Episode Shawn Horcoff (511):No Need to Watch this NHL Season, We Have All the Predictions!

The season is a week away and we give all our prognostications on what we expect to happen this year. There were some bold predictions and some....not so much. Listen Here: Apple Podcasts Direct MP3 iHeart Radio Title Player Shawn Horcoff Shirts off for Horcoff NEWS Stolarz signs - 4 x $3.75MM Atlantic Division Team Strengths / What's Going Well Key Challenges / What Could Go Wrong Expectations or Projection for 2025-26 Florida Panthers They're coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups, meaning they have experience, confidence, and a championship mindset. They also have strong core players, and continuity tends to help. CBSSports.com+3DraftKings Network+3NHL+3 Big blow: their captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a serious knee injury (ACL/MCL) in training camp, and is likely out for much or all of the season. That hurts leadership, two-way play, and depth. The Sun+2Reuters+2 Also, Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from surgery and may miss time. DraftKings Network+1 They'll need next-man up to step out. Still expected to be a top-team in the Atlantic, maybe the favorite. But their margin for error is slimmer without Barkov. If they stay healthy otherwise, they should contend for division and maybe again deep in the playoffs. Toronto Maple Leafs Very strong offensive core (Matthews, Nylander, etc.), good goaltending (Stolarz / Woll) last season. They won the division in 2024-25, so momentum and confidence are there. Daily Faceoff+3Wikipedia+3The Hockey Writers+3 Major change: Mitch Marner is gone (trade / sign-and-trade), so they lose a big creator and offensive driver. The Hockey Writers+2hockeybuzz.com+2 Depth on the blue line is a concern; mobility and puck-moving among the defense isn't elite. Also any injuries to top forwards could hurt. The Hockey Writers+1 They will likely still compete for a top-3 spot in the Atlantic. Many projections put them 2nd or 3rd. But whether they can pull off another division title may depend heavily on how they adapt without Marner. Tampa Bay Lightning They have veteran depth, star players (Hedman, Kucherov, etc.), strong goaltending history. They tend to remain a steady playoff presence and know how to win big games. The Hockey News+2DraftKings Network+2 Age and wear could creep in; maintaining performance across a full season is always harder for older players. Depth beyond their top lines / defense is always in question. Also, small off-season improvements vs rivals who might have improved more. The Hockey News+2hockeybuzz.com+2 Expect them to be in the mix for a playoff spot, likely top-3 or wild-card if needed. They might not win the division, but they'll be dangerous — especially if other teams have more turmoil. Ottawa Senators Young core is maturing: players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson are established difference-makers. They made the playoffs in 2024-25 for the first time in a while. hockeybuzz.com+3NHL+3Wikipedia+3 They should have more experience, better cohesion. Depth is still a concern — forward depth, goaltending (though they have some good prospects), and whether they can avoid inconsistency (long losing stretches) especially in a tough division. Also, small margins matter in late games; punishing turnover or defensive lapses will hurt more in 2025-26. Likely a wild card contender; maybe push into the top-4 or 5 in the Atlantic depending on health and whether they capitalize in close games. Not likely favorites, but in many projections they finish around 4th in the division. The Hockey News+2The Hockey Writers+2 Montreal Canadiens Youth is coming through; the "next wave" is expected to make strides. Many observers see them as a team that could improve more steeply than some of their rivals. Daily Faceoff+1 They have upside — speed, prospects, and potential depth upgrades. Still less consistency, still gaps — especially in center depth, defensive depth, and perhaps special teams. They might struggle in tight games, and maybe lack the experience to keep pace with more ba

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