Stanley Cup contender tiers: Maple Leafs, Oilers amongst groups in win-now mode whereas others have time to attend

When the puck drops on opening evening of the NHL season, each fan base has hope. A few of that hope is irrational, however it’s there nonetheless as a result of everybody can discuss themselves into their staff popping out of nowhere to go on a particular run.

Having mentioned that, it is time to verify a few of these prior beliefs whereas additionally squashing the desires of others. That is as a result of we’re taking a look at Stanley Cup contender tiers as we speak. We have put each staff in certainly one of six tiers based mostly on how sensible their Cup likelihood is. These tiers are as follows:

• Stanley Cup or bust: Groups that may (and must) get the job executed now.
• Stanley Cup contenders: Sensible threats to win all of it.
• Darkish horses: A few issues have to come back collectively, however it’s potential.
• Squint and you may see it: A whole lot of issues have to come back collectively.
• Attempt once more subsequent yr: Some good items in place, however not fairly there but.
• Attempt once more in 3-5 years: There’s some actual work to be executed right here.

Now let’s check out which groups are on the cusp of glory this and which of them are just a few miles behind.

Stanley Cup or bust

Edmonton Oilers: They have been one win away from the Stanley Cup final yr, and the Oilers will attempt to end the job this time round. On paper, Edmonton could be one of the best staff within the league. It does assist to have two of the highest 5 gamers within the NHL, however this ahead group is deeper, and Evan Bouchard has emerged as a legit No. 1 defenseman to enrich Mattias Ekholm.

Toronto Maple Leafs: I am not completely satisfied the Maple Leafs’ roster makes them a transparent Stanley Cup favourite, however the urgency must be at an 11 out of 10. Toronto determined to run it again with the “Core 4” yet one more time, however John Tavares and Mitch Marner are on expiring contracts. It is now or by no means for this group.

New York Rangers: The core of this staff is not getting any youthful, and it has suffered devastating playoff exits in every of the final three seasons. The Rangers’ 4 highest-paid forwards are all on the mistaken facet of 30, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin is reportedly trying to break the financial institution together with his subsequent contract.

Dallas Stars: After bowing out within the convention finals for the second straight season, the strain to recover from that hump will solely develop in 2024-25. Except for some questionable tweaks to their blue line, the Stars may come again even stronger this season. Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque will get the possibility to make an already deep ahead group even higher.

Florida Panthers: They did simply win their first Stanley Cup in staff historical past, however the Panthers have the roster to repeat, and they should capitalize on that championship window whereas it is nonetheless vast open. Florida would not have the identical degree of desperation as another groups on this tier, however it does have an excellent alternative to elevate the Cup once more.

Stanley Cup contenders

Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon is coming off a Hart Trophy marketing campaign, and Cale Makar is one of the best defenseman within the league at his peak. These two alone make the Avs true contenders, however I do suppose the addition of Casey Mittelstadt late final season will show to be an excellent transfer in 2024-25. He ought to clear up Colorado’s second-line middle subject, which is able to take a few of the burden off MacKinnon.

New Jersey Devils: The Devils determined they have been executed permitting objectives this summer time, in order that they added Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon to the blue line whereas additionally buying goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Add that to an elite younger core of forwards, and New Jersey has the recipe for one thing particular. Search for the Devils to shake off final yr’s disappointment and go on a deep run.

Vegas Golden Knights: Do not forget concerning the 2023 Stanley Cup champions simply due to their early postseason exit final yr. This roster nonetheless has loads of juice, and now the Golden Knights will get a full season of Tomas Hertl, who was acquired proper on the buzzer on commerce deadline day. The most important query for the Golden Knights shall be their means to remain wholesome for a full season.

Carolina Hurricanes: Few groups might afford to lose two top-four high quality defensemen to free company, however Carolina is constructed totally different. The Hurricanes are as deep as any staff on the blue line, and so they nonetheless have loads of expertise up entrance, even after shedding Jake Guentzel to the Lightning. As is often the case with Carolina, the query is the shortage of a really elite goal-scorer. Who can the Canes rely on for constant scoring within the postseason?

Nashville Predators: Nashville has had elite goaltending and a famous person defenseman for some time now, however they’ve lacked elite finishers on the high of the lineup. That is now not the case. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault be part of Filip Forsberg to create a fearsome trio of set off males. Age is a priority with this group, however they are going to be harmful if Father Time is not an element this yr. 

Boston Bruins: After shedding to the Panthers within the playoffs two seasons in a row, the Bruins determined they wanted to make some upgrades. Boston introduced in Elias Lindholm to offer a greater No. 1 middle possibility, and Nikita Zadorov provides some measurement and physicality to the again finish. So long as the Bruins can get star goaltender Jeremy Swayman signed and do not must roll with Joonas Korpisalo because the starter, they’re going to be on the high of the East standings all season.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts had a chaotic offseason. They traded away star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, reacquired 35-year-old Ryan McDonagh, let Steven Stamkos stroll in free company and signed Jake Guentzel to an enormous contract in his place. In the long run, I do suppose Tampa obtained higher at ahead however worse on protection, so which may be a wash. This staff nonetheless has high-end expertise, and if all else fails, Andrei Vasilevskiy is again there to cease the puck.

Vancouver Canucks: After a powerful 2023-24 season in Rick Tocchet’s first full season as the pinnacle coach, the Canucks are on the lookout for an encore efficiency. The potential for Vancouver to interrupt out as a contender was all the time there. It is simply that it hadn’t been realized till final season. Now the Canucks simply must show they will replicate that success with the defending Western Convention champs in the identical division.

Darkish horses

Los Angeles Kings: Previously couple seasons, I’ve preferred the Kings so much and possibly would have positioned them within the contenders tier. Nevertheless, three straight first-round losses to the Oilers mixed with some roster turnover have Los Angeles in the dead of night horse class. Throw in an ankle harm to Drew Doughty, and now the Kings have some very severe questions. The important thing for the Kings shall be whether or not some highly-touted prospects (i.e. Brandt Clarke) can begin taking on.

Minnesota Wild: The trail is evident sufficient that I bumped Minnesota up a tier whereas scripting this. Kirill Kaprizov will get extra assist from kids like Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Brock Faber continues to develop right into a Norris Trophy defenseman. The goaltending elevates above putrid. The blue line stays wholesome. The Wild could possibly be a sneaky staff within the Central Division.

Winnipeg Jets: The Jets have been an excellent staff final season. They notched 52 wins and 110 factors whereas using nice depth and elite goaltending. Then the underside fell out within the playoffs. The staff was unhealthy, and Connor Hellebuyck was even worse. I’ve little doubt about Hellebuyck’s means to bounce again, and that alone could make the staff a contender, however I do wonder if Winnipeg has the horses on the high of the lineup to go toe-to-toe with the West’s finest within the postseason.

Squint and you may see it

New York Islanders: You do not even actually need to squint to see how the Islanders can go on a deep run. Ilya Sorokin is among the finest goaltenders on the earth, and he is able to stealing a number of collection. It simply looks like the identical film over again with the remainder of the lineup.

Utah Hockey Club: In keeping with the Vegas odds, this staff ought to most likely be a tier or two decrease, however I really like this roster. It could be a yr too early for Utah, however the addition of Mikhail Sergachev provides the staff a real No. 1 defenseman, and there’s potential littered up and down the ahead group. Clayton Keller. Dylan Guenther. Logan Cooley. Matias Maccelli. Salt Lake Metropolis is in for a deal with.

Washington Capitals: In Spencer Carbery’s first season behind the bench, the Capitals have been a shock playoff staff, thanks largely to Charlie Lindgren standing on his head in aim. That method is not sustainable, however Washington did improve its protection. Counting on Pierre-Luc Dubois as a No. 1 middle hasn’t precisely labored for different groups, however perhaps he could make it work in Washington.

Pittsburgh Penguins: This period of Penguins hockey is simply hanging on by a thread. Sidney Crosby can attempt to will this staff right into a playoff spot, and he simply may, however it might additionally get ugly. Are Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes the options to Pittsburgh’s ahead depth? In all probability not, however we’ll see how a lot magic Crosby nonetheless has up his sleeve.

Attempt once more subsequent yr

Detroit Red Wings: After narrowly lacking the playoffs final yr, Pink Wings followers are hungry for an finish to their eight-year playoff drought. I am simply undecided it comes this season. Detroit is a severe regression candidate this season, and the offseason additions did not actually transfer the needle within the East playoff race.

Buffalo Sabres: Quite a bit went mistaken for the Sabres final season, however some good did come out of it. Including Bowen Byram to this defensive group is de facto thrilling, and I am fairly certain Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the long-term reply in aim. The complementary items on this staff nonetheless want some work, so I will suggest persistence for yet one more yr in Buffalo.

Ottawa Senators: My daring prediction for the Senators final season was that they’d win a playoff spherical. That was not solely a swing-and-miss, however the bat flew into the stands. The ceiling for this younger core is excessive, however we additionally noticed what the ground appears like. Past that, I am not offered on the protection, and I’ve issues about how Linus Ullmark will carry out exterior of Boston’s defensive surroundings.

Seattle Kraken: I hoped the Kraken could be up a tier or two this season, however that is simply not the case. Brandon Montour was costly, however he does present an improve on protection. The problem is that Chandler Stephenson obtained over $43 million, and I do not suppose he provides a ton to the ahead group, so it might be a repeat of final yr in Seattle.

St. Louis Blues: I debated shifting the Blues down a tier, however they’ve just a few nice gamers on the high of their lineup. The issue is that, till they overhaul an growing old blue line, they are going to alway be a minimum of one yr away from being a menace within the West.

Attempt once more in 3-5 years

Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens being this low is not a knock. I like what they’re constructing, however that is precisely it. GM Kent Hughes remains to be within the midst of a really promising rebuild, particularly with Juraj Slafkovsky discovering his footing final season. It’d take just a few years, however Montreal is on its method to being a wagon.

Anaheim Ducks: I need to get excited concerning the Geese, however their on-ice outcomes the final couple of seasons have been horrid. Hopefully issues begin to enhance this yr, and there is motive to consider they are going to. Younger stars like Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov make this staff value watching.

Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks’ plan is already effectively underway. Let Connor Bedard develop right into a bona fide famous person, and construct round him with prospects and outdoors acquisitions. Between Bedard’s continued growth and a few reasonable upgrades, Chicago needs to be competent, however the completed product remains to be a pair seasons away.

Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia was a surprisingly feisty bunch final season, and that is a credit score to the locker room and head coach John Tortorella. It will simply be robust to repeat that effort once more in 2024-25. This staff simply wants extra impression gamers at each place.

Calgary Flames: Possibly Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri have resurgent seasons and I wind up with egg on my face, however that looks as if a really lengthy shot. Calgary is now within the early phases of a rebuild, so there could also be a pair extra robust seasons on the best way.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Clearly, the Blue Jackets shall be coping with tragedy all season. The main target this yr will and needs to be on honoring the reminiscence of Johnny Gaudreau.

San Jose Sharks: The Sharks are one of many largest reclamation initiatives within the league, however touchdown Will Smith and Macklin Celebrinin in back-to-back drafts is a good begin. The remainder of the roster is comparatively barren (all due respect to Tyler Toffoli and Logan Couture), so the Sharks might want to maintain including to their quickly deepening prospect pool.