Because the 2024/25 NHL season approaches, a number of groups discover themselves at a crossroads, with important choices and performances probably shaping their futures. However because the Florida Panthers have proven, something is feasible, and remodeling an ailing franchise isn’t unimaginable. All through the primary twenty years of the twenty first century, the Floridians reached the playoffs with simply three groups; many thought they had been among the many main candidates for relocation.
Nonetheless, fast-forward to 2024, the Panthers are the reigning champions after reaching the Stanley Cup remaining in back-to-back campaigns. They had been narrowly defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights final yr after a stellar postseason as a wildcard and rank outsider. Then, final season, they started to flex their muscle mass, ending on the prime of the Atlantic Division earlier than defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game thriller to assert the enormous trophy for the primary time.
Now, Florida will head into the brand new marketing campaign as a longtime power trying to defend their crown. However for another groups, they head right into a make-or-break 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have lengthy been a crew with excessive expectations, primarily because of their dynamic duo, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Final season was anticipated to be their popping out celebration, and the Alberta outfit was the favourite to raise the Stanley Cup all season lengthy. Finally, they made it to the ultimate, tying issues up at three video games apiece after trailing 3-1 earlier than dropping the decider in Florida.
The 2024/25 season is now seen as an important juncture for the Oilers. In accordance with NHL betting odds, the Canadian outfit is as soon as once more the +800 favourite to win the championship, however will they lastly reside as much as the billing?
After a robust exhibiting final season in reaching the finals, many predict that McDavid and Co. will observe of their conquerors’ footsteps by lifting the Stanley Cup one yr after dropping the finals collection. But when they don’t do this, their marketing campaign will certainly be deemed a failure, irrespective of how deep they go into the postseason.
The mercurial McDavid is undoubtedly the jewel within the crown, and the person is predicted to carry glory again to Edmonton and Canada as a complete. Since being chosen with the primary general choose of the 2015 draft, the 27-year-old has carried out out of his pores and skin regardless of having a subpar set of teammates. He received the celebrated Artwork Ross Trophy in his rookie yr earlier than happening to assert the prize 4 extra occasions, however he’s now not concerned with private accolades.
The one prize that may cement McDavid’s legacy is the Stanley Cup, and with Draisaitl in tow, he has ample firepower to assist in his quest. The stress is on to ship outcomes, as something wanting a deep playoff run may result in important organizational adjustments.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins discover themselves in a transitional section, with the 2024/25 season serving as a litmus check for his or her future route. Within the 2022/23 marketing campaign, the TD Backyard aspect received the President’s Trophy in record-breaking vogue. Nonetheless, that vaunted curse as soon as once more reared its head, triggering the heavy favorites for the Stanley Cup to be eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by the wildcard Panthers.
Final time period, the Bruins fell additional behind the Panthers. Whereas the Floridians went on to be topped champions, their East Coast rivals had been left ruing one more early postseason exit. Now, the onus is on them. Can they bounce again with a bang, or will they fall additional down the pecking order?
As of proper now, the Bruins core stays intact. Superstars corresponding to David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand keep in Beantown, and the crew is counting on a number of youthful stars to step in and help their main males.
Jim Montgomery is getting into his third yr as head coach, and the stress is now on him to ship silverware. With the Atlantic Division changing into more and more aggressive thanks to groups such because the Panthers and the reigning President’s Trophy holders, the New York Rangers, rising to the fore, the Bruins want to seek out the best steadiness between growing younger gamers and leveraging the expertise of stalwarts just like the Marchand as talked about earlier and Czech sensation David Pastrnak.
Failure to make a considerable playoff run may result in reevaluating their roster and technique. The bookies make Montgomery’s males a +1600 outsider for the Stanley Cup, and far of that pricing is all the way down to their failures within the postseason in every of the final two campaigns. Hitting the bottom operating could effectively see them hearth themselves in competition, however failure to take action may end in Montgomery going through the axe.
