Since the NHL playoff’s Stanley Cup Final ended on June 24, crowning the Florida Panthers champions, NHL fans have been craving on-ice action. The wait is finally over.
The NHL season began on Oct. 4 in Europe, when the New Jersey Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1.
Meanwhile, fans can start enjoying North American regular-season NHL hockey on Oct. 8.
A whirlwind offseason took place between the Stanley Cup Final and the start of the season. During the offseason, Macklin Celebrini went first overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to the lowly San Jose Sharks.
Other transactions were completed including forward Steven Stamkos signing with the Nashville Predators.
Some STU athletes and students made their predictions for the upcoming season.
Brady Chapman is a second-year goalkeeper for the STU men’s soccer team. Despite being a loyal Vancouver Canucks fan for most of his life, Chapman believes the Las Vegas Golden Knights will win the Stanley Cup, given the experience the team has in the playoffs and previously winning the cup in 2023.
“I think they had a good season [last year], a little bit disappointing, but they’ve been there before. They know what playoff hockey is and they have the experience … with all the players on their team,” said Chapman.
Sam Stoddard has a different take than Chapman. The fourth-year student believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup, despite the team’s disappointing track record in the playoffs.
Stoddard is a Maple Leafs fan and has been for most of his life.
“I’m going to say the Maple Leafs have a good chance of winning it, but we say that every year and lose in the first round. So, I’m still sticking with my gut,” he said. “The Maple Leafs added a few good defense to our team. That’s what we needed and hopefully, our goalie can stay healthy for the whole year and get us to the promise land.”
Despite their differences, Chapman and Stoddard could agree on who they thought the top rookie would be this season. Both thought that Macklin Celebrini, San Jose’s shiny new draft pick, would be the top rookie by the end of the season.
“Macklin Celebrini will win the Calder Trophy this year. He is an NHL-ready player. He spent a season with Boston University and had a very good year there,” said Noah Fletcher, a first-year student. “I think that will fare well for the NHL. So, I think he’s going to win the Calder.”
Aside from the Calder Trophy for the top rookie, the Hart Memorial Trophy is another top prize for players to win. The piece of hardware is awarded yearly to the most valuable player to their team.
For the past five seasons, the Edmonton Oilers captain Conner McDavid has dominated the Hart Trophy race. He won the award on two separate occasions, in 2021 and 2023 and has been nominated for the award every year since 2020.
Stoddard, Chapman, Fletcher and Alec Wells believe McDavid should again be the frontrunner for the award this season.
Wells has attended STU for two years, studying journalism and playing on the men’s soccer team.
“It’s going to be McDavid again. You can’t pick anyone other than McDavid for MVP. He’s crazy and his consistency is great,” said Wells. “It may drop in the next couple of years as he gets older, but I still think for the next two, three years, he’ll be the best player in the league … no question about it.”
