A lot has changed in the NHL since the Florida Panthers secured their first-ever Stanley Cup last month. The 2024 NHL Entry Draft introduced a new wave of rookies, and the free agency period saw numerous players relocating, with some trades occurring in the meantime.
In short, the 2024-25 hockey season could look very different when it begins.
Even though the season is still three months away, it’s never too early to start thinking about the upcoming campaign. It’s always exciting to speculate on how the league standings might evolve and to make early Stanley Cup predictions.
With that in mind, let’s explore Betting News’ initial 2024 NHL power rankings along with an early championship prediction.
2024 NHL Power Rankings Following Free Agency — Top 10
- Florida Panthers: It’s no surprise to see the Panthers at the top. They clinched the Stanley Cup last season and have the depth in all positions to potentially repeat if everything goes right.
- Edmonton Oilers: Though Connor McDavid and his team didn’t win last season, they pushed the eventual champions to seven games. With that experience, the Oilers could end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought next spring.
- Dallas Stars: The Stars are gaining momentum after consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. Despite Joe Pavelski’s retirement, Dallas’ strong depth should minimize the impact of his absence.
- New York Rangers: The Rangers were the best regular-season team last year and might have won the Cup if not for facing the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals. With a more favorable playoff path, New York could come out on top in 2024-25.
- Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes are consistently among the NHL’s elite, but they need to finally put everything together. Will next season be their breakthrough?
- Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche will be contenders next season, but their chances improve significantly if they can get Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin back on the ice.
- New Jersey Devils: Although last season didn’t go as hoped, the Devils should be much improved with the additions of Jacob Markstrom, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon. If Jack Hughes stays healthy, New Jersey could compete for the President’s Trophy.
- Vegas Golden Knights: After a first-round exit to the Stars, the Golden Knights are eager to reassert themselves as contenders. It was only a season ago that they were lifting the Stanley Cup.
- Vancouver Canucks: As one of the top regular-season teams, the Canucks are well-positioned for continued success, especially with many players coming off career years.
- Boston Bruins: The Bruins could rank higher, but much depends on Jeremy Swayman’s performance in goal now that Linus Ullmark is no longer there as a backup.
NHL Power Rankings 2024 — Middle 10
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs feature some of the league’s top talent, but they’ve struggled to achieve postseason success. Will this be the year they finally make a deep playoff run?
- Nashville Predators: The Predators had a strong roster last season but lacked a standout forward. They addressed this by signing Steven Stamkos, though he’s past his prime. It remains to be seen if he can help elevate the team.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Despite losing Stamkos to the Predators, the Lightning remain a formidable force in the Eastern Conference. With two Stanley Cup wins in their last five seasons, they shouldn’t be underestimated.
- Winnipeg Jets: Connor Hellebuyck was a top goaltender last year, leading the Jets to many victories. However, it’s uncertain how they’ll fare without Sean Monahan.
- Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are a mid-tier team aiming to advance further. They showed promise last season, but their progress will depend on the development of their young players.
- Washington Capitals: After a disappointing 2023-24 season, the Capitals have strengthened their lineup with Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Matt Roy, potentially making them a stronger team.
- New York Islanders: Under head coach Patrick Roy for a full season, the Islanders are expected to return to the playoffs without any excuses.
- Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers surprised many last season and could do so again if Russian prospect Matvei Michkov lives up to expectations.
- Ottawa Senators: The Senators sought a starting goaltender and a right-handed defenseman during the offseason and acquired former Vezina winner Linus Ullmark and veteran Nick Jensen.
- Detroit Red Wings: Fans of the Red Wings are eager to see if this will be the year the team returns to the playoffs. They missed the postseason by just three points last spring, and it remains to be seen if they can close the gap by April.
NHL Power Rankings 2024 — Middle 12
- Minnesota Wild: While the Wild have some promising talent, it’s hard to fully trust a team that has either missed the playoffs or faced first-round exits for the past nine seasons.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin still performing at a high level, the Penguins are likely to remain in the playoff race.
- Buffalo Sabres: The return of head coach Lindy Ruff might be the key to ending the Sabres’ long playoff drought. Buffalo has only surpassed 90 points once since 2012, so it remains to be seen if this will be the turning point.
- St. Louis Blues: The Blues didn’t make any significant moves in the offseason to improve their roster, so they are expected to be a borderline playoff team again in 2024-25.
- Utah Hockey Club: The Arizona Coyotes have relocated and become the Utah Hockey Club. With low expectations, this new team might surprise many with their performance.
- Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens are an emerging team looking to turn things around after years of struggle. The performance of Juraj Slafkovsky will be crucial to their success.
- Seattle Kraken: After missing the playoffs last season, head coach Dan Bylsma has a challenging task ahead. The team’s success may hinge on the performance of newly signed center Chandler Stephenson.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets have potential but still need to prove themselves. It’s best to manage expectations until they show real progress.
- Calgary Flames: The Flames are in a rebuilding phase after trading away many of their veteran players. It’s unlikely they will be more than a lottery team for the next few seasons.
- Chicago Blackhawks: While Connor Bedard is a promising talent, he alone isn’t enough to lift the Blackhawks out of the basement. The influx of veterans this offseason may not be sufficient for a quick turnaround.
- Anaheim Ducks: Apart from updating their logo and uniforms, the Ducks made few changes this summer. Given their performance last season, it’s reasonable to expect more of the same.
- San Jose Sharks: With rookies like Macklin Celebrini and Sam Dickinson showing potential, the Sharks’ future looks bright. However, the team is unlikely to see significant improvements in the 2024-25 season.
NHL Stanley Cup 2025 Odds & Early Prediction
- Edmonton Oilers (+800)
- Florida Panthers (+900)
- Dallas Stars (+1000)
- New Jersey Devils (+1000)
- Colorado Avalanche (+1200)
- Carolina Hurricanes (+1400)
- New York Rangers (+1400)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (+1400)
- Nashville Predators (+1600)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (+2000)
- Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
- Vancouver Canucks (+2200)
- Winnipeg Jets (+2500)
- Minnesota Wild (+3300)
- Ottawa Senators (+3500)
- Detroit Red Wings (+4000)
- New York Islanders (+4500)
- Buffalo Sabres (+5000)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (+5000)
- Philadelphia Flyers (+6000)
- St. Louis Blues (+6000)
- Seattle Kraken (+6000)
- Washington Capitals (+6600)
- Utah Hockey Club (+6600)
- Calgary Flames (+8000)
- Chicago Blackhawks (+15000)
- Montreal Canadiens (+15000)
- Anaheim Ducks (+25000)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (+25000)
- San Jose Sharks (+30000)
Although the Panthers are the reigning champions, the Oilers could very well capture the 2024-25 Stanley Cup. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the NHL’s top players, Edmonton might have secured the title last season if not for Sergei Bobrovsky’s stellar performances during the Finals. Driven by past setbacks and supported by one of the most talented rosters in the West, the Oilers have a strong chance of winning it all.
For those looking for a bit more value, consider the Rangers at +1400. They’ve advanced to the conference finals in two of the past three seasons and would have made it to the championship round for the first time since 2014 if they hadn’t faced the Panthers in the spring.
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