The only predictable thing about the 2024-25 NHL season is unpredictability.
There are teams that could be Stanley Cup contenders or find themselves outside the playoff bubble. There are players who could boom or bust. The future is delightfully murky.
That established, here are bold predictions for the NHL’s 32 teams in the 2024-25 season. These educated guesses range from statistical achievements to awards predictions to coach firings to Stanley Cup playoffs prognostications. Many of them will be proved correct, except for the ones that aren’t. Enjoy, and welcome back, hockey!
Atlantic Division
This is Jim Montgomery’s final season in Boston
At his preseason news conference, Bruins GM Don Sweeney mentioned there have been talks between the team and head coach Jim Montgomery about a contract extension. Which is (A) different than signing one, and (B) not an indication of job safety even if he had signed one.
The Bruins have been eliminated in consecutive postseasons by the Panthers, losing in Game 7 of the first round in 2023 and Game 6 of the second round in 2024. There’s been one surefire way for Boston coaches to keep their jobs, and that’s playing for the Stanley Cup. Otherwise, ownership has been known to be quick with a hook behind the bench. It wouldn’t be fair or warranted to Monty, but it would be an expected overreaction for the Bruins to move on from their coach if there are diminishing returns this season. Because it’s not like they’re in the business of firing general managers in Boston, having had five of them since 1972.
The playoff drought ends
The last time the Sabres made the playoffs, “Fast 5” was in theaters, a duet between Katy Perry and Kanye West was the No. 1 song in the U.S. and their coach was … the same guy who’s coaching them now? Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
Yup. Lindy Ruff returns to the franchise where he coached 15 seasons and finds a Sabres team that hasn’t made the postseason cut since 2011. He also finds a team with two pillars on defense (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power); a collection of young standout forwards in their top six; and a revamped bottom six that brings speed this team lacked under Don Granato. While he doesn’t have Dominik Hasek or Ryan Miller between the pipes,
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