Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
The NHL Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday is that uncommon and joyous event when all 32 groups are in motion on the identical day.
It begins with the Washington Capitals on the Philadelphia Flyers (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) and rolls throughout the Los Angeles Kings on the Vegas Golden Knights (11 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+). Video games begin at 15-minute staggered begin occasions to maximise puck consumption on NHL Energy Play on ESPN+ (out there to all ESPN+ subscribers), and there is a whip-around present bringing you motion from all 16 matchups.
That is numerous hockey.
Which groups are price your time and a spotlight, not solely throughout the Frozen Frenzy however throughout the 2024-25 season?
It seems, all of them — for numerous components. Listed here are causes to observe all 32 groups this season, from famous person gamers to groups with championship aspirations to controversial storylines to at least one historic report chase enjoying out in Washington, D.C.
Right here we go, and benefit from the Frenzy.
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Atlantic Division
The hulking protection
The Bruins swear that dimension did not matter when constructing their blue line, that they have been simply focusing on the very best gamers that match their wants. It simply so occurs that the protection they’ve constructed may very well be the Boston skyline: They signed 6-foot-6 defenseman Nikita Zadorov this offseason to affix Brandon Carlo (6-5), Hampus Lindholm (6-4), Mason Lohrei (6-5) and Andrew Peeke (6-3) within the depth chart. Charlie McAvoy, their No. 1 defenseman, finds himself trying as much as his teammates at a mere 6-1.
Zdeno Chara is gone, however apparently his spirit lives on with the Bruins.
Can they finish the playoff drought?
There’s just one group within the “large 4” sports activities leagues that has skilled the type of postseason drought the Sabres are experiencing: The hapless New York Jets, who final made the playoffs in 2010. The Sabres’ final look within the Stanley Cup playoffs was in 2011, making this the longest postseason dearth in NHL historical past.
Optimism was excessive earlier than the season, with burgeoning stars akin to Tage Thompson and the return of long-time head coach Lindy Ruff — by the way, the final man to educate Buffalo to the playoffs. The outcomes aren’t there but, however there’s numerous expertise on this roster. They have to be a playoff group sooner or later, proper? Proper?
It is nonetheless “Showtime”
Some believed Patrick Kane’s profession may need been over after hip resurfacing surgical procedure in 2023, a process that different NHL gamers had undergone solely to return as a shell of themselves. However the former league MVP had a resurgent season for the Crimson Wings in 2023-24, with 27 factors in 50 video games.
The 35-year-old Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, signed a one-year cope with Detroit to convey “Showtime” again to the Motor Metropolis once more. He is the third highest-scoring American participant in NHL historical past (1,286 factors) behind Brett Hull (1,391) and Mike Modano (1,374).
Looking for a repeat efficiency
The Panthers gained their first Stanley Cup championship final season with a group that had scoring expertise, aggressive physicality and greater than just a little perspective courtesy of stars akin to Matthew Tkachuk. Florida returns nearly all of that roster this season seeking a second straight championship, and why not?
Each the Penguins and the Lightning have gained back-to-back championships since 2016. The Lightning additionally made the Stanley Cup Last in three straight seasons from 2020 to 2022, an Jap Convention three-peat that the Panthers try to match this season.
They’re out of the gate robust up to now, regardless of lacking star middle Aleksander Barkov for many of it.
The joys of Lane Hutson
Typically you simply should hearken to the group when a participant touches the puck. When Hutson has it on this stick at Bell Centre, you’ll be able to hear the excitement and see folks straighten up of their seats because the rookie defenseman begins easily skating via every zone. His offensive creativity is sort of a private highlights studio. His protection … nicely, he is a rookie defenseman, so that may typically add its personal type of pleasure.
The underside line: Few first-year gamers will make you tune on this season the way in which Lane Hutson will.
Linus Ullmark, franchise goalie
For years, the Bruins had the very best goaltending tandem within the NHL with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. However nothing lasts endlessly … particularly when each goalies needed to play upwards of 55 video games and the Bruins had roster wants below the constraints of the wage cap.
So Ullmark was traded to the Senators, clearing the way in which for Boston to signal Swayman to an eight-year contract extension and a $8.25 million annual cap hit. Three days later, Ullmark signed an extension of his personal: 4 years and the identical $8.25 million cap hit. The Senators had the league’s worst goaltending final season. Can Ullmark flip that round and switch the Senators right into a playoff group?
The most effective line in hockey?
One of many offseason’s greatest tales was when the Lightning let longtime captain Steven Stamkos go away as a free agent in favor of signing former Penguins star Jake Guentzel, who’s 4 years his junior. Guentzel slid into Stamkos’s outdated spot on Tampa Bay’s high line with Brayden Level and Nikita Kucherov, an MVP finalist final season.
He may need made a terrific factor even higher: By means of 4 video games, the trio was averaging 6.8 objectives per 60 minutes and surrendering simply 1.2 objectives per 60 defensively.
Mitch Marner and the murky future
Marner, 27, has been a member of the Leafs’ core of star gamers since getting into the league 9 seasons in the past. He is a blinding offensive participant, a Selke Trophy-nominated defensive participant and a play-driving winger … within the common season. As Toronto has skilled an absence of playoff success, a lot of the followers’ frustrations has been centered on Marner’s lack of postseason impression.
He is within the final yr of his contract. Will the Leafs re-sign him? Will they commerce him? Does he stroll away as a free agent? As typical with the Maple Leafs, there is no scarcity of drama.
Metropolitan Division
The Brind’Amour aesthetic
Throughout Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour’s 20-season NHL profession, he was good at just about every thing: Tallying factors, excelling defensively to the tune of two Selke Trophies and making an impression on particular groups. It is mentioned that some groups tackle the personalities of their coaches, and that is true right here: final season, Carolina was eighth in offense, fourth in protection, first on the penalty kill and second on the facility play.
Even with some downgrades of their lineup throughout the offseason, to observe the Canes is to observe a group that is fairly nice in all aspects of the sport. And like their coach when he was a participant, a kind of aspects is how exhausting Carolina is to play towards, an indicator of Rob the Bod’s six season behind the bench.
Enjoying via the grief
The reply right here ought to have been Johnny Gaudreau. It is nonetheless exhausting to course of that this outstanding athlete was taken from us means too quickly, because the 31-year-old Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, have been killed by a suspected drunken driver whereas using bicycles on Aug. 29 in New Jersey. The Blue Jackets have memorialized Johnny Hockey in a dozen methods this season, from helmet stickers to conserving his locker room stall unoccupied to creating their participant of the sport award a “donkey head hat,” as Gaudreau beloved calling folks “a donkey.”
Younger standouts like Adam Fantilli, Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson ought to all get their participant of the sport moments this season, reminding us that the long run in Columbus is shiny whereas honor the legacy of Johnny Gaudreau.
Torrid expectations
Two years in the past, the Devils regarded poised to problem for the Stanley Cup. Final season, that poise morphed into volatility, as New Jersey dropped 31 factors within the standings and completed seventh within the Metro Division in a season stuffed with accidents, underperformance and dashed expectations.
No group was extra aggressive in attempting to repair its flaws than the Devils after final season: Rebuilding their goaltending with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen; including veteran defensemen like Brett Pesce; constructing out their ahead depth; and hiring former Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe. After final season’s low, expectations are sky-high once more. Will the Devils ship?
The Bo and Barzal Present
The Islanders’ two most completed offensive gamers are forwards Bo Horvat (33 objectives final season) and Mathew Barzal (80 factors in 80 video games). They performed nearly all of the time on the identical line final season, and coach Patrick Roy has them collectively once more this season.
New York is not precisely an offensive juggernaut (twenty second within the NHL in objectives per sport final season) so Horvat and Barzal should shoulder a very good chunk of the scoring load on a group that is anticipated to be across the playoff bubble.
Time for Shesterkin to interrupt the financial institution?
The Rangers have among the best goaltenders on the planet in 28-year-old Igor Shesterkin. They realize it. Igor is aware of it. His brokers realize it, too. As a slew of star goaltenders signed contract extensions not too long ago, the Rangers and Shesterkin could not come to phrases on one earlier than the season forward of unrestricted free company subsequent summer season.
Stories declare he rejected an $88 million contract supply from the Rangers, which might have made him the very best paid NHL goalie of all time. Watching Shesterkin proceed to lift his value with all-star stage play — or doubtlessly decrease it if he unexpectedly struggles this season — is a part of the intrigue on a really gifted Rangers group this season.
Michkov Mania
The Flyers have not had an offensive rookie as gifted as ahead Matvei Michkov since Claude Giroux arrived on the scene in 2008-09. It may very well be argued that the Flyers have not had an offensive rookie this hyped since Eric Lindros arrived in 1992-23. Michkov has already proven flashes of the dynamic offensive sport that had followers shopping for his jersey earlier than he even performed a preseason sport for the Flyers.
There can be a studying curve for the 19-year-old phenom, however curmudgeonly coach John Tortorella has mentioned he does not plan on crushing that creativity.
“I am not fascinating in turning him right into a checker,” the coach mentioned. “We’re ravenous for the kinds of instinctive performs that he could make.”
The band performs on
Sidney Crosby (37), Evgeni Malkin (38), Kris Letang (37) and Erik Karlsson (34) are all nonetheless attempting to pry the Penguins’ competition window open of their NHL sundown years. Though strive telling that to Malkin, who began the season with 11 factors in seven video games; or Crosby, who stays one of many high facilities within the NHL.
If Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, it will be on the backs of this fab 4. Let’s get pleasure from them whereas we are able to.
The Gretzky chase
Heading into Tuesday, Alex Ovechkin was simply 41 objectives away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time profession objectives mark, and formally changing into the best goal-scorer in NHL historical past. Each purpose he scores this season is one crucial step nearer to a second that may transcend hockey.
The Capitals are absolutely embracing the chase, to the purpose the place they’ve secured a “presenting accomplice of Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of all-time NHL purpose scoring report,” who will sponsor an in-arena purpose tracker that’ll replace the margin between the Nice One and the Nice 8.
Central Division
The Connor Bedard Present, Yr 2
Bedard is the franchise savior for the Blackhawks, whose dynasty crumbled within the 10 seasons since their final Stanley Cup win. As an 18-year-old rookie, Bedard captured the Calder Trophy with 61 factors in 68 video games, together with 22 objectives, hitting the spotlight reel with frequency.
In Yr 2, Bedard has extra offensive expertise round him like Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi. Anticipate Bedard to placed on a heck of an encore efficiency, en path to superstardom — if he is not there already.
Cale Makar goes for 100 factors
Makar has completed lots in his six-year NHL profession: Rookie of the yr, the Norris Trophy as high defenseman, a Stanley Cup championship and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Due to accidents and truncated seasons, one milestone has eluded him: Scoring 100 factors within the common season. It is a feat completed by simply six defensemen in NHL historical past, most not too long ago Erik Karlsson in 2022-23.
With 12 factors in his first six video games, Makar is making an early offensive assertion for the Avs.
Is that this the yr?
The final two Western Convention finals matchups included the Dallas Stars. The final two Stanley Cup finals did not characteristic the Dallas Stars. Therefore, this group is decided to recover from the playoff hump to the Cup Last.
Regardless of two subsequent journeys in 2000 and 2020, the Stars have solely gained the Stanley Cup as soon as, in 1999. With a group stacked with established stars (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin), gamers of their prime (Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen) and younger reinforcements (Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven) in entrance of franchise goalie Jake Oettinger, the combination may be proper for the Stars to lastly shine the brightest this season.
Flower’s farewell tour
One NHL veteran that is skating off into the sundown is goalie Marc-Andre Fleury of the Wild, who signed a one-year contract extension in April and declared that his twenty first season could be his last journey across the league.
He is not the Vezina Trophy-caliber goalie he was 5 seasons in the past, however he stays one of many NHL’s most charismatic stars — as can be evidenced by the farewell fanfare he receives away from Minnesota this season.
Stamkos, Marchessault of their Nashville period
The Lightning walked away from Steven Stamkos. The Golden Knights did not supply Jonathan Marchessault the contract he was searching for. So each franchise icons grew to become free brokers and located the identical new hockey house: Nashville, which noticed an infusion of star energy, scoring pop and championship pedigree as a option to stage up within the Western Convention.
Will it work? The early returns have not been nice for the Preds, who did not win as soon as of their first 5 video games, however everybody most likely wants a while to get acclimated.
Thomas, Kyrou attempt to recapture the magic
All through their NHL careers with the Blues, forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou have been linemates or have been dispersed via the lineup to steadiness the group’s offense. Coach Drew Bannister has made it clear early within the season that he’d wish to see them extra collectively than aside.
After they’re each clicking, there solely a handful of duos extra dynamic than Thomas and Kyrou within the West.
New NHL metropolis, reenergized NHL gamers
When the Arizona Coyotes ceased to exist, and the franchise was relocated to Salt Lake Metropolis, they left all of their historical past and stats again in Tempe. Ryan and Ashley Smith basically personal a brand new NHL group … albeit one with a roster of gamers who have been Coyotes final season.
It has been exhilarating to observe the Utah Hockey Membership — a placeholder title for this season earlier than an official moniker arrives in Yr 2 — as offensive abilities like Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley are energized by large crowds, enthusiastic followers and never having to fret about the place the group will play subsequent season. They need to placed on a present for followers simply entering into the NHL, and the early returns have been promising.
Are the Jets for actual?
The Jets have begun the 2024-25 season as the very best group within the NHL. They have been tied for the league lead in scoring (4.80 objectives per sport) and have been second in group protection (1.60) thanks partly to their goaltending tandem of Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie. This was a 110-point group final season, they usually need to present that was no fluke. New head coach Scott Arniel has constructed on the consistency of their protection by unlocking one thing of their offense.
It is early, and their schedule has been pleasant, however Winnipeg has regarded spectacular. It’s extremely refreshing to see at the very least one professional sports activities group named the Jets discover their sport this season.
Pacific Division
Leo Carlsson
He is 19 years outdated, 6-foot-3 and a complete delight. The No. 2 total choose in 2023 had his time restricted via load administration as a rookie, however he is being unleashed upon an unsuspecting NHL this season. Look no additional than his additional time game-winner towards Utah earlier this season, when Carlsson collected a free puck, outraced his opponents and undressed Connor Ingram for the purpose:
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Leo Carlsson nets stunning OT winner for Geese
Leo Carlsson skates via Utah and fires a point-blank OT winner into the web for Anaheim.
He is received dimension, talent, a excessive hockey IQ and has in contrast his sport to that of Evgeni Malkin and Aleksander Barkov. Time will inform if he ever will get to that lofty standing, however he is a key to the subsequent wave for the Geese and the NHL as a complete.
Take the keys out of the tank’s ignition?
Whereas some imagine tanking does not exist within the NHL, there have definitely been entrance places of work that constructed their rosters in a option to maximize their draft lottery odds. The Flames would seem like in such a place, what with the exodus of expertise during the last three seasons.
However GM Craig Conroy has rejected the T phrase, saying that the Flames are a “retool on the fly.” Meaning, in principle, conserving veteran gamers like Nazem Kadri round moderately than buying and selling them for future property. Once more, in principle — however the early returns recommend he is on to one thing: the Flames are 4-0-1 getting into Tuesday, atop the Pacific.
Scaling the mountain once more
Many anticipate the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup this season as a result of their starvation to win one grew to become much more insatiable after dropping to the Florida Panthers in Recreation 7 of the Last final season. That loss got here after a rally from a 3-0 deficit within the Last; after they rallied to remove Vancouver within the second spherical after seven video games; and after they turned their regular-season round from an early-season catastrophe to a convention championship.
However final season confirmed what a deadly, arduous climb it’s to succeed in the championship summit — star middle Connor McDavid’s emotional breakdown within the dressing room after Recreation 7 was proof of that emotional funding. Can Edmonton scale that mountain once more on an expedition led my generational abilities like McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? Or will the climb show to be too steep this season?
Kopitar’s nonetheless received it
It is exhausting to personal the nook of “37-year-old star middle nonetheless enjoying at an MVP stage throughout the context of his group” when Sidney Crosby remains to be within the NHL. However Anze Kopitar is as soon as once more making his case.
The 2-time Selke Trophy winner crested over 70 factors in every of his final two seasons and has began robust for L.A. this season — proper after they wanted him most, with fellow long-time Kings star Drew Doughty out of the lineup for months with a fractured ankle. The Kings have some important offensive expertise on the roster. Kopitar remains to be displaying them the way it’s performed.
Macklin Celebrini, rookie sensation
Celebrini, 18, was the primary total choose within the 2024 draft out of Boston College. He arrives within the NHL because the centerpiece of a multi-year rebuild in San Jose, a franchise that is now seven seasons faraway from championship competition.
He is been out since their season opener with a hip harm, and is taken into account week to week. However he’s skating once more, which is nice information for Sharks, who’ve already seen flashes of his offensive wizardry.
Joey Daccord, the Folks’s Goalie
OK, so he is not the very best additional time celebration hugger. That solely makes Daccord extra endearing to Kraken followers, who’ve embraced the previous Arizona State College goaltender as their man.
In fact, it helps when Daccord rewards that affection on the ice, like when he had a .916 save share final season to earn a brand new five-year contract. Daccord has began robust in his encore marketing campaign for Seattle, a franchise now in its fourth NHL season.
The Petey panic
“Let’s speak about Elias Pettersson.” “What is the cope with Canucks’ Elias Pettersson?” “How involved ought to the Canucks be about Elias Pettersson?”
That is simply sampling of the headlines within the final week relating to Vancouver’s star middle. A gradual begin (two assists in 5 video games) coupled with a 13-point decline offensively final season and one purpose in 13 playoff video games have made the 25-year-old star the topic of a lot conjecture. He is within the first yr of an enormous eight-year, $92.8 million contract extension. Will Pettersson calm fears with one other dominant offensive season or are they warranted?
Jack Eichel, All-American
Ever since he arrived in Las Vegas in 2021 — and had the surgical procedure that the Buffalo Sabres refused to permit him to have — Eichel has been among the best two-way facilities within the NHL. He is eleventh within the league during the last three seasons in factors per sport (1.06) amongst facilities. His defensive sport was on the forefront when Vegas gained the Stanley Cup for the primary time in 2023.
Now in his tenth season, Eichel is the Golden Knights’ key offensive participant — and will serve the identical function for Staff USA on this season’s 4 Nations Faceoff and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
