The 2024-25 NHL Season is underway. Just a few video games have been performed to date. Over the previous few days, NHLRumors.com has dropped its annual divisional rankings. Thus far, we’ve got given you the Metro, Atlantic, and Central Divisions. Now, we convey you the Pacific Division.
It was a bizarre yr final yr within the Pacific, with the Edmonton Oilers getting off to a sluggish begin to rebound to go to the Stanley Cup Closing. The Vancouver Canucks gained the division whereas the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights battled for the third spot.
Whereas the highest 4 groups are set, the remainder of the division can go both approach. The staff within the Bay Space improved, and no person is aware of what to make of the staff within the Emerald Metropolis. On the similar time, two rebuilds are occurring.
Let’s see what the Pacific Division has in retailer for this season.
NHL Pacific Division Rankings
1. Edmonton Oilers (Final yr completed Second)
No one expects the Edmonton Oilers to have an identical begin as final season. Whereas the primary few video games weren’t nice, the NHL Pacific Division is winnable for the Oilers.
Protection Will Be a Concern for the Edmonton Oilers This Season
Edmonton misplaced to the Florida Panthers in Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Closing final season, which didn’t sit properly with the Oilers. Edmonton had a busy low season, extending Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers saved Adam Henrique, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, and Mattias Janmark. Additionally they signed Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner and purchased Matthew Savoie from Buffalo.
The largest loss was on defence, because the St. Louis Blues gave Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway a proposal sheet. The Oilers defence took a success and is not so good as in Sport 7. Nonetheless, the Oilers offense is sweet sufficient to compensate for the deficiencies on protection and perhaps between the pipes with Stuart Skinner.
Skinner can preserve the staff on his again, however there are nights when he’s off his sport. The Oilers are too good to not end first within the division.
2. Vegas Golden Knights (Final 12 months Completed Fourh)
The Vegas Golden Knights want to bounce again this season, and if Jack Eichel performs like he did within the first two video games, Vegas might be again within the Stanley Cup Closing this yr.
The Vegas Golden Knights Offseason Is A Little Deceptive
Whereas it’s nonetheless early, the Golden Knights didn’t do a lot besides get gamers wholesome over the low season and add Victor Olofsson. Olofsson was Eichel’s operating buddy in Buffalo years in the past. The Golden Knights may even get a wholesome Tomas Hertl becoming a member of their membership. Although they misplaced Jonathan Marchessault to Nashville and traded Logan Thompson to Washington, Vegas exhibits they’re nonetheless a deep staff that may rating.
Final yr, the Golden Knights battled to make the playoffs, however with a protection corps that’s nonetheless the most effective within the NHL, this staff needs to be competing for one of many prime spots within the NHL Pacific Division. The Golden Knights are now not the Golden Misfits however the Empire of the NHL.
3. Vancouver Canucks (Final yr completed 1st)
The Vancouver Canucks got here out of nowhere final yr to win the Pacific Division. It was a complete offseason of Rick Tocchet, and every part broke the Canucks approach. This yr, issues are off to a rocky begin.
Ought to Their Be a Concern Concerning the Vancouver Canucks Goalies
Getting into the season, the Canucks have goalie points with Thatcher Demko not being one hundred pc. They have to flip to the feeling Arturs Silovs and the man they signed, Kevin Lankinen. By two video games, the Canucks blew two leads. Now, it’s early, however a few of the objectives Silovs gave up within the first sport weren’t good.
Offensively, the Canucks are nonetheless a superb staff, and Tocchet is attempting to get his staff to play with extra offense this season as a substitute of sitting again on leads after which hanging. That was their MO within the playoffs towards Nashville. With Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, once more, it can come all the way down to goaltending for the Canucks.
4. Los Angeles Kings (Final yr completed Third)
Everybody thinks the Los Angeles Kings could take a step again. Nonetheless, the Kings can keep on this division. They’ve expertise, with Quinton Byfield main the best way. However down the center, together with Byfield, the Kings have Anze Kopitar and Philip Danault.
Quinton Byfield Will Be a Stud for Los Angeles Kings This Season
Los Angeles moved Pierre-Luc Dubois to Washington in trade for Darcy Kuemper to repair their goalie scenario. That was a problem for the Kings the final couple of seasons within the playoffs. Nonetheless, the larger situation is that Drew Doughty will probably be out for a number of months as a result of a fractured ankle.
Anticipate Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke to step up in his absence. Up entrance, together with the trio talked about above, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, Arthur Kaliyev, and Alex Turcotte are nonetheless there. The Kings must make a gritty effort every evening.
5. Seattle Kraken (Final yr completed Sixth)
It’ll be a tricky yr for the Seattle Kraken. Even with the contracts of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson (who left Vegas by way of free company), the Kraken would not have sufficient scoring to make the playoffs. The yr they made the playoffs, every part broke proper for them.
NHL Free Company Contracts That Made You Go Whoa!!; Western Convention
Whereas Joey Daccord bought a brand new five-year extension with a $5 million AAV, they want Philipp Grubauer to play like he did when the Kraken made the playoffs two seasons in the past. This staff lacks goal-scoring, particularly five-on-five. Sure, Jordan Eberle stays, however one thing isn’t proper with this staff.
Matty Beniers is a superb participant, however is he a middle or a wing? The identical goes for Stephenson. What’s Shane Wright? When the Kraken made the playoffs, they led the NHL in five-on-five objectives. Final yr, they had been close to the underside of the league. That pattern is continuous although it’s nonetheless early. Seattle may have to combine issues up to achieve success.
6. Calgary Flames (Final yr completed Fifth)
Some could take a look at these rankings and ask if the Calgary Flames aren’t somewhat excessive this season within the NHL Pacific Division. The Flames have an opportunity to not be backside feeders within the division.
How Deep Ought to the Calgary Flames Rebuild Go?
There aren’t any distractions with the Flames this season. The brand new constructing is coming; the free brokers had been traded final season. It’s a younger staff that can play spoiler and arduous each evening. Jonathan Huberdeau appears like he’s mentally proper after the commerce shock.
Yegor Sharangovich (who’s injured now) desires a repeat efficiency. The Flames even have Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson again, Blake Coleman, Anthony Mantha, Ryan Lomberg, Kevin Bahl, MacKenzie Weegar. Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf are between the pipes. GM Craig Conroy is placing collectively a pleasant squad that will probably be good in just a few years with all of the picks, prospects, and draft capital he bought final season.
7. Anaheim Geese (Final yr completed Seventh)
The Anaheim Geese will probably be down close to the underside of the division. They may even end final. Nonetheless, there’s an excessive amount of expertise on this staff. They need to be higher than this; nonetheless, the correct mix isn’t there.
NHL Rumors: Anaheim Geese, and the New York Rangers
First, GM Pat Verbeek and Trevor Zegras don’t agree and his time might be coming to an finish. Nonetheless, they’ve Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Troy Terry, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Owen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov.
The Geese have expertise. Bear in mind when Anaheim had that trio of defensemen that made them the most effective within the league? These defensemen are lengthy gone and it’s a new wave. The problem for the Geese is they’re caught within the infinite rebuild cycle just like the Buffalo Sabres. One thing has to offer. Groups are calling on Vatrano, and he might be moved by the deadline.
8. San Jose Sharks (Final yr completed Eighth)
The San Jose Sharks completed useless final yr within the NHL. David Quinn was fired. However that staff was so dangerous that no coach was profitable with that roster. Whereas they’ve Macklin Celebrini, the primary general decide, who’s harm now, it’s nonetheless a creating roster, and it is going to be a short time till the Sharks are good once more.
NHL Rumors: San Jose Sharks, and the Edmonton Oilers
Together with Celebrini, the Sharks have Will Smith, William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, and Mario Ferraro. San Jose improved by including Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Ty Dellandria, Barclay Goodrow, Jake Walman, and Yaroslav Aksarov.
GM Mike Grier is constructing a superb basis. There may be nonetheless a protracted strategy to go within the Bay Space, however there’s a state of affairs the place the Sharks are out of the rebuild earlier than the Geese. Besides the Sharks nonetheless end on the backside once more this season, however extra aggressive.
