NHL predictions: Where experts expect the Bruins to finish in the division originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Expectations are high for the Boston Bruins heading into the 2024-25 NHL season.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney wasted no time this offseason upgrading his roster with the signings of Top-six center Elias Lindholm and Top-four defender Nikita Zadorov on day 1 of free agency. Boston was also able to re-sign elite goaltender Jeremy Swayman. to an eight-year, $66 million contract despite a unusually public negotiation.
Regular season success hasn’t eluded the Bruins lately. In fact, the Bruins’ 466 regular-season wins are the second-most in the last 10 years behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 475. If we shorten the period to the last five years, the B’s have the most regular season wins with 240, two ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Bruins (2019-20, 2022-23) and Florida Panthers (2021-22, 2023-24) have won each of the last four Atlantic Division titles.
Despite making some nice additions in the offseason, not many people are picking the Bruins to go far in the playoffs. That’s not too surprising considering the B’s will likely have to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers just to reach the Eastern Conference finals. The Atlantic side of the divide will be a brutally difficult road.
However, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff picked the Bruins to reach the Stanley Cup Final, but they lost to the Edmonton Oilers. I made the opposite prediction – Bruins over Oilers – in my season predictions posted on monday.
The Oilers are by far the most popular pick to win the 2025 Stanley Cup. They fell short last season with a Game 7 loss to the Panthers after trailing 3-0 in the series. Only two teams since the 2004-05 lockout (the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2023-24 Panthers) have won the Stanley Cup after losing in the Cup Final the previous season.
The easiest way to make the playoffs is by securing one of the three spots in each division. So where will the Bruins finish in the Atlantic Division this season? Here’s a roundup of predictions from experts around the league.
Nick Goss, NBC Sports Boston: 2nd
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN: 4th
Lucas Fox, Sportsnet: 1st
Elliott Friedman, Sportsnet: 2nd
Frank Seravalli, daily confrontation: 2nd
Matt Larkin, daily confrontation: 3rd
Dom Luszczyszyn, El Atlético: 3rd