2024-25 NHL PREDICTIONS

Posted byMichael RifkinPosted inNHL, Rifkin’s Rift Tide

By Mike Rifkin

Another hockey season is upon us. Here is how I see the season playing out, with playoff teams, Stanley Cup prediction and awards.  NOTE :  PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE THE TOP THREE IN EACH DIVISION AND TWO WILD CARS.

EAST

METRO

  1. DEVILS – Last season, the Devils took a step back, most of that due to goaltending problems. Well they Marked that off in the offseason, adding Jacob Markstrom from the Flames. Tom Fitzgerald also beefed up his Blue line with Brendan Dillon and Brett Pesce. 
  1. RANGERS – Yes, they won the President’s Trophy last season and kept the same group for the most part together. This might be the last chance this group has to win the Cup together. They didn’t do much in the offseason, but have to see what Reilly Smith adds to this group.
  1. CAPITALS –  We are still on Ovi watch (42 away). They were aggressive in the market this offseason adding Jacob Chychrun and Matt Roy on the backend. Up front they added Pierre – Luc Dubois from the Kings and Andrew Mangiapane from the Flames. The goaltending might be a question mark, but I liked their aggressiveness and they will miss TJ Oshie. 

ATLANTIC

  1. PANTHERS – The defending champs kept the core together bring back Sam Reinhart. They are a deep team, oh and Sergei Bobrovsky is pretty good too.
  1. LIGHTNING – Yeah it’s going to be weird to see them without Steven Stamkos, but the addition of Jake Guentzel should keep this team dangerous. We all know the skill this team possesses with Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, etc… Andrei Vasilevskiy being back for a full season will help as well as will the addition of Ryan Mcdonagh. 
  1. LEAFS – Let’s be honest the regular season doesn’t matter here, it’s what happens in April that does. Craig Berube takes over, they didn’t change the core (again) did add to the Blue line with Chris Tanev. We’ll have to see what happens in goal as well with Joseph Woll.

WILD CARDS 

  1. BRUINS – Everything for the Bruins hinged on them swaying Jeremey Swayman, well they took care of that. Adding Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov ( who is a perfect Bruin) will make the Bruins tough to play against again. 
  1. ISLANDERS – They played better under Patrick Roy, and added Anthony Duclair, which should help them a lot. The special teams will not be as bad as they were a year ago and Ilya Sorokin should be back to Vezina form. 

WEST

CENTRAL

  1. STARS – They shot themselves in the foot last season in the Western Conference Finals, and will use that as motivation. They have a great blend of veterans and young players. Jake Oettinger always gives them a chance to win as well. 
  1. PREDATORS – Yeah, they won the offseason adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. They also extended Juuse Saros to man the crease. 
  1. AVALANCHE – Nathan Mackinnon proved last season why he is one of the top players in the league, at some point he will get Gabe Landeskog back. The backend led by Cale Makar is one of the best. The Avs will look to get back to the top of the mountain.

PACIFIC

  1. OILERS – Like the Leafs the regular season doesn’t matter. But they were very aggressive this summer adding Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner to a loaded group of forwards. One question will be if Stu Skinner struggles, will they look to upgrade between the pipes?
  1. GOLDEN KNIGHTS – They got deeper up front with Alexander Holtz, and Tomas Hertl will be there for a full season. If they can unlock Ilya Samsonov’s potential, they could be playing for the Cup again. 
  1. KINGS – The Drew Doughty injury stinks, but this team can overcome it. Darcy Kuemper gives them a goalie, who was won a Cup in the past. The question is the same every year do they have enough offense?

WILD CARDS

  1. KRAKEN-  They added offense and winning pedigree with the additions of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson along with new head coach Dan Bylsma. The Kraken are deep, and if they get Phil Grubauer to play like a Vezina candidate, they can be a tough out. 
  2. JETS – If Aaron Rodgers, oh wrong Jets. You know what you will get from Conor Hellebuyck, it’s everything else that’s a question. I love their nucleus and believe that the Jets will be a playoff team. 

AWARDS

HART (OUTSIDE OF MCDAVID)  – JACK HUGHES – DEVILS – If the Devils are going to go where a lot of people think they can go it’s going to be on the shoulders of Jack Hughes. 

CALDER – LOGAN STANKOVEN – STARS –  Stankoven had 14 points in 24 games last season, then had eight points in 19 playoff games. With how deep the Stars are, Stankoven should get a lot of time with some other skilled players. 

JACK ADAMS –  JON COOPER – LIGHTNING –  I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on the Lightning. Yes, they lost Steven Stamkos, and yes they’ve played a ton of hockey over the years, but Jon Cooper is going to have these guys ready on a nightly basis. 

VEZINA – JUUSE SAROS – PREDATORS –  Saros, is a fantastic goalie and has never had a GAA over three. With the Preds offseason, they’ll finally get some spotlight and Saros will show how great he truly is. 

NORRIS – CALE MAKAR – AVS – Makar is the best d-man in the league right now. His skating abilities and his offensive instincts will lead him to another Norris. 

CUP FINAL PREDICTION

STARS DEF PANTHERS

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