TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Well, the gang is still chugging along after their Cup run. This season will be different as their captain and face of the franchise for 16 years, Steven Stamkos, is gone. They did re-sign Victor Hedman for four more years. The Lightning could make another deep run this season.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

Nous sommes coinces dans des sables mouvants.

Translate that on Google. That is the situation of the Montreal Canadiens right now. However, Juraj Slafkovsky is starting to look like a stud. Along with Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Patrik Laine? Montreal is looking to break through.

IL est Temps de s evader, les Canadiens.

BUFFALO SABRES

Gosh, I wish this team can go the distance. They are now tied with the New York Jets for the longest drought without a playoff berth in the four major sports in North America at 11 years. This season, it's going to be 12. I know, sad times in Western New York.

Speaking of sad times,

HEINZ 57 OR TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Once again, dominating regular season. Unfortunately, they ran into their own personal bully, Game 7 at TD Garden. They swapped out Sheldon Keefe for Craig Berube as coach and gave the captaincy to Austen Matthews. Could be another dominating in the regular season.

(Sigh) I'll begin the countdown.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

After years of uncertainty and many toy rats thrown on the ice, the Florida Panthers conquered it all and fended off a major comeback to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup. The core is still there, minus Brandon Montaur. I expect the Panthers to make another run for a repeat.

BOSTON .....RUINS

They survived Toronto, only to be massacred by Florida. My question is how long until Brad Marchand joins Bergeron and Krejci in the retirement club. Can David Pastrnak and Nikita Zadorov lead this franchise from the ruins that they are in? Curious minds want to know.

OTTAWA SENATORS

The Senators are hopefully in good hands with owner Michael Andlauer. They traded for a solid netminder in Linus Ullmark. Ottawa is looking to end their seven-year playoff drought. Could this be the season to do that?

DETROIT RED WINGS

Wow, this is taking longer than I thought. Hockeytown is starting to get impatient as it will be eight seasons without the playoffs. Bringing in Vladimir Tarasenko could add experience on a young roster. Is 2024-2025 the year when the drought ends?

NEW YORK RANGERS

Like their roommates, the Knicks, NYR is looking for a chance to chase tradition and grab a championship. But there is a question hovering over MSG, what's going to happen with their captain, Jacob Trouba? This could be a distraction.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

The Caps did make the playoffs but were easily ousted. Washington did get a talented, yet cancerous Pierre Luc-Dubois to help them go further.....or he could be there to watch Ovie chase the Great One. Unfortunately, I see this happening.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Man, this is going to be a tough season. Losing the face of the franchise in that way is heartbreaking. I pray that the Blue Jackets can power through this campaign, knowing that they have a lot on their minds. You will do well.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Every year with this team, they have become the San Jose Sharks of this era, meaning great regular season, but self-destruction in the playoffs. The window is about to close if the Hurricanes can't conquer the narrative.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Something is brewing in Elmont. The Isles are on the cusp of a breakout with the trio of Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat and Anders Lee. The Long Islanders have been waiting ions for this franchise to reach the top. Hopefully, this is the year.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Honestly, this team reminds me of the Atlanta Hawks, just stuck in the middle. Coach Torts can scream up a storm, but it will not make any improvement or a regression. The Flyers could take the elevator to the top if they play their cards right.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Wow, that was a big drop-off! The Devils were supposed to ascend, but that went straight to.....nevermind. Sheldon Keefe is now the general hoping to lead Newark's team to the playoffs again. Wait, Luke Hughes is out for six to eight weeks? Great.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Every Pens fan should have prepared for this, The Great Twilight. Many playoff-less years ahead as Crosby, Malkin and Letang become gray haired, and the youth will have to take over. They do have Kevin Hayes and Erik Karlsson to lead that uprising, right?

WINNIPEG JETS

Tsk, tsk, I thought this team was a dynasty in the making. The Jets seem to be back to the drawing board as there are whispers of relocating out of Winnipeg?! Are they going to play that (bleep) again? Good god.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

Damn, they are paying the sins of that Stanley Cup win. The injury bug decided to run rampant last season, and hopefully, the Avs can overcome a MASH unit to get another run at the Cup, or will the injury bug attack again?

DALLAS STARS

If you want a dark horse to be the Cup winner in the West, it is Dallas. They have the ingredients of a squad who can knock off the top teams as Edmonton or Vancouver. Can Benn, Seguin and Robertson take the Stars to the promised land? I said this last year and I still mean it.

UTAH HOCKEY CLUB

From the ashes of the Coyotes, this is the UTAH HOCKEY CLUB! Now with stable ownership and management (fingers crossed), UHC can focus on the on-ice product and the hopeful sellouts at the Delta Center. You probably had no idea it was called the Delta Center again?

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

The whispers of "Smashville" are hanging above Bridgestone Arena. The Preds decided to throw money at Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to hopefully catapult Nashville to a deep playoff run. Wait, didn't they do this with Matt Duchene only to buy him out?

ST. LOUIS BLUES

The Blues are trying, and key word is trying, to get the rebuild off the ground for a bountiful ending just like five years. Once they can figure out a formula that is successful, they can be playoff bound. Unfortunately, it's not this year.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Well, the long cold doldrums of the basement are where the Blackhawks have resided for a few years. Hopefully, they don't waste Connor Bedard or Artyom Levshunov and venture back to the Rocky Wirtz days. I think they are already there.

MINNESOTA WILD

(Sigh) Same ol' story, a lot of expectations only to fall short. It's up to Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov to lead a hungry Wild team to the hopeful pastures of the second round. The State of Hockey is praying for this to happen.

ANAHEIM MIGHTY? DUCKS

Well, they have a trio full of potential in Trevor Zegras, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Guentier. Other than that, the key word is hope. Anaheim can make a jump to a postseason berth if everything falls into place. That could be easy, eh?

LOS ANGELES KINGS

If only this team can get past Edmonton in the playoffs. They did get rid of the PLD contract. so that's nice. They are a mishmash of veterans and young talent which could translate to a playoff berth, you think so?

STOP THE PRESSES! Both of these franchises decided to roll these out.......

So, stop your game of Pogs, chug that Zima down and turn down the boom box that is playing Blind Melon, cause 90's HOCKEY IS BACK IN SOCAL! WWWOOOOOO!!!!!!

.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Call last season, "The Hangover Campaign." VGK stumbled out of the first round and into uncertainty. They have contracts that are locked in the salary cap, and they probably need to be creative for another Stanley Cup run. They can do it, right?

CALGARY FLAMES

The Flames are at a phase where we have no idea what they are doing. Are they a team that us rebuilding or are they trying to develop their young talent quickly for a playoff squad? Anthony Mantra, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau hope for the latter.

EDMONTON OILERS

They were THAT close. Ken Holland is building a great foundation and with McDavid, the newly extended Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Evander Kane, the Oil Crew are on a collision course to raise Lord Stanley's Cup. Maybe they need a good luck charm?

Did you think I was going to post the actual picture?

SAN JOSE SHARKS

It's come to this. The Sharks are rancid like the Cow Palace and are back to square one. Having a building block like Macklin Celebrini is a good start. Hopefully, San Jose can climb back to the playoffs......three to four years from now.

SEATTLE KRAKEN

In 2023, the Kraken tasted their first sip on the playoffs. Now, it's time to build on that experience. Matty Beiners, Vince Dunn and champion Brandon Montaur can help Seattle's hockey team to a brighter 24-25. What about Shane Wright?

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Jim Rutherford should be nicknamed, "Midas," because of how he turns franchises around. He did this to the Canucks, THE CANUCKS! The question is if they can continue last season's success and finally, reach the summit for Western Canada.

So, there it is, the 2024-2025 season should be another one to remember.

MATTHEW GAUDREAU 1994-2024

JOHNNY GAUDREAU 1993-2024

(Photo by Reddit)

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