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The 2023-24 NHL season had goal-scoring fireworks, thrilling playoff races and a championship closing wherein the perfect participant on the planet led his crew again from a 3-0 deficit solely to fall wanting the Stanley Cup in Recreation 7.
But after an offseason crammed with beautiful strikes, dramatic selections and important tragedy, the 2024-25 NHL common season units as much as be much more memorable.
If you have not saved up with the NHL previously few months, do not fret, we have got you lined. This is an opportunity to atone for all the pieces that has occurred — the hirings, firings, signings and even a blockbuster commerce. It is all in our information to the 2024-25 season for lapsed followers. Learn up earlier than the puck drops!
The NHL mourns Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
Earlier than the enjoyment of a brand new season, the hockey world was confronted with an unfathomable tragedy.
Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, had been killed on Aug. 29 close to their boyhood dwelling in New Jersey. Police mentioned they had been struck by a suspected drunken driver whereas they had been using bicycles. Each had been to function groomsmen at their sister Kate’s marriage ceremony the subsequent day. The driving force was charged with two counts of death by auto, together with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motorized vehicle.
The hockey world was devastated by the information. On the ice, Gaudreau was “Johnny Hockey,” an electrifying offensive participant with 743 factors in 763 profession video games who possessed a pleasure for the sport. He was named to the All-Star Recreation seven instances and received the Woman Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play in 2016-17 whereas with the Calgary Flames.
Memorials had been established at arenas in Columbus, Calgary and Boston, the place the brothers performed their school hockey. The Flames mentioned that the hockey sticks left to recollect the Gaudreaus shall be repurposed into wooden benches offered to lift funds for charity.
The Blue Jackets will honor Johnny Gaudreau all through their season. His jersey nonetheless hangs in his locker room stall. They wore helmet stickers within the preseason with “Gaudreau” printed between the photographs of two doves and the uniform numbers of the brothers: No. 13 for Johnny and No. 21 for Matthew, the quantity he wore for Boston Faculty. They will put on a commemorative patch on their jerseys in the course of the season.
Goalie Elvis Merzlikins has Johnny Gaudreau’s quantity on his masks in addition to the picture of a plate of pasta, which was Johnny Hockey’s go-to pregame meal.
The Blue Jackets additionally postponed the standard fanfare of their first regular-season dwelling recreation to honor the Gaudreau brothers on Oct. 15.
The gamers are additionally supporting Gaudreau’s household after their loss. The Blue Jackets confirmed as much as be with Johnny’s daughter Noa for her second birthday earlier this month.
One assumes Johnny Gaudreau will even be remembered when Workforce USA takes the ice within the first 4 Nations Face-Off, having represented his nation at a number of worldwide tournaments.
4 nations, one event
The 2024-25 NHL season will take a breather from Feb. 10-21 for a first-of-its-kind event offered by the NHL and the NHLPA: the 4 Nations Face-Off, held in Montreal and Boston.
The event was born out of necessity. The NHL could not stage one other World Cup of Hockey that concerned Russia or Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine. However the league wished to stage a world occasion of some type forward of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the place NHL gamers will compete for the primary time because the 2014 Sochi Video games.
The 4 nations concerned within the event are the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden. It is a round-robin format — three factors for a win in regulation time; two factors for a win in additional time/shootout; one level for a loss in additional time/shootout; and 0 factors for a loss in regulation time. NHL guidelines will apply to the video games. The 2 groups with the perfect event document advance to a one-game closing on Feb. 20 in Boston.
The restricted subject of groups means main stars corresponding to Leon Draisaitl (Germany) and David Pastrnak (Czechia) must wait till the Olympics for his or her best-on-best highlight.
However the 4 Nations Face-Off provides hockey followers one thing they have been ready almost a decade to witness: the present technology of stars from the U.S. and Canada dealing with off on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Montreal … and doubtlessly a second time in the event that they each attain the ultimate. Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, the Hughes and Tkachuk brothers vs. Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and an older gentleman named Sidney Crosby? Let’s go.
Alas, followers have gained a world midseason event however have misplaced the NHL All-Star Recreation this season. We’ll miss you most of all, Cheetos NHL Accuracy Taking pictures.
After Cup Recreation 7 loss, an enormous offseason for the Oilers
It did not appear attainable that Connor McDavid may get much more determined to win his first Stanley Cup than he already was earlier than final season. However seeing his emotional breakdown after the Oilers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to the Florida Panthers within the Remaining solely to lose the Cup in Recreation 7 — like when he was too distraught to just accept his playoff MVP award on the ice — revealed a celebrity much more motivated to lift the chalice.
The Oilers at the moment are battle-tested championship contenders who added much more high-end expertise within the offseason: Jeff Skinner, a goal-scoring winger whose contract was purchased out by Buffalo; and Viktor Arvidsson, a point-producing winger signed away from the Los Angeles Kings. They be part of a stable nucleus of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Stuart Skinner, who has lastly given this crew a long-term resolution in aim.
Edmonton had a noteworthy season past that.
Draisaitl signed the richest contract extension of the wage cap period: eight years and $112 million, beginning in 2025-26.
GM Ken Holland didn’t return to the crew. He was changed by Stan Bowman, making him the primary former Chicago Blackhawks government rehired by an NHL crew since Chicago’s sexual assault case got here to mild in 2021.
The NHL reinstated Bowman, coach Joel Quenneville and fellow government Al MacIsaac in July. All three had been sidelined by commissioner Gary Bettman after an impartial investigation discovered the Blackhawks mishandled the allegations made in 2010 by participant Kyle Seashore that he was sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldrich.
When employed by Edmonton, Bowman mentioned: “This stuff won’t ever occur on my watch once more.”
One among his first duties as normal supervisor was deciding what to do when the St. Louis Blues tendered provide sheets to Oilers restricted free agent ahead Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg.
The aggressive transfer paid off for the Blues, who landed each gamers via the hardly ever used free agent transaction. Some speculated that GM Doug Armstrong was going after Bowman, his former division rival in Chicago. To which Armstrong replied: “Fairly truthfully, I might do it to my mom if she was managing the Oilers.”
Cup champ Panthers retool
The crew that defeated Edmonton in Game 7, the Florida Panthers, actually made the most of their Stanley Cup celebration, from the notorious Elbo Room to the Atlantic Ocean. However when the partying stopped, the questions started: Might the Panthers repeat?
They noticed some important defections from final 12 months’s crew: defensemen Brandon Montour (Seattle) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto); forwards Vladimir Tarasenko (Detroit), Ryan Lomberg (Calgary), Kevin Stenlund (Utah) and Kyle Okposo (retired); and goalie Anthony Stolarz (Toronto). Among the many reinforcements are defensemen Adam Boqvist and Nate Schmidt; and heart Tomas Nosek.
There’s some expectation for regression on this season’s Panthers — Sam Reinhart‘s 57 objectives received him a brand new contract (eight years, $69 million), however may not be repeatable. But the muse is robust with Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling and Sergei Bobrovsky. And based mostly on the previous two postseasons, they know how you can win after they get in.
Nashville ballad of Stamkos, Marchessault
The Tampa Bay Lightning shocked the hockey world by shifting on from captain Steven Stamkos. He was a franchise pillar for 16 seasons, scoring 555 objectives in that span, together with 40 final season.
However a contract deadlock noticed him depart as a free agent to the Nashville Predators (four years, $32 million) whereas the Lightning rapidly changed him with a youthful mannequin: former Penguin and Hurricane Jake Guentzel (seven years, $63 million), who turns 30 on Oct. 6. He’ll slide into Stamkos’ former spot on Tampa Bay’s prime line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
Stamkos’ departure wasn’t the one important break up that benefitted the Predators. Jonathan Marchessault was an authentic “Golden Misfit” for the Vegas Golden Knights and received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after they won the Stanley Cup in 2023. He had a 42-goal marketing campaign final season, however that wasn’t sufficient to persuade Vegas to retain him, regardless of Marchessault wanting to stay with the crew. He moseyed on over to Nashville, looking for to raise a playoff crew final season right into a Cup contender this season.
Devils plug their holes
The New Jersey Devils face-planted final season after a playoff breakthrough in 2023. GM Tom Fitzgerald recognized the cavities and did all he may to fill them earlier than this season.
The goaltending, third worst within the NHL final season, now has a battery of former Calgary Flame Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, acquired from Montreal final season. Fitzgerald added veteran defenseman Brett Pesce (Carolina) and Brenden Dillon (Winnipeg). Forwards Paul Cotter (Vegas), Stefan Noesen (Carolina) and former Satan Tomas Tatar (Seattle) had been added for depth.
The Devils additionally added a brand new teaching employees, led by former Maple Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe. His job is pretty clear: get the Devils to defend higher, work with their gifted younger core led by Jack Hughes like he did with Toronto’s and get a crew that appeared headed for Cup competition pointed again in that route.
The teaching carousel
It was one other offseason of veteran coaches delivery their game-night fits to new places. Together with Keefe, they included:
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Craig Berube, former Stanley Cup winner in St. Louis, employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs
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Scott Arniel, changing the retiring Rick Bowness in Winnipeg
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Dan Bylsma, who received a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh, changing Dave Hakstol in Seattle. Most notably, he introduced his AHL Coachella Valley assistant Jessica Campbell with him, as she turns into the primary girl to be named an NHL coach
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Ryan Warsofsky, promoted to San Jose Sharks head coach
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Dean Evason, former Minnesota Wild coach, taking on in Columbus
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Former Devils coach Lindy Ruff, returning to the Buffalo Sabres, the place he coached for 15 seasons
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Travis Inexperienced, the Devils’ interim coach after Ruff was fired, employed by the Ottawa Senators
Bruins commerce Ullmark, get messy with Swayman
No crew had extra success within the standings over the previous three seasons than the Boston Bruins, partially as a result of they had been No. 1 in crew protection throughout that span. The primary purpose: their goaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, acknowledged as the perfect within the NHL.
However each goalies wished nearly all of the taking part in time, and the Bruins wanted to unlock wage cap area for gamers corresponding to free agent heart Elias Lindholm, so that they traded Ullmark to the Senators, who had the league’s worst goaltending final season.
That anointed Swayman because the Bruins’ starter … besides he wanted a brand new contract as a restricted free agent, and the 2 sides are thousands and thousands aside. Swayman did not report back to Bruins coaching camp with no new contract.
Then issues received actually contentious: Bruins president Cam Neely mentioned he was stunned by Swayman’s asking value and added “I do know that I’ve 64 million explanation why I might be taking part in proper now” relating to his absence from camp. Swayman’s agent Lewis Gross denied that amount was ever offered, and referred to as out the Bruins for making their talks public. “We’re extraordinarily upset. This was not truthful to Jeremy,” Gross mentioned.
Boston coach Jim Montgomery mentioned that Joonas Korpisalo, acquired for Ullmark, is the seemingly starter for his or her season opener on Oct. 8. Swayman has till Dec. 1 to signal a contract with the intention to play this season.
Groups making massive strikes
The Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals took on one another’s issues with a significant trade. The Kings despatched heart Pierre-Luc Dubois — a bust within the first 12 months of an eight-year contract ($68 million) after being acquired from Winnipeg — to Washington for goalie Darcy Kuemper, who misplaced his job to Charlie Lindgren and had three years left on his $26.25 million contract. The Capitals additionally picked up Ottawa defenseman Jakob Chychrun for a package deal that included defenseman Nick Jensen.
Listed below are the opposite important strikes that transpired this summer season:
The rookie class of 2024-25
Boston College heart Macklin Celebrini was chosen first total by the Sharks in the 2024 draft, the primary time in franchise historical past San Jose had the No. 1 choose. He’ll be part of school rival-turned-NHL-roommate Will Smith from Boston Faculty on the Sharks this season.
Among the many different rookies to observe:
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Philadelphia Flyers ahead Matvei Michkov, who came visiting from the KHL in the course of the summer season, confirmed off his dazzling offense within the preseason. Even coach John Tortorella seems able to let him cook dinner
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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson of Boston College makes up for an absence of measurement with loads of offense from the again finish
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Cutter Gauthier, acquired by Anaheim final season after he refused to play for the Flyers, might be an impression participant within the Geese’ prime six forwards
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Dallas Stars ahead Logan Stankoven continues to be a rookie by the principles, regardless of taking part in 24 video games final season and 19 extra within the playoffs
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Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf ought to see loads of motion with Jacob Markstrom gone
Welcome to the NHL, Utah
The saga of the Arizona Coyotes lastly got here to an finish final season when Alex Meruelo offered the franchise to Utah Jazz homeowners Ryan and Ashley Smith in April. Initially, Meruelo was promised that he may reactivate the franchise inside the subsequent 5 years if he constructed an NHL-approved area. However he walked away from Coyotes possession in June, which means if the NHL ever returned to Arizona it will be with a brand new proprietor.
The whole lot occurred so rapidly that the brand new crew in Salt Lake Metropolis won’t have a reputation or mascot in its first season. The previous Coyotes at the moment are Utah Hockey Membership, wearing jerseys with the phrase “Utah” diagonal throughout the chest. A reputation for the crew is predicted to be in place for 2025-26, with “Yeti” or “Yetis” because the front-runner.
The excitement for the crew domestically has been robust, however some followers exterior of Utah have mocked the difficult sightlines at Delta Middle. Hey, it is nothing that a $3 hot dog cannot repair.
A legendary school soccer rivalry hits hockey
The NHL has two outside video games on its schedule for this season. On Dec. 31, the Winter Basic returns to Wrigley Discipline for the primary time since 2009 with a recreation between the Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.
On March 1, a school soccer rivalry strikes over to the ice because the Columbus Blue Jackets host their first outside recreation at Ohio State’s stadium in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings. Anticipate loads of Buckeyes vs. Wolverines hype for the sport on the Horseshoe.
Ovechkin is simply 42 objectives away from No. 895, which might break Wayne Gretzky’s beforehand unsurmountable profession complete and make Ovechkin (formally) the best aim scorer in NHL historical past.
He has scored at a 42-goals-or-better tempo in 15 of his 19 NHL seasons. However the 39-year-old’s aim complete dipped to 31 final season, the bottom complete in an 82-game season of his profession. Ovechkin then did not tally a degree in a four-game playoff loss to the Rangers.
In an NHL season that is shaping as much as be a wild experience, seeing that document shattered could be the wildest half — and one thing that transcends hockey.
