Perry Nelson-Imagn images
It’s time for more bold NHL predictions and interesting insights for the upcoming season, with opening week in full swing.
The Hockey News had 56 respondents make their predictions on a handful of topics, including the Stanley Cup champions in Part 1 and breakout players in Part 2. Now it’s time for Part 3, with analysis by Adam Proteau. Enjoy:
Which player will benefit most from a change in the landscape?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: There were a wide range of answers to this question, but at the forefront was new Montreal right winger Laine, who joined the Canadiens in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets but will begin the season on long-term injured reserve. Voters predict that when Laine returns, the fresh start will help him improve his production.
Tied for second place was a player – Anaheim’s Zegras – who has yet to be traded, but who could change employers by the end of the season. He surfaced in trade speculation last season after the Ducks traded Jamie Drysdale, and he falls into the lineup. Also tied for second was Askarov, who will start the year with San Jose’s AHL affiliate but has a path to becoming the Sharks’ starter after requesting a trade from Nashville.
Related: NHL Writers Poll: Predicting the Stanley Cup Champion and Major Award Winners in 2024-25
Which team will suffer the most from buyer’s remorse?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: While some contributors believe the Capitals are an improved group from the 2023-2024 lineup that barely made the Stanley Cup playoffs, most respondents labeled Washington as a team that will regret the many moves they’ve made . That includes trading Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane and Jakob Chychrun for another seven years.
The Bruins added Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov but finished second in the category, followed by the new Predators with Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei and Kraken with Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour.
Related: NHL Writers Poll: Predicting who will break out, who will step back, who will be fired and more
Which star player will be traded?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: The top two votes in this category are two slick right wingers – Winnipeg’s Ehlers and Toronto’s Marner – who are in the final season of their current contracts. The Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Hockey Club were some predicted destinations for Marner, while the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and Knights received multiple votes for Ehlers.
Ehlers and Marner are facing increasing pressure because they are in major hockey media markets, as is Nazem Kadri in Calgary. But virtually every player who received at least one vote has found themselves in trade speculation.
Which newcomer are you most excited to see?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: New Flyers phenom Michkov had a one-year stint with the Russia-based KHL last season after being selected by Philadelphia in the 2023 NHL draft. He fell at the top of the draft because it was uncertain whether he would join soon (or ever) from the NHL, but he is now with the Flyers and can showcase his dynamic and exciting play.
Relatively close behind him is San Jose’s Celebrini, this year’s No. 1 pick, followed by Montreal defenseman Hutson. Only seven rookies received at least one vote, so it’s reasonable to expect the eventual Calder winner from this group.
Who will challenge Connor McDavid for the Art Ross Trophy?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: McDavid dominated the voting for the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top points producer, but his biggest challenger for that honor this year is Colorado’s MacKinnon, who finished second last season with 140 points. And last year’s Art Ross winner, Kucherov of Tampa Bay, finished second on this question. He had 144 points, a career high he probably won’t reach again.
Which off-season move is most effective?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: The New Jersey Devils were a popular choice to wreak havoc this season, and one of the biggest reasons for that was the acquisition of goaltender Markstrom from the Flames. The 34-year-old Swede will have one of the best defensive corps in the world in front of him this year, and Markstrom showed last season that he could bounce back from a bad year.
Second in this category was Stamkos, who was picked up by the Preds on the free agent market, while Ottawa’s new goaltender Ullmark – who received a huge contract extension on Wednesday – followed by new Leafs coach Berube, new Bruins center Lindholm and new Sabers -Coach Ruff.
Who is the NHL’s most overpaid player?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: Edmonton defenseman Nurse’s reputation took a hit in last year’s postseason when he was a candidate for a healthy scratch. But with a salary of $9.5 million per season – for the next six years – Nurse received almost half of the votes in this category. Beleaguered Flames left winger Huberdeau was next in this category, followed by new Capitals center Dubois, longtime Sharks defenseman Vlasic and Chicago blueliner Jones.
The 29-year-old nurse is entering the third year of an eight-year contract, so for better or for worse – and like everyone else who got at least one vote here – he’s stuck with his current team for the foreseeable future and has to most of it.
Who is the NHL’s most underpaid player?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: With an average annual salary of $8.7 million, Crosby has provided excellent value to the Penguins for years. And his new contract extension, which kicks in next season at the same salary, provides a huge hometown discount for the Pens – and that’s reflected in the voting for this category.
In second place in the voting was Vancouver captain Hughes, who will earn $7.85 million over the next three years. And in third place was Edmonton D-man Bouchard, who had a breakthrough season last season and is holding onto $3.9 million this season before becoming an RFA next summer.
Which player or team’s bad season was an indicator of reality?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: Huberdeau again had a sub-par showing in offensive production last season, and at age 31 he is entering the back nine of his NHL career, so voters in this category gave him the most votes.
Second were the redesigned Penguins, then the rebuilding Flames and the still-evolving Kraken. And Dubois has his share of skeptics that he will improve his performance in Washington. It was somewhat of a surprise that Buffalo star Thompson finished third, tied with the Senators and Sabers overall.
Which player or team’s good season was an aberration?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: Florida’s Reinhart had a career-best season with 57 goals, but voters here are skeptical he can match or better that total again this year.
The upstart Flyers also have those who don’t think they’re as good as they looked in the first half of 2023-24, while the Jets have six voters who see them as less than the sum of their parts next season. And the Oilers – who were one vote away from a Cup championship – gained three votes here.
Which older player is showing the most signs of aging?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: Carolina’s Burns has been one of the most effective D-men of his generation, but he turns 40 next March, and voters clearly expect his performance to decline this year. He also receives a remarkable number of votes: Boston’s Marchand, who turns 37 in May, and Washington’s Ovechkin, who just turned 39.
Which backup goalie could become a No. 1?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: The Ducks’ No. 1 goaltender, John Gibson, is recovering from appendicitis, which opened up another opportunity for backup Dostal to step in and make Anheim’s starting job his own. He played 44 games last season and had a .902 save percentage on the rebuilding Ducks team. And in Carolina, Kochetkov is seen as the goalkeeper of the future once Frederik Andersen moves on. Also getting a lot of votes is Toronto’s Stolarz, who won a Cup with Florida last season and could be the Leafs’ No. 1 this year, especially if Joseph Woll can’t stay healthy.
Which city is rumored to have the next NHL team?
View the original article to see the embedded media.
Analysis: Rumors of NHL expansion have been bubbling for months, and the majority of THN voters believe Houston could host the league’s 33rd team. Atlanta – which has already had two blows with an NHL franchise but is working on a third – came in second, followed by a distant third from Quebec City.
