Where will the Boston Bruins end up?

Bruins

Boston opens its season on Tuesday night in familiar but unfortunate hunting grounds, taking on the Panthers in Florida.

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Jim McBride, Tara Sullivan, Conor Ryan, Matt Porter, The Boston Globe

October 8, 2024 | 10:30 a.m

The puck dropped on Friday of the 2024-25 NHL season when the Devils and Sabers played two games abroad as part of the league's Global Series in Prague.

The Bruins will open their season on Tuesday night in familiar but unfortunate hunting grounds, taking on the Panthers – the team that eliminated them the last two postseasons – in Sunrise, Florida.

Can the Bruins return to the playoffs and make a deeper run this time? Can the Panthers defend their first Stanley Cup? Is it finally the year for superstar Connor McDavid and the Oilers?

The Globe's hockey writers weigh in with their Bruins predictions and their Stanley Cup prediction.

Kevin Paul Dupont

Bruins: 44-20-18, third in the Atlantic

Remarkably similar to last season when they narrowly edged out Florida at 47-20-15 to take first place in the division. But the method will inevitably be more defensively focused. New addition Elias Lindholm will strengthen the power play, but overall scoring at full strength will be a nightmare. Size and range in defense as well as Jeremy Swayman, who has been called up for more than 60 games, will make up for the lack of offensive power. Even though David Pastrnak delivered 52-52-104, it just wasn't enough to score.

Eastern Conference: Panthers over Rangers

After being bounced by the Maple Leafs in the first round, the Bruins will be sitting at home when the Panthers shred Toronto in Round 2, leaving the Leafs still without a trophy since 1967 (can you believe it?!). The Panthers make it through with a supporting cast of former Bruins, including Tomas Nosek, AJ Greer and Jesper Boqvist, in a rematch of last year's Eastern final. Former BC star Spencer Knight steals Sergei Bobrovsky's No. 1 job in Panthers net.

Western Conference: Stars over Oilers

The Oilers miss the return to the Cup final and cannot prevail against Dallas this time. Even with Joe Pavelski retired, the Stars have plenty of firepower on offense, with both Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson hitting the 40-40 plateau this season. The Oilers still have the game's biggest star in Connor McDavid, but the rest of the forwards don't have enough depth and versatility to score a conference goal for the second straight season.

Stanley Cup Final: Stars defeat Panthers in six games

The difference, of course, is in net, as ex-BU stopper Jake Oettinger outscores Knight. Was there ever any doubt? Tyler Seguin drinks from the Cup for the first time since he was part of the Bruins' pivotal lineup in 2011. Great win for Stars GM Jim Nill, the former Bruins winger acquired in 1984 for fan favorite Peter McNab. (Headline: “Bruins get zero for McNab.”) After being eliminated in Round 1, the Bruins announced a 7.5 percent increase in ticket prices, and general manager son Charlie Jacobs reiterated that the franchise's success was measured by trophies will – one in the last 53 years.

Jim McBride

Bruins: 48-22-12, wild card

When the Big Bad Bruins return, Jim Montgomery's Boston Stranglers squad will suffocate teams on the forecheck and punish them on the backend. The scoring is done by the usual suspects (hello, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand) as well as one or two unexpected surprises (oh hello, Tyler Johnson and Johnny Beecher).

Eastern Conference: Bruins over Panthers

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in few places is that more true than in today's NHL. The Bruins are copying the Cats' blueprint by being oppressive and opportunistic.

Western Conference: Golden Knights about Oilers

The local stars (Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin) come out in the postseason and help lead Bruce Cassidy back to the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers, meanwhile, are trying to find a way to hit the jackpot in Las Vegas to pay Connor McDavid the bazillions he'll receive next summer.

Stanley Cup Final: Bruins defeat Golden Knights in six games

Vegas can pull off the Bruins' colors (so to speak), but the Original Sixers end up with the most coveted silverware in the land. It's important that Jeremy Swayman is there to guard the goods.

Matt Porter

Bruins: 45-28-9, third in the Atlantic

The Bruins are in no danger of being eliminated from the playoff race, even if goaltending issues make for an inconsistent opening month. The Bruins have gotten bigger, faster and better, and Elias Lindholm is an excellent setup man for David Pastrnak and connective tissue on the power play. Tampa Bay isn't done yet and Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit aren't quite done yet. Well-known story in the Atlantic.

Eastern Conference: Rangers over Panthers

Igor Shesterkin is a man on a mission to prove he's worth every bit of the $12 million contract extension he's about to sign. The Rangers used their power play, a big jumper from Alexis Lafrenière, and Shesterkin's Vezina-worthy net game to dethrone the Cats.

Western Conference: Stars over Oilers

It would be easy to crown Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as future champions. Edmonton retained most of the core from last year's Cup final and added more skill on the wings. But Dallas remains the league's best defensive club, and Jake Oettinger will absorb any water that overflows the dam.

Stanley Cup Final: Stars defeat Rangers in six games

Wyatt Johnston fills the void left by Joe Pavelski's retirement, making the Roope Hintz-Jason Robertson series the best in the playoffs. Oettinger is electric. And Tyler Seguin scores the most memorable Dallas playoff goal since Brett Hull's skate blade made its way into history.

Conor Ryan

Bruins: 52-20-10, first in the Atlantic

After being fended off by a hectic forechecking force in the Panthers' back-to-back years, the Bruins clearly took notes. Nikita Zadorov gives weight to the D-Corps. Elias Lindholm should take care of the five-on-five attack and the power play. They need to get some more depth on the wing, but the Bruins will be a tough opponent this postseason, especially with Jeremy Swayman back in net.

Eastern Conference: Rangers over Bruins

The Blueshirts are cut from a similar cloth as the Bruins: speed and snarl at the top, strong and crisp puck carriers on the blue line and top-notch goaltending. Swayman and the Bruins' stingy defense help put them on the brink of another Cup final, but New York's scoring depth and a standout performance in net from Igor Shesterkin put it over the top.

Western Conference: Stars over Oilers

It's probably not wise to bet against a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – especially if the dynamic duo is motivated after a crushing Game 7 loss to Florida. But Dallas has a better goaltender, a stronger support staff and young players (Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley) who should make big strides.

Stanley Cup Final: Stars defeat Rangers in six games

Johnston, who received just two picks after the Bruins drafted Fabian Lysell in 2021, caps a Conn Smythe run with a hat trick in Game 6. Oooof.

Tara Sullivan

Bruins: 40-26-16, wild card

A lot of hopes depend on the goalkeeping situation. But despite the signing of Jeremy Swayman, I wonder if the combination of a late start and bad feelings will infect the season. On the bright side, the additions of Elias Lindholm on the front end and Nikita Zadorov on the back end are good as the Bruins have one of the strongest defensive units in the NHL.

Eastern Conference: Rangers over Devils

The Rangers are looking for revenge for last year's conference finals loss after winning the Presidents Trophy, and the Devils finally got a goalie, signing Jacob Markstrom to set up another round in the Battle of the Hudson River. Toronto won't be an easy feat, but former Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe will get the last laugh in New Jersey.

Western Conference: Oilers over Stars

Those pesky Panthers are finally going to step down, take last year's Stanley Cup, and let someone else take over. Seems like just the right opening for a deep Oilers team to prevail against a Stars team that will also face Colorado all season long.

Stanley Cup Final: Oilers over Rangers in five games

Connor McDavid couldn't bring himself to take the ice to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy last year after his team's brutal Game 7 loss to Florida. This year he will never want to leave the ice as he finally engraved his name on the greatest trophy in professional sports by defeating standout Ranger goaltender Igor Shesterkin.