Projecting the Standings and Playoffs for 24/25

Our team has compiled their projecitons of the final regular season standings, who will make the playoffs and what the finals will be. The numbers in paranthesis are where the team finished in the division in 23/24. 

Atlantic Division

1. Florida Panthers (3)
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (1)
3. Buffalo Sabres (7)
4. Ottawa Senators  W2 (2)
5. Detroit Red Wings (5)
6. Boston Bruins (7)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning (6)

Comments: Some slight movement in the Atlantic, a middle of the road division in the RHL. The Panthers continue to be one of the best teams and have a real shot at the Cup.

Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers (7)
2. Columbus Blue Jackets (2)
3. New Jersey Devils (1)
4. Philadelphia Flyers W1 (4)
5. Pittsburgh Penguins (3)
6. Carolina Hurricanes (6)
7. Washington Capitals (8)
8. New York Islanders (5)

Comments: Interestingly, the Rangers are set to fly up the standings after missing the playoffs. After review of the rosters on paper, we believe the Rangers are the best team in the East coming in to the regular season.

Central Division

1. Minnesota Wild (6)
2. Dallas Stars (5)
3. Winnipeg Jets (2)
4. Colorado Avalanche W1 (1)
5. Nashville Predators W2 (4)
6. Chicago Blackhawks (3)
7. St Louis Blues (8)
8. Utah HC (7)

Comments: We found the Central Division to be the toughest division in the RHL. Althought some serious bottomfeeding teams with Utah and St Louis, there is an absolute killers row of three elite teams at the top. Further, we found a tie for best team in the league here with the Minnesota Wild tying a team out of the Pacific.

Pacific

1. Los Angeles Kings (4)
2. Anaheim Ducks (2)
3. San Jose Sharks (3)
4. Seattle Kraken (1)
5. Edmonton Oilers (5)
6. Calgary Flames (8)
7. Vancouver Canucks (7)
8. Vegas Golden Knights (6)

Comments: It's a tale of two divisions in the West, as the Central is the strongest, the Pacific is the weakest in the league. However, there is one massive bright spot, the Los Angeles Kings are tied with the Minnesota Wild for the best team in the RHL.

Conference Finals East: Florida Panthers beat the New York Rangers in 6. Although we found the Rangers a slightly better team, we think the elite defensive core of the Panthers will be the difference.

Conference Finals West: Minnesota Wild beat Los Angeles Kings in 7. We were unable to decide who the best team was out these two. We think the very slight difference is the Wild's playoff ready Tkachuk brothers and Stanley cup vets Crosby, Karlsson and Fleury.

2024 2025 Cup Champs: Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers in 6.