As the 2024-25 NHL season concludes and the playoffs approach, it`s time to assess how teams performed relative to expectations. This season has been full of surprises, with some teams exceeding forecasts and others falling short of their goals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a prime example of a team that lived up to the hype. Predicted to be strong contenders in the Atlantic Division, they secured the top spot and are set to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round.
Toronto`s success is largely attributed to their core group of star players and the emergence of Matthew Knies as a key contributor. The addition of Chris Tanev bolstered their defense, and the solid goaltending from Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz has been crucial.
However, not all teams enjoyed the same fortune. The Nashville Predators, despite significant offseason spending, missed the playoffs by a considerable margin. The New York Rangers, after a promising start, experienced a dramatic downturn and also found themselves out of playoff contention.
Looking back at the preseason power rankings provides valuable context for understanding each team`s journey this season. Let`s examine the final power rankings and reflect on the initial expectations.
6
Blue Jackets
5
Avalanche
|
Rk
|
Teams
|
Chg
|
Rcrd
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Maple Leafs |
(6) The Leafs maintained their status as a top team for most of the season. Their core players excelled, and Matthew Knies emerged as a promising young star. Consistent goaltending from Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll also played a key role. They enter the playoffs with significant expectations. | 3 | 51-26-4 |
| 2 |
 Golden Knights |
(5) After a slow start, the Golden Knights have shown strong performance recently, largely due to Adin Hill`s improved play in goal, reminiscent of his 2023 Stanley Cup form. | — | 49-22-10 |
| 3 |
 Jets |
(7) Veteran players Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor had excellent seasons, supported by Gabe Vilardi and Nik Ehlers. However, Connor Hellebuyck`s likely Vezina Trophy win underscores his pivotal role in the team`s success. | 2 | 55-22-4 |
| 4 |
 Kings |
(20) Despite initial skepticism, the Kings` offense improved significantly, and Darcy Kuemper`s strong goaltending emerged. Their upcoming playoff series against the Oilers could have a different outcome this time. | 3 | 48-24-9 |
| 5 |
 Lightning |
(13) The Lightning continue to defy expectations, making strategic moves like replacing Steven Stamkos with Jake Guentzel and seeing Brandon Hagel achieve a 90-point season. With stars like Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, their championship aspirations remain strong. | 1 | 47-26-8 |
| 6 |
 Avalanche |
(15) The Avalanche significantly reshaped their roster throughout the season, upgrading their goaltending and forward depth, while still relying on Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. | 5 | 49-29-4 |
| 7 |
 Stars |
(1) Despite finishing the season less strongly than expected, the Stars possess deep forward talent and a capable goalie in Jake Oettinger. Miro Heiskanen`s health is a key factor for their playoff prospects. | 4 | 50-25-6 |
| 8 |
 Senators |
(17) The Senators` young core finally delivered, ending their playoff drought, aided significantly by the consistent goaltending of Linus Ullmark. | 3 | 44-30-7 |
| 9 |
 Panthers |
(4) Despite challenges including injuries and player suspensions, the defending champions Panthers are regaining health and remain well-positioned for a deep playoff run. | 4 | 47-31-4 |
| 10 |
 Capitals |
(22) The Capitals improved dramatically, going from barely making the playoffs to a top seed in the East, fueled by Alex Ovechkin`s scoring. Recent performance decline raises questions about their playoff form. | 2 | 51-21-9 |
| 11 |
 Hurricanes |
(10) The Hurricanes have shown flashes of being elite but also inconsistency. Scoring, especially with injuries to key forwards, remains their biggest concern heading into the playoffs. | 1 | 47-28-5 |
| 12 |
 Oilers |
(8) The Oilers haven`t reached their anticipated peak performance. Depth scoring and Stuart Skinner`s play have been issues, compounded by injuries to key players, making a Finals return challenging. | 2 | 47-29-5 |
| 13 |
 Blues |
(24) The Blues, under Jim Montgomery, dramatically improved, with Dylan Holloway`s contribution. They are now close to securing a playoff berth, a significant turnaround. | 4 | 44-30-8 |
| 14 |
 Devils |
(3) The Devils have underperformed preseason expectations, even before key injuries. Inconsistent play from key acquisitions and young players makes them playoff underdogs. | 2 | 42-32-7 |
| 15 |
 Canadiens |
(28) Lane Hutson`s emergence as a star rookie has significantly boosted the Canadiens` rebuild, pushing them into playoff contention and indicating a positive trajectory. | — | 39-31-11 |
| 16 |
 Hockey Club |
(9) The Utah Hockey Club, while showing promise with young talent, is still a step below playoff-caliber teams. Strategic additions could make them competitive next season. | 2 | 38-31-13 |
| 17 |
 Wild |
(18) Injuries hampered the Wild throughout the season, making their performance evaluation difficult. When healthy, they exceeded expectations and could be competitive in the playoffs. | — | 45-30-7 |
| 18 |
 Flames |
(21) The Flames` playoff contention was impressive, with Ryan Huska deserving coaching recognition. Despite positive individual performances, the team may regress next season. | 2 | 40-27-14 |
| 19 |
 Blue Jackets |
(31) The Blue Jackets` unexpected playoff contention is remarkable, considering preseason challenges. Strong performances from key players and prospects have fueled their hope. | 6 | 39-33-9 |
| 20 |
 Canucks |
(11) After initial high expectations, the Canucks struggled, with internal issues and decreased performance from key players derailing their season. | 1 | 38-29-14 |
| 21 |
 Red Wings |
(25) The Red Wings` playoff drought continues, raising questions about the team`s rebuild progress, especially with improving teams in their division. | 2 | 38-35-7 |
| 22 |
 Rangers |
(2) The Rangers experienced a significant collapse after a strong start, with key players underperforming and defensive issues derailing their preseason contender status. | 1 | 38-36-7 |
| 23 |
 Sabres |
(26) The Sabres continue to have similar seasons, showing flashes of potential with young players but lacking overall improvement needed for playoff contention. | 1 | 35-39-7 |
| 24 |
 Islanders |
(16) The Islanders, like the Sabres, are in a stagnant phase, lacking elite offensive talent since John Tavares` departure, potentially necessitating significant changes. | 4 | 35-34-12 |
| 25 |
 Ducks |
(30) The Ducks showed progress with young prospects, but still require veteran additions to fill significant roster gaps and improve overall competitiveness. | 1 | 35-37-9 |
| 26 |
 Flyers |
(27) The Flyers performed as expected, with Matvei Michkov shining as a rookie. The unexpected firing of John Tortorella raises questions about their rebuild strategy. | 2 | 33-38-10 |
| 27 |
 Kraken |
(23) The Kraken`s first season under Dan Bylsma was disappointing, with poor five-on-five play and underperforming key acquisitions, leaving the team`s direction unclear. | 1 | 35-41-6 |
| 28 |
 Penguins |
(19) Sidney Crosby`s exceptional play is a bright spot for the Penguins, but the team needs significant improvements in goaltending, defense, and scoring to return to playoff contention. | 1 | 33-36-12 |
| 29 |
 Bruins |
(12) The Bruins drastically declined, moving from contenders to lottery contenders due to questionable front office decisions, including coaching changes and free agent signings. | — | 33-39-10 |
| 30 |
 Blackhawks |
(29) Few positives emerged from the Blackhawks` season, aside from glimpses of potential from prospects. Their focus shifts back to the draft lottery. | 1 | 25-46-11 |
| 31 |
 Predators |
(14) After a historically expensive offseason, the Predators had one of their worst seasons, missing the playoffs. Their future direction remains uncertain. | 1 | 29-44-8 |
| 32 |
 Sharks |
(32) The Sharks` season, despite poor performance, was somewhat positive due to the development of top prospects. They are positioned for potentially consecutive top draft picks. | — | 20-49-12 |
