The 2024 NHL season is upon us, and the excitement is palpable across the league and its fanbase. From the introduction of the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City to the movement of marquee players like Steven Stamkos, there is no shortage of storylines to track this year.
But with every new season comes a series of questions. Which team is ready to make a deep playoff run? Which team might falter? The TWSN hockey analysts are here to provide a final preview of the 2024 season and tackle some of the most pressing questions as the puck gets ready to drop.
Which team excites you the most for the upcoming season?
Michael Seitz: I have two teams in mind: the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings.
The Predators made three major moves, signing Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault as free agents while also locking up Juuse Saros with a massive extension. They quietly accumulated 99 points last season and have now significantly improved. With superstar Filip Forsberg leading the way, Nashville is going to be a formidable force.
As for the Red Wings, they narrowly missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year. Detroit already has a young, dynamic core, and they had a strong offseason bringing in talent to support it.
Vladimir Tarasenko and re-signing Patrick Kane were the headline moves, but adding Cam Talbot and Erik Gustafsson will also prove to be shrewd decisions. With Boston and Tampa Bay weakening, Detroit is poised to take advantage and return to postseason hockey.
Dan Ivan: The New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators excite me the most. Both teams made key additions that elevate them to serious contenders. New Jersey finally solidified their goaltending, while Nashville added some much-needed scoring depth to their Top 6 forwards. Both teams are going to make a lot of noise this season.
Michael Straw: Since Nashville has already been mentioned, I’ll change it up. I’m really excited to see what Montreal does this season. I might be higher on the Canadiens than most, but I love their forward group. With the addition of Patrik Laine, they could be a real threat once he finds his rhythm.
I also think Cayden Primeau will step up this year, finally securing the starting goalie spot from Samuel Montembeault. While most don’t expect Montreal to make the playoffs, I believe they could surprise people and sneak in as a wild card team.
I’m also eager to see how Washington fares, especially with Alex Ovechkin inching closer to the all-time goals record.
