Who Hoists Lord Stanley? My 2024-25 NHL Season Predictions

After months of waiting, the official start of the NHL's regular season is just days away, with the Devils and Sabres set to kick off a new hockey season in the Global Series in Czechia. As the new season approaches, it’s time to release my predictions for the 2024-25 NHL season, including projections for the standings, playoffs, and eventual Stanley Cup champion.

Atlantic Division Standings:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs-d

2. Florida Panthers-x

3. Boston Bruins-x

4. Tampa Bay Lightning-x

5. Detroit Red Wings-x

6. Buffalo Sabres

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Montreal Canadiens

In my original draft for these predictions, I had the Boston Bruins finishing in first place. However, with the drama surrounding goaltender Jeremy Swayman and his contract situation which will likely lead to his availability being hindered, I had to drop them slightly. I still believe the Florida Panthers are the best team in the Atlantic, but they have played a lot of hockey over the last two years. I think the Panthers will prioritize health rather than home ice throughout the playoffs as they look to defend their title in the spring.

In Toronto, I believe in Craig Berube as head coach, and with a couple of the Leafs star players in Mitch Marner and John Tavares, entering contract years, I think multiple players will be poised for big regular seasons, and Toronto will take the division title. Despite losing captain Steven Stamkos, the Lightning still have some of the league's most elite talent, and for the first time since 2016, the Detroit Red Wings make the postseason after just falling short last season.

When discussing the teams that miss the postseason, prior to the preseason injuries, I could not see the Montreal Canadiens finishing last, however, due to what has happened over the last week with Patrik Laine out for an extended period of time, I had to remove bias and put them at the bottom. As for the Senators and Sabres, I am simply done believing in these groups until they get the job done. I am not a believer in Travis Green and still don't understand the hire by the Senators, while in Buffalo, Kevyn Adams is fighting for his job. While the young talent is there, I don't think the Sabres did enough to improve as much as their counterparts in the division.

Metropolitan Division Standings:

1. New York Rangers-p

2. New Jersey Devils-x

3. Carolina Hurricanes-x

4. New York Islanders

5. Washington Capitals

6. Pittsburgh Penguins

7. Philadelphia Flyers

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

After sending five teams to the postseason a year ago, I think the Metro Division will only be sending three to the playoffs in 2025. This is truly a top-heavy division, and it will be a bloodbath between the Rangers, Devils, and Hurricanes for seeding, but I have the Rangers once again winning the division, as well as securing their second straight Presidents' Trophy. The Islanders were the toughest team for me to leave out, as they will be a feisty group once again and in the hunt until the very end, but I have them just missing out.

In Washington, I respect what they're doing by trying to put as much young talent as possible around Alex Ovechkin in his final seasons, but I think it just won't be enough to make the playoffs this year. With the Penguins, it's very sad for me that we likely won't see Sidney Crosby in the postseason for the third straight season, but it seems like Penguins management is more focused on the long-term rather than the present.

After a surprisingly hot start last year, I expect the Flyers to look more like the team we saw in the back half of last season, but they very well might be must-watch TV every night with rookie Matvei Michkov coming over from the KHL. After the tragic loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew last month, this season in Columbus will be about keeping the group united through this unfortunate and shocking time.

Central Division Standings:

1. Dallas Stars-d

2. Nashville Predators-x

3. Colorado Avalanche-x

4. Utah Hockey Club-x

5. Winnipeg Jets

6. Minnesota Wild

7. St. Louis Blues

8. Chicago Blackhawks

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Much like the Metro Division, I think the top three seeds in the Central are pretty well locked in unless we see major injuries. The Stars, Predators, and Avalanche are by far the three best teams in the division, and we should expect to see them all in the postseason come April. I expect the Stars to capture the division title for the second straight season, with the Predators finishing just behind them after a busy summer in Nashville, which included bringing in forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. Gabriel Landeskog is expected to return to the Avalanche early in the season, but given how much time he has missed, there is no guarantee he will be the player he once was prior to those knee surgeries.

Yup, that's right; I have the Utah Hockey Club making the postseason in their first year in Salt Lake. If a playoff push is within arm's reach come the trade deadline, I expect ownership to be aggressive and push management to be buyers to help bring playoff hockey to Utah. After a great season last year, former Jets head coach Rick Bowness decided to retire, and I think that will have a major impact on this team as Winnipeg misses the playoffs. Although Kirill Kaprizov is one of the best players in hockey and defenseman Brock Faber will continue to get better, I sadly have the Wild finishing sixth in the Central.

Lastly, as much as I'd like to put the Blackhawks ahead of the Blues, aside from Connor Bedard, this Blackhawks team is still nowhere near good enough, and I would not be shocked if players like Taylor Hall were moved at the deadline, which could lead to a rough last portion of the season for the Hawks.

Pacific Division Standings:

1. Edmonton Oilers-C

2. Vegas Golden Knights-x

3. Vancouver Canucks-x

4. Los Angeles Kings-x

5. Seattle Kraken

6. Calgary Flames

7. Anaheim Ducks

8. San Jose Sharks

I have major questions about every team in this division aside from one. I think the Oilers dominate this division all year and not only finish first in the Pacific but also first in the Western Conference. I do believe the Vancouver Canucks are a better hockey team than the Vegas Golden Knights, but aside from being majorly concerned about goaltender Thatcher Demko's injury, I just do not foresee a path where almost every one of the Canucks' key players enjoys a career-best season for a second straight year. I am going to assume there is a bit of a drop-off for some Canucks players, and that they will be very cautious with Demko throughout the regular season; I think the Golden Knights manage to secure home ice for their first-round playoff series.

Of course, there are major concerns with the Golden Knights' forward depth, specifically on the wing, but this defensive core very well might be the best in the NHL, and I think that will help make up for some of the questions surrounding their goaltending situation. For the Kings, Drew Doughty will begin the season out month-to-month with a fractured ankle, which is a bit scary, but if Los Angeles can find a way to stay afloat until Doughty returns, I think they will squeeze into the postseason.

I am actually very excited to watch the Seattle Kraken this season. We will likely see Shane Wright play his first full season in the NHL, while I expect Matty Beniers to bounce back after his mediocre season last year. The Flames, Ducks, and Sharks all leave a lot to be desired, but I will go with Calgary ahead of the two California teams due to the veterans they have at the moment, though I would not be surprised if they move some of those players before the deadline. The Ducks will be fun to watch just given their new uniforms, but also because of how young this team is. I expect the forward group to continue to get better, but while there will be improvement, it is likely not enough to finish anywhere near a playoff spot. In San Jose, few teams have a brighter future, but for the present, this roster is still very young and may very well be the worst team in the West yet again.

Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Matchups & Winners

Eastern Conference First Round

• A1: Toronto Maple Leafs Vs WC1: Tampa Bay Lightning- Lightning 4-3

• A2: Florida Panthers Vs A3: Boston Bruins- Panthers 4-2

• M1: New York Rangers Vs WC2: Detroit Red Wings- Rangers 4-0

• M2: New Jersey Devils Vs M3: Carolina Hurricanes- Devils 4-2

Western Conference First Round

• C1: Dallas Stars Vs WC1: Los Angeles Kings- Stars 4-2

• C2: Nashville Predators Vs C3: Colorado Avalanche- Predators 4-3

• P1: Edmonton Oilers Vs WC2: Utah Hockey Club- Oilers 4-0

• P2: Vegas Golden Knights Vs P3: Vancouver Canucks- Canucks 4-1

Eastern Conference Second Round

• A2: Florida Panthers Vs WC1: Tampa Bay Lightning- Panthers 4-1

• M1: New York Rangers Vs M2: New Jersey Devils- Devils 4-2

Western Conference Second Round

• C1: Dallas Stars Vs C2: Nashville Predators- Predators 4-2

• P1: Edmonton Oilers Vs P3: Vancouver Canucks- Oilers 4-1

Eastern Conference Final

• A2: Florida Panthers Vs M2: New Jersey Devils- Panthers 4-1

Western Conference Final

• P1: Edmonton Oilers Vs C2: Nashville Predators- Oilers 4-2

2025 Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers Defeat Florida Panthers In 5 Games

In the Stanley Cup Final, I’m predicting a rematch between the Oilers and Panthers. Over the offseason, I don’t think either team got much worse, while none of their competitors got drastically better. Although there hasn’t been a rematch in the Cup Final since 2009 when the Penguins and Red Wings met, I think we’ll see one this year, with a similar result as the losing team gets their revenge.

After being so close for so many years, Connor McDavid will finally hoist the Stanley Cup as the Oilers capture their sixth championship. In what would be their third straight appearance in the Final, I think by this point, the Panthers will be gassed, leading to a series that’s a bit less dramatic than it was last season.

All great players like McDavid eventually get their hands on the sport’s most prized possession, and after falling one win short last year, the Oilers and McDavid will come out like a team possessed in the spring and win the franchise's sixth Stanley Cup.