonetheless has up his sleeve.

Strive once more subsequent 12 months

Detroit Pink Wings: After narrowly lacking the playoffs final 12 months, Pink Wings followers are hungry for an finish to their eight-year playoff drought. I am simply unsure it comes this season. Detroit is a critical regression candidate this season, and the offseason additions did not actually transfer the needle within the East playoff race.

Buffalo Sabres: Loads went flawed for the Sabres final season, however some good did come out of it. Including Bowen Byram to this defensive group is absolutely thrilling, and I am fairly positive Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the long-term reply in objective. The complementary items on this group nonetheless want some work, so I am going to advocate persistence for another 12 months in Buffalo.

Ottawa Senators: My daring prediction for the Senators final season was that they’d win a playoff spherical. That was not solely a swing-and-miss, however the bat flew into the stands. The ceiling for this younger core is excessive, however we additionally noticed what the ground seems to be like. Past that, I am not offered on the protection, and I’ve considerations about how Linus Ullmark will carry out exterior of Boston’s defensive surroundings.

Seattle Kraken: I hoped the Kraken can be up a tier or two this season, however that is simply not the case. Brandon Montour was costly, however he does present an improve on protection. The difficulty is that Chandler Stephenson acquired over $43 million, and I do not assume he provides a ton to the ahead group, so it might be a repeat of final 12 months in Seattle.

St. Louis Blues: I debated transferring the Blues down a tier, however they’ve just a few nice gamers on the prime of their lineup. The issue is that, till they overhaul an ageing blue line, they’ll alway be at the very least one 12 months away from being a risk within the West.

Strive once more in 3-5 years

Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens being this low is not a knock. I like what they’re constructing, however that is precisely it. GM Kent Hughes continues to be within the midst of a really promising rebuild, particularly with Juraj Slafkovsky discovering his footing final season. It would take just a few years, however Montreal is on its solution to being a wagon.

Anaheim Geese: I need to get excited concerning the Geese, however their on-ice outcomes the final couple of seasons have been horrid. Hopefully issues begin to enhance this 12 months, and there is purpose to imagine they’ll. Younger stars like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov make this group price watching.

Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks’ plan is already properly underway. Let Connor Bedard develop right into a bona fide celebrity, and construct round him with prospects and out of doors acquisitions. Between Bedard’s continued growth and a few reasonable upgrades, Chicago ought to be competent, however the completed product continues to be a pair seasons away.

Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia was a surprisingly feisty bunch final season, and that is a credit score to the locker room and head coach John Tortorella. It’s going to simply be powerful to repeat that effort once more in 2024-25. This group simply wants extra influence gamers at each place.

Calgary Flames: Possibly Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri have resurgent seasons and I wind up with egg on my face, however that looks as if a really lengthy shot. Calgary is now within the early levels of a rebuild, so there could also be a pair extra powerful seasons on the way in which.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Clearly, the Blue Jackets will probably be coping with tragedy all season. The main focus this 12 months will and ought to be on honoring the reminiscence of Johnny Gaudreau.

San Jose Sharks: The Sharks are one of many largest reclamation tasks within the league, however touchdown Will Smith and Macklin Celebrinin in back-to-back drafts is a good begin. The remainder of the roster is comparatively barren (all due respect to Tyler Toffoli and Logan Couture), so the Sharks might want to hold including to their quickly deepening prospect pool.