It’s Canadian Thanksgiving Sunday, and we’re thankful that the start of a new NHL season is just two days away.
So far we’ve shared with you what we think we know about the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central Divisions and now we finish with our look at the Pacific, where last year’s champions came from (and may come from again in 2024).
ANAHEIM DUCKS
We think we know it’s going to be another long season in Anaheim, and that John Gibson will once again be mixed up in trade talk that heats up the closer we get to the March 8 deadline. We also think we know the market isn’t rich enough to exact a good enough return to move him.
Although there are probably a lot of losses ahead, we also think there’s plenty of reasons to keep an eye on this team. What is Trevor Zegras going to try and pull off next? What does Mason McTavish have in store for his second full season? Can Jamie Drysdale rebound from last year’s injury and immediately make his new contract a bargain?
CALGARY FLAMES
We think we know that GM Craig Conroy is going to be able to keep more of this team together than we thought he could in May. When the team broke after the regular season and Conroy took over for the departed Brad Treliving, the outlook was pretty grim for their big five 2024 UFAs, but the tenor is much different in October. Now, following a season in which they won just 37.5 per cent of all one-goal games (third-worst in the league), and had a .977 combined shooting and save percentage (second-worst in the league), we think we know the Flames are somewhere between last season’s 93-point team and 2021-22’s 111-point division-winning squad.
EDMONTON OILERS
We think we know Connor McDavid is going to win another scoring title, and that Leon Draisaitl will probably be second right behind. This special duo has been taking patient steps in the playoffs, too, beaten by a better team and eventual Stanley Cup champion two years in a row. We think we know that this year the Oilers will be that team.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
We think we know they have a heck of a trio of centres with newly acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois in the fold, but that the wingers will be the offensive stars. Kevin Fiala is cemented as a scoring leader, while Adrian Kempe on the first, and Viktor Arvidsson on the third line really spread out Los Angeles’ weapons. But we think we know that the one to really watch this season is Quinton Byfield, who could be in line for a key breakout.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
We think we know it’s going to be a lot less exciting in San Jose this season. Erik Karlsson’s 101-point season was historic and special, but he’s gone to Pittsburgh now. Timo Meier’s long gone at last year’s deadline. Logan Couture doesn’t look ready to start the season. It’s hard to believe that after years of success, the Sharks have now gone four years without making the playoffs — the longest drought in team history. And we think we know that’s going to extend to five … and, probably, more.
SEATTLE KRAKEN
The Kraken jumped from the NHL’s 28th-ranked offence in their first season, to the fourth-best offence in Year 2, but we think we know they’ll be challenged to get back there again. Seattle shot 10.3 per cent at 5-on-5 last season, the fourth-highest rate of the salary cap era, so that’s highly likely to come down. The good news, however, is the Kraken still have strength in numbers — though they lack a true superstar (so far) they have several great skaters.
We also think we know that, because of the offence’s outlook, the pressure is back on Phillip Grubauer and the goalies. Grubauer was statistically one of the worst starters two years ago, but bounced back to fairly average in 2022-23. Still, with a sub-.900 save percentage, more was expected from Grubauer to this point. If the offence is going to come down somewhat, the goals against have to as well and Grubauer can’t falter.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
We think we know the ebbs and flows ahead this season will be tempestuous for Elias Pettersson banter. Every loss will bring doubt about his future in Vancouver and every winning streak will bring hope that he signs long-term, and that this team is finally showing its potential. We think we know head coach Rick Tocchet can deliver more consistency, but that the Canucks have a lot to prove after three playoff misses and a ton of head-scratching, eyebrow-raising moments.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
We think we know the Golden Knights are fully capable of following the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning as repeat winners. Almost the entire roster returns intact. We also think Jack Eichel may have levelled up through the playoffs last season. The top centre was a force at both ends and a Conn Smythe candidate until the very end. Eichel scored 66 points in the regular season, but we think we know he’s just scratching the surface and could be in line for a career season.
