Besides the Panthers leaving it late to beat the Oilers in game seven, the 23/24 season was filled with dramatic moments. Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov finished the season with over 140 points. By doing so, they became two of the twelve players to score 140 plus points in NHL history.
Rookie star man, Connor Bedard, had an excellent season, culminating in winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in the league. The final icing on the cake was the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup in game seven after losing 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 22/23 season finals.
Players to Watch
The Edmonton Oilers duo of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will hope to repeat last season’s epic performances, which saw them reach the Stanley Cup finals. Another player to watch will be Colorado Avalanche’s center, Nathan MacKinnon. Known for his blistering skill and speed, MacKinnon will hope to score more than the 140 points he got in 23/24.
There is also a new generation of star players coming up, led by Connor Bedard. Mattias McSorley, a dynamic forward plying his trade for the Los Angeles Kings, is another exciting player you should watch out for.
Logan Cooley of the Arizona Cotes, now Utah Hockey Club, is another exceptional player who pundits expect to have a sensational season. Also, be sure to check out The Sports Prophets website for the latest NHL news after the just-ended trade window.
No More Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes will not be in the upcoming 24/25 season following issues related to finding a new arena. Instead, the Coyotes will become part of the Utah Hockey Club after a successful acquisition by Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith.
The Utah Hockey Club will play their home matches at the Delta Center. What’s most surprising is that they will not have an official mascot and colors in their inaugural season. However, the team’s identity is a work in progress and will be unveiled in the 25/26 NHL season. It will be interesting to see how the team will perform this upcoming season.
Coaching Changes
Some teams have made changes to their coaching personnel in a bid to improve performances. Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato was fired after the 23/24 season ended. The Sabres didn’t make a playoff appearance during his three seasons as head coach. In his place will be Lindy Ruff, a face that Buffalo fans are familiar with.
The Columbus Blue Jackets also fired their coach after finishing last in the Metropolitan Division. Dean Evason will take over from Pascal Vincent, hoping to overturn the Columbus Blue Jackets’ misery in the upcoming season.
The Winnipeg Jets will also have a new coach this season following Rick Bowness’ retirement. Taking his place will be former New York Rangers associate coach, Scott Arniel.
Summing Up
The Florida Panthers ended the 23/24 NHL season on a high by entertainingly winning the Stanley Cup. The playoffs were fun but nerve-wracking for the Panthers fans after their team lost a 3-0 lead to the Oilers. A new season is on the horizon, and fans can’t wait as the teams go at it again to see who will be crowned champions in the 24/25 season.