NHL Meltdowns: How 2024-25 Failures Will Impact Summer Moves
These NHL teams are reeling from 2024-25 failures... what now?
The 2024-25 NHL season wasn’t shy of drama. Several teams experienced unexpected setbacks, with soap-opera-like issues that not only led to their failure to make the playoffs but also resulted in roster changes and potential hurdles as the 2025-26 season approaches.
In an attempt to examine the clubs most affected by issues that plagued their teams, I’ll also investigate why these issues remain unresolved.
The Canucks Unfolded and Will Struggle to Land Players Now
The Vancouver Canucks might have taken the most damage this season. Their coach bailed, a star player was traded because he couldn’t get along with another star, and there is talk that arguably the best defenseman in the NHL might have one foot out the door.
J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson weren’t friends. That much was known. This past season, things boiled over, and it became clear they couldn’t work together. The Canucks publicly acknowledged the drama after Miller was traded to the New York Rangers, but Pettersson didn’t do much to silence his critics.
Meanwhile, a former Jack Adams winner, Rick Tocchet, chose not to sign a lucrative extension and moved on, eventually joining the Philadelphia Flyers as their new coach. The Canucks offered more money than they’d ever offered another coach and Tocchet left anyway.
Finally, management publicly downplayed Brock Boeser’s trade value and suggested that Quinn Hughes might prefer to play with his brothers, which could impact his willingness to stay in Vancouver.
All of this has led to a situation where players might avoid Vancouver in free agency. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Canucks’ are not an appealing landing spot for stars who have options. “No doubt what happened this season has hurt their standing around the league,” Friedman said. He added, “If you’re signing long-term in Vancouver, you probably want to know about Hughes’ future.”
The Predators Made Big Moves That Bombed
