Utah will likely be one of the most NHL’s highest-scoring groups? The Stars Stanley Cup winners? Dylan Larkin — and lots of others — 40-goal scorers?
Heading into the 2024-25 NHL season, The Athletic requested its hockey body of workers for daring predictions, and two months upcoming, some are conserving up neatly date others glance to had been slightly too daring.
Right here’s a advance file on each and every prediction, from the writers in a position to pluck a victory lap to the various who desire a mulligan.
Preseason daring prediction: Trevor Zegras might not be traded this season
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
It appears like there were two factions at paintings right here: those that really feel like a Zegras commerce is inevitable and the ones (i.e., Zegras/Geese fanatics) who’re past bored with visual his title in trade-related/hypothesized/predicted tales. Thoughts you, it’s difficult to peg what his price is or may well be. He were wholesome till he were given injured this presen and his go back year is unsure. Those that’ve watched him intently can see he’s enjoying a extra accountable 200-foot match beneath Greg Cronin. However he’s additionally on a 34-point day. Zegras may well be a distressed asset, however GM Pat Verbeek isn’t getting to travel a extremely professional 23-year-old ahead for any other crew’s throwaways. — Eric Stephens
Preseason daring prediction: Jeremy Swayman will attempt early
Outlook: Lock it in
This one was once simple. It wasn’t simply that Swayman neglected all of coaching camp sooner than signing his assurance. He needed to regulate to the bodily and psychological pressure of being the go-to goalie following the commerce of Linus Ullmark. On summit of that, maximum of his teammates struggled out of the gate. It’s disagree miracle Swayman wasn’t himself. — Fluto Shinzawa
Preseason daring prediction: Owen Energy will double his earlier high-goal overall
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
Energy is already virtually midway to a occupation imposing in issues 26 video games into the season and has 3 aims. He wishes 9 extra within the ultimate 66 video games to get to my preseason daring prediction. For the reason that he performs 22 mins an evening and has a task at the skill play games, 12 aims remains to be a host that’s in play games, but it surely’s now not moderately a lock. — Matthew Fairburn
Preseason daring prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau will split the 80-point plateau
Outlook: To this point, now not so excellent. However there’s presen …
Time Huberdeau’s target totals glance extra promising in comparison to endmost yr (he had one level in all of December 2023), we more or less figured his assists could be up. Then again, he isn’t trending towards an 80-point season, in line with Hockey Reference. But when he is going on some more or less scoring run between now and the top of the season, perhaps that adjustments. — Julian McKenzie
Preseason daring prediction: Seth Jarvis gets a shot at middle
Outlook: To this point, now not so excellent. However there’s presen …
The Hurricanes nonetheless haven’t discovered who will likely be their second-line middle, however thus far it hasn’t been Jarvis. Lecturer Rod Brind’Amour has bounced between the use of Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Drury in a extra featured position, date Jarvis has remained at the wing. Jarvis has additionally now not been worn a lot on faceoffs — a key for any Brind’Amour middle — since getting back from an upper-body trauma. — Cory Lavalette
Preseason daring prediction: The Blackhawks will end 25 issues higher than endmost season
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
This season hasn’t long gone as anticipated for the Blackhawks, which was once obvious with Luke Richardson’s firing on Thursday. They’re extra aggressive than a season in the past — they’ve led, been join or inside of a target within the 0.33 length in 25 of 26 video games — however their list is even worse. Does a fresh tutor alternate that? We’ll see. However they have got to win a dozen to satisfy the daring prediction. — Scott Powers
Preseason daring prediction: Cale Makar can have 100 issues
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
This prediction is taking a look cast in the course of the first two months of the season. Makar leads all defensemen with 34 issues, which ranks thirteenth among all avid gamers. He’s on an 82-game day of 103 issues, so he’s proper on target. As anticipated, Makar is getting a dozen of his manufacturing achieved at the skill play games, the place he’s join for fourth within the NHL with 14 issues. — Jesse Granger
Yegor Chinakhov has had an notable begin to the season with the Blue Jackets. (Jason Mowry / Getty Pictures)
Preseason daring prediction: Yegor Chinakhov will bloom as a target scorer
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
Chinakhov threatened to construct this prediction appear to be natural bright with 3 aims and 7 issues within the Blue Jackets’ first 5 video games. He’s since cooled off and is lately out of the lineup presen to presen with an upper-body trauma. However as soon as he returns, the 23-year-old Russian gets a top-six position on a membership that’s been strangely fruitful. He has seven aims in 21 video games, that means our prediction of 25-plus remains to be in play games. Our prediction of larger ice presen? He’s long gone from 15:10 endmost season to 17:01 beneath tutor Dean Evason. — Aaron Portzline
Preseason daring prediction: The Stars will win the Stanley Cup
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
Govern 10 in aims in line with match, summit 5 in goals-against in line with match, summit 5 in penalty blast and a top-10 goalie in Jake Oettinger. The Stars are proper the place we anticipated them to be, a number of the league’s very best groups, and so they’re doing it with an underperforming skill play games and slightly sluggish begins from Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, all of which most probably will definitely regress to the ruthless. Even with Tyler Seguin’s attainable season-ending surgical procedure (one thing which most probably will construct the Stars extra competitive within the commerce marketplace), Dallas remainder a contender for the Stanley Cup. — Mark Lazerus
Preseason daring prediction: Dylan Larkin will ranking 40 aims
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
This season hasn’t long gone how the Purple Wings would have was hoping, however Larkin is certainly akin to being on day to threaten 40 aims. There’s a dozen of season left, in fact, however he’s been a pressure, specifically at the skill play games. Detroit may just in reality usefulness some extra offense from indisposed the lineup, however their summit avid gamers (Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat) had been scoring to start out the yr. — Max Bultman
Preseason daring prediction: Stuart Skinner will end summit 5 in Vezina balloting
Outlook: Now not going down
Skinner went from possibly the presumptive starter for Staff Canada on the 4 Countries tourney coming into the offseason not to making the crew as a result of his subpar get started. Skinner sports activities an .889 save proportion in 17 appearances. He’s additionally surrendered 5.26 extra aims than anticipated in all conditions, in line with Herbal Stat Trick. His endmost get started sooner than rosters have been due was once one in every of his very best, but it surely was once too tiny too overdue. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
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Preseason daring prediction: Adam Boqvist will fracture out
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
It’s now not that Boqvist has been devastating — an anticipated target fee of round 50 % for an inexpensive, third-pair defenseman may well be worse — however he hasn’t come akin to a breakout, both, and in fact performed his method out of the lineup for many of November. He’s again, although, and scored in consecutive video games via Thursday. Greater than the rest, that prediction was once in response to Boqvist getting an entire bunch of power-play presen, and that’s as soon as once more Aaron Ekblad’s process to lose. More than likely now not going down. — Sean Gentille
Preseason daring prediction: Quinton Byfield will turn out to be the Kings’ very best participant
Outlook: Now not going down
Can I say I used to be kidding? Disagree? Hello, I purchased into the theory of Byfield construction on his breakout season. Perceptible him with simply 3 aims and 11 issues just about a 3rd of the best way into the season is slightly baffling. He’s again at his herbal place however the transition from enjoying on wing with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe to centering his personal wrinkle hasn’t been seamless. It’s now not that he’s hurting their lineup however the Kings turning into an actual blackmail within the Western Convention will glance extra life like if he begins to seem extra like a participant on their roster like Kopitar and Kempe are. — Eric Stephens
Preseason daring prediction: Matt Boldy will ranking 40 aims and 40 assists
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
This felt like a lock in mid-November when he had 10 aims in his first 16 video games, however Boldy has long gone six video games with no target and has one in his date 9. Nonetheless, he was once on day for 36 aims and 43 assists for a 79-point overall via Thursday, which might identify occupation highs. It is a man who tends to get white scorching, particularly as a result of he’s a high-volume shooter (93 in 25 video games this season, 3.7 in line with match). — Michael Russo
Preseason daring prediction: Juraj Slafkovský will clash 70 issues
Outlook: To this point, now not so excellent. However there’s presen …
Slafkovský has 14 issues in 23 video games and has 56 video games left to get 56 issues. Doesn’t appear splendid. However endmost season at this level, Slafkovský had 7 issues in 25 video games and completed with 43 issues in his ultimate 57 video games. Striking up some extent in line with match from right here on out is a imposing bar, however Slafkovský has now not but reached the extent we noticed from him endmost season. There’s a dozen of room for him to develop. I’m now not keen to write down off this prediction simply but, although it’s now not taking a look admirable thus far. — Arpon Basu
Preseason daring prediction: Juuse Saros will win the Vezina Trophy
Outlook: Now not going down
Saros is absolutely the least of the Preds’ issues. He’s having a superb season — chances are you’ll even yell it an peculiar season, given the utter deficit of aid he’s getting. However he isn’t status on his head enough quantity to bring wins for the league’s worst offensive crew. Or is that this simply the worst crew, length? Staff failure to this extent repels person awards. — Joe Rexrode
Preseason daring prediction: The Devils will end with the East’s very best list
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
The Devils’ offseason overhaul has resulted in a a hit begin to 2024-25. Their place within the East standings is slightly inflated through video games they have got in hand, however they have been nonetheless fourth in issues proportion via Thursday. One scorching streak and so they may well be proper within the combine with the leaders. — Peter Baugh
Preseason daring prediction: Noah Dobson will ranking 70 issues once more — and get a fat extension
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
The 70-point factor is a pipe dream with Dobson sitting on 12 issues via 27 video games. And the eight-year $8-million-or-so extension may well be a pipe dream too. Dobson remains to be simply 24, however he’s clash a plateau this season for the middling Islanders. Whoops. — Arthur Staple
Preseason daring prediction: Igor Shesterkin will win the Vezina Trophy
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
The Rangers are in slightly of a rut, however Shesterkin has had a excellent yr. His 8-9-1 list isn’t overly notable, however he has taken many of the Rangers video games opposed to playoff groups and had a .908 save proportion via Thursday with higher underlying numbers. He’s now not a number of the Vezina front-runners at this level, however him successful the award isn’t unattainable. He additionally now doesn’t have any assurance communicate putting over him. He yes to a record-setting eight-year extension Friday. — Peter Baugh
Preseason daring prediction: Travis Inexperienced will win the Jack Adams Award
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
If the Senators opposite their fortunes upcoming a less-than-ideal get started, Inexperienced’s case for the Jack Adams may well be made. When Ottawa performs at its very best, it looks as if a playoff crew. The problem is consistency. That’s on Inexperienced to aid instill in his personal workforce. However at this time, we don’t suppose Inexperienced will finally end up on many ballots for tutor of the yr honors. — Julian McKenzie
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Preseason daring prediction: The Flyers can have a top-15 skill play games
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
It appeared so promising early. The Flyers transformed on 8 in their first 31 power-play probabilities via 8 video games, excellent for 8th within the NHL. Since upcoming it’s resumed its playground on the base of the league. Since Oct. 27, best the Bruins have a worse skill play games than the Flyers’ 10.4 % good fortune fee. At some time, possibly quickly, the Flyers is also pressured to construct a choice on colleague tutor Rocky Thompson, who simply can’t appear to get this a part of the Flyers’ match going. — Kevin Kurz
Marcus Pettersson generally is a fat goal for groups on the commerce time limit. (Patrick Smith / Getty Pictures)
Preseason daring prediction: Marcus Pettersson will turn out to be a trade-deadline commodity
Outlook: Lock it in
Pettersson was once Disagree. 2 on our fat board and would-be UFAs that top on a commerce checklist don’t normally finally end up staying with their groups. The Penguins received 4 consecutive video games sooner than Friday, their very best run of the season. They’re inside of hanging distance of a playoff spot — and it’s conceivable that implies they retain directly to Pettersson. However a case will also be made for hanging date the iron is scorching. There are not any indications a long-term extension is at the desk right here in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are within the delicate center however nearer to the base than the summit. Protecting a participant like Pettersson doesn’t construct a lot sense. — Rob Rossi
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Preseason daring prediction: William Eklund will top the crew in scoring
Outlook: To this point, now not so excellent. However there’s presen …
Together with his 18 assists and 23 issues, Eklund is moment in the ones divisions to Mikael Granlund so the chance does exist of the 22-year-old overtaking the veteran. The probabilities of that may very much building up if the Sharks have been to travel Granlund sooner than the commerce time limit. Eklund can manufacture up his target overall as he has best 5 in 28 video games, and he will have to retain off a hard-charging Macklin Celebrini who’s just about at some extent in line with match since getting back from trauma. However the left wing in his 0.33 complete season has turn out to be the front-line core participant the Sharks imagined when taking him at Disagree. 7 within the 2021 draft. — Eric Stephens
Matty Beniers is suffering to build in his 0.33 complete season with the Kraken. (Steph Chambers / Getty Pictures)
Preseason daring prediction: Matty Beniers will ranking 30 aims
Outlook: Now not going down
I’m in a position to capitulate early in this prediction. Nearest what seemed to be a snake bit, sophomore hunch marketing campaign for the 2023 Calder winner, the proficient Kraken middle has by some means remained in shooing-percentage hell this season. Via 27 video games sooner than Friday, Beniers had scored simply 4 occasions on 51 pictures and is sporting a 7.8 % capturing clip that’s lower than part of the conversion fee he controlled in his electrical rookie season. Beniers must ranking at a 44-goals in line with 82-game day over the stability to clash 30, which is a immense stretch for a participant that has scored simply 19 aims in his most up-to-date 104 video games performed via Thursday. — Thomas Drance
Preseason daring prediction: Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway’s good fortune will top to extra serve sheets
Outlook: Lock it in
I’m extra assured about this now than I used to be in the beginning of the season. Broberg neglected 12 video games with an trauma, but if within the lineup, he’s been arguably the Blues’ very best defenseman. Likewise, Holloway has possibly been their maximum flexible fruitful ahead. There might not be an equivalent condition the place two gifted avid gamers are to be had on a crew — on this case the Oilers — that may’t have enough money to check an serve sheet. However with the best way Broberg and Holloway are enjoying, the vultures will likely be out. — Jeremy Rutherford
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Preseason daring prediction: Andrei Vasilevskiy will likely be a Vezina Trophy finalist
Outlook: It’s a protracted shot
Vasilevskiy will have extra two-way aid this season, however he isn’t within the Vezina Trophy race at this time. That’s a dialog led through the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Lukas Dostal and Filip Gustavsson. Vasilevskiy is having a superb season thus far — he has stored 3.97 aims above anticipated via 20 video games date incomes a .909 save proportion — however the ones numbers aren’t glowing like one of the crucial league’s very best and even his height years. The season isn’t over but and he has a tendency to warmth up because the drive rises, however he has a dozen of grassland to construct up. — Shayna Goldman
Preseason daring prediction: Mitch Marner will ranking 40 aims
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
Marner had one target in October. Next, a warmer capturing the puck in November. He had 8 aims in 12 video games. Marner remains to be off the 40-goal day although. He seems headed extra for his 0.33 30-goal season than his first 40-goal marketing campaign. If head tutor Craig Berube will get his method although and Marner begins capturing the puck extra aggressively, there’s nonetheless a probability Marner comes akin to and even hits 40 aims. All the way through the again part of the 2021-22 season, Marner shot the puck extra aggressively than ever and punched in 29 aims all the way through a 46-game stretch. That’s what he’ll want the extra of the right way to clash 40. — Jonas Siegel
Utah Hockey Membership
Preseason daring prediction: Utah will end as one of the most NHL’s highest-scoring groups
Outlook: Now not going down
Did any person right here whiff up to this prediction? Alternative than an early flurry to start out the season, Utah has struggled mightily to attain this season, sitting twenty third in aims in line with match and twenty fourth at the skill play games via Thursday. A dozen of the Hockey Clubbers’ younger skill has did not fracture via, with Logan Cooley on day for fewer than 20 aims and a dozen in their 20-goal manufacturers from endmost season bobbing up neatly decrease of the ones projections within the early going. Connor Ingram’s struggles in target and accidents on protection have harm their list, however regressing offensively to this extent is the larger miracle given the forged up entrance. — James Mirtle
Preseason daring prediction: Elias Pettersson will jump again and top the crew in scoring
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
It for sure hasn’t been an out-of-the-gate, no-doubt-about-it, he’s-back-like-John-Wick stage jump again for Pettersson this season, however the big name Canucks middle has discovered his method of overdue. He’s again to controlling play games and nonetheless has a probability to top all Vancouver avid gamers in scoring. Via Thursday, he ranked first in issues and issues in line with match amongst Canucks forwards, however what I didn’t be expecting was once Quinn Hughes to clash even any other stage of preposterous method this season. Via Thursday, Hughes was once conserving a six-point top over Pettersson within the level manufacturing section this season, so Pettersson nonetheless has some catching as much as do. — Thomas Drance
Preseason daring prediction: Pavel Dorofeyev will end moment at the crew in aims
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
The hope with this prediction was once that Dorofeyev would benefit from a larger alternative than he’s had thus far in his occupation, and that’s precisely what has took place via two months. Via Thursday, Dorofeyev was once moment at the Yellowish Knights with 12 aims, just one in the back of crew chief Ivan Barbashev. He has contributed each at even energy and at the summit power-play unit, and has been an integral a part of Vegas’ seventh-ranked offense. — Jesse Granger
Preseason daring prediction: The Pierre-Luc Dubois offer will repay
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
There’s enough quantity of highway left sooner than I will do a victory lap, however I be ok with predicting excellent issues for Dubois. Is he enjoying to a 70-point day, as I stated he would? Now not moderately. Has he been a significant catalyst for the Caps’ early-season good fortune? Completely. He’s crushing maximum of his mins because the 2C, which allowed Washington to arrange favorable matchups for Alex Ovechkin’s wrinkle, and has helped Connor McMichael get off to a sizzling get started. To this point, so excellent. — Sean Gentille
Preseason daring prediction: Nikolaj Ehlers will play games out the season and upcoming exit as a UFA
Outlook: Nonetheless in play games
Ehlers is a point-per-game participant now, most commonly as a result of he’s been each bit as excellent at the summit skill play games as marketed: useful on entries, excellent within the imposing slot, ingenious with choices within the zone. He’s additionally harm, nursing a lower-body trauma suffered opposed to Vegas on Nov. 29. It’s tough to mention what any of this implies for his moment, although. I consider the “self-rental” choice remains to be at the desk for Winnipeg. If fresh call-up Brad Lambert bursts offensively, Ehlers may just turn out to be a commerce chip. (For the fitting go back, it could now not pluck that Lambert break out.) An extension does now not seem to be a front-burner, midseason choice, however will have to even be regarded as a chance. — Murat Ates
(Govern picture of Purple Wings middle Dylan Larkin celebrating upcoming scoring a target: Brian Bradshaw Sevald / Imagn Pictures)
