Utah will probably be one of many 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 employees for daring predictions, and two months later, some are holding up nicely whereas others look to have been a bit too daring.
Right here’s a progress report on every prediction, from the writers able to take a victory lap to the various who want a mulligan.
Preseason daring prediction: Trevor Zegras won’t be traded this season
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
It seems like there have been two factions at work right here: those that really feel like a Zegras commerce is inevitable and people (i.e., Zegras/Geese followers) who’re past uninterested in seeing his title in trade-related/hypothesized/predicted tales. Thoughts you, it’s arduous to peg what his worth is or could possibly be. He had been wholesome till he received injured this week and his return date is unsure. Those that’ve watched him intently can see he’s enjoying a extra accountable 200-foot sport underneath Greg Cronin. However he’s additionally on a 34-point tempo. Zegras is perhaps a distressed asset, however GM Pat Verbeek isn’t going to maneuver a extremely expert 23-year-old ahead for one more workforce’s throwaways. — Eric Stephens
Jeremy Swayman struggled early for the Bruins, however is healthier as of late. (Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
Preseason daring prediction: Jeremy Swayman will wrestle early
Outlook: Lock it in
This one was simple. It wasn’t simply that Swayman missed all of coaching camp earlier than signing his contract. He needed to regulate to the bodily and psychological pressure of being the go-to goalie following the commerce of Linus Ullmark. On prime of that, most of his teammates struggled out of the gate. It’s no surprise Swayman wasn’t himself. — Fluto Shinzawa
Preseason daring prediction: Owen Energy will double his earlier high-goal whole
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
Energy is already virtually midway to a profession excessive in factors 26 video games into the season and has three objectives. He wants 9 extra within the closing 66 video games to get to my preseason daring prediction. Provided that he performs 22 minutes an evening and has a job on the ability play, 12 objectives continues to be a quantity that’s in play, however it’s not fairly a lock. — Matthew Fairburn
Preseason daring prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau will crack the 80-point plateau
Outlook: Thus far, not so good. However there’s time …
Whereas Huberdeau’s aim totals look extra promising in comparison with final yr (he had one level in all of December 2023), we sort of figured his assists can be up. Nonetheless, he isn’t trending towards an 80-point season, per Hockey Reference. But when he goes on some sort of scoring run between now and the tip of the season, possibly that modifications. — Julian McKenzie
Preseason daring prediction: Seth Jarvis will get a shot at heart
Outlook: Thus far, not so good. However there’s time …
The Hurricanes nonetheless haven’t discovered who will probably be their second-line heart, however thus far it hasn’t been Jarvis. Coach Rod Brind’Amour has bounced between utilizing Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jack Drury in a extra featured function, whereas Jarvis has remained on the wing. Jarvis has additionally not been used a lot on faceoffs — a key for any Brind’Amour heart — since coming back from an upper-body damage. — Cory Lavalette
Preseason daring prediction: The Blackhawks will end 25 factors higher than final season
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
This season hasn’t gone as anticipated for the Blackhawks, which was obvious with Luke Richardson’s firing on Thursday. They’re extra aggressive than a season in the past — they’ve led, been tied or inside a aim within the third interval in 25 of 26 video games — however their document is even worse. Does a brand new coach change that? We’ll see. However they should win rather a lot to fulfill the daring prediction. — Scott Powers
Preseason daring prediction: Cale Makar can have 100 factors
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
This prediction is trying strong via the primary two months of the season. Makar leads all defensemen with 34 factors, which ranks thirteenth amongst all gamers. He’s on an 82-game tempo of 103 factors, so he’s proper on monitor. As anticipated, Makar is getting a whole lot of his manufacturing completed on the ability play, the place he’s tied for fourth within the NHL with 14 factors. — Jesse Granger
Yegor Chinakhov has had a powerful begin to the season with the Blue Jackets. (Jason Mowry / Getty Photos)
Preseason daring prediction: Yegor Chinakhov will bloom as a aim scorer
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
Chinakhov threatened to make this prediction appear like pure genius with three objectives and 7 factors within the Blue Jackets’ first 5 video games. He’s since cooled off and is at the moment out of the lineup daily with an upper-body damage. However as soon as he returns, the 23-year-old Russian will get a top-six function on a membership that’s been surprisingly productive. He has seven objectives in 21 video games, which means our prediction of 25-plus continues to be in play. Our prediction of elevated ice time? He’s gone from 15:10 final season to 17:01 underneath coach Dean Evason. — Aaron Portzline
Preseason daring prediction: The Stars will win the Stanley Cup
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
Prime 10 in objectives per sport, prime 5 in goals-against per sport, prime 5 in penalty kill and a top-10 goalie in Jake Oettinger. The Stars are proper the place we anticipated them to be, among the many league’s greatest groups, they usually’re doing it with an underperforming energy play and comparatively sluggish begins from Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, all of which doubtless will positively regress to the imply. Even with Tyler Seguin’s potential season-ending surgical procedure (one thing which doubtless will make the Stars extra aggressive within the commerce market), Dallas stays a number one contender for the Stanley Cup. — Mark Lazerus
Preseason daring prediction: Dylan Larkin will rating 40 objectives
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
This season hasn’t gone how the Pink Wings would have hoped, however Larkin is certainly near being on tempo to threaten 40 objectives. There’s a whole lot of season left, in fact, however he’s been a power, notably on the ability play. Detroit might actually use some extra offense from down the lineup, however their prime gamers (Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat) have been scoring to start the yr. — Max Bultman
Preseason daring prediction: Stuart Skinner will end prime 5 in Vezina voting
Outlook: Not taking place
Skinner went from maybe the presumptive starter for Group Canada on the 4 Nations tourney coming into the offseason to not making the workforce due to his subpar begin. Skinner sports activities an .889 save share in 17 appearances. He’s additionally surrendered 5.26 extra objectives than anticipated in all conditions, per Pure Stat Trick. His final begin earlier than rosters have been due was one among his greatest, however it was too little too late. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
GO DEEPER
Stuart Skinner’s final audition for a Group Canada job is nearly as good because it will get
Preseason daring prediction: Adam Boqvist will get away
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
It’s not that Boqvist has been horrendous — an anticipated aim fee of round 50 p.c for an inexpensive, third-pair defenseman could possibly be worse — however he hasn’t come near a breakout, both, and truly 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 something, that prediction was primarily based on Boqvist getting a complete bunch of power-play time, and that’s as soon as once more Aaron Ekblad’s job to lose. In all probability not taking place. — Sean Gentille
Preseason daring prediction: Quinton Byfield will turn out to be the Kings’ greatest participant
Outlook: Not taking place
Can I say I used to be kidding? No? Hey, I purchased into the concept of Byfield constructing on his breakout season. Seeing him with simply three objectives and 11 factors almost a 3rd of the way in which into the season is a bit baffling. He’s again at his pure place however the transition from enjoying on wing with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe to centering his personal line hasn’t been seamless. It’s not that he’s hurting their lineup however the Kings changing into an actual menace within the Western Convention will look extra practical if he begins to look extra like a number one participant on their roster like Kopitar and Kempe are. — Eric Stephens
Preseason daring prediction: Matt Boldy will rating 40 objectives and 40 assists
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
This felt like a lock in mid-November when he had 10 objectives in his first 16 video games, however Boldy has gone six video games and not using a aim and has one in his previous 9. Nonetheless, he was on tempo for 36 objectives and 43 assists for a 79-point whole via Thursday, which might set up profession highs. This can be 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 per sport). — Michael Russo
Preseason daring prediction: Juraj Slafkovský will hit 70 factors
Outlook: Thus far, not so good. However there’s time …
Slafkovský has 14 factors in 23 video games and has 56 video games left to get 56 factors. Doesn’t appear excellent. However final season at this level, Slafkovský had 7 factors in 25 video games and completed with 43 factors in his closing 57 video games. Placing up some extent per sport from right here on out is a excessive bar, however Slafkovský has not but reached the extent we noticed from him final season. There’s a whole lot of room for him to develop. I’m not prepared to put in writing off this prediction simply but, although it’s not trying nice thus far. — Arpon Basu
Preseason daring prediction: Juuse Saros will win the Vezina Trophy
Outlook: Not taking place
Saros is absolutely the least of the Preds’ considerations. He’s having a nice season — you would possibly even name it a unprecedented season, given the utter lack of assist he’s getting. However he isn’t standing on his head sufficient to ship wins for the league’s worst offensive workforce. Or is that this simply the worst workforce, interval? Group failure to this extent repels particular person awards. — Joe Rexrode
Preseason daring prediction: The Devils will end with the East’s greatest document
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
The Devils’ offseason overhaul has led to a profitable begin to 2024-25. Their place within the East standings is a bit inflated by video games they’ve in hand, however they have been nonetheless fourth in factors share via Thursday. One scorching streak they usually could possibly be proper within the combine with the leaders. — Peter Baugh
Preseason daring prediction: Noah Dobson will rating 70 factors once more — and get an enormous extension
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
The 70-point factor is a pipe dream with Dobson sitting on 12 factors via 27 video games. And the eight-year $8-million-or-so extension is perhaps a pipe dream too. Dobson continues to be simply 24, however he’s hit 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
The Rangers are in a little bit of a rut, however Shesterkin has had an excellent yr. His 8-9-1 document isn’t overly spectacular, however he has taken a lot of the Rangers video games towards playoff groups and had a .908 save share via Thursday with higher underlying numbers. He’s not among the many Vezina front-runners at this level, however him successful the award isn’t not possible. He additionally now doesn’t have any contract discuss hanging over him. He agreed to a record-setting eight-year extension Friday. — Peter Baugh
Preseason daring prediction: Travis Inexperienced will win the Jack Adams Award
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
If the Senators reverse their fortunes after a less-than-ideal begin, Inexperienced’s case for the Jack Adams could possibly be made. When Ottawa performs at its greatest, it seems like a playoff workforce. The difficulty is consistency. That’s on Inexperienced to assist instill in his personal group. However proper now, we don’t suppose Inexperienced will find yourself on many ballots for coach of the yr honors. — Julian McKenzie
GO DEEPER
Who has disillusioned essentially the most thus far? Senators fan survey outcomes
Preseason daring prediction: The Flyers can have a top-15 energy play
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
It regarded so promising early. The Flyers transformed on eight of their first 31 power-play possibilities via eight video games, good for eighth within the NHL. Since then it’s resumed its place on the backside of the league. Since Oct. 27, solely the Bruins have a worse energy play than the Flyers’ 10.4 p.c success fee. In some unspecified time in the future, maybe quickly, the Flyers could also be pressured to decide on assistant coach Rocky Thompson, who simply can’t appear to get this a part of the Flyers’ sport going. — Kevin Kurz
Marcus Pettersson could possibly be an enormous goal for groups on the commerce deadline. (Patrick Smith / Getty Photos)
Preseason daring prediction: Marcus Pettersson will turn out to be a trade-deadline commodity
Outlook: Lock it in
Pettersson was No. 2 on our large board and would-be UFAs that top on a commerce record don’t often find yourself staying with their groups. The Penguins received 4 consecutive video games earlier than Friday, their greatest run of the season. They’re inside placing distance of a playoff spot — and it’s attainable meaning they maintain on to Pettersson. However a case may be made for placing whereas the iron is scorching. There are not any indications a long-term extension is on the desk right here in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are within the mushy center however nearer to the underside than the highest. Retaining a participant like Pettersson doesn’t make a lot sense. — Rob Rossi
GO DEEPER
Penguins At present: A Pettersson dilemma and a convergence of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup GMs
Preseason daring prediction: William Eklund will lead the workforce in scoring
Outlook: Thus far, not so good. However there’s time …
Along with his 18 assists and 23 factors, Eklund is second in these classes to Mikael Granlund so the likelihood does exist of the 22-year-old overtaking the veteran. The possibilities of that can tremendously improve if the Sharks have been to maneuver Granlund earlier than the commerce deadline. Eklund can construct up his aim whole as he has solely 5 in 28 video games, and he might have to carry off a hard-charging Macklin Celebrini who’s almost at some extent per sport since coming back from damage. However the left wing in his third full season has turn out to be the front-line core participant the Sharks imagined when taking him at No. 7 within the 2021 draft. — Eric Stephens
Matty Beniers is struggling to supply in his third full season with the Kraken. (Steph Chambers / Getty Photos)
Preseason daring prediction: Matty Beniers will rating 30 objectives
Outlook: Not taking place
I’m able to capitulate early on this prediction. After what gave the impression to be a snake bit, sophomore droop marketing campaign for the 2023 Calder winner, the gifted Kraken heart has by some means remained in shooing-percentage hell this season. By means of 27 video games earlier than Friday, Beniers had scored simply 4 instances on 51 pictures and is carrying a 7.8 p.c taking pictures clip that’s lower than half of the conversion fee he managed in his electrical rookie season. Beniers must rating at a 44-goals per 82-game tempo over the steadiness to hit 30, which is a large stretch for a participant that has scored simply 19 objectives in his most up-to-date 104 video games performed via Thursday. — Thomas Drance
Preseason daring prediction: Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway’s success will result in extra provide sheets
Outlook: Lock it in
I’m extra assured about this now than I used to be at the beginning of the season. Broberg missed 12 video games with an damage, however when within the lineup, he’s been arguably the Blues’ greatest defenseman. Likewise, Holloway has maybe been their most versatile productive ahead. There might not be an similar state of affairs the place two gifted gamers can be found on a workforce — on this case the Oilers — that may’t afford to match a proposal sheet. However with the way in which Broberg and Holloway are enjoying, the vultures will probably be out. — Jeremy Rutherford
GO DEEPER
How this summer time’s beautiful offer-sheet saga has labored out for Oilers and Blues
Preseason daring prediction: Andrei Vasilevskiy will probably be a Vezina Trophy finalist
Outlook: It’s an extended shot
Vasilevskiy might have extra two-way help this season, however he isn’t within the Vezina Trophy race proper now. That’s a dialog led by the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Lukas Dostal and Filip Gustavsson. Vasilevskiy is having a nice season thus far — he has saved 3.97 objectives above anticipated via 20 video games whereas incomes a .909 save share — however these numbers aren’t glowing like a few of the league’s greatest and even his peak years. The season isn’t over but and he tends to warmth up because the stress rises, however he has a whole lot of floor to make up. — Shayna Goldman
Preseason daring prediction: Mitch Marner will rating 40 objectives
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
Marner had one aim in October. Then, a heater taking pictures the puck in November. He had eight objectives in 12 video games. Marner continues to be off the 40-goal tempo although. He seems headed extra for his third 30-goal season than his first 40-goal marketing campaign. If head coach Craig Berube will get his method although and Marner begins taking pictures the puck extra aggressively, there’s nonetheless an opportunity Marner comes near and even hits 40 objectives. In the course of the again half of the 2021-22 season, Marner shot the puck extra aggressively than ever and punched in 29 objectives throughout a 46-game stretch. That’s what he’ll want the remainder of the way in which to hit 40. — Jonas Siegel
Utah Hockey Membership
Preseason daring prediction: Utah will end as one of many NHL’s highest-scoring groups
Outlook: Not taking place
Did anybody right here whiff as a lot as this prediction? Aside from an early flurry to begin the season, Utah has struggled mightily to attain this season, sitting twenty third in objectives per sport and twenty fourth on the ability play via Thursday. A variety of the Hockey Clubbers’ younger expertise has failed to interrupt via, with Logan Cooley on tempo for fewer than 20 objectives and a whole lot of their 20-goal producers from final season developing nicely wanting these projections within the early going. Connor Ingram’s struggles in aim and accidents on protection have harm their document, however regressing offensively to this extent is the larger shock given the solid up entrance. — James Mirtle
Preseason daring prediction: Elias Pettersson will bounce again and lead the workforce in scoring
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
It definitely hasn’t been an out-of-the-gate, no-doubt-about-it, he’s-back-like-John-Wick stage bounce again for Pettersson this season, however the star Canucks heart has discovered his type of late. He’s again to controlling play and nonetheless has an opportunity to steer all Vancouver gamers in scoring. By means of Thursday, he ranked first in factors and factors per sport amongst Canucks forwards, however what I didn’t anticipate was Quinn Hughes to hit even one other stage of preposterous type this season. By means of Thursday, Hughes was holding a six-point lead over Pettersson within the level manufacturing division this season, so Pettersson nonetheless has some catching as much as do. — Thomas Drance
Preseason daring prediction: Pavel Dorofeyev will end second on the workforce in objectives
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
The hope with this prediction was that Dorofeyev would reap the benefits of an even bigger alternative than he’s had so far in his profession, and that’s precisely what has occurred via two months. By means of Thursday, Dorofeyev was second on the Golden Knights with 12 objectives, just one behind workforce chief Ivan Barbashev. He has contributed each at even power and on the highest power-play unit, and has been an integral a part of Vegas’ seventh-ranked offense. — Jesse Granger
Preseason daring prediction: The Pierre-Luc Dubois deal will repay
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
There’s loads of street left earlier than I can do a victory lap, however I be ok with predicting good issues for Dubois. Is he enjoying to a 70-point tempo, as I mentioned he would? Not fairly. Has he been a serious catalyst for the Caps’ early-season success? Completely. He’s crushing most of his minutes because the 2C, which allowed Washington to arrange favorable matchups for Alex Ovechkin’s line, and has helped Connor McMichael get off to a scorching begin. Thus far, so good. — Sean Gentille
Preseason daring prediction: Nikolaj Ehlers will play out the season after which stroll as a UFA
Outlook: Nonetheless in play
Ehlers is a point-per-game participant now, largely as a result of he’s been each bit nearly as good on the highest energy play as marketed: useful on entries, good within the excessive slot, inventive with choices within the zone. He’s additionally harm, nursing a lower-body damage suffered towards Vegas on Nov. 29. It’s tough to say what any of this implies for his future, although. I imagine the “self-rental” choice continues to be on the desk for Winnipeg. If latest call-up Brad Lambert bursts offensively, Ehlers might turn out to be a commerce chip. (For the best return, it may not take that Lambert burst.) An extension doesn’t seem like a front-burner, midseason choice, however should even be thought-about a chance. — Murat Ates
(Prime picture of Pink Wings heart Dylan Larkin celebrating after scoring a aim: Brian Bradshaw Sevald / Imagn Photos)
