1 Prediction for Every NHL Team at the Start of 2025 Training Camp
NHL training camps are officially underway as your team's top prospects battle it out for roster spots and the veterans shake off the rust.
Our first taste of hockey of the season always brings out a new world of hopeful possibilities: Is this the year Connor McDavid and the Oilers finally defeat the big, bad Panthers? Is Mitch Marner going to find peace -- and a Cup -- in Sin City? Will the Buffalo Sabres snap their record-breaking playoff drought?
Here's one prediction for every NHL team at the start of training camp.
Anaheim Ducks
1 of 32
Prediction: Mason McTavish ends up elsewhere and the Ducks suffer for it.
The Reason Why: The Ducks are no strangers to holding out on young RFAs ahead of training camp, and McTavish -- who wasn't present at the start of Thursday -- is the latest. The Ducks have more than enough cap space to secure a deal for an important player on their team. Pat Verbeek is flying too close to the sun.
Boston Bruins
2 of 32
Prediction: The Bruins won't be that bad this season.
The Reason Why: We've been anticipating the Bruins to implode after trading Brad Marchand and entering a rebuilding era, but we've forgotten a few things.
Jeremy Swayman had a rough season and he could very well bounce back in net this year, and Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm are coming back healthy. It's not going to be the season of anyone's dreams, but it might not be as drastic a step back as we think.
Buffalo Sabres
3 of 32
Prediction: The Sabres won't make the playoffs this year.
The Reason Why: What have they done drastically differently to produce a different outcome? The front office has trusted a core that has given them no reason for that trust.
Meanwhile, players like JJ Peterka and Jeff Skinner, who have provided at least some scoring, are left in the dust for returns that don't improve the team. It's not enough for Tage Thompson or the other key players on the team to have a career year; the team as a whole is struggling, and the front office hasn't been proactive enough in addressing the issues.
Calgary Flames
4 of 32
Prediction: The youngsters take a huge step forward.
The Reason Why: The coast finally seems clear for the Flames' youth to focus on sustainable success after last season's surprising playoff push. Connor Zary and Dustin Wolf are both taken care of with new contracts headed into camp.
Carolina Hurricanes
5 of 32
Prediction: This core has reached its ceiling, and it's a pretty good ceiling!
The Reason Why: Look, the ultimate goal is winning a Stanley Cup, and anything short of that for the Canes in this window is a disappointment.
However, it's been a remarkably long window of sustained playoff appearances, and they've consistently reached the ECF with the same outcome. It's hard to imagine a different outcome as long as the Panthers are still kicking.
Chicago Blackhawks
6 of 32
Prediction: Things are going to be slightly less depressing in Chicago.
The Reason Why: Jeff Blashill seems like a great fit for head coach of the Blackhawks as the young core looks to exit the bottom of the standings. Connor Bedard has inherited a challenging situation as the first-line center of a team with a deliberately weak roster, but he has gained valuable insight and experience. This year should be a bit happier all around.
Colorado Avalanche
7 of 32
Prediction: The bottom six bounces back.
The Reason Why: It was a year of significant adjustments for the Avalanche last season, as they navigated the absence of Mikko Rantanen and the shuffling of their entire goaltending situation. The bottom six of the forward group also suffered, but the acquisition of Jack Drury in the Rantanen trade could make an impact this year as he and Ross Colton battle it out for the third-line center position.
Columbus Blue Jackets
8 of 32
Prediction: Jet Greaves steals the No. 1 goaltending role.
The Reason Why: Greaves was outstanding as the Blue Jackets made their surprising playoff push last year. His follow-up is something to look forward to as the Blue Jackets get back to business.
Dallas Stars
9 of 32
Prediction: Jason Robertson stays a Star.
The Reason Why: Come on. I know the idea of a Robertson trade is enticing, but if Jim Nill is the perennial GM of the year that we think he is, he'll get this done.
Detroit Red Wings
10 of 32
Prediction: The situation on defense makes or breaks Detroit's playoff hopes.
The Reason Why: The Red Wings desperately need an upgraded defense, and they didn't do much to drastically improve the situation in the offseason (which was fair because the market was so weak). Will the young players who stepped it up in the second half last season fully break out and solve this problem? Will Steve Yzerman outsource with a trade? One of these scenarios has to happen.
Edmonton Oilers
11 of 32
Prediction: Connor McDavid doesn't sign until the end of the season.
The Reason Why: I believe deep down that McDavid is going to stay an Oiler, but he's not going to sign a contract during the season. He wants to win and no singular player in the league is more focused on that goal.
Think about it: You cannot picture him distracted by a mid-season signing. He's going to let the season play out; he's going to let us discuss it all season, but he's not paying attention to the noise.
Florida Panthers
12 of 32
Prediction: The Panthers are going to three-peat and officially enter dynasty status.
The Reason Why: Taxes. Just kidding -- kind of. The ability to re-sign three members of the core this offseason in Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand was huge (and yes, taxes did have a bit to do with it). This team, in its current iteration, feels unstoppable, and little has changed about it this offseason.
Los Angeles Kings
13 of 32
Prediction: The Kings blew their best chance to get past the Oilers last season.
The Reason Why: The Kings showed us last season that they lack resiliency, crumbling in their best opportunity to get past the Oilers in the first round. They followed that up with a terrible offseason. Let's not overthink it.
It's unfortunate since this will be Anze Kopitar's swan song, but the roster falls well short of giving him a fairytale ending.
Minnesota Wild
14 of 32
Prediction: The Wild sign Kaprizov to a shorter-term contract.
The Reason Why: It appears that the issue is contract length, here, as Kaprizov reportedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million offer from the Wild. If you're the Wild, you absolutely have to keep Kaprizov. Thus, you sign him to a shorter-term contract and figure the rest out later.
Montreal Canadiens
15 of 32
Prediction: Kirby Dach bounces back.
The Reason Why: Dach, who underwent multiple knee surgeries last season, has a huge opportunity to steal the second-line center role in a contract year. The good vibes are buzzing around the Canadiens right now, and those tend to be contagious.
Nashville Predators
16 of 32
Prediction: It's another lost season for the Predators.
The Reason Why: The refusal to commit to a retool has bred a directionless team confused about its identity. That doesn't change overnight.
New Jersey Devils
17 of 32
Prediction: The Devils bounce back and become what they were supposed to be.
The Reason Why: The 2024-25 Devils were derailed by injury, but they're back and they're healthy. You'll recall they were at the top of the league before the injury bug bit them last December, and there's no reason they don't get back to that dominance.
New York Islanders
18 of 32
Prediction: Mat Barzal will have a career year.
Reason Why: Barzal is returning from injury, and the Islanders have made some serious changes over the past year to usher in a fresh identity. Nothing better than a monster season from your star to establish a new era.
New York Rangers
19 of 32
Prediction: The Rangers return to the playoffs this year.
The Reason Why: The Rangers have made a ton of changes very quickly over the course of the past year. Two things have been clear the whole time: Last season was unacceptable, and they aren't messing around. With a new captain in JT Miller, a new high-profile head coach in Mike Sullivan, and a desperately needed new defense, they'll be back.
Ottawa Senators
20 of 32
Prediction: This Senators core is here to stay.
The Reason Why: Ottawa didn't make any big changes this offseason following a return to the playoffs last season. This is, more or less, the group they're rolling with as they look to become a perennial playoff team.
Philadelphia Flyers
21 of 32
Prediction: Trevor Zegras makes the Ducks look silly.
The Reason Why: Zegras has a golden opportunity in front of him as he tries to establish himself as a premier top-six center again. He's got a fresh start on a new team, Matvei Michkov at his disposal on the wing, and a great coach in Rick Tocchet to guide him along the way.
Pittsburgh Penguins
22 of 32
Prediction: The re-tool isn't as simple as anyone thinks.
The Reason Why: There seems to be a notion floating around that the Penguins can just snap their fingers, unload certain players and contracts, and become a playoff presence again in one or two seasons. If it were that easy, everyone would do it.
San Jose Sharks
23 of 32
Prediction: Michael Misa makes the team.
The Reason Why: The Sharks' second-line center of the future, Misa, could crack the NHL roster this year. He had a fantastic season in the OHL, and now that Will Smith opened up camp on the wing, it's looking like Misa makes the team.
Seattle Kraken
24 of 32
Prediction: Nothing changes if nothing changes.
The Reason Why: Are Shane Wright and Matty Beniers the guys for the Kraken? Those two have a lot to prove as this team seeks scoring and star power. If they can't bounce back, the Kraken need to take a serious look at their future this offseason.
St. Louis Blues
25 of 32
Prediction: The Blues pick up where they left off at the end of last season.
The Reason Why: The Blues were the hottest team of the second half. Now they return with a full season of Jim Montgomery, a healthier roster, and some more confidence.
Tampa Bay Lightning
26 of 32
Prediction: The Lightning improve upon last season.
The Reason Why: The ups and downs were a lot to handle last season before Andrei Vasilevskiy figured it out in net, and even then, the Lightning made some noise in the playoffs. With Jake Guentzel used to the swing of things and Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman healthy, it should be a little less dramatic this year.
Toronto Maple Leafs
27 of 32
Prediction: The Leafs are actually better off without Mitch Marner.
The Reason Why: On paper, the Leafs are a worse team without a 100+ points player and premier winger in Marner, but the pressure of that "core four" era was insurmountable.
Matthew Knies needs to follow up his career year with, well, another career year -- or there needs to be significant movement on the trade front. But Marner moving on will prove the best decision for all parties.
Utah Mammoth
28 of 32
Prediction: With a little more help, the Mammoth will make the playoffs.
The Reason Why: The Mammoth need a few more offensive weapons and a bit more star power, but they're trending in the right direction. If they can stay relatively healthy, if Karel Vejmelka has another great season, and if they can score just a bit more consistently, they're looking at the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks
29 of 32
Prediction: Elias Pettersson bounces back.
The Reason Why: Pettersson's post-JT Miller performance was utterly disappointing last year, as we wondered if the Canucks made the correct choice. Now that the dust has settled, he should come back this season with a fresh perspective and ample motivation. Brock Boeser believed in him enough to stay with the Canucks after all.
Vegas Golden Knights
30 of 32
Prediction: Alex Pietrangelo's departure stings more than we're talking about.
The Reason Why: The Golden Knights have lost their top defenseman of the past five years, and there isn't a magical replacement for a player like Pietrangelo. Will Shea Theodore and/or Noah Hanifin be able to step up??
Washington Capitals
31 of 32
Prediction: The Capitals actually improve upon last season.
The Reason Why: Many people dismiss the Capitals as a fluke due to their perceived shooting "luck." Meanwhile, Connor McMichael has been emerging in front of our eyes, as have the rest of the young Capitals players.
Alex Ovechkin will be super motivated in what could be his last NHL season, and most of the key players are returning.
Winnipeg Jets
32 of 32
Prediction: The Jets have reached their ceiling.
The Reason Why: We've watched the Jets endure the same playoff fate year after year with minimal improvement. They have Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist in the fold now, sure, but they parted ways with Nikolaj Ehlers this offseason. It too often feels like one step forward, two steps back when it comes to constructing a roster built for the postseason with this team.
