Dropping the Puck: NHL Season Preview

10/10/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Stanley Cup Predictions & Players to Watch as the 2023-24 NHL Season Begins

Welcome back, hockey! The 2023-24 NHL season is about to drop the puck, and an 82-game sprint to the playoffs is in store for the next six months. We’re just four months removed from the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ win in the Stanley Cup Finals over the Florida Panthers. The Stanley Cup Trophy was on display last night at the Raiders game in Vegas, and the Knights play host to one of three opening-night games tonight. So is Vegas primed for a repeat? Or have things changed heading into the new season? Let’s discuss.

2023-24 Predictions: Vegas may have won the Cup last June, but last season was one for the record books in Boston. The Bruins made NHL history with 65 wins and 135 points, but they’re not the favorites to open the season. The reason? Boston waved goodbye to two players who retired — Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci — while losing other key contributors like Tyler Bertuzzi (Maple Leafs) and Dmitry Orlov (Hurricanes) to other Eastern Conference competitors. On the west coast, the Avalanche reloaded, and they look to be the slim favorites in most, if not all, of the eyes of oddsmakers.

The Sportsletter’s Prediction: I think it’s time the Edmonton star duo of Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl get it down. Give me Oilers over Maple Leafs in an all-Canada Stanley Cup Finals.

Odds to Win 2024 Stanley Cup Finals

1. Avalanche (+750)

2. Hurricanes (+800)

T3. Devils (+900)

T3. Oilers (+900)

T5. Maple Leafs (+1000)

T5. Golden Knights (+1000)

New Players in New Places

A handful of star players will be making new-team debuts this week, including Alex DeBrincat (Red Wings), Erik Karlsson (Penguins) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (Kings). We mentioned Tuffoli and Orlov above, and Vladimir Tarasenko (Senators) gives Ottawa some much-needed juice.

Rookies to Watch

A number of “rookies” will make their NHL debuts in the days ahead. As a reminder, not all draftees from the 2023 draft are eligible or active to begin the season, and some of these newcomers were selected in previous drafts. There’s excitement around William Eklund (Sharks) and Luke Hughes (Devils) from the 2021 draft, as well as Adam Fantilli (Blue Jackets) — the third pick in 2023. But all eyes will be on one rookie early on this season, and his name is Connor Bedard (Blackhawks). Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick from June tallied five points in three preseason games, and he appears to be as advertised.

As my friend Chance the Rapper likes to say: Let’s do that hockey!

NHL Season Openers (Tonight)

Predators at Lightning (5:30 pm ET)
Blackhawks at Penguins (8:00 pm ET)

Kraken at Golden Knights (10:30 pm ET)

Yahoo! Sports: NHL Tier Rankings: Who’s Elite, Who’s Happy to Lose Entering 2023-24 Season

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images