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3 NHL playoff teams not expected to make the cut in 2024/25 season ft. Carolina Hurricanes
The first wave of free agency is in the rearview mirror as most NHL teams know now which players will be making their final rosters for the 2024-25 NHL season. Some have gotten much better, but that's not been the case for all teams.
Although there are still a couple of months left in the offseason for some teams to improve, here are three NHL teams who made last year's playoffs, but are unlikely to return to the postseason this coming campaign.
3 NHL playoff teams not expected to make the cut next year
#1, Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, but their offseason has been a major disappointment.
Carolina saw Jake Guentzel sign with Tampa Bay, while defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce left in free agency as well. Then, Evgeny Kuznetsov decided to return home and play for SKA Saint Petersburg in Russia which further depleted their lineup
The team still has a good roster, but the Hurricanes will likely be competing for a playoff spot, rather than being a Cup contender.
#2, Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets made the playoffs last year but were eliminated in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.
Winnipeg's roster could take a hit as Nikolaj Ehlers could be moved, as it has been rumored that the team is shopping the forward. While other teams like the Seattle Kraken have gotten better, Winnipeg may not be a playoff team next season.
#3, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning dynasty appears to be over. Tampa saw Steven Stamkos leave in free agency, and although they brought in Jake Guentzel, they have a similar team to last year that barely made the playoffs.
The problem for Tampa Bay is teams in the Eastern Conference like the New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and Ottawa Senators have gotten better and are all expected to make a push for a playoff spot.
Tampa Bay will likely need to have a better year and record than what they did last season to make the playoffs again.
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