Your Guide to the NHL 2024/25: Pacific Division

Like previous seasons, I will continue to rate each team section from 1-5. The overall score will determine the team rankings. To keep the text from dragging on too long, I've compiled the results instead of going into each individual player that forms the basis of the rating. I will continue using the same model as in previous seasons. I remind you that models, while useful, are just one tool in a larger toolbox.

Preview of the NHL 2024/25

As usual, many teams have made moves, something I always love from a betting perspective. It creates opportunities for us bettors to find an edge before the market adapts to the changes.

Last year, we saw an exciting final where the Edmonton Oilers came back from a 3-0 deficit against Florida to tie 3-3 before the Panthers finally decided the outcome in the seventh and final game. This year, the Edmonton Oilers enter as the Stanley Cup favorites. Can they handle the pressure of being the favorites? Join me as I dive into every team in the NHL and share my winners, losers, and major surprises!

8. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks finished dead last in the Western Conference last season, and they are likely to remain near the bottom again this year. The Sharks are still a team in rebuilding mode, but there are glimmers of hope. First overall pick Macklin Celebrini will make his NHL debut this season, expected to step straight into the spotlight as a top-line center. Fourth overall pick Will Smith will also take on a central forward role. The Sharks are not afraid to trust their young talent right from the start, as we saw last season with William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund, who earned significant trust from the coaching staff. The Sharks have nothing to lose by giving their youngsters plenty of ice time, fully aware that the playoffs are a distant dream at this stage.

San Jose hasn’t just added players through the draft. This season, we’ll also see Tyler Toffoli, Alex Wennberg, Cody Ceci, Barclay Goodrow, and Jake Walman in Sharks jerseys. Toffoli, in particular, is still a top-six forward in the NHL and will be a welcome addition alongside the young players. Alexander Wennberg signed a favorable contract when he was traded to the Sharks over the summer, worth $10 million over 2 years. His defensive skills will be of great use to the Sharks, although he’s not lacking offensively either. However, these additions won’t make much of a difference to the Sharks’ final standings, but they’ll be important in supporting players like Macklin Celebrini.

The Sharks also have an exciting name in net this season. Prospect Yaroslav Askarov was recently traded to the Sharks and is predicted to have a bright future. Maybe, for once, the Sharks can find a goalie worth investing in? It will take a long time before the Sharks seriously challenge for the playoffs again, but the future looks bright, and they will be much more watchable this season.

7. Anaheim Ducks

Like the San Jose Sharks, the Anaheim Ducks have been in rebuilding mode for the past few seasons. However, the Ducks are a bit further along in their rebuild. Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, and Trevor Zegras are all still young but have already managed to establish themselves in the NHL. The team is young, and the expectations should reasonably reflect that. Still, last season was below expectations. The team struggled, and when injuries began to pile up, Anaheim collapsed like a house of cards. They ended up third last in the Western Conference, with just 59 points. It wasn’t a disaster for a team not expected to make the playoffs, but it wasn't acceptable either.

So, what has happened this season? Not much of note, really. Robby Fabbri and Brian Dumoulin have been brought in, while Max Jones and Jakob Silfverberg have left. Nothing that will make a significant difference. Anaheim’s hopes rest on the younger players continuing to develop if they are to hope for an improved result. A good start would be to stay healthy this season—that would already be a big win.

I’m skeptical about who will be this team’s top center. Zegras doesn’t seem to be considered for that role anymore. McTavish or Carlsson should lead the first line. My guess is that Leo Carlsson will eventually take over that role. This also leaves Anaheim wondering about Trevor Zegras' future and whether he’s a player they want to continue investing in. The young forward group will still be accompanied by Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano. They’re not superstars, but they are solid forwards who can lead by example.

Among the defensemen, the question is similar—who will be the top defenseman? Zellweger or Mintyukov, most likely. Both have shown strong play and have bright futures ahead, though they are only 20 years old. Anaheim exudes youthful energy, with a few exceptions. In goal, veteran John Gibson will continue to hold the starter role, with Lukas Dostal as backup. The Ducks aren’t likely to challenge for the playoffs this season, but hopefully, they can stay healthy and take a step forward.

6. Calgary Flames

I’ve been rooting for Calgary in the past few seasons, hoping they would bounce back and become playoff contenders. After last season and the trades made over the summer, it’s time to lower those expectations. The biggest news is that Jacob Markström will no longer be in goal for the Flames this season. He’s moved to the Ottawa Senators. This leaves Calgary with Dustin Wolf and Daniel Vladar in net, which is undoubtedly a significant downgrade. Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington have also departed, replaced by Anthony Mantha—a downgrade that weakens the top six forwards.

Last season, Calgary finished 18 points behind the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. I expect a similar outcome this season. The Flames’ roster might be somewhat underrated, but the performances have been lacking since the major changes a few seasons ago. Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich haven’t been able to shoulder the responsibility placed on them, and Calgary can no longer be considered a playoff team.

What still works in Calgary’s favor is their forward depth. Having players like Nazem Kadri, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Martin Pospisil in a projected third line shows decent forward depth. The problem, however, lies in the fact that the projected top six no longer looks particularly strong. Huberdeau has struggled since being traded to the Flames, and his production is nowhere near what it was in Florida, where he scored 115 points in the 2021/22 season. Without the offensive output the Flames were hoping for and without a top-tier goalie, the future looks grim for Calgary, a team in decline.

5. Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have become synonymous with consistency and playoff appearances. With 99 points, 104 points, and 99 points over the last three seasons, they have been reliable performers. However, each of those seasons ended in a first-round playoff exit against the Edmonton Oilers. While the differences between the teams may not have been glaring before, it will become apparent this season. The Kings have lost several key players, and I’m no longer sure they can maintain the same level of consistency.

This summer saw the departure of Viktor Arvidsson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Carl Grundstrom, Blake Lizotte, Matt Roy, and Cam Talbot. In their place are Warren Foegele, Tanner Jeannot, Joel Edmundson, and Darcy Kuemper. No one can deny that this is a significant drop in quality. The swap of Dubois for Kuemper makes sense, as Dubois failed to live up to expectations. But I don’t see Kuemper offering much more upside compared to Talbot, especially at twice the cost. Arvidsson struggled with injuries last season, playing just 18 games, but he recorded 26 goals and 33 assists the season before. The Kings have not replaced his offensive prowess. However, the heaviest loss is likely Matt Roy, who will be replaced by Joel Edmundson in defense—perhaps the biggest downgrade of the offseason.

The Kings still have a good enough team to make the playoffs and will be favored to do so. Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Philipp Danault, Drew Doughty, and Mike Anderson are capable of carrying the team. However, there’s no doubt that the roster is weaker this season, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bet against the Kings, especially as teams around them have strengthened.

4. Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken have been a consistent topic since I started writing for our Swedish sister site, 1X2.se, when the team debuted three years ago. Their first season was a flop, but the next season they surprised everyone by reaching the 100-point mark. In the playoffs, they shocked many by eliminating the defending champions, Colorado Avalanche, in the first round. They were heavily underrated that season, something I pointed out repeatedly. Before last season, I downgraded them, which led to some feedback in my inbox, but ultimately, I was right. They finished with 81 points and missed the playoffs. So how should we view the Kraken this season?

This summer saw a few interesting players arrive. Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour are excellent additions. Financially, they aren’t the best contracts, maybe even some of the worst, but right now, they boost Seattle's chances of making the playoffs. Stephenson is a playmaker, and even though his production dipped a bit last season, he’ll be a welcome addition, adding depth to an already deep forward group. Brandon Montour is an offensively skilled defenseman of top-pairing caliber, a significant upgrade from Justin Schultz, who left Seattle. Seattle’s defense is now better than ever, with Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, and Jamie Oleksiak still in the mix.

With the addition of Chandler Stephenson, Seattle’s forward group continues to look exciting. It’s always been a team with great depth, and Stephenson adds to that theme. Seattle is also hoping for André Burakovsky to stay healthy and return to the level of production he’s had in the past. In goal, it will still be Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord. Daccord is coming off a solid season where he earned more trust, growing into his NHL role with 46 starts and a save percentage of 91.6%. Seattle looks interesting ahead of this season, and with the bookmakers’ valuations much more reasonable than last year, I’m tempted to place some bets on them and rank them higher!

3. Vegas Golden Knights

It’s now time for Vegas to face the consequences of their salary cap maneuvers. The Golden Knights have a roster that now fits within the salary cap, but it’s looking alarmingly thin on the forward side, with not many direct internal replacements available. Vegas could face major challenges in continuing to be a top team.

Let’s start with what’s gone: Jonathan Marchessault, Anthony Mantha, Chandler Stephenson, William Carrier, Michael Amadio, and Logan Thompson. The only team that I think comes close to losing as much quality is the Winnipeg Jets. Vegas has brought in Alexander Holtz, Victor Olofsson, and Ilya Samsonov in return. The incoming players are nowhere near the caliber of those who left. The void left by stars like Marchessault and Stephenson will become painfully clear to many. Of course, it’s not fair to compare them directly, as these players were brought in to fill gaps under the salary cap, and more responsibility will now fall on Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and William Karlsson. These are world-class players, but the quality surrounding them is thinning out. It also doesn’t help that Stone hasn’t played over 70 games in a season since 2018. Jack Eichel isn’t the picture of health either, playing just 63 games last season and 67 the year before. If this duo misses 20-30 games, as they often have, Vegas could face serious problems, especially without Marchessault to carry the team in their absence.

The defensive core remains strong, still among the best in the league. Noah Hanifin, Alex Pietrangelo, and Shea Theodore, along with goaltender Adin Hill, are reasons to believe Vegas shouldn’t have too much trouble making the playoffs again. However, I find it quite plausible that with a few key injuries, the Golden Knights could struggle to secure a direct playoff spot. There’s definitely value in betting against Vegas. The bold bettor can even put a small stake on them missing the playoffs entirely. I’m a bit more conservative and will settle for a different bet.

2. Vancouver Canucks

Credit where credit is due! Vancouver finally managed to put together a full season of strong performances from start to finish. The team has previously had an uncanny ability to wake up only when it was already too late. After a strong regular season, they finished third in the Western Conference last season, thanks in large part to the high efficiency of their star forwards. J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser led the way with 111 goals between them during the regular season. It doesn’t hurt that the team has one of the league’s best defensemen in Quinn Hughes or that Thatcher Demko once again showed why he is one of the best goalies in the world.

Heading into this season, the team has made a few changes. Whether they are for better or worse remains to be seen, but I’m optimistic. Elias Lindholm, Ilya Mikheyev, Ian Cole, and Nikita Zadorov have all left. In their place, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood, Derek Forbort, Daniel Sprong, and Vincent Desharnais have joined the team. Sprong is a personal favorite of mine—he’s inexpensive but offers a lot of offensive upside. Over the past two seasons, he has scored 39 goals in 142 games with limited ice time in Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings. For $975,000, he’s a steal. The biggest trade that has garnered the most attention is the departure of Elias Lindholm, who will be replaced by Jake DeBrusk. Lindholm never quite found his groove in Vancouver during his limited time there. It will be interesting to see if he can live up to the contract he got in Boston. I think Jake DeBrusk is a perfect fit for the Canucks—a defensively skilled forward who also has 20-30 goals in him. He should be an ideal partner for Pettersson to balance that line. Danton Heinen is an acquisition that has flown under the radar for many. He recorded 17 goals and 19 assists with Boston last season and will likely be of great use on a projected third or fourth line in Vancouver. I also expect the always underrated Conor Garland to make a big impact. The trigger-happy third-line forward scored 20 goals last season. In other words, Vancouver won’t be solely reliant on production from their top players. There is enough depth to carry the team when the stars aren’t performing.

Vancouver heads into this season with a very strong forward group. It’s deeper than it has been in a long time, while all the star players remain. I also expect great things from their star goalie, Thatcher Demko, again this season. While it’s a long shot for Vancouver to win the Stanley Cup, it’s not impossible, and they should be able to challenge any team in the playoffs.

1. Edmonton Oilers

Rarely has a team been packed with as much firepower as the Edmonton Oilers. There’s no doubt they are the Stanley Cup favorites, as the bookmakers rate them. I’d be fascinated if someone argued otherwise. This summer saw a few moves. Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Cody Ceci, and Philip Broberg have left, while the Oilers have brought in Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. The team, which already had an incredible group of forwards last season, has somehow strengthened it even further. Could this be the best forward group we’ve seen in the salary cap era? Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jeff Skinner, and Viktor Arvidsson form a ridiculously strong top six.

Edmonton had a shaky start to last season, but once they found their stride, no team could really match them. It wasn’t until the Stanley Cup Finals that they faltered. The Florida Panthers proved to be a bit too strong, and in the seventh and decisive game, the Oilers were defeated. It’s rare for a finalist to retain all of their key players and even look slightly better heading into the following season. Neither Skinner nor Arvidsson are young anymore, but there’s no doubt they are both very capable goal scorers. Skinner has consistently scored over 30 goals, even in his best seasons with a mediocre Buffalo team. Arvidsson has similar potential, provided he stays healthy. The big concern is Arvidsson’s health—he only played 18 games during the regular season last year.

Of course, it’s not just the forwards who deserve attention. The Oilers had one of the league’s best defensemen last season in Evan Bouchard, with 18 goals and 64 assists, underscoring his importance from the blue line. Strengthening the defense with the defensively skilled Ty Emberson, one of the few bright spots on the San Jose Sharks last season, is also a positive move. They still have Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse as well. Edmonton would likely have loved to renegotiate Nurse’s contract, though there is still potential in him. The only question mark lies with the goalies. Stuart Skinner, however, found his groove during the season and had positive underlying numbers—something hard to believe for a goalie who faced significant criticism in the first half of the season. Calvin Pickard as the backup goalie lowers the overall rating, even though he also improved as the season progressed. In conclusion, the Edmonton Oilers are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but they are also priced accordingly. I think it’s fair to put some money on them as winners, even though they are the favorites. I also have a long-shot bet that I’m placing a small wager on.

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