As the summer comes to a close and the leaves begin to change, hockey fans around the world are gearing up for the start of the 2024-25 NHL season. With training camps set to open in just a few weeks, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting and competitive year on the ice.

One of the biggest storylines heading into the new season is the continued dominance of the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Toronto Maple Leafs. After capturing their second consecutive championship last season, the Leafs are looking to become the first team since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017 to win three straight titles. Led by superstar center Auston Matthews and goaltender Jack Campbell, Toronto will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche are expected to be strong contenders for the Stanley Cup after falling just short in the playoffs last season. With a talented roster that includes Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Gabriel Landeskog, the Avs have all the pieces in place to make a deep run in the postseason.

Another team to keep an eye on this season is the Seattle Kraken, who will be entering their second year in the league. After a solid inaugural season that saw them narrowly miss out on a playoff spot, the Kraken have made some key additions in the offseason and are poised to make a push for the postseason in 2024-25.

Of course, no preview of the upcoming NHL season would be complete without mentioning some of the top rookies to watch. Players like Connor Bedard of the Anaheim Ducks, Shane Wright of the New York Rangers, and Matvei Michkov of the Montreal Canadiens are all expected to make an immediate impact in their first year in the league.

As we count down the days until the puck drops on opening night, hockey fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another thrilling and unpredictable NHL season. With so much talent and excitement on display, there’s no telling what surprises and memorable moments lie ahead in the 2024-25 campaign.