Close Menu
Let’s Fight Corruption
Sports

NHL 2024-25 bold predictions: Which preseason picks we got right and wrong

No Comments19 Mins Read

We are able to admit it. We have been unsuitable.

Effectively, principally unsuitable. When The Athletic first requested its NHL employees for his or her daring predictions, it was a unique time. One week into the season, we heard about the whole lot from breakout gamers to trades to supply sheets to 40-goal scorers.

Two months later after we revisited our preseason prognostications, some writers have been able to take a victory lap, whereas others wanted a mulligan.

Now, with lower than three weeks of the common season remaining, some are holding up effectively, whereas others look to have been a bit too daring.

This week, our employees revisited their 2024-25 NHL season daring predictions for a closing time. Which of them get a cross, fail or incomplete?

Right here’s what they stated.

Anaheim Geese

Preseason daring prediction: Trevor Zegras is not going to be traded this season

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

Yep, they’re nonetheless collectively. Barring a one-for-one swap or his inclusion in a mega-deal, the circumstances for Anaheim buying and selling him by no means appeared proper. Knee surgical procedure halfway by the season additional lowered his worth after an injury-plagued 2023-24 season and there was no sense for the Geese to commerce the gifted 24-year-old at a loss when he’s nonetheless below contract for an additional season. They’re a greater workforce with him within the lineup, however there does stay the query of whether or not he actually suits into GM Pat Verbeek’s imaginative and prescient of the Geese when they’re ready to contend. Or simply how good Zegras might be with them. — Eric Stephens

Boston Bruins

Preseason daring prediction: Jeremy Swayman will battle early

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

Swayman missed all of camp due to his contract negotiations and needed to alter to being the go-to goalie after Linus Ullmark was moved, so early struggles have been predictable. That stated, I assumed Swayman’s points can be short-term and he would regress to being a high-end goalie. An .892 save proportion over 51 appearances alerts he’s been beneath common all season. — Fluto Shinzawa

Buffalo Sabres

Preseason daring prediction: Owen Energy will double his earlier excessive objective whole

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

Energy has seven objectives, so he wants 5 extra for this prediction to hit. That’s unlikely, however Energy does have already got a career-high in objectives and factors this season. Whereas he’s nonetheless a work-in-progress within the defensive zone, Energy is exhibiting the power to be a difference-maker within the offensive zone. — Matthew Fairburn

Calgary Flames

Preseason daring prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau will crack the 80-point plateau

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

Except Huberdeau goes on a monster factors streak, he gained’t attain 80 factors. However he’s very near the 30-goal mark and will set up a career-high in objectives by season’s finish. This yr might nonetheless go down as a profitable one for the winger, particularly if he helps Calgary make the playoffs. — Julian McKenzie

Carolina Hurricanes

Preseason daring prediction: Seth Jarvis will get a shot at middle

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour had loads of alternatives to provide Jarvis a shot at middle this season, however the coach has seemingly settled into letting the workforce’s rising star settle in as Sebastian Aho’s operating mate on the highest line. It could possibly be due to a lingering shoulder harm, however Jarvis has even taken about half as many faceoffs as he did a yr in the past. Jarvis has nonetheless emerged as one of many league’s prime defensive forwards, even when he by no means makes a transfer to the center. — Cory Lavalette

Chicago Blackhawks

Preseason daring prediction: The Blackhawks will end 25 factors higher than final season

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

The Blackhawks will end with extra factors than they’d final season, however it gained’t be by practically as a lot as anticipated. The Blackhawks had 52 factors final season and are at 51 factors with 9 video games to go this yr. At finest, perhaps they’ll end 10 factors higher. Nonetheless, this season has been extra underwhelming than predicted. — Scott Powers

Colorado Avalanche

Preseason daring prediction: Cale Makar can have 100 factors

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

This prediction nonetheless has an opportunity to be true, however it will take a monstrous closing 9 video games from Makar. He at present has 84 factors in 73 video games, on tempo for 94 on the season. That might break his earlier profession excessive of 90, however fall simply in need of the century mark. If Makar doesn’t hit 100 factors, the most important motive might be Colorado’s energy play. It hasn’t been horrible — rating seventh within the league at 25.7 % getting into Friday — however it hasn’t been as elite as I anticipated. Makar’s assists with the person benefit dropped from 32 a yr in the past to solely 23 this season. — Jesse Granger

Columbus Blue Jackets

Preseason daring prediction: Yegor Chinakhov will bloom as a objective scorer

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Swing and a miss, principally on account of a nagging lower-back harm that has plagued Chinakhov for 2 straight seasons. Two months into the season, Chinakhov was tied for second on the Blue Jackets with seven objectives in 21 video games, placing him on tempo for 27 objectives. However the again harm knocked him out of the lineup from Nov. 28 till early March. Since his return, he has just one level (an help) in eight video games. Each different younger participant on the roster has bloomed for the Blue Jackets this season, however it’s been a irritating marketing campaign for Chinakhov. — Aaron Portzline

Dallas Stars

Preseason daring prediction: The Stars will win the Stanley Cup

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

This one wants extra time to come back to fruition, however the Stars are nonetheless on a great observe. Including Mikko Rantanen to a stacked ahead group, with out having to subtract Thomas Harley or Wyatt Johnston, solidified this workforce from a real contender to a reliable favourite to win all of it. There are nonetheless hurdles of their means — from the Miro Heiskanen harm to a probable first-round collection towards a deep Avalanche workforce — however this workforce seems prepared for a deep run. — Shayna Goldman

Detroit Crimson Wings

Preseason daring prediction: Dylan Larkin will rating 40 objectives

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

There was a time when this had a combating probability, however it seems like Larkin will most probably end within the low 30s. Detroit’s prime line has been quiet to complete the season, with Larkin and Lucas Raymond each being held in examine for the reason that 4 Nations. A giant a part of that could possibly be the shortage of a constant third linemate, as Detroit has cycled by choices all yr. The simplest was Marco Kasper, however Kasper has been wanted to middle the second line these days, leaving Larkin and Raymond with out a constant companion. Larkin has been among the many league’s main scorers on the ability play, however with out dominant five-on-five scoring, 40 seems out of attain. — Max Bultman

Edmonton Oilers

Preseason daring prediction: Stuart Skinner will end prime 5 in Vezina voting

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Skinner has had some glorious begins and a few stable stretches this season. A save proportion beneath .900 and permitting extra objectives than anticipated in all conditions, per Pure Stat Trick, is nobody’s concept of a Vezina Trophy candidate, although. With the playoffs nearing, the strain is about to extend on the 26-year-old. He’s 15 months away from being eligible for unrestricted free company. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

Florida Panthers

Preseason daring prediction: Adam Boqvist will get away

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Boqvist was a really frequent wholesome scratch for many of the first half of the season and by no means gained coach Paul Maurice’s belief, as evidenced by his 12:51 in ice time per sport. Positioned on waivers on the finish of January, he’s discovered a extra common position within the Islanders’ lineup as a depth defender and chipped in with seven factors in 13 video games to this point. Not precisely a breakout contemplating how little he has performed. — James Mirtle

Los Angeles Kings

Preseason daring prediction: Quinton Byfield will turn out to be the Kings’ finest participant

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

This may be debatable at this stage — prime objective scorer and level producer Adrian Kempe might make a reliable case because the man for the Kings by your entire season — however there may be mounting proof that Byfield is on the prime proper now. His 19 objectives and 44 factors by 71 video games might sound modest, however 10 of these objectives and 23 of these factors have come over the past 26 contests. With a six-game goal-scoring streak thrown in, Byfield has scored eight occasions over his final 12 video games. The 22-year-old has by no means been extra assured as a participant, and his leap over the last two months could possibly be what turns the tide for Los Angeles in a playoff collection. — Eric Stephens

Minnesota Wild

Preseason daring prediction: Matt Boldy will rating 40 objectives and 40 assists

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Effectively, if he scores 16 objectives in his final 9 video games, we nailed it. That doesn’t appear doubtless, although, with the way in which Boldy’s manufacturing has waned because the season has gone, largely on account of accidents to Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Opposing groups have checked him onerous as one of many final harmful Wild forwards remaining. Our prediction regarded like a lock 20 video games into the season when he was on tempo for 45 objectives and 45 assists. However he has gone by a few lengthy goal-scoring droughts since and is now on tempo for 27 objectives and 43 assists. — Michael Russo

Montreal Canadiens

Preseason daring prediction: Juraj Slafkovský will hit 70 factors

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

For a second yr in a row, Slafkovský bought off to a sluggish begin. He didn’t decide up the place he left off final season and took a number of time to get going; he had solely 4 objectives and 21 factors in 34 video games on New 12 months’s Day. Slafkovský has 14 factors in 16 video games for the reason that return from the 4 Nations break and has helped the Canadiens play themselves into the playoff race, however he’s means too removed from 70 factors to have any hope of reaching it within the closing three weeks of the season. — Arpon Basu

Nashville Predators

Preseason daring prediction: Juuse Saros will win the Vezina Trophy

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Any optimistic prediction concerning the Preds has been stymied by essentially the most disappointing season in franchise historical past, and Saros is not any exception. The man with the .915 profession save proportion is more likely to end sub-.900, by far the worst exhibiting of his profession, and the underlying numbers communicate to an enormous drop as effectively — simply in time for his 8-year, $61.92 million deal to kick in subsequent season. This group should hope that Saros, who turns 30 in April, was the product of a horrible workforce and is able to return to type for a few years to come back. — Joe Rexrode

New Jersey Devils

Preseason daring prediction: The Devils will end with the East’s finest document

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

If it have been Dec. 31, I’d be ok with myself. The Devils have been 24-13-3 at that time, good for second within the East, albeit with a couple of video games in hand. Since then, New Jersey’s season has gone off the rails. Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler all went down with season-ending accidents, and Jacob Markström has struggled since getting back from an harm of his personal. The Devils have now dropped to sixth within the convention. They nonetheless appear to be a great guess to make the playoffs, however it’s already mathematically unattainable for them to get the No. 1 seed. — Peter Baugh

New York Islanders

Preseason daring prediction: Noah Dobson will rating 70 factors once more — and get an enormous extension

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Effectively, the 70-point factor is lengthy gone — Dobson has 34 factors in 60 video games, respectable sufficient however nowhere close to one other standout season. The large extension isn’t fully off the desk, although. With the cap rising and the Islanders nonetheless in want of getting youthful, locking up a 25-year-old right-handed defenseman who performs 23-plus minutes an evening nonetheless looks like a great play. — Arthur Staple

New York Rangers

Preseason daring prediction: Igor Shesterkin will win the Vezina Trophy

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

It is a fail as a result of the award is sort of actually going to go to Connor Hellebuyck, not as a result of Shesterkin hasn’t had a wonderful season. He has a .908 save proportion, which is spectacular due to the Rangers’ porous defensive play. Solely Hellebuyck entered Wednesday with a greater objectives saved above anticipated mark, in response to Evolving-Hockey. He’s deserving of being a Vezina finalist, though his floor stats don’t recommend it. This prediction will find yourself unsuitable, however I stand by the logic. — Peter Baugh

Ottawa Senators

Preseason daring prediction: Travis Inexperienced will win the Jack Adams Award

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

I’ve a tough time seeing Inexperienced win this award when Spencer Carbery and the Capitals exist. Winnipeg’s Scott Arniel and Los Angeles’ Jim Hiller are additionally worthy of consideration. However that doesn’t imply Inexperienced needs to be fully left off ballots if he guides the Senators to the playoffs for the primary time since 2017. — Julian McKenzie

Philadelphia Flyers

Preseason daring prediction: The Flyers can have a top-15 energy play

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

I didn’t even suppose this was that daring! With gamers resembling Matvei Michkov and a wholesome Jamie Drysdale, I figured the ability play can be higher. Frankly, it needs to be higher. Nope. It nonetheless stinks for the third straight season. It was mildly stunning that when the Flyers introduced the firing of John Tortorella on Thursday, they didn’t additionally relieve affiliate coach/power-play overseer Rocky Thompson, too, as they desperately want a unique imaginative and prescient right here. Their third-period power-play objective on Thursday towards Montreal ended a 0-for-34 streak within the month of March. — Kevin Kurz

Pittsburgh Penguins

Preseason daring prediction: Marcus Pettersson will turn out to be a trade-deadline commodity

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

The Penguins managed to obtain fantastic worth for Pettersson as a part of their rebuilding course of, because of a first-round decide from Vancouver. They by no means entertained contract negotiations with Pettersson, realizing full effectively they might commerce him. — Josh Yohe

San Jose Sharks

Preseason daring prediction: William Eklund will lead the workforce in scoring

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

There’s a good battle occurring to see who’ll end because the Sharks’ main scorer. Positive, it may need been simple to go together with Macklin Celebrini as a alternative right here, and the 18-year-old has delivered on his promise as he’s within the thick of the Calder Trophy race. However this prediction was a guess on Eklund taking one other step towards turning into a core participant for San Jose. He’s finished that, with 54 factors, another than Celebrini with 12 video games left. Extra importantly for the Sharks, Eklund has set a career-high in objectives and factors. — Eric Stephens

Seattle Kraken

Preseason daring prediction: Matty Beniers will rating 30 objectives

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

It wasn’t the offensive re-breakout that I anticipated from Beniers. This prediction failed early as Beniers endured a nightmare begin to the yr, scoring simply 4 objectives within the opening 32 video games. On the optimistic facet of the ledger, Beniers has discovered his sport within the second half. In Seattle’s most up-to-date 40 video games, Beniers has scored 13 objectives — tied for the workforce lead — and located some actual chemistry with not too long ago acquired winger Kaapo Kakko. Beniers didn’t flirt with the 30-goal milestone this season, however he appeared to seek out his sport and swagger down the stretch. — Thomas Drance

St. Louis Blues

Preseason daring prediction: Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway’s success will result in extra supply sheets

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

Effectively, I can’t pressure NHL basic managers and restricted free brokers to place pen to paper and execute the supply sheets. However with the seasons Broberg and Holloway are having, there needs to be loads of groups exploring that choice. Broberg not too long ago had his first-career four-point sport and leads the workforce in plus-minus (plus-21). Holloway is second on the membership in objectives (26) and has a nine-game level streak. Many thought-about the salaries paid by the Blues — $4.58 million yearly for Broberg, $2.29 million yearly for Holloway — overpayments. Now they’re saying it’s time to provide them massive raises on long-term contracts. — Jeremy Rutherford

Tampa Bay Lightning

Preseason daring prediction: Andrei Vasilevskiy might be a Vezina Trophy finalist

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

Final time we checked in with these daring predictions, Vasilevskiy’s stage was solely barely above common. He has significantly picked it up since and appears like his common elite self. In 57 video games, he has saved 23.04 objectives above anticipated. Is it sufficient to land on the poll? Connor Hellebuyck goes to win, and Logan Thompson doubtless lands on the poll behind him. That third slot might go to Dustin Wolf, Sam Montembeault and even Igor Shesterkin. However the Lightning’s playoff standing and his extra conventional stats work in his favor. And it wouldn’t be stunning if he amps issues up down the stretch, both. — Shayna Goldman

Toronto Maple Leafs

Preseason daring prediction: Mitch Marner will rating 40 objectives

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Large swing and a miss. Marner goes to finish up proper round 30 objectives in all probability, however effectively in need of 40. I may be able to lastly ditch this perception — that Marner will sooner or later rating 40. Why? I’m undecided he’ll ever shoot the puck sufficient to take action. This season, Marner is averaging the fewest photographs of his profession, simply over two per sport. Not sufficient quantity for 40. The one season Marner actually shot the puck — in 2021-22, when he averaged over three photographs per sport — he scored 35 in solely 72 video games. That’s what fueled my perception. Maybe solely in a world through which he leaves the Leafs (and Auston Matthews) would possibly Marner really threaten 40. — Jonas Siegel

Utah Hockey Membership

Preseason daring prediction: Utah will end as one of many NHL’s highest-scoring groups

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

The Coyotes have been tied for sixteenth in scoring a yr in the past and made some respectable additions after the transfer to Utah, so this felt potential, particularly with their promising younger expertise up entrance. However the Utahns surprisingly have fallen again to twenty third with solely 2.81 objectives per sport, largely on account of steps again from their depth gamers. Alexander Kerfoot, Lawson Crouse, Matias Maccelli and Nick Bjugstad are all on tempo for between 22 and 35 fewer factors than final season, leaving the Hockey Clubbers with solely a handful of forwards producing a lot offense. Count on that to be their prime goal within the offseason. — James Mirtle

Vancouver Canucks

Preseason daring prediction: Elias Pettersson will bounce again and lead the workforce in scoring

Move, fail or incomplete? Fail

Elias Pettersson didn’t bounce again, as Canucks followers know, and he is not going to lead the Canucks in scoring. Realistically, going ahead, we should always in all probability count on Quinn Hughes to guide the Canucks in scoring yearly. He’s simply so concerned and assertive offensively. As for Pettersson, between the off-ice drama and his on-ice struggles, it’s been a really tough marketing campaign. Simply as he appeared to be turning a nook, trusting his shot and starting to supply, he sustained an harm and has been despatched residence from the membership’s present highway journey. — Thomas Drance

Vegas Golden Knights

Preseason daring prediction: Pavel Dorofeyev will end second on the workforce in objectives

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

We nonetheless have 10 video games to go, however for now, I’ve nailed this one. Coming into Friday, Pavel Dorofeyev was second on the Golden Knights in objectives — one behind Tomas Hertl and 4 forward of Jack Eichel. After scoring Friday, he tied Hertl with 31 and is 5 forward of Eichel. The 24-year-old winger crushed his earlier profession excessive of 13 objectives, reaching the 30-goal mark with a hat trick towards Boston final Thursday. He’s been significantly harmful on the ability play, the place he’s scored 13 occasions. — Jesse Granger

Washington Capitals

Preseason daring prediction: The Pierre-Luc Dubois deal will repay

Move, fail or incomplete? Move

The Dubois for Darcy Kuemper deal took a number of warmth on the time, however this commerce has significantly paid off for either side. Kuemper has been stellar in Los Angeles, and Dubois is the 2C the Capitals have been lacking. A change in surroundings fully revitalized his sport; Dubois is scoring at a career-high fee this season in all conditions and is driving play on each ends of the ice at five-on-five. That second line has been a significant energy for the Caps this season, and Dubois’ play is a key motive why. — Shayna Goldman

Winnipeg Jets

Preseason daring prediction: Nikolaj Ehlers will play out the season after which stroll as a UFA

Move, fail or incomplete? Incomplete

Winnipeg saved Ehlers by the commerce deadline, serving to my preseason prediction clear its lowest accessible hurdle. The Jets added a defenseman with out shifting Ehlers, so I’ve cleared the second-lowest hurdle, too. What now? Will the pending UFA stroll this summer time? He’s lastly on the Jets’ prime energy play and on tempo for a profession yr consequently. His playoffs may also influence his value level and the Jets’ willingness to pay it. Will they? And can he wish to keep? Something might occur, however I proceed to consider his subsequent steps will come elsewhere. — Murat Ates

(High photographs of Juraj Slafkovský and Elias Pettersson: David Kirouac and Bob Frid / Imagn Photos) 



Source link

Share.

Related Posts

Add A Comment
Leave A Reply