How will the Bruins fare? Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Ahead of the NHL season, our hockey writers weigh in.
Boston opens their season Tuesday night in familiar but unhappy hunting grounds, facing the Panthers in Florida.
The puck dropped on the 2024-25 NHL season Friday, with the Devils and Sabres facing off overseas for two games in Prague as part of the league’s Global Series.
The Bruins will open their season Tuesday night in familiar but unhappy hunting grounds, facing the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. — the team that has eliminated them from the last two postseasons.
Can the Bruins get back to the playoffs and make a deeper run this time? Can the Panthers defend their first Stanley Cup? Is it finally the year for superstar Connor McDavid and the Oilers?
The Globe’s hockey writers weigh with their predictions for the Bruins, plus their Stanley Cup forecast.
Kevin Paul Dupont
Bruins: 44-20-18, third in Atlantic
Remarkably similar to last season’s mark of 47-20-15, when they finished a smidge short of eclipsing Florida for first in the division. But the method will be more defensively based, by necessity. Newcomer Elias Lindholm will boost the power play, but overall, scoring at full strength will prove to be a bugaboo. Size and range on the back end, along with Jeremy Swayman getting the call for upward of 60 games, will make up for lack of offensive punch. Even with David Pastrnak delivering 52-52—104, just not enough scoring.
Eastern Conference: Panthers over Rangers
Bounced in the first round by the Maple Leafs, the Bruins will be sitting at home when the Panthers shred Toronto in Round 2, leaving the Leafs still without a Cup since 1967 (can you believe it?!). The Panthers get it done with a supporting cast of ex-Bruins, including Tomas Nosek, A.J. Greer, and Jesper Boqvist, in a rematch of last year’s Eastern final. Former BC standout Spencer Knight steals the No. 1 job in the Panther net from Sergei Bobrovsky.
Western Conference: Stars over Oilers
Oilers miss out on a return trip to the Cup Final, unable this time to squeeze by Dallas. Even with Joe Pavelski in retirement, the Stars have plentiful punch up front, with both Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson hitting the 40-40 plateau this season. Oilers still have the game’s biggest star in Connor McDavid, but there’s not enough depth and versatility among the rest of the forwards to deliver a second consecutive conference tile.
Stanley Cup Final: Stars over Panthers in six
The difference, of course, proves to be in net, with ex-BU stopper Jake Oettinger outplaying Knight. Was that ever in doubt? Tyler Seguin sips from the Cup for the first time since being part of the Bruins’ clinching cast in 2011. Great win for Stars GM Jim Nill, the ex-Bruins winger acquired in 1984 for fan favorite Peter McNab. (Headline: “Bruins get Nill for McNab.”) Dumped in Round 1, Bruins announce 7.5 percent increase in ticket prices, and Executive Son Charlie Jacobs reiterates that the franchise measures success by Cups — one in the last 53 years.
Jim McBride
Bruins: 48-22-12, wild card
In the return of the Big Bad Bruins, Jim Montgomery’s band of Boston Stranglers will smother teams on the forecheck and punish them on the back end. The scoring will come from the usual suspects (hello, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand) plus an unexpected surprise or two (oh hi there, Tyler Johnson and Johnny Beecher).
Eastern Conference: Bruins over Panthers
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in few places is that truer than today’s NHL. The Bruins copy the Cats’ blueprint by being oppressive and opportunistic.
Western Conference: Golden Knights over Oilers
The local stars (Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin) come out in the postseason and help lead Bruce Cassidy back to the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers, meanwhile, try to figure out a way to hit the jackpot in Vegas in order to pay Connor McDavid the bazillions he has coming to him next summer.
Stanley Cup Final: Bruins over Golden Knights in six
Vegas can swipe the Bruins’ colors (sort of), but the Original Sixers end up with the most coveted silver chalice in all the land. Having Jeremy Swayman around to guard the goods is essential.
Matt Porter
Bruins: 45-28-9, third in Atlantic
No danger of the Bruins falling out of the playoff race, even with goalie issues making for an inconsistent opening month. The Bruins got bigger, faster, and better, and Elias Lindholm is a quietly excellent setup man for David Pastrnak and connective tissue on the power play. Tampa Bay isn’t done yet, and Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit aren’t quite ready. Familiar story in the Atlantic.
Eastern Conference: Rangers over Panthers
Igor Shesterkin is a man on a mission, out to prove he’s worth every bit of the $12 million contract extension he’ll sign at some point soon. The Rangers ride their power play, a big leap from Alexis Lafrenière, and Shesterkin’s Vezina-worthy netminding and knock the Cats off their throne.
Western Conference: Stars over Oilers
It would be easy to crown Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl the future champs. Edmonton retained most of the core from last year’s Cup Final run and added skill on the wings. But Dallas remains the best defensive club in the league, and Jake Oettinger will catch any water spilling over the dam.
Stanley Cup Final: Stars over Rangers in six
Wyatt Johnston fills the hole left by Joe Pavelski’s retirement and turns the Roope Hintz-Jason Robertson line into the playoffs’ best. Oettinger is electric. And Tyler Seguin scores the most memorable Dallas playoff goal since Brett Hull’s skate blade snaked its way into history.
Conor Ryan
Bruins: 52-20-10, first in Atlantic
After getting bounced by a frantic forechecking force in the Panthers back-to-back years, the Bruins clearly took notes. Nikita Zadorov adds heft to the D corps. Elias Lindholm should spark the five-on-five offense and power play. They have to sort out some depth on the wing, but the Bruins are poised to be a tough out this postseason, especially with Jeremy Swayman back in net.
Eastern Conference: Rangers over Bruins
The Blueshirts are cut from a similar cloth as the Bruins: speed and snarl up front, heft and crisp puck carriers on the blue line, and elite goaltending. Swayman and the Bruins’ stingy defense help push them to the brink of another Cup Final, but New York’s scoring depth and a stellar showing from Igor Shesterkin in net put it over the top.
Western Conference: Stars over Oilers
It’s probably not wise to bet against any team anchored by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — especially with the dynamic duo motivated after a crushing Game 7 loss to Florida. But Dallas has better goaltending, a stronger supporting cast, and young players (Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley) who should take major steps forward.
Stanley Cup Final: Stars over Rangers in six
Johnston, taken just two picks after the Bruins drafted Fabian Lysell in 2021, caps a Conn Smythe run with a hat trick in Game 6. Oooof.
Tara Sullivan
Bruins: 40-26-16, wild card
So much of the hopes hang on the goalie situation. But even with Jeremy Swayman signing, I can’t help but wonder whether the combination of a late start and bad feelings infects the season. On the upside, the additions of Elias Lindholm on the front end and Nikita Zadorov on the back end are good, with the Bruins boasting one of the heftiest defensive units in the NHL.
Eastern Conference: Rangers over Devils
The Rangers are out to avenge last year’s conference finals loss after winning the Presidents Trophy, and the Devils finally got a goalie, acquiring Jacob Markstrom to set up another round in the Hudson River battle. Toronto won’t be an easy out, but former Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe will get the last laugh in New Jersey.
Western Conference: Oilers over Stars
Those pesky Panthers will finally stand down, take their Stanley Cup from last year, and let someone else make a run. Seems like just the right opening for a loaded Oilers team to break through against a Stars team that also will battle Colorado all season.
Stanley Cup Final: Oilers over Rangers in five
Connor McDavid couldn’t bring himself to take the ice last year to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy after his team’s brutal Game 7 loss to Florida. This year, he won’t ever want to leave the ice, finally able to etch his name on the best trophy in pro sports by getting the better of outstanding Ranger’ goalie Igor Shesterkin.
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