The 2023–24 season has been stuffed with surprises, from the speedy rise of the Vancouver Canucks to the continued struggles of the Edmonton Oilers. Because the Nationwide Hockey League playoffs rage on, it’s by no means too early to look towards the 2024–25 season, which is certain to be filled with nice storylines. Let’s have a look at six groups to observe for on this subsequent calendar 12 months.
Las Vegas Golden Knights
The defending champions are a group to observe in 2024. Nevertheless, since their surprising journey to the Stanley Cup Finals of their first-ever season again in 2017–18, the Golden Knights have at all times been one of many largest tales of every season.
They lastly gained their first-ever Stanley Cup Remaining final season however struggled to recapture the magic of that 12 months on this common season, ending fourth within the division. They snuck into the playoffs as the ultimate Wild Card entry, simply forward of the St. Louis Blues.
Regardless of that, hockey odds right here nonetheless have them as one of many favorites within the Western Convention, with many favoring them over the surprising #2-seeded Canucks. Regardless of their struggles, Vegas ought to have one of many higher rosters within the league subsequent season, due to a dedicated possession group and a market that any free agent would love to affix.
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota was one of many extra disappointing groups this season, just like the Golden Knights. Their roster underperformed considerably, ending with 87 factors and a 12-goal differential. Their wage cap scenario could show difficult to work round, due to the costly buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Sutter, however they’ve a powerful roster and an excellent quantity of younger prospects developing quickly. Search for them to make a major leap within the standings subsequent season.
Detroit Crimson Wings
The long-lasting Detroit Crimson Wings franchise has gained 11 Stanley Cups. Solely the Montreal Canadians and Toronto Maple Leafs have extra championships.
Nevertheless, the Crimson Wings have fallen on onerous occasions. By lacking the playoffs in 202–24, Detroit failed to succeed in the postseason for the Eighth consecutive season. That’s the longest playoff drought in franchise historical past, topping the seven-year drought from 1970–1977. Proper in the course of this drought was a disastrous 2019–20 season that noticed the Crimson Wings go 17–49–5, good for a .275 factors share (PTS%), the third-worst mark in franchise historical past. Since then, although, the group has steadily improved, seeing their PTS% enhance to .429, .451, .488, and .555 over the past 4 seasons.
They completed the 2023–24 season above .500 for the primary time since 2015–16 and missed the playoffs through tiebreaker to the Eighth-seeded Washington Capitals. Each groups ended the common season with 91 factors, regardless of Detroit’s +41 purpose differential benefit on Washington. Few groups have a greater group of younger gamers than the Crimson Wings, making them a group that might make noise subsequent 12 months.
Edmonton Oilers
One other 12 months, one other disappointing common season for the Oilers. Since taking phenom Connor McDavid within the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Edmonton has made the Convention Finals simply as soon as regardless of McDavid solidifying himself as one of many biggest gamers ever. They scored 5 fewer factors this 12 months than final and will solely handle the #5 seed within the West.
Because of McDavid, they’ve probably the greatest rosters within the league, however they’ve by no means been capable of rework into a very nice group. We’ll see if they’ll subsequent 12 months.
New Jersey Devils
Together with the Crimson Wings, few groups have as a lot younger expertise because the Devils. The remainder of their roster must be crammed out. Nonetheless, with Jack Hughes on the entrance and gamers like Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz within the wings, New Jersey has cause to be excited for a group that has made simply two postseason appearances since dropping the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011–12. With a ton of cap house, the entrance workplace may flip this group right into a contender after ending only a tick beneath .500 in 2023.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have been, with out query, the largest shock of the 2023–24, and all we need to see is that if their success can proceed. A franchise recognized for its latest struggles, the Canucks entered this 12 months having reached the playoffs simply twice since 2013.
Vancouver struggled with a long-term imaginative and prescient for the longer term and tried to repair its issues via short-term options. They went via three coaches within the two years main as much as 2023 once they burst onto the scene with a 109-point season that secured the #3 seed within the West. Led by the star energy of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, the Canucks have a younger roster however don’t have a powerful core of veterans or numerous cap house to work with. The query is how far Pettersson and Hughes can carry them.
Who Are We Forgetting?
There are a lot of highly effective storylines going into subsequent season, together with the situation of the Boston Bruins’ growing older roster and the large future for a Carolina Hurricanes group loaded with younger expertise. As this season concludes, followers will start to shift their focus to 2024–25 to have these questions answered.
