Three Bold Predictions For NHL Teams In 2025

As the calendar year of 2024 comes to a close, it’s a great time to chime in with a few predictions for 2025. Here are three bold NHL predictions for the coming year:

Prediction 1: The Toronto Maple Leafs finally win second-round series but get eliminated in Eastern Conference Final

The Toronto Maple Leafs always get more than their share of attention, and for good reason – their fan base is massive.

For that reason, Leafs fans and non-Leafs fans are well aware the only metric that matters for the Buds is their performance in the post-season.

We had Toronto as the second-best team in the Atlantic Division in our pre-season predictions, but we may have underestimated them, as the Leafs have occupied the top spot in the Atlantic multiple times this year.

That’s the regular season addressed, but the meat of this prediction is that, at long last, the Maple Leafs will not only win their first-round series, but they’ll win a second-round series for the first time since 2001-02. That will mean they likely eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, but we’re not nearly so confident in Toronto’s play in the Eastern Conference final series.

When the Leafs do get to that third series showdown – whether it’s against the Carolina Hurricanes or New Jersey Devils coming out of the Metropolitan Division – we expect the Buds will stumble and get eliminated before they can make it to the Cup final.

The question after that is, whether they stay with that core Leafs group for yet another season. The answer to that question will be “yes,” whether Buds fans like it or not.

When you’ve built up a deep and talented roster still in its prime, it’s very tough to tear that group down. And Toronto’s two series wins next spring will be enough for Leafs management to double down on their roster and keep key pieces in place for another lengthy run in the 2025-26 campaign.

Related: Is Toronto Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner Worth A Larger Cap Hit Than Other 'Core Four' Players?

Prediction 2: The Colorado Avalanche get captain Gabriel Landeskog back in time for the playoffs, but the thin Avalanche roster gets steamrolled in the first round.

The Avalanche have been without Landeskog for nearly two-and-a-half seasons after the 32-year-old suffered a major knee injury. But comments from the Avs in October were positive, and they were decent again in December, so we’re predicting Colorado’s captain will be back by the time the next post-season begins.

That said, we’re not predicting Landeskog will be his old stellar self when he comes back. It will probably take everything he has just to keep up with the pace of playoff play, and the Avalanche may have to settle for Landeskog never quite playing like his old self.

The Avalanche’s overall lack of depth — especially in goal and at forward — will mean Colorado doesn’t have the talent base needed to go on a deep post-season run unless they only play their top stars.

The way the Avalanche have played so far this season, we don’t think they’ll have home-ice advantage in their first-round playoff series next spring. And if they’re taking on a team like the Winnipeg Jets or Dallas Stars, the Avalanche won’t have what it takes to win an opening-round series.

At that point, will there be major changes to Colorado? No. Star right winger Mikko Rantanen will stay with the Avs on a lucrative contract he signs next summer, and the Avalanche’s defense corps will remain intact. Colorado’s goaltending may change, but other than that, the Avalanche will run it back with most of their current talent in 2025-26. And it will be very difficult for them to thrive in a competitive Central Division.

Related: Three NHL Forward Duos Who've Been Unbelievably Good This Season

Prediction 3: The Pittsburgh Penguins will finally start to tear down their roster, trading Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang after the Penguins fail to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Penguins have been an up-and-down team this season, but though they’re fourth in the Metropolitan Division, they're outside of a wild-card spot and have a handful of teams below them that aren't far behind. That means there are plenty of potential reasons why the Penguins could fall down the Metropolitan Division standings and wind up missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

If and when the Pens miss the playoffs yet again, there will be pressure to drastically change the lineup. While captain Sidney Crosby isn’t going anywhere, trades for Malkin and Letang could finally become realistic enough to happen.

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will no longer have any loyalty to Letang and Malkin, and there's only so much patience these players can have. With Malkin set to enter the final season of his current contract in 2025-26, he will be the easiest to move if they convince him to waive his no-movement clause.

Letang has three more years left on his contract after this current year with a no-movement clause, but legitimate playoff contenders looking to take the next step could make major pitches for Letang’s services next summer. Even the Montreal Canadiens could strengthen their back end by bringing in a hometown guy.

While Penguins fans can’t thank Letang enough for his contributions, it’s time for him to move on and spend his final few seasons on a genuine Cup contender or the Canadiens. Letang and Malkin will fetch significant hauls on the trade front, and that’s reason enough for Dubas to trade them and rebuild the roster in a major way.

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