NHL Atlantic Division Power Rankings: Examining each team's pros and cons ahead of 2024/25 season

The start of the NHL season is mere hours away. On Tuesday night, the puck will drop on the first round of games, marking the official beginning of the 2024-25 season. So, this makes for the perfect opportunity to look at the power rankings for the NHL teams in the Atlantic Division ahead of the new season.

NHL Atlantic Division Power Rankings for 2024-25

#8. Montreal Canadiens

On the plus side, the Habs seem to be coming out of their rebuild ahead of schedule. Their young core led by captain Nick Suzuki looks poised to be a serious contender at some point down the road.

However, the Habs likely won’t be contenders this season. The loss of Patrik Laine could prove big. But the Habs’ season will ultimately come down to the young guns’ ability to score goals. If the Canadiens can put together a solid winning streak, they might be on the fringe of the NHL playoff conversation.

#7. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have the franchise cornerstone pieces in Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens. Plus, the emergence of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could push the Sabres to the top of the Atlantic.

But the Sabres’ success depends on their consistency. They can put win streaks together. But they can also go on torrid losing streaks. If the Sabres can remain consistent, they could have a winning season. Moreover, if one of the teams ahead on this list has a bad season, the Sabres could sneak into the playoffs.

#6. Ottawa Senators

With players like captain Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, it’s hard to place the Sens this low in the Atlantic. Plus, adding Linus Ullmark, a true number-one NHL netminder, gives the Sens instant credibility.

Ultimately, the Senators’ success will boil down to their ability to win tough games against major opponents. The teams ahead of them on the list could be in for a tough season, especially if Tkachuk, Stutzle, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson, and company all have big seasons.

#5. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings look poised to compete following their lengthy rebuild. NHL All-Stars Dylan Larkin, Mortiz Seider, and Lucas Raymond should be the main pieces driving the Wings' success this season. Plus, the cast of supporting characters like Vladimir Tarasenko could mean the Wings get back into the playoff picture in nearly a decade.

The Achilles heel for Detroit is goaltending. Ville Husso looks to be the starting netminder for the Red Wings. However, the Wings will need consistent goaltending in order to compete with the big teams in the Atlantic. Perhaps the Wings could be shopping for an NHL-caliber starting goalie at some point this season, especially if they are within striking distance of a playoff spot.

#4. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts are due for a regression. Several pieces of the back-to-back champions are no longer with the team. Still, newly named captain Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and all-world netminder Andrei Vasilevsky are the cornerstones for a Tampa Bay club that should make the playoffs in the East.

But as mentioned earlier, there’s no telling how far the team could regress. The Bolts could find themselves in serious competition for a wildcard spot from the Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic and other clubs like the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders in the Metro Division. The Bolts will need consistency more than ever to remain in the NHL playoff picture.

#3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs have everything needed to be the number-one team in the Atlantic Division. Yet, they sit at number three due to their inconsistency. While captain Auston Matthews leads a spectacular roster including stars Mitch Marner and William Nylander, it’s hard to envision the Leafs winning the division without a mind-blowing season from everyone on the team.

Toronto’s biggest weakness is two-fold. The revamped blueline looks good on paper with Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe. However, these high-priced veterans are injury-prone and far from a sure thing.

Moreover, the Leafs’ goaltending situation is iffy at best. Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz look like a solid NHL tandem. But until they hit the ice, there’s no telling how good they can be. Ultimately, the regular season doesn’t matter in Toronto. It’s all about playoff success.

#2. Boston Bruins

The Bruins look like the team to beat in the Atlantic after signing Jeremy Swayman. If Swayman can live up to his NHL contract, the B’s will be tough to beat. Plus, sniper David Pastrnak and captain Brad Marchand lead a team that boasts newcomers Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.

The Bruins’ biggest weakness will be staying healthy. Marchand is coming off multiple offseason surgeries. Lindholm has been dealing with his fair share of injuries. Virtually every player on the Bruins has missed some time with injuries over the last couple of seasons. So, if the B’s can stay healthy, they could catapult themselves to number one.

#1. Florida Panthers

It’s tough to bet against the Stanley Cup champs. The core featuring Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sergei Bobrovsky should offset the numerous offseason departures. The Panthers should be the team to beat in the Atlantic despite a potential regression at some point this season.

On the downside, there’s no telling if the Panthers’ departures may affect their overall depth. If the Panthers cannot get enough depth scoring from their bottom six, they could be forced to win more than their fair share of close games. If that’s the case, fatigue could catch up to them in the second half of the NHL season.

Ultimately, the Panthers should be at the top of the Atlantic for a second year in a row.