Before the 2024-2025 NHL season began, Die By The Blade staff predicted how the season would go. Now, with the regular season in the books and the playoffs well underway, it’s a good time to look back and see how close we were… or not.
Team MVP
- Melissa: Rasmus Dahlin
- Calvin: Rasmus Dahlin
- Kerra: Rasmus Dahlin
- Steven: Alex Tuch
Hard to argue with Dahlin or Tuch here, as both were among the top-four in points on the team. But equally as deserving – and not mentioned here – was Tage Thompson, #72 who had 72 points on the season, with a team-high 44 goals and adding 28 assists.
Leading Goalscorer: Tage Thompson
- Melissa: Tage Thompson
- Calvin: Tage Thompson
- Kerra: Alex Tuch
- Steven: JJ Peterka
Two of us were correct, and the others weren’t far behind! Tage Thompson led the team with 44 goals, while Alex Tuch (35) and JJ Peterka (26) were also in the top three.
Surprise Player
- Melissa: Beck Malenstyn
- Calvin: Ryan McLeod
- Kerra: Jack Quinn
- Steven: Ryan McLeod
This one’s a little harder to quantify. Readers, who would you say was the “surprise player” for the Sabres this season? Quinn set career highs in goals and points, but perhaps that’s only a surprise because of how tough last season was for him with injuries. He certainly has the pedigree to be an offensive dynamo. I do think McLeod perhaps fits the bill, as he had 53 points in 79 games. He set new career highs in goals, assists and points in his first season in Buffalo – but is this really a surprise, or was it expected of him?
Best Defenseman
- Melissa: Rasmus Dahlin
- Calvin: Rasmus Dahlin
- Kerra: Rasmus Dahlin
- Steven: Rasmus Dahlin
Well, this was a no-brainer.
Total Team Points
- Melissa: 103
- Calvin: 92
- Kerra: 101
- Steven: 98
We all had high hopes, but alas. The Sabres finished the season with 79 points.
Will the Sabres make the playoffs?
- Melissa: Yes
- Calvin: Yes
- Kerra: Yes (pleaseeeee)
- Steven: YES
Damn it.
Bold Predictions
- Melissa: Jason Zucker will have at least 20 goals (he had 14 last year combined between Arizona & Nashville); Ryan Johnson will spend more time playing in Rochester than in Buffalo.
- Calvin: The Quinn-Cozens-Benson line will combine for 220 pts.
- Kerra: Lindy wins Jack Adams Award
- Steven: Team will have a top 10 power play & will be top 5 in goals-for in the league; Dahlin will be a Norris Trophy finalist
Well, Jason Zucker did finish the season with 21 goals… so at least there’s that.
Top Eastern Conference Team
- Melissa: Carolina Hurricanes
- Calvin: New York Rangers
- Kerra: Carolina Hurricanes
- Steven: New York Rangers
Carolina finished the season 4th in the East, while the Rangers were way down in 11th! Instead, it was Washington who finished atop the conference.
Top Western Conference Team
- Melissa: Nashville Predators
- Calvin: Dallas Stars
- Kerra: Edmonton Oilers
- Steven: Nashville Predators
Nashville was a disappointment; they finished the season way down in 14th! Dallas finished third in the conference, while Edmonton finished sixth. Instead, it was Winnipeg surprising us all and winning the Presidents Trophy with a 56-22-4 record and 116 points.
Stanley Cup Winner
- Melissa: Nashville Predators
- Calvin: Colorado Avalanche
- Kerra: Edmonton Oilers
- Steven: Nashville Predators
Well, Nashville didn’t even make the playoffs (or get anywhere near). The Avalanche have already been eliminated, but there’s still a chance for Edmonton!