NHL: 2024-2025 Season

[JohnBM01]

The view at the top is lovely. Even though they are far south, the Florida Panthers are atop the NHL mountain for the first time in franchise history. From a 3-0 lead to an almost reverse sweep by Edmonton Oilers, the Stanley Cup returns to the state of Florida; but instead of the Tampa Bay Lightning having it, it's in Sunrise, FL, USA with the Florida Panthers. Who will win Lord Stanley's Cup this season?

The NHL Draft wrapped up recently. Everything from now to the final Stanley Cup game to even the NHL Awards are fair game for discussion here. The puck has been dropped. So let's talk NHL Hockey!

 

[Joey D]

I'm pretty excited for the Utah hockey team. While I'll always be a Red Wings fan, Utah is still my second home so I'll support them. Hopefully, I can get to a few of their games when I travel back to Salt Lake.

 

[JohnBM01]

Salt Lake City used to be just the Utah Jazz as far as pro sports are concerned. Now they're trying to woo in some other pro sports teams. For ages people thought/hoped the Arizona Coyotes would relocate to Houston. Now with their new home in Salt Lake City, I do wish them well, even whatever their official name moving forward will be (besides "Utah Hockey Team").

 

[kjb]

I am kinda sorta excited for the Rangers next season but I hope to see them get a little but tougher. The last 2 times they have made it to the conference finals they have been beaten by more physical teams. While Shersterkin is phenomenal the defense in front of him has been very shaky. So i expect a great regular season but that doesn't matter TBH. They need to be able to get 16 wins and 10 in the postseason

 

[Interemptor]

Jesus that's so messed up. From what I read on Twitter he and his brother died while riding a bike and getting hit by a car.

The Hockey world lost a great player

 

[JohnBM01]

(Tree'd)

Columbus Blue Jackets' LW Johnny Gaudreau was killed recently in a car-bicycle accident involving him and his brother. Johnny Gardreau was 31 years old, and his brother Matthew was 29 after both being hit by a drunk driver. Johnny Gardreau was a very good player in the NHL. My condolences go out to the Gardreau family and all who known and loved the Gardreaus.

It's a great shame no matter how you look at this.

 

[JohnBM01]

The Columbus Blue Jackets will wear patches and stickers all season to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau along with his also late brother Matthew Gaudreau. More info from ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/41315879/blue-jackets-announce-plans-honor-late-johnny-gaudreau .

Elsewhere, TJ Oshie of the Washington Capitals will be on the long-term injured reserve list with chronic back problems. He was limited to 53 games last season. I hope he gets to recover and possibly play a lot more games in the future.

 

[Interemptor]

The Columbus Blue Jackets will wear patches and stickers all season to honor the late Johnny Gaudreau along with his also late brother Matthew Gaudreau. More info from ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/41315879/blue-jackets-announce-plans-honor-late-johnny-gaudreau .

Elsewhere, TJ Oshie of the Washington Capitals will be on the long-term injured reserve list with chronic back problems. He was limited to 53 games last season. I hope he gets to recover and possibly play a lot more games in the future.

Also read, that the Jackets will keep his stall with his jersey intact for the season. I'm not sure about that. On one hand i really like the idea on the other hand I can imagine that the mood in the lockerroom will be tough. Getting constantly reminded about Johnnys death will not be easy for some. Sean Monahan comes to mind. He and Johnny were really good friends and he was so happy to go to Columbus to play with him.

Also Johnnys widow is pregnant with their third child. 🙁

 

[JohnBM01]

Apparently, the NHL Preseason is up and running. I've seen scores in my X/Twitter feed of NHL teams lately. It's time for you NHL fans to get excited about the upcoming season. So get psyched!

On a more serious note, I do think this will be a difficult season for the Columbus Blue Jackets with the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and the void left behind him. What I will be interested in is how the Blue Jackets can adjust without Johnny Gaudreau. It will be incredibly tough. The ultimate storybook scenario would be if the Blue Jackets make it to the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup in the 2024-2025 season in loving memory of Johnny Gaudreau.

Again- your defending Champions this season, Omnis' Florida Panthers. Yes- the other Florida NHL holds the crown now, not the Tampa Bay Lightning. Who'll try to take away Lord Stanley's Cup this season, or will Florida possibly go back-to-back titles? Still a ways away until the regular season starts.

 

[Interemptor]

The ultimate storybook scenario would be if the Blue Jackets make it to the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup in the 2024-2025 season in loving memory of Johnny Gaudreau.

That would be really great for the Jackets but it would be a huge surprise if they even make the playoffs. Their roster is just not good enough imo. Their best player is arguably Fantilli but with the loss of Johnny and even Laine I just don't see it. I also doubt that Sean Monohan will have a big impact with everything that happened.
I mean we saw some (on paper) not so great teams make it and go all the way (Kings in 2012, Blues in 2019) but their rosters were so much better. One team that made it to the final recently with a not so good roster was the 2021 Habs but that was with the weird format due to the Corona virus. But also they had Price in net and he was fantastic that year. You never know though and I would be cheering for them if they make it.

 

[kjb]

I can't say that I'm excited for the upcoming season for the Rangers. I think they will have a good regular season and may have the best record again but in the playoffs they are too small and too soft. This has been an ongoing issue for a few years now and it has been with different coaches. They didn't really add any difference makers in the offseason so they going to run back with the same crew that got destroyed by the Panthers. Hopefully the youngsters like LaFreniere, Kaako, Miller, Rempe level up their games to improve the core. They still have Sherestkin so they will be very good. We'll see it they win the Stanley Cup

 

[JohnBM01]

Can you believe the Regular Season is not too far away? In fact, this coming Tuesday is Opening Night for the 2024-2025 NHL season. Time to get ready for some hockey!

 

[kjb]

Can you believe the Regular Season is not too far away? In fact, this coming Tuesday is Opening Night for the 2024-2025 NHL season. Time to get ready for some hockey!

That's crazy! I think the Panthers might win it again. It hurts me to say that as a Rangers fan but they are not built for the Stanley cup. They are built for the regular season and maybe the 1st round of the playoffs but that's it. They are toooooooooooo soft

 

[JohnBM01]

GTPlaneteers, you waited long enough. You missed the top shelf goals. You missed the awesome saves. You missed the hard hits and checks. You may even have missed the occasional fight or two. Well, guess what? IT'S BACK! The National Hockey League is BACK!

The 2024-2025 quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begins tonight with Opening Faceoff. The Florida Panthers of our Omnis will defend their title as best as they can. The other teams want to hoist the Stanley Cup at season's end. Whatever the case, it's time to begin a new season! Here is what is on tap for today and tonight:

• STL Blues at SEA Kraken
• BOS Bruins at FLA Panthers <<< FLA = defending Champions
• CHI Blackhawks at UTA Hockey Team <<< UTA = formerly Arizona Coyotes

All three games are on ESPN and ESPN+.


Enjoy today's games and the 2024-2025 NHL season!

 

[JohnBM01]

Results from NHL Opening Faceoff...

* A scoreless first period in Seattle led to a more active second period. The Seattle Kraken led St. Louis 2-0, but the St. Louis Blues scored three unanswered goals to go up 3-2. No scoring in the 3rd period, so the Blues leave Seattle with a 3-2 victory.

* The defending champion Florida Panthers raised their Championship banner. They also raised a big win over the visiting Boston Bruins. Florida wins this one 6-4.

* The Utah Hockey Club, formerly the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, played their first game in Salt Lake City hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Easy money for the Utah Hockey Club, winning 5-2. Dylan Guenther scored the first goal for the Utah Hockey Club.


And THAT is how we start the 2024-2025 season. Hope you enjoyed it all!

 

[JohnBM01]

Five games are on tap for tonight. Three of them will be on ESPN+, and two of them will be part of the NHL on TNT. Tonight:

• TOR Maple Leafs at MON Canadiens
• NYR Rangers at PIT Penguins (NHL on TNT, Max)
• WPG Jets at EDM Oilers
• CGY Flames at VAN Canucks
• COL Avalanche at VGK Golden Knights (NHL on TNT, Max)

Opening Week continues! Enjoy tonight's games!

 

[JohnBM01]

If you want to see some games on TV, ESPN and ESPN+ has all of tonight's action. The two to air on ESPN are these:

• MIN Wild at STL Blues
• PHI Flyers at EDM Oilers

When I checked on X/Twitter recently, one of the featured hockey games I got was "Hockey Club vs. Devils" or "Hockey Club at Devils." It's still strange to call a team as the "Hockey Club." I do wonder what name Utah will eventually give the artists formerly known as the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes. I heard a bunch of interesting names. According to a YouTube video I saw, here are some suggested names for the Utah Hockey Club:

• Utah Yeti
• Utah Outlaws
• Utah Venom
• Utah Blizzard
• Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC)
• Utah Mammoth

If you had to choose between these six, what would you name the Utah Hockey Club? Or what would you suggest outside of these six choices?

 

[Joey D]

Based on purely talking with my co-workers, several who are hockey fans, the buzz is that the name will be the Yetis or they'll keep Utah HC with a Yeti mascot.

 

[JohnBM01]

Here is a lighthearted post. Remember NBC Sports Network and the "Wednesday Night Rivalry" on NBCSN? I would hype up the Wednesday Night Rivalry games in earlier times on GTPlanet. Well recently, I came across the awesome Wednesday Night Rivalry theme followed by the amazing commentary of Mike "Doc" Emrick. Here are some memories for you:



Wow. Hockey on TV just isn't the same without "Doc" Emrick. I loved him. Memories...


Tonight, we have these games:

• BUF Sabres at PIT Penguins (NHL on TNT)
• LA Kings at TOR Maple Leafs
• BOS Bruins at COL Avalanche (NHL on TNT)
• UTA Hockey Club at ANA Ducks

Enjoy tonight's action!

 

[JohnBM01]

Tonight, all 32 NHL teams play tonight! So that's 16 games for your enjoyment tonight. It's all part of the "Frozen Frenzy" deal tonight. Go enjoy some NHL hockey tonight, will 'ya?!


[OMISSION] All 32 games are on either ESPN or ESPN+ tonight. Check for the schedule.

 

[JohnBM01]

If you want some nationally-televised games, we got the New York Rangers at the Washington Capitals, and then the Los Angeles Kings at the San José Sharks tonight. Enjoy these matches if you want to see some nationally-televised action.

 

[JohnBM01]

Here are all the current Division leaders heading into tonight:

ATLANTIC: Florida (7-3-1, 15 points)
METROPOLITAN: New Jersey (6-4-2, 14 points)
CENTRAL: Winnipeg (8-1-0, 16 points)
PACIFIC: Vegas (7-2-1, 15 points)

Wow... Winnipeg ballin'. Since you're here, bella2011, Toronto is currently 3rd in the Atlantic Division with a record of 5-4-1 and 11 points. I also noted Detroit, Montreal, and Boston all are 4-4-1 with 9 points. Another thing I noted... the San José Sharks still stink. The Sharks are currently 1-7-2 with a measly 4 points, the worst record in the NHL so far.

 

[Interemptor]

Leafs beat the Jets and are now 6-0-0 since that one:

Always so nice to beat the Jets 😅

Oh and the Blue Jackets are better then I would have guessed. Marchenko with 11pts and Monahan with 9 so far. Nice too see imo

 

[JohnBM01]

Let me give a Standings Update on the NHL so far this season. See where your favorite team(s) is/are:


--- Standings Update (As of: November 6, 2024) ---

EASTERN CONFERENCE: ATLANTIC

• Florida (9-3-1, 19 pts.)
• TOR (7-5-2, 16 pts.)
• TB (7-6-0, 14 pts.)
• BOS (6-7-1, 13 pts.)
• OTT (6-6-0, 12 pts.)
• DET (5-5-1, 11 pts.)
• BUF (5-7-1, 11 pts.)
• MON (4-7-2, 10 pts.)

EASTERN CONFERENCE: METROPOLITAN

• Carolina (9-2-0, 18 pts.)
• NJ (8-5-2, 18 pts.)
• NYR (8-2-1, 17 pts.)
• WSH (8-3-0, 16 pts.)
• COL (5-5-2, 12 pts.)
• NYI (5-6-2, 12 pts.)
• PIT (5-7-2, 12 pts.)
• PHI (4-8-1, 9 pts.)

WESTERN CONFERENCE: CENTRAL

• Winnipeg (12-1-0, 24 pts.)
• MIN (8-2-2, 18 pts.)
• DAL (7-4-0, 14 pts.)
• STL (7-6-0, 14 pts.)
• UTA (5-5-3, 13 pts.)
• COL (6-7-0, 12 pts.)
• CHI (5-7-1, 11 pts.)
• NSH (4-7-1, 9 pts.)

WESTERN CONFERENCE: PACIFIC

• Los Angeles (8-3-3, 19 pts.)
• VGK (8-3-1, 17 pts.)
• VAN (6-2-3, 15 pts.)
• CGY (7-5-1, 15 pts.)
• EDM (6-6-1, 13 pts.)
• SEA (5-8-1, 11 pts.)
• ANA (4-6-2, 10 pts.)
• SJ (4-8-2, 10 pts.)

Wow... I never thought both Pennsylvania teams would be bottom feeders in their Division. The Winnipeg Jets have been balling this season so far with such a strong start.

Still a long ways to go, but now you know how everyone's doing.


Three games on tonight:

• NSH Predators at WSH Capitals
• DET Red Wings at CHI Blackhawks <<< game on TNT, TruTV, and MAX
• VGK Golden Knights at EDM Oilers

Enjoy tonight's games!

 

[JohnBM01]

Let's make this Wednesday night more interesting with some hockey. Here is what is on tap for tonight:

• VGK Golden Knights at TOR Maple Leafs
• CAR Hurricanes at PHI Flyers (NHL on TNT)
• SJ Sharks at DAL Stars
• NSH Predators at SEA Kraken (NHL on TNT)
• BUF Sabres at LA Kings

Enjoy some NHL hockey tonight!

 

[JohnBM01]

Alex Ovechkin will be out for 4-6 weeks with a fractured fibula. "The Great 8" is only 27 goals away from surpassing "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky's goal record. The earliest he could return is on December 20. More info on ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/42530455/capitals-star-alex-ovechkin-4-6-weeks-broken-fibula .

 

[JohnBM01]

Did you know the San José Sharks are NOT the worst team in the NHL currently? That honor goes to... the 8-16-2... Chicago Blackhawks. Believe it or not, San José isn't even in last place in their division. The Anaheim Ducks are currently 10-11-3 with 23 points while the San José Sharks are 10-14-5 with 25 points as of the time of this post.

Back to Chicago for a moment. The Blackhawks fired their head coach, Luke Richardson after Chicago's horrid start to the 2024-2025 NHL season. Richardson will be replaced by Anders Sorensen, the coach of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Chicago is currently 8-16-2 with 18 points.

 

[JohnBM01]

Can you believe the Buffalo Sabres have lost 11 straight games? Buffalo is 11-17-4 with 26 points now. They are dead last in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Their next game is at home on Friday against the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs. Rather sad times for the lovely blue and gold of Buffalo right about now...