NHL Teams Face Season of Shifting Fortunes
Capitals Eyeing Ovechkin’s Legacy, Devils Seek Depth
As the NHL season approaches, several teams find themselves at pivotal moments, balancing veteran leadership with emerging talent and strategic offseason moves. From the Capitals aiming to make Alex Ovechkin‘s potential final season memorable, to the Devils reinforcing their lineup, the landscape is shifting.
Capitals Seek a Special Farewell Season
The Washington Capitals, tallying 107 points, are gearing up for what could be **Alex Ovechkin**’s last NHL campaign. The team hopes for repeat career performances from forwards **Dylan Strome**, **Pierre-Luc Dubois**, **Tom Wilson**, **Aliaksei Protas**, and **Connor McMichael**, alongside defenseman **Jakob Chychrun**. After finishing atop the Eastern Conference and exiting in the second round, their offseason additions include bottom-six forward **Justin Sourdif** and defenseman **Declan Chisholm**. They also re-signed **Anthony Beauvillier**, but a top-six winger remains elusive. General Manager **Chris Patrick** acknowledged efforts to make a significant move, possibly for **Ehlers**, who ultimately signed with the Hurricanes.
Devils Bolster Depth for Consistency
The New Jersey Devils, with 71 points, have made subtle but impactful additions. Veteran forwards **Brown** and **Evgenii Dadonov** are expected to enhance 5-on-5 scoring. Goalie **Jake Allen** inked a five-year, $9 million deal, set to complement **Jacob Markstrom**. The Devils are also looking to rookie forwards **Arseniy Gritsyuk** and **Shane Lachance** for secondary scoring. With defenseman **Johnathan Kovacevic** sidelined by a knee injury, **Simon Nemec** and **Seamus Casey** will be crucial for defensive stability as they vie for increased ice time.
Kings Aim to Break Playoff Drought
The Los Angeles Kings, accumulating 63 points, have faltered in the first round of the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, each time against the Oilers. While the offseason saw no major free agency splashes, the Kings fortified their roster with experienced players. Stanley Cup champions **Corey Perry** and **Brian Dumoulin** join forward **Joel Armia** and goaltender **Anton Forsberg**, adding valuable depth. These acquisitions could provide the impetus needed for the Kings to advance further in the postseason.
Wild Balance Questions with Emerging Stars
The Minnesota Wild, with 42 points, still grapple with the need for a No. 1 center and face uncertainty around restricted free agent **Marco Rossi**. However, **Kirill Kaprizov** stands as one of the league’s premier forwards, poised for a scoring title run if he remains healthy. **Matt Boldy** and **Brock Faber** are anticipated to continue their ascent into stardom. Despite lingering questions, the Wild harbor significant hope for a playoff berth and a deeper postseason run, having not won a series since 2015. Young prospects like 19-year-old defenseman **Zeev Buium** and forwards **Liam Ohgren** and **Danila Yurov** could also make immediate impacts.
Senators Set Playoff Bar Higher
The Ottawa Senators, earning 36 points, have established reaching the playoffs as the minimum expectation, a standard unmet since 2018 until last season. Offseason moves were minimal, including acquiring defenseman **Jordan Spence** from the Kings and signing veteran center **Lars Eller** for a fourth-line role. The team will lean heavily on its established core, led by captain **Brady Tkachuk**. Ottawa needs to improve its offense, having averaged 2.95 goals per game, ranking 14th among playoff teams. Expectations are high for middle-six centers **Dylan Cozens** and **Shane Pinto** to bolster secondary scoring behind **Tkachuk**, **Drake Batherson**, and **Tim Stutzle**. The Senators may explore adding another scoring forward during the season.
Canadiens Target Postseason Success
Similar to the Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, with 34 points, also aim for playoff contention. Last season, they secured the second wild card and showed flashes of potential, particularly with rookie forward **Ivan Demidov** becoming a fixture. The team’s excitement is palpable, fueled by a dynamic top line featuring **Nick Suzuki**, **Cole Caufield**, and **Juraj Slafkovsky**. The addition of defenseman **Noah Dobson** via trade with the Islanders further elevates optimism. The impressive rookie season of 21-year-old defenseman **Lane Hutson**, who captured the Calder Trophy with 66 points (6 goals, 60 assists), also bolsters expectations. For the first time in years, the Canadiens face the pressure of meeting high expectations, a challenge that will define their path to postseason contention.
Blues Eye Continued Momentum
The St. Louis Blues, with 30 points, made a remarkable late-season surge to qualify for the playoffs, boasting the NHL’s best points percentage (.796) from February 8th onward. They pushed the Jets to seven games in the first round. Since then, the Blues have revamped their depth, adding forwards **Pius Suter** and **Nick Bjugstad** while moving **Radek Faksa** and **Zachary Bolduc**. Defenseman **Logan Mailloux**, acquired from Montreal, has potential to become a top-four defenseman. The Blues are considered a threat in the Central Division, capable of securing a playoff spot and challenging stronger divisional rivals like the Avalanche, Stars, and Jets. Continued strong play from goaltender **Jordan Binnington**, who is also a contender for Canada’s Olympic starting job, will be critical.
