The NHL season is here and it’s time to start thinking Hockey!

by Kobey Ronk, October 09, 2025

Source: AP Photo

I know I know, it’s still football season. That doesn’t mean we can’t think about the NHL starting and what we can expect for the season. I think out of all major sports, NHL has one of, if not the most parity in their league. Yes the Florida Panthers are back to back champions, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in both, but that doesn’t mean this league isn’t fair! New names are circling and the hunt to dethrone Florida is on. Some teams got some great offseason additions and we should see some good competition from now until the summer of 2026. Here are some things to look out for.

One of the Toronto Maple Leafs golden boys, Mitch Marner, set sail for the sin city to join the Golden Knights. The Vegas offense just got a huge addition to join Jack Eichel and Mark Stone in Marner. Marner led the Maple Leafs last year with a whopping 102 points in the regular season, and I can’t see a reason why this star power would slow down this loaded Vegas offense. The question comes with the Vegas Defense. Alex Pietrangelo is out for the season due to an injury, and the defense in general let up too many goals during the post season. Adin Hill is still a good goalie, and I’m excited to see what this team can put together for another potential cup run.

The Panthers are an obvious team to keep our eyes on. Two time defending cup champs, hunting for a 3 peat. They still have the wonder boys from last year, Captain America Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, Sergei Bobrovsky, all the pieces. The looming thing is how long Aleksander Barkov is out for. It seems to be long term, but a season can change. Either way this Panthers team is still strong and has their eyes on a 3-peat.

Some seem to forget the Colorado Avalanche won the cup in 21-22 and still have their leader in Nathan Mackinnon. Not only him, but Cale Makar, and people have their eyes on Martin Necas to pop off. They have a good team in Colorado, they just need to hurdle the Dallas Stars when it comes postseason time. The Stars have owned them in the last 2 years of the playoffs. Matt Duchene for Dallas is healthy and fans are still expecting him to perform at a high level this year. Jason Robertson is a point machine as well and the Stars are expected to cause problems in the west this year.

Connor McDavid just signed his 2 year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, in hopes to lift the big one once with the franchise. The Oilers haven’t lifted the cup since “The Great One” hung his skates up in Edmonton and after the last two years the franchise is dying to see it happen. The NHL world, for the most part, is hoping McDavid can lift the cup in the Oilers jersey. He’s the greatest player we’ve seen since Gretzky,and with Leon Draisaitl by his side there’s no reason we shouldn’t see it happen. That is until they run into the Florida Panthers.

There is a lot of speculation on whether this is Ovechkin’s last season or not. He is signed to the end of the year, and the team has made hints through ticket sales and such that this may be his last. What a ride it’s been, and if it is, what a perfect time to go out on top. The team finished top in the East only to lose to the Hurricanes in the second round in disappointing fashion. Dylan Strome led the team in points last year and is the key center in this team. Tom Wilson is a great scorer on the right wing, and John Carlson anchors the defense. Ovi made the great chase last year, and Capital fans are hoping he can make one more chase to end his career off in great fashion.

Being a St. Louis Blues fan I at least have to mention them. After all, they lost in the worst fashion last year in the playoffs. They surged back to grab the second wild card spot only to lose in double overtime. With that being said, they still have key pieces to be a dark horse team leading up to postseason time. Robert Thomas is great in the middle of the ice and creates as many chances as he can get. Jordan Kyrou and Dylan Holloway are developing pieces on offense that the Blues are hoping can have a breakout season. Colton Parayko has blunder moments, but he is more reliable than most Blues fans want to think when it comes to defense. Then there is always Binnington back in the net. The loss last year was not on him, and when it comes to crunchtime you know he can always deliver. I am excited for this team and ready to see what they can build.

Hockey season is upon us ladies and gentlemen. Get ready for a great season, and we shall see who reigns on top in the end!