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It’s time for more bold NHL predictions and hot takes for the season ahead as opening week is well underway.
The Hockey News had 56 respondents give their predictions on a handful of topics, including the Stanley Cup champion in Part 1 and breakout players in Part 2. Now, it’s time for Part 3, with analysis by Adam Proteau. Enjoy:
What Player Will Benefit The Most From A Change In Scenery?
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Analysis:Â There was a wide range of answers to this question, but in first place was new Montreal right winger Laine, who joined the Canadiens in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets but begins the season on long-term injured reserve. Voters predict when Laine returns, the fresh start will help him improve his production.
Tied for second was a player – Anaheim’s Zegras – who has yet to be traded but who could well have a change of employer by season’s end. He surfaced in trade speculation last season after the Ducks traded Jamie Drysdale, and he’s falling down the lineup. Also tied for second was Askarov, who begins the year with San Jose’s AHL affiliate but has a path toward being the Sharks’ starter after asking for a trade out of Nashville.
Related: NHL Writers Poll: Predicting The Stanley Cup Champion And Major Award Winners In 2024-25
What Team Will Suffer The Most From Buyer’s Remorse?
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Analysis:Â While some contributors believe the Capitals are an improved group from the 2023-24 lineup that barely made the Stanley Cup playoffs, most poll respondents pegged Washington as a squad that will regret the many moves they made. That includes trading for seven more years of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane and Jakob Chychrun.
The Bruins added Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov but finished second in this category, followed by the new-look Predators with Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei and Kraken with Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour.
Related: NHL Writers Poll: Predicting Who Breaks Out, Who Steps Back, Who Gets Fired And More
Which Star Player Will Be Traded?
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Analysis: The top-two vote-getters in this category are two slick right wingers – Winnipeg’s Ehlers and Toronto’s Marner – in the final season of their current contract. The Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Hockey Club were some predicted destinations for Marner, while the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and Knights received multiple votes for Ehlers.
Ehlers and Marner face increased pressure because they’re in major hockey media markets, as is Nazem Kadri in Calgary. But just about every player who received at least one vote have surfaced in trade speculation.
What Rookie Are You The Most Excited To See?
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Analysis:Â New Flyers phenom Michkov had a year in the Russia-based KHL last season after being selected by Philadelphia in the 2023 NHL draft. He fell down the top of the draft because it wasn’t certain whether he’d join the NHL soon (or ever), but he’s now on the Flyers and can showcase his dynamic and exciting play.
Relatively close behind him is San Jose’s Celebrini, this year’s No. 1 pick, followed by Montreal defenseman Hutson. Only seven rookies got at least one vote, so it’s fair to expect the eventual Calder winner out of this group.
Who Will Challenge Connor McDavid For The Art Ross Trophy?
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Analysis: McDavid dominated voting for the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top point-producer, but his biggest challenger for that honor this year is Colorado’s MacKinnon, who finished second last season with 140 points. And last year’s Art Ross winner – Tampa Bay’s Kucherov, finished second on this question. He had 144 points, a career high he probably won’t reach again.
What Off-Season Move Is The Most Effective?
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Analysis:Â The New Jersey Devils were a popular pick to do major damage this season, and one of the biggest reasons why was the acquisition of goaltender Markstrom from the Flames. The 34-year-old Swede will have one of the best defense corps in the game in front of him this year, and Markstrom showed last season he could bounce back from an off-year.
Second in this category was Stamkos, who the Preds scooped up on the free-agent market, while Ottawa’s new goalie Ullmark – who received a huge contract extension Wednesday – followed by new Leafs coach Berube, new Bruins center Lindholm and new Sabres coach Ruff.
Who Is The NHL’s Most Overpaid Player?
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Analysis: Edmonton defenseman Nurse’s reputation took a beating in last year’s post-season, when he was a candidate to be a healthy scratch. But at a salary of $9.5 million per season – for the next six years – Nurse got nearly half the votes in this category. Beleaguered Flames left winger Huberdeau was next in this category, followed by new Capitals center Dubois, longtime Sharks defenseman Vlasic and Chicago blueliner Jones.
The 29-year-old Nurse is entering the third year of an eight-year contract, so for better or worse – and like everyone who received at least one vote here – he’s locked in with his current team for the foreseeable future and must make the most of it.
Who Is The NHL’s Most Underpaid Player?
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Analysis: At an annual average salary of $8.7 million, Crosby has provided excellent value to the Penguins for years now. And his new contract extension, which kicks in next season at the same salary, provides a huge hometown discount for the Pens – and that’s reflected in voting for this category.
In second place in voting was Vancouver captain Hughes, who is earning $7.85 million for the next three years. And in third was Edmonton D-man Bouchard, who had a breakout year last season and is locked in at $3.9 million for this season before he becomes an RFA next summer.
What Player Or Team’s Bad Season Was An Indicator Of Reality?
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Analysis: Huberdeau had another subpar result in offensive production last season, and at age 31, he’s entering the back nine of his NHL career, so voters in this category gave him the most votes.
Second was the re-tooled Penguins, then the rebuilding Flames and still-evolving Kraken. And Dubois has his share of skeptics he’ll improve his performance in Washington. In somewhat of a surprise, Buffalo star Thompson finished third, tied with the Senators and Sabres in general.
What Player Or Team’s Good Season Was An Aberration?
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Analysis: Florida’s Reinhart had a career-best season with 57 goals, but voters here are skeptical he can match or better that total again this year.
The upstart Flyers also have people who believe they’re not as good as they looked in the first half of 2023-24, while the Jets have six voters who see them as less than the sum of their parts this coming season. And the Oilers – who were one vote away from a Cup championship – garnered three votes here.
What Older Player Will Show The Most Signs Of Ageing?
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Analysis: Carolina’s Burns has been one of the most effective D-men of his generation, but he’ll turn 40 next March, and voters clearly expect he’ll have a drop-off in performance this year. Also getting a notable amount of votes – Boston’s Marchand, who’ll turn 37 in May, and Washington’s Ovechkin, who just turned 39.
What Backup Goalie Could End Up As A No. 1?
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Analysis: The Ducks’ No. 1 goalie, John Gibson, is recovering from appendicitis, which opened up another opportunity for backup Dostal to step in and make Anheim’s starter’s job his own. He already played 44 games last season and had a .902 save percentage on a rebuilding Ducks squad. And in Carolina, Kochetkov is seen as the goalie of the future once Frederik Andersen moves on. Also receiving many votes is Toronto’s Stolarz, who won a Cup with Florida last season and who could be the Leafs’ No. 1 man in net this year, especially if Joseph Woll can’t stay healthy.
Which City Will Be Rumored To Get The Next NHL Team?
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Analysis: Rumors of NHL expansion have been bubbling for months now, and the majority of THN’s poll voters think Houston could host the league’s 33rd team. Atlanta – which has had two kicks at the can with an NHL franchise but is working for a third – was second, followed by a distant third-place showing from Quebec City.
