The puck has barely dropped on the 2024-25 NHL campaign, yet several preseason darlings find themselves staring down the barrel of disappointment. While it’s still early, the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Nashville Predators are already feeling the heat from antsy fans and pundits alike. But is it time to truly panic, or are these sluggish starts merely temporary turbulence?
Oilers Searching for Answers as McDavid, Draisaitl Sputter
Edmonton’s faithful had visions of a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final dancing in their heads, but a 2-4-0 start has doused those dreams in cold water. Remarkably, superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been held to a lone goal apiece, while prized offseason acquisition Zach Hyman remains pointless through six contests. Making matters worse, netminders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have been sieves, sporting eye-popping goals-against averages north of 4.00.
The pressure is squarely on head coach Kris Knobloch to ignite the Oilers’ slumbering offensive machine. Expect him to start shuffling lines in search of a spark.
– According to a source close to the situation
Avalanche Stumble Out of the Gate
Colorado’s bid for a second championship in three years is off to a rocky beginning. The Avs sit at 2-4-0, thanks largely to the NHL’s most porous defense and subpar netminding from Alexandar Georgiev. Not helping matters are injuries to key cogs like Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin. Still, any team with talents like Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Nathan MacKinnon can’t be counted out.
Hurricanes Struggling to Gain Traction
Carolina’s 2-2-0 start isn’t disastrous, but it’s certainly not what many anticipated from a club pegged as a Metropolitan Division favorite. The Canes have been snakebitten by untimely penalties and inconsistent goaltending from sophomore Pyotr Kochetkov. Getting back to the aggressive, punishing forecheck that’s become their calling card under coach Rod Brind’Amour will be vital.
Red Wings’ Playoff Dreams Fading Fast
Is it too soon to write off Detroit’s postseason hopes? The 2-3-0 Red Wings have wins over the lowly Predators to thank for avoiding a spot alongside their Music City rivals in the NHL’s basement. Prized free agent pickups Vladimir Tarasenko and Andrew Copp have underwhelmed, while shoddy team defense has hung netminders Alex Lyon and Cam Talbot out to dry.
- Struggling special teams
- Costly defensive breakdowns
- Inconsistent scoring from stars
- Mounting injuries
The Wings aren’t dead yet, but coach Derek Lalonde needs to find answers in a hurry before the season slips away entirely.
– According to NHL insiders
Predators Historically Awful in Winless Start
Rock bottom has a new address, and it’s 501 Broadway in Nashville. The 0-5-0 Predators are in uncharted territory, off to their worst start in franchise history. Coach Andrew Brunette’s squad can’t stop the puck and has struggled mightily to put it in the net, even after adding offensive firepower in the forms of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.
History paints a grim picture for the Preds – no team that’s started 0-5-0 has qualified for the postseason since 2005-06. Is it time to stick a fork in Smashville?
– According to historical NHL data
While it’s far too early to write any of these sluggish starters off entirely, there’s no denying the mounting pressure each faces to right the ship before their seasons sink into full-blown catastrophe. The NHL season is an 82-game marathon, but with each passing loss, the uphill climb back to respectability grows ever steeper. For the Oilers, Avalanche, and the rest of the early season flops, the time to put up or shut up has already arrived.
