Predictions for the 2024-25 NHL Season

Last season, I attempted to predict the 2023-24 NHL season and it didn’t go so well for me. I wrote a piece highlighting just how wrong my season predictions were. I’m doing the same for the 2024-25 season.

With training camp hitting the later stages, teams making their second and some making their final cuts, we are officially less than a week away from opening day on October 8th, 2024. Let’s go through my predictions for the 2024-25 season.

Individual Award & Player Predictions

The race begins for individual awards, and as the league’s dynamics have shifted in the last few years, I think player awards will continue to be a different race every year.

Hart Memorial Trophy – Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid has taken the cake for the Hart Trophy prediction for a second year. He was a finalist yet again for the Hart Trophy and he seems to have created a pattern over the last four years in this trophy category. This will be a solid prediction if he continues his finalist year followed by a Hart Trophy-winning year.

Previous Winner: Nathan Mackinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy – Elias Pettersson

Regarding the NHL award for gentlemanly conduct, Elias Pettersson is one of the favourites to win the Lady Byng this year. Coming close last season, he’s definitely made himself stand out even more as a player who can compete and stay within the rules.

Previous Winner: Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Vezina Trophy – Igor Shesterkin

I am very divided on whether or not Hellebuyck will repeat or Shesterkin will leverage his contract negotiations with an incredibly dominant Vezina winning season. Ultimately, I had to flip a coin as Hellebuyck will be on a mission to win another Vezina and Shesterkin will be wanting to perform for his next contract.

Previous Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Calder Memorial Trophy – Matvei Michkov

Matvei Michkov has been the total package in training camp so far. He’s shown maturity and a strong upside when it comes to the on-ice side of the game. Off the ice, Michkov has looked like he’s having a great time and has been enjoying being a part of the Flyers organization. This will bleed into his on-ice game and will only benefit him long-term as he goes to get the Calder this season. However, there is significant competition for the award this year.

Previous Winner: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

Art Ross Trophy – Connor McDavid

McDavid is closing in on 1,000 points, he’s likely to hit 1,100 this season as well. This is just another season in the books for McDavid, but he will definitely be hunting another Stanley Cup Final. The 82-game performance by the Edmonton Oilers will be the first of many determining factors, but McDavid’s road to the finals again will be epic. I can see the Art Ross being one of many trophies McDavid picks up in the 2024-25 season.

Previous Winner: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

James Norris Memorial Trophy – Noah Dobson

The New York Islanders are one of the fringe teams that you don’t truly know if they will make the playoffs or not. They have talent, but they haven’t had anything truly defining for a long while now. Noah Dobson can be one of many players on this team to break out, and a Norris Trophy would cement if further.

Previous Winner: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

Ted Lindsay Award – Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews will have far more on his plate in the 2024-25 season. He was named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2024 NHL offseason and it is a significant step in his career. There is an abundance of leadership on the Leafs and the team is now guided by the 2016 first-overall draft selection. He’s going to be more than just the most valuable player to his team, but have a defining season to cement him as the true cornerstone of the Leafs’ franchise.

Previous Winner: Nathan Mackinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Jack Adams Award – Dean Evason

I think Dean Evason will take a Columbus team farther than most expect them to finish. He’s a strong coach with a no-nonsense mindset and will not tolerate multiple blowouts throughout the season. Columbus is still transitioning from rebuilding to competitive and Evason is the right coach to squeeze every last competition out of their roster. Think John Tortorella in Philadelphia nearly taking his team to the playoffs.

Previous Winner: Rick Tocchet, Vancouver Canucks

Frank J. Selke Trophy – Roope Hintz

Roope Hintz has been one of the best emerging defensive forwards in the NHL. He’s on a strong Dallas Stars team which will only help him focus on the defensive touches of his game. Hintz has been a strong part of the Stars’ core and finished sixth in Selke voting last season. The Stars are also going to hunt a deep playoff run and Hintz having a solid season in the offensive and defensive aspects of his game will be important for him in securing his first career Selke.

Previous Winner: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

William M. Jennings Trophy – Juuse Saros

I think the Jennings will be split this year. Last year, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets took home the Jennings and Vezina, but it was a close race for the Jennings. Saros just signed a monster contract extension and will be looking to get some early value for the team that has made big splashes in the 2024 off-season.

Previous Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy – David Pastrnak

I have a hunch that Auston Matthews will be more wrapped up in his new leadership role this season. David Pastrnak, who is the biggest component of the Bruins goalscoring department, has not won the Rocket since the 2019-20 season and is due to have another monster season. The Bruins will rely on Pastrnak’s natural goalscoring talents this season and he should be back in contention for the trophy.

Previous Winner: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Mark Messier Leadership Award – Brady Tkachuk

This is a do-or-die season for the Ottawa Senators and Brady Tkachuk must step up for his team this season. The Senators have one of the best captains in the NHL and they have to get a playoff run out of him this year. It’s long overdue that the Senators get into a position to properly compete and if they make the playoffs, I can see Brady Tkachuk receiving this award.

Previous Winner: Jacob Trouba, New York Rangers

Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award – Barry Trotz

Previous Winner: Jim Nill, Dallas Stars

Team Awards & Standing Predictions

Stanley Cup – Edmonton Oilers

Previous Winner: Florida Panthers

Prince of Wales Trophy – New York Rangers

Previous Winner: Florida Panthers

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl – Edmonton Oilers

Previous Winner: Edmonton Oilers

Presidents’ Trophy – Florida Panthers

Previous Winner: New York Rangers

Eastern Conference Predictions

Atlantic Division

1. Florida Panthers (p)
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (x)
3. Buffalo Sabres (x)
4. Boston Bruins (x)
5. Ottawa Senators (x)
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (e)
7. Detroit Red Wings (e)
8. Montreal Canadiens (e)

Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers (y)
2. New Jersey Devils (x)
3. New York Islanders (x)
4. Carolina Hurricanes (e)
5. Columbus Blue Jackets (e)
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (e)
7. Philadelphia Flyers (e)
8. Washington Capitals (e)

Western Conference Predictions

Central Division

1. Dallas Stars (y)
2. Nashville Predators (x)
3. Winnipeg Jets (x)
4. Colorado Avalanche (x)
5. Utah Hockey Club (e)
6. Chicago Blackhawks (e)
7. Minnesota Wild (e)
8. St. Louis Blues (e)

Pacific Division

1. Edmonton Oilers (z)
2. Vancouver Canucks (x)
3. Vegas Golden Knights (x)
4. Seattle Kraken (x)
5. Los Angeles Kings (e)
6. Anaheim Ducks (e)
7. Calgary Flames (e)
8. San Jose Sharks (e)

Playoff Key

p – President’s Trophy
y – Clinched Division
z – Clinched Conference
x – Clinched Playoff Spot
e – Eliminated