Late final week, we checked out 5 NHL groups who may regress this coming season. At the moment, we’ll have a look at 5 groups who struggled a season in the past and have bounce-back potential in 2024-25. Let’s get proper to it.
Seattle Kraken
2023-24 season: 34-35-13, 81 factors, sixth in Pacific
The Seattle Kraken took a big step again a season in the past after making the playoffs in 2022-23 and totaling 100 factors within the standings. That wasn’t essentially a shock, as they rode some unsustainable percentages in 2022-23, however I’m certain the expectation was to be extra aggressive final season than they have been.
I’m not saying the Kraken will return to being a 100-point staff this season, however they’re good bounce-back candidates. Dan Bylsma hasn’t coached within the NHL in fairly a while, however his AHL groups with the Coachella Valley Firebirds have been absolute wagons; the Firebirds went 45-16-6 this previous season. Time will inform, however he’s a very good guess to be an improve over Dave Hakstol.
Kraken normal supervisor Ron Francis additionally made some additions this offseason to assist Bylsma, particularly offensively. Brandon Montour is perhaps a defenseman, however he ought to assist present offense from the again finish. The Chandler Stephenson contract could also be burdensome, however he ought to give them some heart depth within the close to time period and assist defend Matty Beniers, who did battle a bit in his second NHL season in 2023-24.
Associated: 5 NHL Groups Who May Regress in 2024-25
Talking of Beniers, inner enchancment is a big cause I believe the Kraken may very well be extra aggressive. This isn’t to say Beniers will develop into a 75-80 level scorer, however it wouldn’t shock me if he totals 50-plus factors and comes near 60. Shane Wright will most likely contribute some, and bounce-back years from Yanni Gourde and Jaden Schwartz would go a good distance.
The priority I’ve with the Kraken is goaltending. Philip Grubauer has not lived as much as his six-year, $36 million contract. And although Joey Daccord was glorious a season in the past, the Kraken want Grubauer to be no less than league-average and take a number of the stress off Daccord.
The Kraken’s over/underneath for this season is 87.5, however I like their probabilities of hitting the over. They may not be a playoff staff, however I can see them being within the 90-95-point vary and competing for a playoff spot.
Minnesota Wild
2023-24 season: 39-34-9, 87 factors, sixth in Central
The Minnesota Wild didn’t do a lot this offseason due to cap causes, with Yakov Trenin being their lone addition. Nonetheless, they’ve respectable bounce-back potential. They bought off to an terrible begin final season however did fare higher after John Hynes took over for Dean Evason behind the bench, totaling a 34-24-5 report. That’s a 95-point tempo, which might have had them within the playoff race.
Anytime you may have a participant of Kirill Kaprizov’s caliber, your offense has an opportunity to be explosive, however there are some good items round him. Matt Boldy is without doubt one of the finest younger gamers within the NHL, whereas Marco Rossi had a strong rookie season in 2023-24. Brock Faber is a rising star, and the Wild ought to get a bounce-back season from Filip Gustavsson, who improved a bit after Hynes took over.
Just like the Kraken, inner enchancment may spring the Wild again into the playoff race. Marat Khustnutdinov figures to play a bottom-six position, and a wholesome Jared Spurgeon would go a protracted solution to giving the Wild a reliable blue line. Their O/U is 93.5, so Vegas thinks the Wild will probably be higher than a season in the past. I are likely to agree, and so they may problem for a playoff spot within the Central, particularly because the Winnipeg Jets seem like prime regression candidates.
Buffalo Sabres
2023-24 season: 39-37-6, 84 factors, sixth in Atlantic
I don’t wish to get Sabres followers too excited, however you by no means know when younger groups take a big soar ahead, and the Sabres have loads of younger expertise on their roster. Nonetheless, it begins with Lindy Ruff returning for his second stint as Sabres coach. His run with the New Jersey Devils didn’t finish nicely, however he was instrumental in serving to flip Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt into the gamers they’re immediately.
The Devils had flaws underneath Ruff, however have been constantly among the many prime groups in anticipated targets share (xG%) at five-on-five. I consider the Sabres will probably be a lot improved at five-on-five, and that would go a good distance in serving to younger gamers like Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka and Dylan Cozens take steps ahead.
Among the many traits of a Ruff system is having some dynamic defensemen, and Rasmus Dahlin is actually that. I anticipate him to thrive underneath Ruff, and Owen Energy ought to profit, too. The one query I’ve in regards to the Sabres is goaltending. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was their 1A final season, however that’s not the priority.
I don’t have exhausting proof for this, however I’ve all the time puzzled if Ruff’s swarm system hurts his goaltenders. The Devils’ goaltending, other than when Andrew Brunette was an assistant in 2022-23, was among the many league’s worst. A few of that was on the goalies themselves, however it’s one thing to look at because the Sabres’ season begins.
In any other case, I like this staff on paper. The Sabres’ O/U is 88.5, however I may see the staff getting near 95 factors and difficult somebody just like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who’re susceptible, for a playoff spot within the Atlantic.
New Jersey Devils
2023-24 season: 38-39-5, 81 factors, seventh in Metro
Accidents have been a big cause the Devils missed the playoffs final season, however it was removed from the one cause. Their goaltending was among the many NHL’s worst earlier than the commerce deadline, and so they weren’t the hardest staff to play in opposition to. GM Tom Fitzgerald’s additions this offseason appeared to focus on these considerations.
Most notably, Jacob Markström ought to present the Devils with a big improve in web. He completed within the prime 10 in targets saved above anticipated a season in the past, however the Devils don’t even want him to be that good. If he’s simply an above-average netminder, this staff may go locations. And he’ll have a reliable backup in Jake Allen.
Nonetheless, Markström was removed from the one addition the Devils made. They signed Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon in free company to assist shore up their blue line, and so they bolstered their ahead depth by signing Stefan Noesen and Tomáš Tatar in free company and buying Paul Cotter from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Well being will go a good distance for the Devils, too. Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier missed important time final season; Hamilton performed in simply 20 video games after tearing his pectoral muscle in late November. And even when Hughes and Meier did play, they have been hardly ever at one hundred pc. It’s not assured, however they need to have higher damage luck this season.
I additionally anticipate Sheldon Keefe to make a distinction behind the bench. The Toronto Maple Leafs might have solely superior previous the primary spherical of the playoffs as soon as in Keefe’s 5 seasons, however additionally they made the playoffs yearly with out a lot hassle. He seems to be one of many higher coaches within the NHL.
Plus, there ought to be some inner enchancment from younger Devils Luke Hughes and Šimon Nemec. The staff put rather a lot on their plates final season due to their damage woes. And whereas they confronted some adversity and hit the rookie wall at one level, that ought to profit Hughes and Nemec transferring ahead. That have may very well be invaluable as they enter their second seasons.
The Devils’ O/U is 100.5, tied for the best within the Metropolitan with the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. I gained’t proclaim them Metropolitan Division favorites, however they need to be within the race for first place with the Hurricanes and Rangers.
Pittsburgh Penguins
2023-24 season: 38-32-12, 88 factors, fifth in Metro
If I had written this text a month in the past, I most likely wouldn’t have had the Penguins as potential bounce-back candidates. However Kyle Dubas was one of many extra energetic GMs in August and made some strikes that would assist a Penguins staff that’ll doubtless be on the bubble overtake different bubble groups they’ll be competing with.
It took some time, however the Jets lastly moved Rutger McGroarty, and the Penguins have been the staff who gained the sweepstakes, buying and selling prospect Brayden Yager to amass McGroarty. He won’t have any professional expertise, however McGroarty is a prime prospect. He totaled 52 factors in 36 video games with the Michigan Wolverines final season and appears able to compete for an NHL roster spot.
I wouldn’t name McGroarty the Penguins’ savior, but when he reveals he’s prepared for a top-six position with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, he may maybe push 20 targets and 40 factors as a rookie. He has an NHL body at 6-foot-1, 205 kilos, and a well-rounded sport that would deliver some new components to the Penguins’ lineup.
Dubas additionally took an opportunity on Cody Glass, who struggled with the Nashville Predators a season in the past. Glass wasn’t unfortunate final season. He legitimately struggled, however he did whole 14 targets and 35 factors with the Predators in 2022-23. If he can get again to that, he’ll enhance the Penguins’ depth, one thing they should enhance.
Lastly, although the Penguins are usually not what they have been on the peak of their powers, they nonetheless posted strong five-on-five outcomes final season; their xG% of 51.24 p.c ranked thirteenth within the NHL. They nonetheless have Crosby, Malkin and head coach Mike Sullivan, so I anticipate them to be a top-half-of-the-league five-on-five staff. Their O/U is 90.5, and it wouldn’t shock me in the event that they edge different bubble groups just like the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals to make the playoffs.
The Devils seem like the staff most poised for a bounce-back season, however I wouldn’t rely out the others. Playoffs aren’t a assure for any of those groups, however I may see them pushing for spots. And who is aware of, possibly a few them shock and knock out perennial contenders.
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