The 2024-25 NHL season is upon us, with regular-season video games getting began tonight (Oct. 8). There shall be loads of storylines to comply with as soon as the puck drops, together with which free-agent signings from the 2024 offseason may have the largest impression on their new groups. Listed below are eight who’ve probably the most potential.
Jake Guentzel
The Tampa Bay Lightning made some sweeping modifications this offseason, deciding to let franchise legend Steven Stamkos stroll in free company and changing him with Jake Guentzel on a large seven-year deal at a mean annual worth (AAV) of $9 million.
It’s exhausting to argue with basic supervisor Julien BriseBois’ resolution to swap Stamkos for Guentzel. The latter is 5 years youthful and a significantly better five-on-five participant at this level of their respective careers. This isn’t to say Stamkos is a power-play service provider, however 40 of his 81 factors got here on the person benefit final season. Chances are high Guentzel will have the ability to contribute at a way more environment friendly price at five-on-five whereas additionally serving to the facility play.
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The Lightning might not have the depth they used to, however a prime line of Guentzel, Brayden Level and Nikita Kucherov is fairly terrifying. The workforce could also be a bit weak within the playoff race in comparison with years previous, however count on Guentzel and his linemates to maintain them extremely aggressive.
Steven Stamkos & Jonathan Marchessault
Talking of Stamkos, he nonetheless has the potential to be an impression participant for his new workforce, the Nashville Predators. The five-on-five decline is stark. Stamkos averaged simply 1.82 factors per 60 minutes at five-on-five final season, and his total impacts at that sport state are starting to fall off.
I additionally don’t assume Stamkos will put up the power-play scoring he did with the Lightning. That looks as if a superb case for not together with him on this article, so why is he right here? Even when Stamkos isn’t a 40-goal, 80-point scorer, you’d nonetheless wager on him to be a 30-goal, 60-plus-point participant, which continues to be fairly impactful. His contract might not age nicely, however since we’re solely specializing in the 2024-25 season, that’s one thing to fret about down the highway.
The identical arguments apply to Jonathan Marchessault, who the Predators additionally signed this offseason. His five-year contract in all probability received’t age nicely, and he doubtless received’t rating 42 objectives once more as he did with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24. He’s additionally proven some indicators of decline at five-on-five, although to a lesser extent than Stamkos.
Nonetheless, Marchessault might be a superb wager for 25 to 30-ish objectives and near 55-60 factors. That’s a fairly impactful participant, and although I feel the Predators are roughly the identical 97-99 level workforce they have been final season, he nonetheless has the potential to make a distinction.
Viktor Arvidsson & Jeff Skinner
The Edmonton Oilers got here oh so near ending their and the nation of Canada’s Stanley Cup drought a season in the past. They’re among the many favorites — and maybe the favourite, relying on the place you look — to win this season. It was an attention-grabbing summer time for them that included dropping two doubtlessly key depth gamers to supply sheets, however they made a few strikes that ought to assist them thrive within the common season at a minimal.
The 2 most notable have been the signings of Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Arvidsson has had bother staying wholesome, however he’s been an impactful participant when within the lineup, averaging 27 objectives and 63 factors per 82 video games over the past three seasons. There’s potential for that and extra if he can keep wholesome since he’ll doubtless be taking part in alongside considered one of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl for many of the season.
The Buffalo Sabres might have purchased out Skinner this summer time, however that doesn’t imply he wasn’t productive for them. He’s averaged 32 objectives and 67 factors per 82 video games over the past three seasons and has been some of the environment friendly five-on-five goal-scorers within the NHL over that stretch, averaging 1.25 objectives per 60 minutes. That’s a top-10 price within the NHL for forwards with at the very least 1000 minutes logged at that sport state.
Skinner’s defensive shortcomings are actual and one thing Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch must attempt to shelter as greatest as he can. However the offensive potential ought to outweigh his defensive shortcomings, particularly since he’ll additionally doubtless be taking part in alongside McDavid or Draisaitl for many of the season.
Brandon Montour
I don’t love the contract the Seattle Kraken handed out to Brandon Montour this offseason. However since we’re simply specializing in the impression he may have for the 2024-25 season, he has the prospect to make a distinction for the Kraken on the again finish.
Protection hasn’t been a lot of a problem for the Kraken since coming into the league three years in the past. Montour will shore up their prime 4 on protection, however I nonetheless don’t count on that to be a problem for the workforce. The place he ought to assistance is by including some offense from the again finish. Other than Vince Dunn, the Kraken lack puck-moving defenders, and Montour definitely provides extra puck-moving skill.
Montour posted a career-high 73 factors through the 2022-23 season. That’s an outlier in comparison with his profession norms, however he’s averaged 1.13 factors per 60 at five-on-five, which is a strong price for a defenseman. He’s additionally averaged 51 factors and 203 photographs on aim per 82 video games over the past three seasons, and he’ll contribute at five-on-five and on the facility play. That’s the kind of dynamic risk the Kraken haven’t had a lot of since coming into the league.
Tyler Bertuzzi & Teuvo Teravainen
Are the Chicago Blackhawks going to be a playoff workforce this season? That appears extremely unlikely, however they need to be significantly better. Connor Bedard is one other yr older and can doubtless take a step ahead in his improvement, however the Blackhawks made loads of enhancements this offseason, too.
Among the many additions have been Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen, two wingers who ought to present extra assist to Bedard within the prime six. Bertuzzi has had bother staying wholesome, although he did play in 80 video games final season. If he can hit that quantity once more, 20-25 objectives and 50-55 factors is perhaps the place he finishes the season.
Teravainen won’t shoot 17 p.c once more, however a 15-20 aim and 40-50 level season would even be an enormous increase for a Blackhawks squad disadvantaged of offense from apart from Bedard in 2023-24. If he can produce at these charges or higher, the Blackhawks’ prime six may give some groups matches this season, particularly if Taylor Corridor returns to kind after a knee harm he suffered in 2023-24.
Elias Lindholm, Jake DeBrusk, and Tyler Toffoli are different free-agent signings from the 2024 offseason who may make a distinction for his or her new groups. Lindholm’s numbers recommend he’s in decline, however maybe centering David Pastrnak will rejuvenate him. Toffoli will doubtless play alongside Macklin Celebrini or Will Smith, whereas DeBrusk has 20-25 aim potential with the Canucks. Who is aware of how their contracts will age past this season, however at the very least for 2024-25, they might be impression gamers.
