What I want out of all 32 NHL Teams this year
Hey guys, thought I would throw this out as a fun little side project as I am in the throws of creating a compilation of 150 first impressions from this year’s draft class. Hit a rut so here’s a freebie I whipped up as I am currently full of new season cheer and wanted to yap into the void about all the things I’m excited for this year. Starting with…
Anaheim Ducks
The Emergence of Lukas Dostal
The whole hockey world has been very patient with Dostal, but after the events of this summer, this opportunity is one like no other. The Ducks are already fully in the swing of their changing of the guard, and with John Gibson out to start the year; the net is Dostal’s to take. Not to say he hadn’t already started doing, he had vastly outperformed John Gibson during the 23-24 season and is coming off a spectacular performance at the 2024 IIHF World Championship; where he dropped a .939 as the Czechs took their first Championship in over a decade.
If the Ducks do start punching their way up the standings soon, it will likely need to start in net. The Ducks are seeing plenty of offensive reinforcements in rookie Cutter Gauthier and a (hopefully) healthy Trevor Zegras. Speaking of health, a decrease in the man games loss among defensemen would be welcome too and would definitely help the Ducks support their young netminder.
Boston Bruins
Elias Lindholm returns to CGY form
The 2023-24 season definitely showed the Bruins were lacking in the top 6. No disrespect to the countless understudies who battled admirably when called on, but their ability to score goals was never the core of the Bruins results. Particularly in the playoffs, where all but 3 of them were outscored by Brandon Carlo.
With the absence of Linus Ullmark, and their performance in the past playoffs, one thing is clear. The Bruins need more goals from their top line. The Bruins can’t expect to be going far if their star forward is dropping 4G-4A in 13.
Elias Lindholm is being trusted to be “the tie that binds” on that top line and furthermore through the Bruins top 6. If a deep playoff run is still in the cards for this Bruins core, Lindholm needs to be a big part of it.
Buffalo Sabres
Young forwards take next step forward
The Sabres seem to never have everything working for them at the same time.
Two years ago, they have the are the 3rd best offence in the NHL and are inhibited by a total inability to keep the puck out of their net. Last year, the defense improves at the cost of the offence.
The only commonality between these two seasons, is the Sabres failing to make the playoffs… again.
Patience was always going to be needed with a team as young as this but what is disappointing is the notable step back of key players like Owen Power, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens. The modest breakout of JJ Peterka, the brief glimpse of Jack Quinn as well as the arrivals of Bowen Byram, Zach Benson were all nice consolation prizes but they were either too ineffective or too short to leave lasting results on the standings.
Somebody here has to take the reigns. Dahlin for his part, has already cemented himself among the best defenders in the league, but that spot for the marquee forward is up for grabs.
Calgary Flames
Try your best :)
Nothing can prevent the inevitable, painfully slow collapse of the Flames at this point but hey maybe someone goes out and turns themselves into a tradeable asset. That would be nice.
Carolina Hurricanes
Defense. Defense. Defense.
I don’t think it controversial to say that the upcoming version of the Hurricanes will be a weaker one then what we are used too. A lot of the depth that made the Hurricanes a force in recent seasons have left and they’ve lost the opportunity to lock down Jake Guentzel as well. Most notably, their d-core has been hit pretty hard with the departures of Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce.
Eric Tulsky for his part, has managed to cobble up a decent starting 5 by crucially keeping Martin Necas and getting Shayne Gostisbehere to hold the fort on the powerplay with Brent Burns looking less and less like solution on the top unit. With a full season of Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis poised to take on a bigger role, the Canes should not be starving for offence nor be out of the playoff picture, but the lack of depth scoring will likely mean they are not poised for regular season dominance like years past.
If the Canes are truly to contend with the Devils and Rangers for the Metro, a full buy-in to the Rod system is gonna be necessary. Maintaining their defensive dominance will be their key to success as well as insulating Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov both of whom have had a wide range of performances this past season.
Chicago Blackhawks
Bedard Stays Healthy
Connor Bedard won’t be on an island like he was on his rookie year. Real additions to the blue-line as well as offensive reinforcements in Tyler Bertuzzi and SaadScouting personal favorite Teuvo Teräväinen will mean Bedard will actually get scorers to play with.
This year is not a live/die for the Blackhawks, but everyone knows Bedard has more to give, and everyone is itching to see it.
Colorado Avalanche
Stars stay in the lineup
The Avs for the first time since 2022 actually have the prospect of seeing a relatively healthy lineup sometime this year. Gabriel Landeskog is anticipated to return sometime this year. Valeri Nichushkin’s suspension is lifted in mid-November. Artturi Lehkonen should be back relatively soon as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery.
There’s a real possibility that all 3 of these players are back for a shot at the cup come April. So it’s imperative that the stars that are playing, keep doing so. The Avs when not at their best are still one of the best teams in the NHL, another cup is in the mirror if they can actually regain form.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Heal.
The Blue Jackets are going into the season with little optimism. Moving past the irreplaceable is not something done overnight. The Blue Jackets won’t be good, but I hope they can stay healthy. I hope they all take this season as a chance to heal organizationally and hopefully they come back stronger next year.
Dallas Stars
Thomas Harley
Miro Heiskanen has long been the anchor for the Stars D and the revelation of Thomas Harley was able to take a LOT of offensive pressure off of him. Heiskanen was able to go back to being one of the best two-way defenders in hockey without having to concern himself with forcing offence when he’s on the ice. With Lindell, the three defenders have been able to create a really good balance across all three pairings.
However, I cannot help but believe the additions of Matt Dumba and Ilya Lybushkin don’t quite help with the balance. Harley has played the majority of his rookie season alongside Miro Heiskanen and it’s clear that the Stars want to get Harley running his own pair. Regardless of who Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen play with, odds are they will still be able to put up respectable numbers, which is all you need when you are playing with an offence as dynamic as the Stars. If Harley handles the new responsibility with all the finesse he displayed last year, then the Stars’ ability to roll their pairings increases exponentially. Suddenly, the perceived weakness would feel muted.
Detroit Red Wings
Goaltending
The Red Wings have a myriad of problems, but not are as perplexing as the goaltending situation.
The Ville Husso signing has been disappointing sure, but he is making too much money for not a long enough time to be worried about it. It’s unlikely the Red Wings offer the pending free agent a contract next summer as they have already committed harder to other options and with Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa on the heels of everyone in the Wings system, it’s unlikely Husso would get any commitment anyway. The logical thing is to keep him on the roster, let him go hassle free this summer, and if he plays up then he can be an option for a move at the deadline.
If it weren’t for the Patrick Kane renaissance, Alex Lyon would be the unsung hero of the Red Wings season. Starting in over have their games and coming up above league average was at a time, a dream thought impossible for a team that leaked goals early in the season. He is still on a very cheap contract for another year, and he’s not going to be competing with Augustine or Cossa. His reliability, his value and his strong play, were all strong contenders for why many believed the Wings were likely alright to stand pact and address other issues in their lineup this ummer.
So why in God’s green earth is Cam Talbot here? For 2 years too?! You got to give him the starter spot because that’s why he signed here, this is clearly a move meant to make the Wings more competitive. But this pushes Alex Lyon out of the lineup. You can’t move Husso because of his NTC and nobody would probably want him anyway.
And for good measure, Jack Campbell too?! Why!? Who needs this many goalies… ever?! Are the Wings collectively giving up on Cossa playing in the AHL?
I don’t understand the Red Wings. I don’t think the Red Wings understand the Red Wings. I firmly believe that if the organization handicapped a portion of their salary cap it would actually benefit the team in the long run. SteveY!?
Edmonton Oilers
The Top 6 not named Connor or Leon
In a rare, bizarre, unholy twist of fate, the Edmonton Oilers actually had a good off-season. Do not stick your thermometers in the ground or you will get flash-freezed.
Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson promise to round out the Oilers top 6 alongside Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and man I’m just really excited to see what these guys can do this year.
Zach Hyman being McDavid’s triggerman is great, but he’s still more attuned to being the physical presence on that line. He’s got a great shot sure, but I believe the Oilers team game will greatly improve if he gets back to his roots.
Not to say that they will miss out on any scoring, Jeff Skinner is one of the purest finishers in the NHL today and getting to watch him alongside either McDavid/Draisaitl should see him have more offensive opportunities then he’s ever had before.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins being the swiss army knife he is, gives the Oilers countless possibilities in their lines while being able to run a line in his own right. The versatility RNH provides is essential to this Oilers team.
Viktor Arvidsson, such an underrated player. Sure he’s struggled with injuries, but as long as his speed stay in his game, he promises to elevate whatever line he is in. He naturally plays a very counterattacking game, which is perfect for the Oilers rush heavy offence. I have hard time believing he won’t make a big impact if he can stay in the lineup.
If these four can play up to their potential, a second run at the cup is in the cards for the Oilers.
Florida Panthers
Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad has been oft forgotten in the shadow of Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. But with 2/3 of those names gone this summer, Ekblad is back on the top unit but I just can’t shake the feeling that he’s lost something along the way. There isn’t much trace of the near point per game defender we saw in 21-22. Rather, when the Panthers have been at their strongest, Ekblad has struggled offensively. He’s still made plenty of contributions with his leadership and defensive play.
This is by no means a “Ekblad is bad now actually” statement. Rather it’s a pondering on “Can Ekblad still score like he did 2 years ago?” The preseason powerplay assignments going to Adam Boqvist and off-season trade rumors doesn’t really give me a whole lot of confidence.
Teardowns generally always follow a cup win, but did the Panthers perhaps strip too much?
Los Angeles Kings
NO MORE 1-3-1 YIIPPEEE
MAYBE NOW FIALA AND BYFIELD AND CLARKE AND SPENCE. OH ESPECIALLY JORDAN SPENCE (get well soon Drew) CAN FINALLY BREAKOUT AND GET CREATIVE AND KINGS HOCKEY WILL BE FUN AGAIN. OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!
Minnesota Wild
The Perfect Storm
There is something brewing in Minnesota. For a team that has had a lot of misfortune last year, they have a lot of things that can go their way.
Kaprizov is 2 years removed from a contract year and will be itching to get back to the 100 point plateau after barely missing it due to injury in the last 2 years. Matt Boldy and Brock Faber have developed spectacularly this past season. Jesper Wallstedt has stopped knocking and is now firing military grade artillery at the door (I have no idea how that thing is still standing) and Marco Rossi seems to be finally starting to find his NHL footing.
If Rossi can breakout offensively; if Faber and Spurgeon can make their 2 pairings as elite as they could be; if Wallstedt can fix the goaltending situation, then this team is one of the league’s best. Hell even if not all of them hit they will be ready to reload next year. It’s taken a while but the Wild seem on the verge of something.
Montreal Canadiens
Finding Line 2
Last year was the Caufield/Zuke/Slaf coming out party. Those three seem to have cemented themselves as the Habs first line for the foreseeable future (until Demidov shows up).
The questions now lie in getting them help. For starters, the return of Kirby Dach is a start. New acquisition Patrik Laine should be in this conversation but I wasn’t able to get this message out to him in time (sorry). Alex Newhook got better as the season went on and will likely round out the projected 2nd line for now.
However, all these players have missed serious time in recent history. A good 2nd line this may be, but a healthy one it is not. Incumbents like Joshua Roy and Emil Heineman promise to challenge for the spot and they are certainly not locked down past this season either. Michael Hage and Oliver Kapanen have made heads turn. Maybe their place in this lineup may not be as far as we initially thought.
Whatever happens, for all that is holy do NOT play Josh Anderson or Brendan Gallagher in that spot again… please.
Nashville Predators
Tommy Novak
With the addition of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, the Preds top 6 looks the best it’s been in a long while. We are familiar with the veterans that make up most of that lineup, but Novak is a bit of an oddity. He’s likely to be centering the 2 new acquisitions on the second line but more then wondering if he’s up to the task, I’m wondering whose there to challenge him. Stamkos is unlikely to take the center role as he played wing for most of the 2023-24 season and there isn’t really any internal competition up the middle.
Clearly the Predators have a lot of faith in him making this an excellent opportunity for him to lock down a permanent top 6 NHL spot. Novak was red hot in his call-up back in 2023 season and I imagine there’s more to tap into considering he was able to do a lot with very little back then as the Preds were one of the worst offences in the NHL. He may prove to be one of this season’s biggest surprises.
New Jersey Devils
How does this team look like come playoff time?
The Devils are coming into the season with what is probably the most erratic lineups in the league. The combination of massive blows to the back end (… I should edit this but I’m not going to) the influx of new blood in the bottom six, and the arrival of Sheldon Keefe promise massive change to a team that heavily underperformed expectations last year. They are one of the few teams that feel like anything could happen. I do believe the off-season has made the Devils significantly stronger, but how much stronger and how much more playoff viable is left to be seen.
I also foresee them being really active at the deadline. The Palat experiment hasn’t been too successful. Tomas Tatar’s return may be a welcome one, but I don’t believe it’s enough to solidify the top 6 and the keeping Haula at 3C will be important due to the reduced forward depth. Dawson Mercer will need to rebound in a big way too, as the he didn’t seem ready to handle the bigger role thrust on him last season. Doesn’t mean he can’t do it this year, but I imagine keeping Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier healthy for a full 82 could greatly alleviate the pressure.
In sum, the Devils are a team with a lot of questions and I am excited to see their answers.
New York Islanders
Oops! All Snipers!
When Lou Lamoriello was told to go add goals in the off-season, I don’t believe this is what was meant. Not to say any of these acquisitions were bad; Anthony Duclair showed in his stint with Tampa that the 30 goal guy is still there. Taking a chance on Maxim Tsyplakov after he put up 30 in the K, sure why not? But they are joining a team with credible 25-30 goal scorers in Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat. Is this really what the Islanders needed?
There’s certainly a case for it. No team played more minutes at even strength then the Islanders last season and the data on them points to a finishing issue. According to NaturalStatTrick and MoneyPuck, the Islanders were generating offence as befits their reputation as a middle of the pack team, but the finishing data is well below average. Their shooting percentages across the board were all somewhere in the 15th to 21st range. That’s with the inclusion of being one of the best rebound teams in the NHL. On a pure shooting level, the Isles were one of the easiest teams to stop. This shows on a personnel level too. Anders Lee did pot 20 but that’s a huge disappointment considering only 7 players in the NHL were placed in more high danger situations. Mat Barzal dropped over a hundred shots more then he did the year before, soaring past the 200 plateau for the first time in his career, but that’s not really his role and while his point totals improved his efficiency suffered and he’s been gently nudged to Bo Horvat’s wing.
All of these point to the additions making sense. Get Barzal doing what he’s good at again, maybe the goals that are landing on Anders Lee’s stick get in the net so he’s not counted to tap-in as much. Maybe the top lines can develop some chemistry and someone can have a breakout. Makes sense in theory.
I just can’t shake the feeling that the Islanders don’t create enough. Outside of Mat Barzal, the number of distributors on this team feels low. Can they really ride shooting talent into a playoff spot?
New York Rangers
Is it enough?
I’ll start this out by saying the Rangers are my favorite to take the Stanley Cup this year. I believe in the Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere synergy. I trust that the Reilly Smith addition can finally bring balance to the Kreider-Zibanejad line where the Wheeler signing failed. I think the return of Filip Chytil will be massive for the bottom 6. I believe K’Andre Miller can usurp Ryan Lindgren’s spot alongside Adam Fox and the Trouba Pair can finally focus on being a shutdown unit. I believe Igor can be better then he was last year.
I do still have some questions if you can win a cup with guys like Matt Rempe and Kaapo Kakko in your lineup, but I am thrilled to find out and like I said, I believe you can. Excited to see where this goes.
Ottawa Senators
Will the suffering end?
No.
Philadelphia Flyers
Young Wingers
Ok. Yes. Matvei Michkov, for obvious reasons; but it’s not just Michkov. The Flyers have secretly built up a terrifying winger core. Joel Farabee, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink should all be competing for top 6 spots and I believe it’s going to be a thrill to watch.
Of that list though, the name I’m watching most vigilantly is Tyson Foerster. He’s earned Tortorella’s trust as a rookie, a near impossible feat. Don’t believe me? Just check his ice-time, Foerster played the most per game of any Flyers forward not named Travis Konecny and that’s with minimal special team deployment. I’d love to see him take that next step. Konecny and Michkov may be a lock on Line 1, but it’s complimentary guys like Foerster that propel a team into the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tristan Jarry bounceback
You gotta feel for Jarry, it’s not been an easy couple of seasons. Battling injuries, poor play, losing the net in the playoff stretch to Nedeljkovic (spelled correctly on my first try and I’m very proud of it). The problem with Jarry is the same as it’s ever been. The good is really good. The bad is unplayable.
I am gonna keep the faith that the young goalie can find form, having a down year (or two) is definitely not exclusive to him among the Pens. A lot of the off-season has been dedicated into rounding out this roster out and I’d be hard pressed to believe Jarry won’t benefit somewhat.
Either way, with Ned out to start the year, this is Jarry’s net to lose and I think the 29 year old isn’t done yet.
San Jose Sharks
The Kids Are Alright.
I just want to see Eklund and Celebrini and Smith have fun. Oh and Shakir too. I like Shakir. :)
Seattle Kraken
CAM ON SEATTLE *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* SCOR SOM FACKIN GOALS
Maybe adding Shane Wright and Brandon Montour helps idk.
St. Louis Blues
Find an identity
The St. Louis Blues are going into this season a mystery to me. Every thing about them contradicts itself somewhere in the lineup. They are trying to force this two-way game so hard at the cost of the many offensive weapons at their disposal (Jordan Kyrou, my heart weeps for you.) They’re fast and they’re slow, they’re big and they’re small, they’re young and they’re old. It’s all one big cacophony with Robert Thomas playing Free Bird in the corner. A tough task lays at Drew Bannister’s feet.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Can the depth step it up?
The Tampa Bay Lightning have definitely made a pivot this off-season and will look different with the departures of Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev, but the questions on the Lightning are the same as they were with them.
The Bolts bottom six is currently quite lacking outside of Nick Paul. Conor Sheary has never gelled well on the team. Anthony Cirelli has not taken the offensive step expected of him. The return of Ryan McDonagh does solidify the top 4, but is J.J Moser ready for the responsibility of being Hedman’s d-partner?
The Bolts will always be in the playoff conversation while they hold the best powerplay in the league; but a cup may stay out of their reach without the depth that made them the juggernaut they were.
Toronto Maple Leafs
PLAY TIMOTHY LILJEGREN.
The inspiration to this article.
I firmly believe that Jake McCabe-Timothy Liljegren has the potential to be one of the best pairings in the NHL. A lot of is Jake McCabe being everything the Leafs could ever ask him to be. He’s the best blue-liner on the team bar none, a true all-situations guy. To get the most out of him, would mean to get the most out of your blueline, and he performed spectacularly with Timothy Liljegren on his side in their time together in 23/24.
I beg the question: Why aren’t they running it back?
Is it really logical to play this guy on his off-hand for no other reason then to give OEL someone to play with? And that’s another thing. Why sign OEL at all? To be a powerplay guy? Liljegren did that. To play with McCabe? Liljegren was doing that.
But I understand. Losing Brodie and Giordano, someone had to come in. Totally understandable. Have OEL push Benoit out the lineup. Could be worse.
Worse is Chris Tanev. Fire Treliving for this contract alone, I don’t care that these two bumped ass in Calgary, 6 YEARS for Tanev is malpractice of the highest grade.
But I understand. Rielly has not looked good in a long time, and getting him a reliable d-partner makes sense. Besides, even when the inevitable happens and he misses 2 months of the season with injury, Connor Timmins can …
He’s in the opening night lineup. You put… Connor Timmins … in your opening night lineup… over the dude who just 6 months ago you trusted to run a powerplay over the same defenseman you spend 7.5 million on, over the dude you just extended for 2 years and gave 6 million dollars too?
I think I understand why young Toronto players keep failing. The scouts are doing their job and finding the right talent, but the situation the team creates is totally counterintuitive to grooming them for success. The second these players curry the slightest bit of favor, the rug is immediately pulled out from underneath them. How do they expect players to grow if at any moment their positions are treated as expendable? How can they be expected to play when the pressure on their shoulders is extreme on and off the rink?
I still believe that Liljegren has a great future as an NHL defensemen but the writing seems to be on the wall that Toronto just doesn’t want him and I think they will grow to regret it. I hope he finds success when he’s inevitably kicked off the team for a rental.
Utah Hockey Club
Playoffs.
Even when this team was called the Arizona Coyotes, I watched way more of them then I care to admit. This Utah team is FUN and the additions they made have made them even more FUN. Seriously, if the Sergachev trade pans out as it should this team could be a top 5 offence as quickly as next season.
I am a serious believer that Clayton Keller has 100-pt potential and Dylan Guenther is the support he’s never had. Logan Cooley promises to usurp Barrett Hayton if he can carry over his play from the end of last season. The youth down the lineup like Matias Maccelli, Jack McBain and Josh Doan all promise to be exciting.
Besides, wouldn’t it just be romantic if they finally broke the barrier and made it back to the playoffs right after relocating?
Vancouver Canucks
Go even further beyond
I think the Canucks were damn good last season and probably deserved a better fate in last year’s playoffs despite their admirable effort. Could be that I’m just a softie for cup runs cut short due to an injured starting goaltender. Still, the additions look promising, up front. The Canucks look tougher, and more offensively leaning, which does give me concern as to if the defense holds up without Demko around to bail them out. I trust the stars to take this team to their limit, and I hope they can surpass it.
Vegas Golden Knights
Who’s on the wing?
The Golden Knights offence seems to be really focused on the middle at the moment. With the departure of Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Anthony Mantham Mike Amadio, Paul Cotter and William Carrier; this offence is going to look completely different. We can probably guess Eichel will play alongside Barbashev and Stone, but new acquisition Tomas Hertl’s sides are up for grabs. I’m looking forward to seeing if their plethora of young wingers like Dorofeyev, Brisson or Holtz can secure a top 6 spot.
Washington Capitals
Wait? Are they actually good?
The Capitals have seen one of the biggest off-season glowups with a handful of really smart moves.
The Mangiapane trade is still one of my favorite in the off-season, and I am very optimistic that he can reclaim some of his 35 goal spark.
Buying low on Pierre-Luc Dubois is a great idea for a team desperate for goals. PLD will get you pucks in the net so as long as you don’t worry about the defence.
And speaking off the defence, Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy round out the top 4 in spectacular fashion. I’m particularly excited to see the Chychrun-Carlson pairing and how well it performs.
The addition of Logan Thompson means you don’t even need to worry about Charlie Lindgren’s miracle run continuing as he’s a respectable goalie in his own right.
If everything goes right, and health acts in their favour, they could very well be a playoff team. Hats off to Brian MacLellan and Chris Patrick. They cooked.
Winnipeg Jets
Nikolaj Ehlers
Nik Ehlers has been in Jets hell for the majority of his career. He’s a star that never was. It’s a contract year for him. He’s almost certainly not signing and the Jets’ don’t have the luxury to drop him to the 4th line because they feel like it anymore.
If the Jets have any intention in not being Connor Hellebuyck HC, it starts with letting their players play. Starting with Ehlers.
That’s all folks!
Thanks for reading or mindlessly scrolling this far! Sorry if this did end up feeling kinda repetitive. I punched this out in one shot for giggles and did not proofread it so hopefully there’s nothing criminally erroneous.
BUT that’s because I got something way more exciting in the woodwork.
I got a 150 “first impression” scouting reports that I plan on compiling and dropping relatively soon. It will probably be massive and I’m contemplating releasing it in segments. School has conditioned me to revel in the euphoria of accomplishing a large project in one go, so instincts are telling me not to, but it may be necessary.