It appears to be like as if there can be a little bit of all the things within the Pacific Division this coming season. The Edmonton Oilers are thought of the Stanley Cup favorite, whereas the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights additionally determine to be reputable threats. The LA Kings have a powerful probability at making the playoffs for the fourth-straight 12 months, whereas the Seattle Kraken determine to be within the hunt. Then, you may have the underside feeders.
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The San Jose Sharks had been the worst of all 32 groups final season, and can be in the same place as soon as 2024-25 wraps up. The Anaheim Geese weren’t a complete lot higher, and nonetheless have a methods to go of their rebuild. Then there’s the Calgary Flames.
The Flames weren’t practically as dangerous of a workforce because the Sharks and Geese in 2023-24, however they might be so much nearer this coming season. Normal supervisor Craig Conroy has opted for a rebuild, and partly out of intention, has put collectively an underwhelming roster within the hopes of getting a high decide for the 2025 Draft. Whereas the long-term future appears to be like promising, it might trigger for some troublesome divisional matchups towards rivals this coming season. Right here’s how they stack up towards all seven opponents.
Anaheim Geese
- Forwards: Flames
- Defencemen: Flames
- Goaltending: Even
Whereas the Flames do determine to wrestle, their roster, a minimum of on paper, stays stronger than the Geese. The Geese do have some stable younger forwards who’ve star potential in Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier. In addition they have two others able to producing robust numbers in Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry. That mentioned, they’ve extra holes than the Flames, and don’t have anybody that matches up with Nazem Kadri.
The Geese are additionally one in all only a few groups with a worse blue line than the Flames. Cam Fowler stays a stable participant, however can be higher suited to a second-pairing function, as would Brian Dumoulin. Pavel Mintyukov is a promising prospect, however nonetheless has loads of growth forward of him. As for goaltending, John Gibson is way extra skilled than Dustin Wolf, however is nowhere near being the elite netminder he was early on in his profession.
Edmonton Oilers
- Forwards: Oilers
- Defencemen: Oilers
- Goaltending: Oilers
This shouldn’t come as an enormous shock to anybody. The largest hole between these two groups is up entrance, because the Oilers have the most effective ahead group in your entire NHL with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, together with an excellent supporting solid in Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and probably Evander Kane if he can get wholesome.
The Oilers’ again finish, whereas nonetheless ideally needing one other top-four piece, is nothing to scoff at, both. Their high pairing of Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm is among the finest within the league, which in itself places them over the Flames. Stuart Skinner is on no account an elite goaltender, however remains to be bettering at 25, and at this level is a greater choice than Wolf.
LA Kings
- Forwards: Kings
- Defencemen: Kings
- Goaltending: Kings
The Kings have been a stable workforce the previous few seasons, however have needed to face the Oilers within the first spherical of the playoffs in three consecutive years. Whereas they aren’t a Stanley Cup contender, they’ve a stable ahead group led by Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe.
The Kings blue line is stable as nicely, with a high pairing of Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty. Issues cool off from there, although Brandt Clarke has a really brilliant future and will wind up being very impactful this coming season. Some will disagree with the Kings getting the sting in goaltending, although previous to his struggles the previous two seasons, Darcy Kuemper was considered a stable beginning netminder. Maybe the change in surroundings permits him to show issues round.
San Jose Sharks
- Forwards: Flames
- Defencemen: Flames
- Goaltending: Flames
The Sharks are the one workforce on this checklist the place the Flames come out on high in all three classes, proving simply how troublesome of a season the California-based workforce is in retailer for. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund level in direction of a brilliant future, however the subsequent 12 months or two will nonetheless show to be troublesome.
As for the again finish, there isn’t any workforce with a weaker one than the Sharks. A workforce counting on Mario Ferraro to probably be a top-pairing choice is solely not a workforce that’s seeking to be aggressive. As for goaltending, each MacKenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek are very underwhelming choices.
Seattle Kraken
- Forwards: Kraken
- Defencemen: Kraken
- Goaltending: Kraken
Although the Kraken can be a greater workforce than the Flames this coming season, there isn’t an enormous distinction within the power of their ahead group. What provides the Kraken the slight edge on this situation is their depth, as their third and fourth strains determine to be stronger than the Flames backside six.
The Kraken’s blue line can be stronger, as they’ve a powerful first pairing in Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson, whereas additionally with the ability to make an enormous addition in free company with the signing of Brandon Montour. Rounding out their high 4 is one other stable choice in Jamie Oleksiak. As for goaltending, Joey Daccord was spectacular in 2023-24, and can be searching for extra of the identical this coming season.
Vancouver Canucks
- Forwards: Canucks
- Defencemen: Canucks
- Goaltending: Canucks
Very similar to the Oilers, there isn’t a lot of a contest right here. The Canucks have a really robust ahead group that features J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and up to date signee Jake DeBrusk. Their backside six is nothing to scoff at both with gamers resembling Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua.
The Canucks even have a comparatively robust blue line, together with an excellent first pairing of Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes. They boast one of many strongest goaltenders within the NHL in Thatcher Demko. The one query about him is his well being, as he was compelled to overlook all however one sport of the playoffs as a consequence of harm.
Vegas Golden Knights
- Forwards: Golden Knights
- Defencemen: Golden Knights
- Goaltending: Golden Knights
As soon as once more, there isn’t a complete lot of competitors right here. The Golden Knights are a weaker workforce heading into 2024-25 after shedding Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson to free company, however nonetheless have a lot of different extremely gifted forwards together with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
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The Golden Knights’ strongest level could also be their again finish, as they’ve three top-pairing defencemen in Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and former Flame Noah Hanifin. Goaltender Adin Hill has harm considerations, however when wholesome is able to nice issues, confirmed by him main the best way to the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
Lengthy Season Forward
There isn’t a denying that that is going to be a protracted, gruelling season for the Flames. That mentioned, followers appear to be embracing it, as they had been rising more and more annoyed by the outdated administration regime throwing out mediocre rosters 12 months in and 12 months out. Choosing the rebuild route will trigger for some painful stretches, however is a clever plan for the way forward for this group.
