We’re back with more NHL futures as we continue to gear up for the 2024-25 season.
This time I’m going over three teams that I’m keeping my eye on, along with a prediction as to whether or not I see them making the playoffs.
Ottawa Senators to Make Playoffs (+125, DraftKings)
Last Season: 37-41-4, 78 Points
Eventually, something has to give with the Ottawa Senators, right?
How many times has this team led us to believe that they were “up next”? Far too many times.
Last season, something needed to be done. Ottawa’s loyalty to its people started to become a massive flaw in how the organization handles business. In November, the Senators let go of long-time general manager Pierre Dorion with Steve Staios taking the reins. Eventually, Staios let go of head coach D.J. Smith, and he then brought on Travis Green once the Senators’ season concluded.
All the Sens needed was a breath of fresh air, and I’m liking what I've seen thus far. We know the damage captain Brady Tkachuk (37 goals, 74 points), as well as Claude Giroux (21 goals, 64 points) and Drake Batherson (28 goals, 66 points), can dish out. Luckily for the Sens, they get back Tim Stutzle (18 goals, 70 points), Thomas Chabot (9 goals, 30 points) and Josh Norris (16 goals, 30 points) from injury.
Not only that, Ottawa signed veterans David Perron and Michael Amadio, who provide much-needed bottom-six depth. Additionally, the team traded for former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Linus Ullmark, who took a backseat in Boston last season but still managed to post a .915 SV% and a 14.8 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Two areas of the game that Ottawa desperately yearned for have quickly been addressed. So now it’s time to put up or shut up. The Senators are making the playoffs this year. They’re going to be well-coached, have an immense amount of depth, and now have the goaltending that has escaped them for years.
Utah Hockey Club to Make Playoffs (+175, DraftKings)
Last Season: 36-41-5, 77 Points
There is finally a glimmer of hope in this organization. The franchise that was once the Arizona Coyotes has moved to Utah, providing them a sense of stability that the team hasn't felt in more than 20 years.
Apart from those glorious jerseys that we will all sorely miss, the Coyotes had little to like. Forever in limbo, playing in a college arena, threatening to move year after year, bankruptcy, corrupt owners – I could go on. It’s just nice for the now-Utah Hockey Club to have some sense of purpose.
On the surface, there’s a lot to like about this roster. Utah is led by unheralded superstar Clayton Keller. For the past three years, Keller has registered more than 60 points, including in 2022-23, when he averaged more than a point per game.
It’s also rolling out highly touted youngsters in Logan Cooley (20 goals, 44 points last season), Josh Doan (nine points in 11 games) and Dylan Guenther (18 goals, 35 points), who are poised for breakout seasons. Not to mention adding Stanley Cup-winning veterans Mikhail Sergachev, Ian Cole and Kevin Stenlund to the mix.
Utah excites me as a bettor. Along with its high-end talent, it boasts quality goaltending in Masterson Trophy winner Connor Ingram. Ingram led the league last season in shutouts while posting a .907 SV%, and an 8.3 GSAx.
DraftKings doesn't seem to agree, giving Utah +175 odds to make the playoffs, and I can’t blame them. However, I see too much potential and excitement – the latter being unheard of for this franchise. If Utah’s hockey fans are anything similar to how it supports the NBA’s Jazz, you can bet that the Delta Center is going to be rocking nightly.
Los Angeles Kings to Miss Playoffs (+195, DraftKings)
Last Season: 44-27-11, 99 Points
We’ve come a long way with the Kings in a matter of a year. Last offseason, I predicted them to win the Stanley Cup in 23-24, but after firing coach Todd McClellan midseason and bringing on Jim Hiller, things didn’t work out as I planned.
Los Angeles managed to make the playoffs but got throttled in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers.
Goaltending will continue to be a sore spot for this organization. The Kings plan on rolling out Darcy Kuemper as their starting netminder, who’s fresh off a career-worst season last season with the Capitals (.890 SV%, -4.8 GSAx).
I don’t think Kuemper has a repeat performance this year, but I’m not sold on him. He turns 35 in May, and he's notoriously injury-prone. One big injury and that leaves the Kings to rely on either David Rittich or Pheonix Copley, who are far from reliable options.
The core in LA is also aging. Captain Anze Kopitar (26 goals, 70 points) and Drew Doughty (15 goals, 50 points) can still go, but there are a lot of miles on those wheels. I like Adrian Kempe (28 goals, 75 points) and Kevin Fiala (29 goals, 73 points) a lot, but neither is an elite play driver.
As I mentioned before, I think Utah has a real shot at jumping ahead of LA, along with Minnesota and possibly Seattle. At +195, I see a ton of value here for the Kings to miss the playoffs.
