The NHL Prepares for a New Season: Analysis of the 32 Franchises
After the Florida Panthers’ victory in the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive time on June 17th, the hockey world entered its inactive period. However, with the arrival of autumn and the start of the preseason, it’s time to analyze the key questions for each of the 32 NHL teams. Alofoke Deportes presents a detailed analysis, with the most important questions facing the teams, thanks to reports from Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton.
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins
Can Jeremy Swayman become a true number 1 goalie again? After a significant contract, he must prove his worth. Swayman, after a seven-year contract and $8.25 million per season, did not meet expectations in the 2024-25 season, recording his worst numbers with an .892 SV% and 3.11 GAA. Now, the team needs a significant improvement from its star goaltender.Buffalo Sabres
Will the Sabres be able to end their postseason drought? Have the Sabres finished their rebuild? After 15 years without playoffs, the team seeks to break its streak. With the arrival of Josh Norris and the new talents Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring, will the Sabres be able to make the leap?Detroit Red Wings
Will John Gibson be a game changer for the Red Wings? Consistency is Detroit’s problem. The arrival of John Gibson, coming from Anaheim, could be key. Gibson, with a .911% save percentage in 29 appearances last season, has the potential to regain his form as a number 1 goalie.Florida Panthers
Are the Panthers built for a three-peat? Despite Bill Zito’s impressive work in free agency, Matthew Tkachuk’s health and team fatigue are concerns. Will the Panthers be able to maintain their dominance?Montreal Canadiens
Can the Canadiens’ youth movement produce another playoff run?
Was last season a fluke? With the arrival of Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, Montreal seeks internal growth. The development of Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, and Juraj Slafkovsky will be key.Ottawa Senators
Has Ottawa adequately addressed its offensive depth?
The lack of scoring in Ottawa is a concern. Will internal improvement, including Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund, be enough to boost the Senators’ offense?Tampa Bay Lightning
Can Tampa Bay’s offense maintain an elite scoring level? Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring team last season. Will Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and Nikita Kucherov be able to maintain their level and compete with their division rivals?Toronto Maple Leafs
How will Toronto evolve without Mitch Marner? Marner’s departure leaves a significant void. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares will have to take on more responsibility. How will the team adapt to this new stage?Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Did Carolina do enough to address her annotation issues? The arrival of Nikolaj Ehlers is a reinforcement, but there are still doubts about the offense. Will Logan Stankoven or Seth Jarvis be able to compensate for the lack of depth at center?Columbus Blue Jackets
Will Columbus’ defense derail them? The Blue Jackets need to improve their defense. Will internal improvement be enough to achieve this? Ivan Fedotov’s performance in goal could be key.New Jersey Devils
How will Jack Hughes’ health affect the Devils’ season? Hughes is crucial to the team’s success. The priority is to keep him on the ice. How can the Devils help Hughes maintain his presence in the game?New York Islanders
How will Matthew Schaefer impact the Islanders’ defense? Schaefer, selected in the draft, could be key to the future of the defense. Will he start his NHL career immediately?New York Rangers
How will Mike Sullivan restructure the Rangers? Sullivan has to decide where to play Mika Zibanejad and how to compensate for Chris Kreider’s departure. How will the defense be reorganized with the arrival of Vladislav Gavrikov?Philadelphia Flyers
Have the Flyers improved enough in the right places? The Flyers need to improve at center and in goal. Will Trevor Zegras be a success at center and will Dan Vladar improve the performance in goal?Pittsburgh Penguins
Would the Penguins really trade Sidney Crosby?
Is this the time to move on from Crosby? Crosby is under contract until 2026-27, but he’s looking to compete for a championship. Could the Penguins find a suitable trade partner?
