Trimble: Well here we are for the first annual “Trevor and Trimble NHL Season Preview”. I think this will be a fun challenge to see if we can put together some bold predictions and also if when we look back on this in 8 months to see if we are not completely full of it…
There are going to be some great storylines this year, as many of our favorite teams have re-tooled and reloaded for the 2024-25 campaign.
How do you feel about your Blackhawks?
Trevor:
I feel a lot more optimistic about this team starting to head into the right direction than I had a day or two before free agency. I’ve been impressed with “Kyle From Chicago’s” ability to stay the course of the rebuild and focus a lot on player development. He wasn’t afraid to spend money this offseason on guys who will help make the team competitive (Terravainen, Bertuzzi, Martinez, Brodie…) while allowing the younger players to learn and develop from them (Bedard, Kurashev, Reichel) or even send players to the right place to continue their development (Leshunov, Korchinski and Nazar to Rockford).
Let’s flip it to your Devils. What are your thoughts as I feel they are a few steps ahead in the franchise building process and the heats turned up a bit more?
Trimble: I think they really addressed their biggest needs in both Free Agency and the trade market. Getting a legit #1 goalie in Markstrom is huge, and adding defense (Pesce/ Dillon) while also adding toughness and strengthening their bottom 6 will make them a more complete team.
Bedard was the big story in the NHL last season, a heralded rookie stepping right in and performing. What do you think are some of this year’s biggest season starting stories?
Trevor:
Well, we could start off staying in the East and the drama that is unfolding with the Bruins and Swayman camp (what a nightmare that is) about his contract talks. Maybe head a little south and does The Russian Machine, Alex Ovechkin, break Gretzky’s goal record? A couple others off the top of my head would be:
Vegas Knights ironically start the season under the cap (see Lehner termination), so who do they bring in to screw it back up?
How long till Macklin Celebrini wishes he would have stayed the full 4 years at BU (I say he’s already looking to find that loophole)?
And do I even have the new channel that the Blackhawks are supposed to be on??
What are you thinking here Coach, as I’m sure I stole your thunder.
Trimble:
Those are all great Trevor, and actually other than the Swayman contract talks I haven’t really thought about.
I think this year a big emphasis will be on Connor McDavid and his journey. A lot of people point to the previous dynasty in Edmonton and how they had to lose to the Islanders in the finals before they learned how to win and overcome that obstacle. The pieces are in place for McDavid and the Oilers to get back to the Finals… but can they break through? What did they learn from last year’s Finals experience? Do they have enough depth… Is Skinner finally the answer in nets…
I am also intrigued by Montreal. Slafkovsky broke through last season and hes a big piece of the Caulfield, Suzuki core. With Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnipeg as cup contenders and Montreal improving, will we finally see a Canadian franchise win the cup?
Trevor:
I think of the Canadian teams, Toronto has the best depth, but their banking on Anthony Stolarz who had a good year in a backup role in FLA, but never really has been “the guy”, so who knows how he responds. Yes, Edmonton has the chance to go back and finish what they started, but while their a year older, they lost two key young players who were coming into their own, and they seem to not have much youth on their side. I feel like the Canucks are one top 4 defenseman away from being extremely dangerous, and just need a healthy Thatcher Demko to take the league by storm more.
At this point, who are your three favorites for Lord Stanley’s cup?
Trimble:
Funny fact about Stolarz, and we say this stuff on the podcast all the time, but kids peak at certain ages. Stolarz is a New Jersey goalie who after high school had no Division 1 offers. Makes Corpus Christi in the NAHL and gets drafted in the 2nd Round following 1 season of Juniors.
He’s had ups and downs in the Pros but has stuck with it and has become a great story. Now he finally has the chance to be the “Guy” in Toronto. Im rooting for him.
My Three Cup picks…
Out West I’d have to say Edmonton. McDavid is the best player in the world and he’s in his prime.
Out East I’d have to say Florida will again be the top team, as they really did not lose too many pieces of the Cup winning squad.
My wildcard is my favorite team, the Devils, who I think will regain their 2022-23 form and be a top team again in the league with all the additions they’ve made and the young core they have.
I think an intriguing team to watch is Boston, with the additions they made on the back end and bringing in a True #1 center. Boston has been good for over a decade, so this isn’t a surprise, but I think they actually got better this offseason.
What do you think Trevor?
Trevor:
So I think the West is going to be a battle between either Colorado, Edmonton or the Kings, but it wouldn’t shock me if the Canucks sneak in with their young core of players.
The East? Panthers didn’t have to retool really at all, so they would be my favorites, but I’m really pulling for the Hurricanes, those “bunch of jerks”™.
Any bold predictions before we wrap this thing up?
Trimble:
Bold predictions… Detroit makes the playoffs and Derek Lalonde earns the Jack Adams..
Sharks get the #1 overall pick in the lottery.
Edmonton wont get off to a slow start this year, and McDavid leads the league in scoring again, taking it back from Kucherov who won it in 2023-24.
Utah Hockey Club will be called the Utah Mammoth in 2025-26.
Bedard averages over a point a game but doesnt eclipse the 100 point milestone this season.
Swayman wins the Vezina.
Trevor: I’m sticking with my podcast pick, and that is that Sheldon Keefe wins the Jack Adams award in NJ, leading them deep into the playoffs while the Maple Leafs are setting their tee times….
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