The 2024-25 NHL season is upon us — okay, it already started, but it’s kicking off for the other 30 NHL teams this week. Sometimes, in order to win your fantasy hockey league, you need to make bold moves — fade top targets, jump on sleepers early, etc. These may not always be the biggest and boldest claims, but there are certainly a handful in here that could help you secure your league title if you act accordingly on some of these bold predictions for the 2024-25 NHL campaign.
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hockey league for the 2024-25 NHL season]
Auston Matthews won’t lead the league in goals
Considering Matthews has taken home the Rocket Richard Trophy in three of the last four seasons, it seems a lot of people have already written this off as an open-and-shut case. That seems to be especially true considering he is the heavy favorite among oddsmakers, but there is a new sheriff in town in Toronto, as Craig Berube takes over behind the bench.
That’s not to say he is going to stifle Matthews’ scoring ability — far from it, but there will no doubt be a stronger focus on the defensive side of the puck, and it won’t take more than a handful fewer goals for somebody to surpass Matthews.
There are several candidates to choose from, including Sam Reinhart who was closest last season with 57 tallies, but I’m looking at David Pastrnak. He’s got a legit No. 1 center again with the addition of Elias Lindholm to the Bruins’ roster and I expect Pastrnak to put together a strong season.
Erik Karlsson will be a Norris candidate
Look, I’m not saying he is going to have another 100-point season but to challenge for the 90-point threshold, which is where Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar landed last season, is certainly in play. The Penguins’ power play really can’t be any worse than it was in 2023-24, which means Karlsson should already see increased production after finishing with 56 points.
Add to the mix that the Swedish blueliner’s head coach from that Norris-winning season is now running the PP as an assistant for his new club, and all signs point to Karlsson getting back on top of his game.
Whether he can unseat Hughes and Makar at the very top remains to be seen, not to mention Roman Josi who figures to also be in the mix, but don’t be surprised to hear…