NHL season preview: Power Rankings, predictions, X factors - ESPN

Opening night of the 2024-25 NHL season is Tuesday, with a tripleheader of games on ESPN and ESPN+: St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken (4:30 p.m. ET), Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET), Chicago Blackhawks at Utah Hockey Club (10 p.m. ET).

We're here to help get you up to speed with intel on all 32 teams, including the key players who were added or subtracted, best- and worst-case scenarios, X factors and fantasy tips, plus bold predictions.

Our season preview also features the first edition of our Power Rankings, which provide the order in which these teams are presented. The weekly rankings are formulated through votes from ESPN hockey broadcasters, analysts and reporters.

How to watch the NHL on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and Hulu

Note: Thanks to PuckPedia for salary and contract data. Advanced stats are from Hockey Reference, Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey. Kristen Shilton profiled the teams in the Eastern Conference, while Ryan S. Clark handled the Western Conference clubs. The fantasy outlook for each team is courtesy of Victoria Matiash and Sean Allen, and bold predictions are courtesy of Greg Wyshynski. Stanley Cup odds are courtesy of ESPN BET.

Jump to a team:
ANA | BOS | BUF | CGY
CAR | CHI | COL | CBJ
DAL | DET | EDM | FLA
LA | MIN | MTL | NSH
NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT
PHI | PIT | SJ | SEA
STL | TB | TOR | UT
VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG

Last season: 49-27-6, 104 points. Lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
Stanley Cup odds: +700
Key players added: F Viktor Arvidsson, D Josh Brown, F Vasily Podkolzin, F Jeff Skinner
Key players lost: D Philip Broberg, F Sam Carrick, G Jack Campbell, D Vincent Desharnais, F Warren Foegele, F Dylan Holloway

Most fascinating player: Evan Bouchard. With Leon Draisaitl signing an eight-year