As the 2024-25 NHL season reaches its quarter point, it’s time to revisit the bold predictions made for each team before the first puck dropped. While some clubs are exceeding expectations and living up to their preseason hype, others are falling well short of their projected success. Let’s dive in and grade the accuracy of our prognostications for all 32 teams.
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins: C-
The prediction that head coach Jim Montgomery would be ousted by season’s end came true far sooner than expected. After a dismal 8-9-3 start, Montgomery was shown the door, continuing the trend of Jack Adams winners being dismissed by the Bruins’ brass. While goaltending and defensive woes are more to blame than coaching, the early exit earns this prediction a high mark.
Buffalo Sabres: C+
The bold call that Buffalo’s playoff drought would finally end still has a chance to come to fruition. Despite shaky goaltending from the rookie tandem of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi, the Sabres remain within striking distance of a wild-card spot. The young club’s development and the wide-open nature of the East keep this prediction afloat.
Detroit Red Wings: A
The Red Wings have indeed taken a step back after showing signs of progress last season. With the team sporting a lowly .444 points percentage through 18 games, the forecast that Detroit would regress seems spot on. General manager Steve Yzerman may need to shake things up, potentially starting behind the bench, to get the Wings back on track.
Florida Panthers: F
The projection that Sam Reinhart would experience a sharp decline after signing a lucrative extension couldn’t have been more off the mark. The sniper has lit the lamp 14 times in 19 games, trailing only Alex Ovechkin for the league lead. His torrid pace has him outperforming last season’s 57-goal campaign, making this prediction a complete whiff.
Montreal Canadiens: B+
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is indeed making a strong case for the Calder Trophy, leading all freshman blueliners with 11 points in 19 contests. While he faces stiff competition from forwards like Matvei Michkov and Logan Stankoven, Hutson’s offensive flair and prominent role with the Habs keep him firmly in the conversation.
Ottawa Senators: D
The bold prediction that prized offseason acquisition Linus Ullmark would be one-and-done in Canada’s capital fell flat when the netminder inked a four-year extension in October. While Ullmark’s play hasn’t quite lived up to his billing, the Senators’ commitment to the Swede renders this prognostication largely inaccurate.
Tampa Bay Lightning: B-
The forecast that Jake Guentzel would flourish with the Lightning and top the 40-goal mark for a third time seems somewhat shaky at the quarter pole. The sniper has tallied just seven times in 17 games, a 33-goal pace. Still, skating alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, there’s reason to believe Guentzel can heat up and make a run at 40.
Toronto Maple Leafs: B+
The call that Mitch Marner would ink an extension to stay in Toronto has been bolstered by reports indicating the winger’s openness to signing a new deal during the season. Though nothing is set in stone, the tide seems to be turning toward Marner remaining a Leaf long-term, adding credence to this bold prediction.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes: F
Predicting that the Hurricanes would miss the playoffs seems downright foolish now, as Carolina boasts the NHL’s best points percentage through 17 games. With a plus-27 goal differential and Hart Trophy contender Martin Necas leading the charge, the Canes look poised for a deep postseason run, not a tee time in mid-April.
Columbus Blue Jackets: C-
The projection of a breakout year for Adam Fantilli has not come to pass, as the sophomore has struggled to find his footing. With just nine points in 18 games and a dip in offensive metrics, Fantilli seems unlikely to take a significant leap forward this season. A strong finish could bump up this grade, but the early returns are underwhelming.
New Jersey Devils: B
The ambitious prediction of a Devils’ Eastern Conference title remains very much in play thanks to the club’s .619 points percentage and top-10 rankings in both offense and defense. The play of Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Jesper Bratt has been stellar, but question marks in goal with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen leave this forecast on somewhat shaky ground.
New York Islanders: Incomplete
Injuries have wreaked havoc on the bold call that Mat Barzal would eclipse his career-best 85-point campaign. With just five points in ten games before hitting the shelf, Barzal would need a blistering pace upon his return to sniff his personal benchmark. Time will tell if the playmaker can make up ground, but for now, this prediction gets an incomplete grade.
New York Rangers: A-
Though a new contract for Igor Shesterkin remains elusive, all signs point to the Vezina frontrunner staying on Broadway long-term. With reports indicating Shesterkin’s desire to be the highest-paid Blueshirt and the Rangers’ clear need to keep their superstar netminder in the fold, the bold prediction that the two sides will hammer out a deal seems sound.
Philadelphia Flyers: F
The prognostication that Jamie Drysdale would finally stay healthy and break out has crashed and burned in the early going. The oft-injured rearguard has mustered just three points in 15 games while once again missing time. Now five years into his NHL career, the 2020 sixth overall pick appears no closer to realizing his potential.
Pittsburgh Penguins: B
Despite Pittsburgh’s nightmarish start to the season, the bold prediction of a top-10 power play seems within reach. Under new assistant coach David Quinn, the Penguins’ man advantage ranks 14th at 19.6%, a marked improvement from last year’s 30th-place finish. With offensive stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at the helm, cracking the top third isn’t out of the question.
Washington Capitals: B+
Alex Ovechkin’s unbelievable start to the season had him on pace to eclipse Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record before an unfortunate injury intervened. With 15 tallies in 18 contests, the 39-year-old sniper made a strong case to rewrite history before hitting the shelf. Though his absence casts doubt on the prediction, Ovechkin’s early-season performance keeps this bold call afloat.
As the NHL season marches on, the accuracy of these bold predictions will continue to fluctuate. While some teams are right on track and others woefully off course, there’s still plenty of time for fortunes to change. Be sure to check back as we revisit these prognostications and hand out final grades at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
