Each NHL season has its share of surprises. Inevitably, a staff that everybody thinks is a playoff lock can be on the skin wanting in, and a staff everybody wrote off will come out of nowhere to steal a postseason spot.
We’re looking at some candidates for the latter class immediately, looking for some squads that would get away after middling to poor seasons a 12 months in the past. One factor all 4 groups on this record have in widespread is a roster filled with younger expertise that appears poised to take a giant step ahead.
Within the trendy NHL, with wage cap restrictions limiting what groups can do in free company and on the commerce market, having younger and cost-controlled stars is a should. Every of those groups have that, and that provides them hope that their time to shine is on the horizon.
Let’s check out the 4 groups that would sneak up on the remainder of the NHL in 2024-25.
In one of many greatest trades on the 2024 NHL Draft, Utah acquired defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning. He provides the franchise a bona fide stud on the blue line, and in a extra under-the-radar transfer, Utah additionally landed John Marino from the New Jersey Devils. Put these two into the combo with Sean Durzi, and instantly the defensive corps is worthy of some pleasure.
These defensemen ought to get some run help from some of the promising ahead teams within the NHL. They’re led by Clayton Keller, who’s coming off a 76-point marketing campaign in 2023-24. Round Keller, there’s all types of potential. Logan Cooley, the No. 3 general choose in 2022, notched 20 targets and 44 factors as a rookie. Dylan Guenther, the No. 9 general choose in 2021, simply obtained paid after placing up 35 factors in 45 video games. Matias Maccelli, 24, has flashed some wonderful playmaking skill.
In web, Connor Ingram had one of many extra underrated seasons from any goalie final season. The normal numbers did not leap off the web page, however he did save 5.05 targets above common and boasted a .841 high-danger save proportion, per Pure Stat Trick. He provides Utah some stability between the pipes, and his defensive setting ought to be higher this season.
On prime of the brand new additions and improvement from its prospects, Utah will most likely be higher off now that the rumors of relocation are behind it. All of the hypothesis final season needed to weigh on the gamers, and now that weight is off their shoulders.
One of many greatest issues holding the Wild again lately was a scarcity of true offensive game-changers outdoors of the good Kirill Kaprizov. There’s an opportunity, if a pair younger gamers step up, that may change in 2024-25.
Followers not conversant in Matt Boldy can be quickly sufficient. By means of simply 203 NHL video games, Boldy has already amassed 75 targets and 96 factors. In every of the final two years, Boldly has scored at a 30-goal tempo, and he is solely 23 years outdated. He ought to give Minnesota one other offensive celebrity to pair with Kaprizov, and Marco Rossi may give them one other.
Rossi totaled 40 factors in his first full season, and the previous No. 9 general choose appeared to seek out his footing on the NHL degree. Rossi performed the second-most five-on-five minutes of any Wild ahead, and the staff managed 52.9% of the anticipated targets in that point, per Pure Stat Trick.
The kicker for Minnesota would be the goaltending as a result of the protection ought to be a energy once more, and Brock Faber already appears to be like like he’ll be within the Norris Trophy dialogue for a really very long time. Final 12 months, Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury mixed to permit 14.3 targets above common, and I can not think about they will be that dangerous for the second consecutive season.
The folks of Buffalo have been ravenous for his or her first playoff look since 2011. If the Sabres are going to finish their 13-year drought, they’ve some work to do, nevertheless it’s actually throughout the realm of risk.
The very first thing the Sabres want are bounce-back campaigns from Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson. After totaling 36 targets and 43 assists in 2022-23, Tuch solely reached 22 targets and 37 assists final season. Thompson battled accidents and was nonetheless productive, however his 56 factors in 71 video games had been an enormous drop off from 94 factors in 78 video games the prior 12 months. To some extent, these two noticed pure regression final season, however they’re nonetheless able to greater than they confirmed.
Elsewhere on the roster, the younger prospects want to show potential into tangible manufacturing. JJ Peterka hit 28 targets and 50 factors as a 22-year-old, so I count on even larger issues from him this season. Jack Quinn, the No. 8 general choose in 2020, missed a lot of final 12 months as a consequence of accidents, and he’s a breakout candidate in his personal proper. Quinn scored 14 targets as a rookie in 2022-23. Add Zach Benson, 19, to this record and Buffalo may present some actual development up entrance.
Ukko-Pekka Luukonen proved final 12 months that he’s the reply in web for the Sabres, posting 10.1 targets saved above common regardless of not at all times getting probably the most assist. In entrance of Luukonen is likely one of the most enjoyable blue strains within the league. With the acquisition of Bowen Byram final 12 months, the Sabres now have three top-four picks on protection.
The time period “breakout” is performing some work right here as a result of I do not suppose the Canadiens can be an actual menace for a playoff spot. Having mentioned that, they appear poised to take a notable step ahead and blow previous their 76-point mark from 2023-24.
That leap will begin with the 2 franchise cornerstones, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. That duo mixed for 61 targets and 81 assists final season, and so they’re solely 24 and 23, respectively. The massive X-factor can be how a lot progress former No. 1 general choose Juraj Slafkovsky makes this season. It took a minute for Slakfkovsky to get adjusted to the NHL, however he got here on sturdy final 12 months and ended with 20 targets and 30 assists.
One other potential star is defenseman Lane Hutson, who performed two video games final season however is anticipated to get his first full dose of NHL hockey this 12 months. An electrifying playmaker from the again finish, Hutson put up 97 factors in 77 profession video games at Boston College. If that manufacturing carries over to the Canadiens, Hutson can be a blast to observe.
It is a disgrace that Patrik Laine suffered what seems to be a critical knee damage in a preseason sport, however hopefully he can return to the lineup earlier than the tip of the season as a result of he provides slightly extra firepower on the wing.
