NHL Japanese Convention preview, storylines: Panthers look to make one other run with contenders getting nearer

The 2024-25 season is simply days away, and there is a considerable amount of anticipation because of this.

The Florida Panthers had a bitter style of their mouths after dropping to the Vegas Golden Knights within the 2023 Stanley Cup Remaining. In consequence, the Panthers have been extraordinarily motivated to complete the job throughout the 2023-24 season, and so they did simply that by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven video games. Whereas the Panthers will definitely have an opportunity to make one other deep run, the Japanese Convention has an abundance of gifted groups that might be trying to dethrone the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Here is a breakdown of the Japanese Convention because the 2024-25 season will get underway.

Atlantic Division

Can the Panthers repeat?

The Panthers captured their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past throughout the 2023-24 marketing campaign. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a steady power in internet all through Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup, whereas the Panthers rode their deep offense and stellar protection to defeat the Oilers.

As is the case with many Stanley Cup-winning groups, the Panthers did have some turnover after successful all of it. The Panthers noticed defenseman Brandon Montour signal with the Kraken, whereas veteran ahead Vladimir Tarasenko landed with the Red Wings. Florida was in a position to retain star winger Sam Reinhart, who scored a career-high 57 targets final season. Repeating is just not a straightforward activity, however assuming the Panthers can keep wholesome, this can be a group that’s able to being the category of the Japanese Convention as soon as once more in 2024-25.

Lightning transfer right into a post-Steven Stamkos period

The Lightning appeared within the Stanley Cup Remaining in three consecutive seasons, together with hoisting the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021. Since being defeated by the Avalanche within the 2022 Stanley Cup Remaining, the Lightning has been ousted within the first spherical in every of the final two editions of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Now Tampa Bay will transfer into a brand new period of its franchise historical past after star heart Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators in free company. Whereas Stamkos has left the group, the Lightning did add some firepower on their high line within the former of winger Jake Guentzel. Along with securing a top-tier expertise like Guentzel, the Lightning additionally nonetheless have a really harmful high six group of forwards that features Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel. The Lightning will look to point out that they’re nonetheless one of many high groups within the East after not making a lot noise within the postseason in every of the final two campaigns.

Bruins problem for division crown amid Jeremy Swayman contract talks

The Bruins completed only one level behind the Panthers on the high of the Atlantic Division. Boston ended up defeating the Maple Leafs within the opening spherical earlier than being eradicated by the Panthers for the second straight 12 months in six video games.

Over the summer season, the Bruins added Elias Lindholm to solidify their top-line heart place only one 12 months after franchise icon Patrice Bergeron introduced his retirement. The group additionally improved their defensive core with the signing of defenseman Nikita Zadorov. On the subject of the Bruins, the most important query mark is the continued contract extension talks with goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Swayman is presently a restricted free agent, and the 2 sides do not seem like wherever near agreeing to phrases on a brand new deal. After buying and selling Linus Ullmark to the Senators this previous offseason, the Bruins positively must get Swayman locked up within the close to future. If he is not signed within the coming days, the Bruins might be working with a goaltending duo of Joonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi. 

Metropolitan Division

Devils seeking to produce bounce-back marketing campaign following busy offseason

The Devils possess one of the gifted younger cores in all the NHL. New Jersey gained a playoff sequence in 2022-23, however have been hampered by defensive inefficiencies all through the 2023-24 season. Such extra in order that the Devils missed the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs all collectively. 

All through the 2023-24 marketing campaign, Devils goaltenders tallied a 3.43 goals-against-average, which was tied for the fifth-highest within the league. It was a revolving door within the crease with the likes of Akira Schmid, Vitek Vanecek, Kaapo Kahkonen, Nico Daws, and Jake Allen all taking part in in internet. The Devils acquired netminder Jacob Markstrom in an offseason commerce with the Flames in an effort to stabilize the place. As well as, New Jersey additionally tried to solidify their again finish with the signing of defensemen Brett Pesce and Brendan Dillon. Contemplating the expertise that the Devils have added, it is onerous to think about this group not enhancing fairly a bit, and a playoff run actually is not out of the query.

Matvei Michkov arrives in North America

Subsequent to Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov was arguably the second most gifted prospect within the 2023 NHL Draft. Nonetheless, because of the uncertainty of when Michkov could be free of his KHL contract, many groups handed on choosing the Russian scoring menace. The Flyers, who have been within the midst of a rebuild on the time, gambled and took Michkov with the No. 7 decide. Simply over a 12 months later, Michkov has set foot on American soil and can embark on his rookie season in 2024-25.

Since Philadelphia traded Claude Giroux on the 2022 commerce deadline, the group has been in quest of a famous person to construct round. There’s loads of vital complementary items on their roster, however Michkov is the gifted purpose scorer that the Flyers have been craving for. Michkov lately compiled 41 factors (19 targets & 22 assists) in simply 47 video games for HC Sochi, and has already confirmed off his goal-scoring prowess within the NHL preseason. It will not be an enormous shock if Michkov wins the Calder Trophy because the NHL’s high rookie when the mud settles on the 2024-25 season. 

Rangers goal to succeed in the mountaintop

It is onerous to discover a group that has been nearer to reaching the Stanley Cup Remaining lately than the Rangers. New York has fallen within the Japanese Convention Remaining in two of the previous three seasons, together with being eradicated by the Panthers within the East ultimate final season. 

The Rangers did not make a major quantity of modifications to their roster this previous offseason. The group did add veteran winger Reilly Smith in a commerce with the Penguins that gives some scoring acumen to an already harmful second line. The Rangers will depend on a deep group of high six forwards, whereas having a world-class goaltender within the type of Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin did battle all through the primary half of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, however finally produced a strong season to the tune of a 2.58 goals-against-average and .913 save share. New York actually has the items to make a run on the Stanley Cup, and can possible be one of many favorites to return out of the East in 2024-25.