With the method of puck drop for the 2024-25 NHL season, there’s no higher time for daring predictions. As rosters and line mixtures form up for the season, we will perceive how issues would possibly play out. Whereas a choose few of those predictions will look genius months down the street, nearly all of them is not going to come near fruition. Nonetheless, trying again at some daring predictions earlier than the beginning of the season all the time brings some enjoyable for the followers. Listed below are my three daring predictions for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024-25.
Jake Guentzel Wins the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
For the second time this 12 months, Jake Guentzel will expertise a change of surroundings after seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guentzel continued to provide at an elite degree away from Sidney Crosby, proving to the hockey world that he’s a system-proof participant. In different phrases, Guentzel can thrive in any setting, regardless of the circumstances. He doesn’t want a specific linemate or system to carry out on the high of his recreation. Nonetheless, what if head coach Jon Cooper gave him one of many recreation’s greatest passers (Nikita Kucherov) and minutes on the highest power-play unit within the Nationwide Hockey League final season?
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With Steven Stamkos out of the image for the 2024-25 season, Guentzel will fill his position within the lethal Tampa Bay high six and energy play unit. Stamkos notched 19 objectives on the person benefit final season, whereas Guentzel’s career-best in power-play objectives is 13. He was a part of an abysmal unit in Pittsburgh final season, scoring simply 4 power-play objectives in roughly 200 minutes of ice time. The chances are countless, however Every day Faceoff has him on the left circle. If Stamkos might publish stellar goal-scoring numbers with Cooper’s deployment, we think about Guentzel might do the identical.
Moreover, Guentzel has outscored Stamkos by 13 objectives at 5-on-5 over the previous 5 seasons. Guentzel scored a career-high 40 objectives with the Penguins in 2021-22, which ranked sixteenth amongst skaters throughout the complete season. BetMGM gave him the 14th-best odds to seize the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy because the NHL’s main goal-scorer throughout the common season. Will Guentzel be capable to outscore Auston Matthews on the Lightning’s high line subsequent season? Solely time will inform.
J.J. Moser Turns into Victor Hedman’s Everlasting Protection Companion
In a commerce to clear wage cap house, the Lightning despatched Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Membership in trade for a number of useful property. A type of property was a 24-year-old, NHL-ready shutdown defender named J.J. Moser. Though he’s projected on the underside pairing with Nick Perbix, Moser is a darkish horse candidate to fill a first-pairing position for the Lightning. His publicity to elite competitors at a younger age makes him an appropriate protection accomplice for Victor Hedman.
Lately, Hedman has slowed down with age, and that final result happens for many gamers. The age curve exists for hockey gamers, the place most peak of their mid-20s and begin to decelerate of their early 30s. With age, Hedman has sacrificed the defensive aspect of the sport, which permits him to publish stellar offensive numbers each season. Microstats tracked by Corey Sznjader from All Three Zones present Moser is a shutdown rush defender, which makes him an ideal match alongside the veteran blueliner.
Moser’s play type will permit Hedman to proceed to take dangers offensively. The trade-off consists of the Lightning giving up just a few minor scoring modifications in trade for one high-danger one. Including Moser to the image will permit the Lightning to maneuver away from a “run and gun” type and publish extra constant underlying metrics at 5-on-5. There’s no denying Moser has the expertise, and we predict him to be a top-pairing caliber man by the top of the season.
The Lightning End Prime 2 within the Atlantic Division
The accuracy of the earlier two predictions dictates if this third daring prediction comes true. The Atlantic Division will probably shake out equally to final season, with the very best groups barely downgrading. As for the Lightning, the group remained comparatively the identical with a Stamkos for Guentzel swap. Groups that completed beneath the Lightning final season, the Detroit Purple Wings and Ottawa Senators, made minor enhancements.
The Lightning’s success is dependent upon how effectively the highest line clicks. If the trio finally ends up being the very best line within the league, the group will end close to the highest of the Atlantic Division. Nonetheless, if the highest line flops, we will see the Lightning preventing for a Wildcard spot like final season. We anticipate the highest trio to dominate play, on condition that Guentzel can create offense in any scenario, which leads us to this third daring prediction for this season.
What are your daring predictions for the Lightning’s 2024-25 season?
