2025 NHL Preview: Atlantic Division

Welcome to Caleb's 2025 NHL Divisional Previews! Today we are focusing on the Atlantic Division, let's dive in!

(All Odds provided by Unabated)

 

  1. Buffalo Sabres

 

Trading away JJ Peterka, one of your best players, is not a GREAT way to start your offseason. I'm not blowing anyone's mind with that. Kesselring is a really solid young defenseman (something the Sabres have in spades) but it doesn't do much to make this team better. Doan is also a solid young prospect, but not moving the needle. Top 10 in goals for, bottom 10 in goals against. The issue is for sure on the back end, so I see some logic in the Peterka trade. I just think it starts in net. Not that UPL is bad, but he is ridiculously inconsistent, and the D core did not help much at all. If everything goes right, this team could compete for a wild card spot. But, it's Buffalo. Not much goes right for the Sabres. And until Josh Allen and the Bills trend backwards, ownership doesn't really care. 

 

Buffalo to Win Division: +4000

One Player Future: Tage Thompson 50+ goals +1400



  1. Detroit Red Wings

 

The biggest addition was in net this summer for Stevie Y and it was a bet they needed to take. John Gibson can solidify this crease behind a team that will likely be one of the better rosters he’s played behind. I still just see too many holes in this roster for it to be a playoff team. The Yzerplan is not my favorite plan. Even with some great young pieces in Raymond and Seider, and emergence of maybe some others? This roster just won't be able to score nearly enough goals consistently to make any noise in the division. I had a thought of putting Buffalo ahead of them, but I think they are still a better overall roster then Buffalo. And we all know Stevie Y isn't really all that active around the trade deadline, but IF HE WAS, there's a chance they fill that last top 6 role, and make the playoffs. But right now, 7th. 

 

Detroit to Win Division: +4000

One Player Future: Lucas Raymond Over 80 points +140

 

  1. Boston Bruins

There is NO WAY Swayman is as bad as he was last year. I don't know what that was, but it's not happening again. Maybe he was just feeling sad cause his tandem partner was off in Ottawa. Or maybe it was the contract dispute. But he will bounce back. And that alone makes them a team that could challenge for a wild card spot. They won't get in, because there are better teams in this division above them, but they won't be nearly as bad as last year. McAvoy should be fully healthy, Pastrnak is a top 10 player in the league, and that combined with Swayman will get them more wins than last year. It was an emotional end to the year, trading Marchand, and to a lesser emotional extent Carlo. But the team will be better. I'd say they miss the playoffs by 6 points. That's my bet. 

 

Boston to Win Division: +10000

One Player Future: Morgan Geekie 60+ Points +400





  1. Montreal Canadiens

 

Look, I get it. They're young. They have the best rink in the league. They made the playoffs last year. They should only be going up, right? Well… kind of? I think this Montreal team has a STRONG future. Lane Hutson might be the next Cale Makar, Demidov might be the next Kucherov, and Cole Caufield might score 40. But those are all unknowns. I love the Dobson addition, he’s great. But I still don't love the D core, and I don't know how much you can trust Montembault. I just think this team is a huge toss up. Hell, they could go and win the division. I wouldn't be THAT surprised. But, there is every chance they miss the playoffs, and that's what I think happens here. They get close. But they miss. Center depth is still a huge issue to me, and until they get that fixed, they miss the playoffs in my mind.

 

Montreal to Win Division: +1400

One Player Future: Cole Caufield 40+ goals +490



  1. Florida Panthers

 

4 years in a row making it the Finals? That, my friends, is A LOT of hockey. But until something shows me otherwise, this team remains the elite of the East. They got another year older, didn't really add anything, but retained everyone they needed to. Tidy work for the tax free Cats. I won't lie, that matters. And when your own players call it out that it matters, it matters. “Did it matter when they sucked?” No, because they were trash, and weren't getting any fans. Money matters more than ever to hockey players now, and so does a tax free state. Anyway, back to the team. Marchand won't be the same animal he was in the playoffs all season, Bobrovsky is another year older, Barkov is out till Game 1 of the playoffs, and Tkachuk is out till January. They really don't care. They will make the playoffs as a wild card, and still make noise. But I do think this is the year they go down before the Finals. Just my 2 cents.

 

Florida to Win Division: +325

One Player Future: Sam Bennett 60+ points +120

 

  1. Ottawa Senators

 

NOW THE TOP 3. Starting with Ottawa. I’m not going to lie, I love this team. I love Jake Sanderson, I think Brady is the perfect captain for the city, and I really think this team is ready to be a mainstay in the division. Now, a few things have to go right for them. Batherson needs to show up, Cozens as well. Too many times last season they were ghosts, especially in the playoffs against Toronto. They combined for 4 points. That’s just not enough. If both of those guys can reach their potential this year, woo baby, this team could be deep. Zetterlund is such a solid add, but I feel like he is getting a little overrated by fans. We will see. Ullmark should feel a lot more comfortable in his second year in Ottawa and put up great numbers. I don't know, I just have a feeling about this team. It's a repeat matchup for me too. Leafs vs Sens Round 1.

 

Ottawa to Win Division: +800

One Player Future: Jake Sanderson 20+ goals +1100

 

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs

 

Ah Toronto. What to say. I won’t say the regular season MATTERS cause it really doesn't, but maybe there are more things to watch with the team this year then in years passed. Can Matthews bounce back? Is Stolarz THE guy with that new deal? Who steps up the play with Knies and Matthews? Can the D core find some more offence? I mean, tons to watch, but they will make the playoffs and then that's when it really matters. I think Laughton has a good year, and I like the addition of Joshua a lot. At the end of the day, it will come down to playoff time, and if this team and its “changed” DNA can finally break through. I say yes. 

 

Toronto to Win Division: +295

One Player Future: Auston Matthews 60+ goals +2200

 

1.  Tampa Bay Lightning

 

Man, I love this roster. This team is so deep, so talented, and I truly think with more time together now, Guentzel and Kucherov are both going to hit 100 points. Bold I know, but I think this is the best roster in the Eastern Conference. Hedman is ever steady, and when healthy still a top 10 d man in my mind, Moser is a stud as well. Forwards we know all about. That top line of Guentzel-Point-Kucherov might be one of my favorite trios in the league, if they stay together. Vasi should be healthy when the regular season rolls around, and should just continue to be one of the best goalies in the league. No reason for this team to slow down at all, and I could see them returning to the Finals again. 

 

Tampa Bay to Win Division: +200

One Player Future: Nikita Kucherov 40+ Goals +340