BY MIKE RIFKIN
As we prepare for the NHL Season, here is how I see the season playing out. *PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE TOP THREE IN EACH DIVISION PLUS TWO WILDCARDS.
DIVISION STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
METRO
- HURRICANES – Carolina has been one of the elite teams in the NHL over the years and they just need to get over the hump.
- DEVILS – Health was the big issue last season. They have Jack Hughes healthy and Nico Hischier is coming off a great season, the Devils will be a problem again.
- RANGERS – Maybe I’m drinking too much Kool-Aid, but everything that went wrong last season can’t go wrong again. Having Igor Shesterkin in net is an advantage most teams don’t have.
- CAPS – I love the mix of youth and veterans on this team. I wonder how much the Ovi chase took out of them, but can the goaltending do it again?
- ISLES – They have some great talent, and will have a healthy Matt Barzal. Ilya Sorokin should bounce back, but I still have some questions regarding their blue line, they definitely have the skill.
- BLUE JACKETS – Can their young players continue to take steps forward? They were so close last season, but the goaltending let them down and didn’t really address it. They also need Zach Werenski to be healthy all season.
- FLYERS – Still in the midst of a rebuild, Rick Tocchet gets to evaluate the talent going forward.
- PENGUINS – The rebuild has started in Pittsburgh, and now what are the next steps that take place. Will Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Evgeni Malkin last the season in Pittsburgh?
ATLANTIC
- LIGHTNING – I just have a feeling about them this season. They have great depth and a winning pedigree, the Lightning are going to be a tough matchup.
- PANTHERS – They’ve played a ton of hockey over the last three seasons. No Matt Tkachuk until December and Barkov even longer, but they can withstand the regular season that way, that’s how deep they are.
- LEAFS – They’ll miss Mitch Marner, but they are a deeper team than they were. Still have questions regarding the goaltending. Most important the regular season doesn’t matter they’ll be judged in April.
- SENATORS – This is the sleeper team in the Eastern Conference. They have a tremendous forward group, solid Blue line and Linus Ullmark. I have high expectations for the Sens.
- CANADIENS – They might be the envy of the league with their young talent. If those guys stay healthy and get the goaltending they can compete for a Wild Card spot.
- RED WINGS – At this point they have to prove they can get in. John Gibson is an upgrade in net, but I have questions about him staying healthy. Steve Yzerman needs this team to step up or he’ll be out.
- BRUINS – Jeremy Swayman should bounce back, but outside of David Pastrnak I am not sure where they’ll get consistent offense.
- SABRES – Great nucleus, but massive questions about pieces. This is also a year they have to prove something, otherwise they’ll tear it down again.
EAST PLAYOFFS
HURRICANES, DEVILS, RANGERS, LIGHTNING, PANTHERS, LEAFS. WC : SENS AND CAPS
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL : LIGHTNING DEF HURRICANES IN 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL
- STARS – Top to bottom this might be the most complete roster in the league. They have a great mix of vets and young guys, and they should have a chip on their shoulder. Oh and they have Mikko Rantanen for a full season.
- AVS – The captain is back and that’s big for the AVS. Again another loaded lineup, Mackenzie Blackwood played fine in goal last season.
- JETS – Yeah, losing Nikolaj Ehlers hurts, but they got Jonathan Toews to come back. He brings great leadership to a team that has the ability to win it all.
- WILD – The Kaprizov contract is no longer a distraction, the Wild are solid everywhere. Brock Faber could be a darkhorse Norris candidate.
- PREDS – The Preds were the toast of the town July 1st, 2024 and their season was not good. I think they bounce back, there’s too much talent, but if they start slow I wonder if Barry Trotz breaks it down.
- BLUES – They got hot at the end of last year, led by Jordan Binnington. I still don’t trust Binnington, and the Blues have talent but this division is hard.
- MAMMOTH – They’ve done a lot of good this offseason, but as I said on the Blues this division is awesome and deep. I like their future but I still question the goaltending.
- BLACKHAWKS – Does anyone have a brighter future? A lot of their success will hinge on Spencer Knight in goal. A lot of young players will get valuable time.
PACIFIC
- GOLDEN KNIGHTS – The addition of Mitch Marner will boost their offense, and make them deeper. They have a winning pedigree.
- OILERS – McDavid’s contract no longer a distraction, and they have two of the four best players in the league. Like the Leafs I don’t care until April as they look to go to their third straight final.
- DUCKS – Whether you think Joel Quenneville should be behind the bench or not isn’t the question (even though I don’t think he should) but he wins. The Ducks made a lot of moves and got better. I am buying the hype.
- CANUCKS – They had a ton of distractions last season, now they need some bounce back guys including Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko, if they bounce back Vancouver is in a great spot.
- KINGS – Anze Kopitar’s final season, should be met with the playoffs, I don’t think it will. I think the Kings need to figure some things out, they’re still dangerous but they also need reinforcements.
- FLAMES – Kind of like the Flyers, they’re in a rebuild and overachieved last season. They’re still evaluating talent, but Dustin Wolf is their cornerstone.
- KRAKEN – They disappointed last season, and I’m not sure they’re that much better. I need them to prove a lot this season, because their offseason left a lot to be desired.
- SHARKS – They’re on the rise, they have a lot of skill up front led by Macklin Celebrini. We’ll see some growth from this group this season. Don’t be shocked if they don’t finish last.
WEST PLAYOFFS : STARS, AVS, JETS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS, OILERS, DUCKS : WC WILD AND PREDS
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL : STARS DEF GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN 7
AWARDS
HART : CONNOR MCDAVID
VEZINA : ANDREI VASILEVSKIY
NORRIS : CALE MAKAR
JACK ADAMS : TRAVIS GREEN
SELKE : ANZE KOPITAR
STANLEY CUP FINAL : STARS DEF LIGHTNING 6 GAMES
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