2024/25 Brendl Divison Preview and Predicitions
2024-10-24
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Season: 7th in Brendl Division – 91 PTS, Missed the Playoffs
The Good: Well this is going to be tough. One thing that always seems to be the case in Pittsburgh is there is a bit of magic that helps a player or two be one of the top scorers in the league. So we’ll see if that trend can continue in the 2024-25 campaign. Who might that be? We’re going to guess Alex Newhook who only had 19 points last season. They did add Nick Schmaltz from Edmonton, who is an underrated top 6 option.
The Bad: This is a rough squad top to bottom. The offence is thin and lacking options. They only have one legitimate top 4 defenceman. And while Annunen has potential and Wedgewood is a solid backup, neither should be counted on for more than 25-30 games and there’s an expectation that both should do more.
And the Verdict: The Penguins are likely destined for a top end lottery pick this year. They did buy some interesting bounce back options in Domi and Kotkaniemi, but we really predict that they’ll have trouble scoring and keeping the puck out of the net this season.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Last Season: 4th in Brendl Division – 101 PTS, Eliminated by Carolina in the ECQF
The Good: There’s a lot of veteran leadership in Philadelphia that should help calm things down when things get rough during the season. The Flyers obviously prioritised that this summer, splashing bit money to guys like Sean Kuraly, Cal Clutterbuck and Jarred Tinordi. The defence, while not the most spectacular group, is deep with at least 9 guys that could be in almost any roster around the league.
The Bad: The Flyers lost their two top forwards last year (Rakell and Eberle) and tried their best to replace them but probably not enough at the end of the day. The forward lineup truly lacks offensive skill, having to count on the likes of Jason Zucker and Nick Foligno to carry the offence. The big issue in Philly will be the goaltending, as their tandem of Daws/Vanecek is easily the most lacking tandem in the division.
And the Verdict: While the Flyers weren’t afraid to spend money, the value of what left is a massive discrepancy between what came in. They lost three really good defencemen and a solid tandem.The strengths of the roster are truly only fine, and the weaknesses are massive. After making the playoffs last year, the Flyers are destined to likely be at the bottom of the division this time around.
6. New Jersey Devils
Last Season: 6th in Brendl Division – 93 PTS, Missed the Playoffs
The Good: While the high end upside might be questioned, the duo of Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic should give the Devils a fighting chance every night. While the high end talent is severely lacking, there is plenty of competition in New Jersey and should serve as an opportunity for a player or two to have a big season that they couldn’t get anywhere else.
The Bad: The depth is solid, but the lack of talent both up front and on the back end is going to cause problems all season. Players will be cast in roles way above their levels and will certainly be exposed if they can’t cut it.
And the Verdict: 43 different players suited up for the Devils last season, so they’ll be hoping for a little bit more stability in the lineup this year. It’s likely going to be a rough season in New Jersey and without their 1st rounder the next two seasons, climbing out of this hole could take some time.
5. Washington Capitals
Last Season: 3rd in Brendl Division – 101 PTS, Eliminated by Columbus in ECQF
The Good: While it's not the flashiest tandem, as we’ve seen in this division, you can do much worse than Grubauer and Quick. The Capitals success last year was with a spread out scoring system, and while they still don’t have that bonafide option, they have 4 lines with at least an interesting option on each. Ryan McDonagh is still one of the better and most dependable defencemen in the league and should continue to be a stabilising factor in the nation’s capital.
The Bad: The offence needs more skill. Jakub Vrana was their top point getter last year with 63, and he was waived before the start of camp. And it’s a glaring need as the offence sunk them in the first round last year, as they only scored 1 goal in 3 of their losses to Columbus.
And the Verdict: The defence is fine but doesn’t outweigh their offensive inability, so they need some career years to be in contention. We try to say this nicely, but they might be the best of the mediocre in the division which might still earn them a playoff spot, but a lot will still need to go right for that to happen.
4. New York Rangers
Last Season: 5th in Brendl Division – 94 PTS, Missed the Playoffs
The Good: The strength in net continues with another season from Ilya Sorokin. While Thomas Chabot looks to have taken a step back, Rasmus Andersson and TJ Brodie help create a very strong top four on the defensive side of things.
The Bad: Oh boy the offence is in a bit of a rough state. Dylan Strome is their best weapon up front, who is a good player, but shouldn’t be the key triggerman. The rest of the group is either a shell of their former self (Pacioretty) or young and still needing to take a next step (Fantilli).
And the Verdict: Things were far from quiet in Manhattan this summer. They traded their top offensive player in Jared McCann, as well as their former #1 pick in Alexis Lafreniere to the Red Wings. They also shockingly traded Cale Makar to their close rival, the New York Islanders. So a team that won the cup just two seasons ago has radically changed and it can’t be said for the better. Sure they’ve added some young pieces, but it might be a few more years out of the playoffs before they return to being competitive.
3. New York Islanders
Last Season: 8th in Brendl Division – 78 PTS, Missed the Playoffs
The Good: The lone bright spots last year for the last place Islanders were Quinn Hughes and Sam Montembault, and thankfully both are returning. Luckily they have reinforcements this year as they made some big additions in free agency and the trade market. Notably another Norris contender in Cale Makar joins the squad, the always feracious Radko Gudas and Erik Cernak should create the best defensive groups in the division. Mika Zibanejad and Jake Debrusk should help provide support as they wait for some of their elite young talent to make the jump.
The Bad: The offensive talent is better, but still lacks the overall skill from all four lines that some of the other teams in the division have. So if the top line gets shut down, it’s going to put added pressure on the defence and goaltending to keep the puck out of the net, as they likely won’t be scoring much.The backup job looks to have been handed to Arvid Soderblom who has shown signs, but it’ll be questioned whether he is really ready.
And the Verdict: The Islanders are certainly better heading into this season. They gave up the 2nd most amount of goals last year and that should very much improve. But have they done enough to make the playoffs? A weak division might make that the case, but the wave is coming and with two elite defenders already on the roster, a little more offence could take this team to the next level.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Season: 2nd in Brendl Division – 102 PTS, Eliminated by Boston in ECF
The Good: If you have goaltending, that’s really half the battle to having a good team. Columbus has Juuse Saros, so they get a checkmark in that regard. The defence had been remodelled with the likes of Jeff Petry and Ian Cole joining the team in free agency, that should see this workmen like group make life easy for their elite goalie. The first year for the top line of Lindholm, Stutzle and Toffoli had a bit of a bumpy road, but they’ve shown in the past they have more to give.
The Bad: The Jackets spent big in free agency, but it will remain to be seen if that’s enough. They spent to bring in veterans Viktor Arvidsson and Blake Wheeler, who did have success last year, but how many miles left is the big question mark. If something happens to Saros, Matt Tomkins as plan B would likely leave the team desperate for a solution mid-season.
And the Verdict: Unlike the team they eliminated in their division rival Flyers, the Jackets lost 7 players from last year’s team and almost exclusively tried to replace them in free agency. So there could be rough patches ahead early in the season as they try to find chemistry. They aren’t the strongest team in the division, but it’s also a team that doesn’t have many glaring holes, so another playoff berth should be in the cards.
1. Carolina Hurricanes
Last Season: 1st in Brendl Division – 104 PTS, Eliminated by Columbus in ECSF
The Good: David Pastrnak and Jack Hughes found some chemistry last year, that these two dynamic forwards will continue to certainly build on. The Canes made a huge splash in free agency, adding Jonas Brodin to replace Dmitry Orlov, who will certainly log big minutes this year. Swayman is among the elite in net and with Korpisalo as the backup, the Canes have one of the better tandems in the league.
The Bad: The offence had some trouble generating offence after Pasta and Hughes, and the Canes didn’t do much to address that. They’ve lost their 3rd highest scorer in Boone Jenner, and only brought in Cam Atkinson up front. So the team will be looking to squeeze whatever is left out of some veterans and hoping that youngsters like Cole Sillinger can help make that next step.
And the Verdict: A very good team last season is almost all returning, so it’s hard to not see them being near the top once again. With a few swaps to bring in Brodin and Atkinson, Carolina is certainly betting that this team will break through this year with another attempt.
Isles are ready to topple those damn Hurricanes! Playoffs here we come!
2024/25 Brendl Divison Preview and Predicitions
A look at the East Coast teams of the Brendl Division