Coaching camp for all NHL teams will open later this month. No group will enter 2025-26 with out questions, so this is the largest one dealing with every group within the Japanese Convention.
Boston Bruins: How a lot of a task did accidents play in final season’s collapse? Charlie McAvoy missed 32 video games and Hampus Lindholm missed 65, considerably harming the blue line. Boston is probably not a playoff group, however it ought to be a lot improved with each anticipated to begin the season wholesome.
Buffalo Sabres: Are they ok down the center? Buffalo moved Tage Thompson to the wing and traded middle Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for oft-injured middle Josh Norris. Ryan McLeod signed a brand new four-year, $5M AAV deal following a career-best 53-point season, however he is usually extra of a third-line middle.
Carolina Hurricanes: Is the goaltending ok? It is a large query requested about Carolina seemingly each summer time, however it’s a very powerful one as you get deeper into the playoffs. Approaching 36, Frederik Andersen appeared in solely 22 regular-season video games final season and struggled within the Japanese Convention Finals with simply an .838 save proportion.
Columbus Blue Jackets: How a lot can the younger guys be counted on? Columbus bought a profession yr out of defenseman Zach Werenski and sizzling goaltending through the closing weeks of the season from younger backup Jet Greaves and nonetheless could not make the playoffs. It will need all that and one other step ahead for under-25 forwards Adam Fantilli (20), Kent Johnson (22), Cole Sillinger (22) and Dmitri Voronkov (24) for the playoffs to be practical.
Detroit Red Wings: Can the depth veterans carry out? Detroit hasn’t gotten sufficient out of veteran forwards Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. Compher, particularly, bought pummeled within the high-danger probability battles. The Wings solely had 41.2 p.c of the high-danger possibilities with Compher on ice, based on Natural Stat Trick.
Florida Panthers: How a lot will they get from Matthew Tkachuk? It doesn’t seem as if Tkachuk (torn adductor muscle and a sports activities hernia harm) will play for the remainder of 2025. That is in all probability not a dealbreaker for the Panthers, who would relatively have a wholesome Tkachuk within the spring than fall. However the extent of his surgical procedures ought to at the least go away Florida questioning how shortly it’ll take Tkachuk to ramp again up this season.
Montreal Canadiens: Can they tighten up sufficient on protection to change into a real contender? The rebuild ended the second they traded for defenseman Noah Dobson. The query now’s whether or not that is sufficient to assist a group that has traditionally struggled to defend the high-danger areas underneath coach Martin St. Louis, ending thirtieth within the NHL final season in high-danger possibilities towards per 60 minutes, based on Natural Stat Trick.
New Jersey Devils: What can the Devils do as insurance coverage for Jack Hughes? Their star centerman has missed 77 video games over the previous 4 common seasons, averaging 19.25 video games misplaced per season. The Devils are 16-22-2 prior to now two seasons with out Hughes. He is a particular participant, however the Devils want a greater insurance coverage possibility when Hughes inevitably misses time.
New York Islanders: What is the plan for No. 1 general decide Matthew Schaefer? Except he will get injured or appears overwhelmed in coaching camp, Schaefer will at the least get a nine-game tryout with the Islanders. At that time, a dedication may be made on whether or not Schaefer ought to return to the Ontario Hockey League or proceed with the Islanders. The nine-game pattern generally is a little bit of a mirage, and the Islanders should resolve if the 2025 No. 1 general decide wants extra seasoning at a decrease degree after an injury-riddled marketing campaign restricted him to simply 17 video games for the Erie Otters final season.
New York Rangers: Is Gavrikov-Fox the reply? There is probably not a group within the East with extra questions than the Rangers. One of many largest questions will middle on newly acquired defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. He was the most effective defender on the most effective defensive group (L.A. Kings) in hockey final season, and the Rangers signed him to a seven-year deal value $7M yearly to assist bolster one of many league’s worst five-on-five defenses. Teaming him with Adam Fox may doubtlessly give Fox an opportunity at one other run on the Norris Trophy.
Ottawa Senators: Is that this core ok? Ottawa hasn’t actually had the identical degree of fanfare because the Canadiens, however for all intents and functions its rebuild is over. This group should take one other step after final season’s first-round loss.
Philadelphia Flyers: How large of an influence can Rick Tocchet have? The Flyers are usually not fairly a multitude, however they’re messy within the wake of changing John Tortorella with Tocchet behind the bench. They’ve perhaps the worst goaltending within the NHL, questions down the center due to the harm historical past of Sean Couturier and the inconsistent play of Trevor Zegras and a protection missing in top-end expertise.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Is that this a fireplace sale or a storage sale? The Penguins appear prone to deal something not nailed down, excluding captain Sidney Crosby. They’ve loads of short-term rental choices to promote in-season, however all eyes will probably be on middle Evgeni Malkin and wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Has the core group ossified? Tampa Bay appeared like a authentic Cup contender heading into the playoffs, significantly towards what gave the impression to be an unhealthy Florida group within the first spherical. However the Lightning appeared victims of the previous rope-a-dope technique in boxing, going out meekly in 5 video games. They made no actual modifications, standing pat with the acquisitions they made on the commerce deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs: What number of gamers does it take to fill the Mitch Marner void? The Leafs added three forwards (Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua) and signed energy ahead Matthew Knies to a six-year extension. That is the plan, it appears, to switch the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer final season.
Washington Capitals: How a lot is definitely left within the tank? For all of the speak about Washington’s younger items, they nonetheless relied in important areas on Alex Ovechkin (39), Nic Dowd (35), John Carlson (35) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (34). The Capitals have the items to assist older forwards, however it’s exhausting to cover getting old defenders. Carlson and van Riemsdyk had been glorious final season, however they’ve logged lots of miles already for a group that is going to be relying on them to log a ton extra this season.
