NHL Preview 2024-25 27 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

Mikael Backlund [C]

  • Age: 35
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 200
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 82 15 24 39 -4 24 0.48
Career 1118 227 368 595 79 497 0.53
Forecast 82 13 25 38 - - 0.46

Calgary's 35-year-old captain may be showing his age, after his offensive total dropped last season (following a career high in points in 2022-23). Although he finished the campaign as the Flames' leader in average ice time for forwards (19:14), his defensive play–usually a hallmark–also slumped; he plummeted from plus-24 to minus-4.

Blake Coleman [LW/RW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 199
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 78 30 24 54 19 76 0.69
Career 668 163 148 311 48 496 0.47
Forecast 80 24 22 46 - - 0.58

Coming off by far the best offensive campaign of his NHL career, Coleman reached the 30-goal and 50-point marks for the first time in '23-24. He has always been known as a good penalty killer who is a threat to score while shorthanded, but he earned a career-high average of 17:08 of ice time by turning into a bigger offensive threat.

Matt Coronato [RW]

  • Age: 21
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 183
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 34 3 6 9 -15 4 0.26
Career 163 41 43 84 -28 47 0.52
Forecast 36 9 6 15 - - 0.42

The New York native looks to be on the verge of a full-time NHL role after producing at a point-per-game AHL pace in his first pro season. He was not as impressive in his 34 NHL games, though he looked better during a late-season recall. Coronato has a dangerous shot and good offensive instincts but must play better without the puck.

Jonathan Huberdeau [LW]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 202
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 81 12 40 52 -29 49 0.64
Career 958 262 542 804 -7 501 0.84
Forecast 80 14 42 56 - - 0.70

The 31-year-old winger will try to put the wheels back on a career that has gone off the rails since his 115-point performance in 2021-22. Huberdeau's totals collapsed the following season and slid even lower in '23-24. His minus-29 rating was also a career low. At his best, his passing makes everyone he plays with a threat to score.

Nazem Kadri [C]

  • Age: 34
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 192
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 82 29 46 75 0 43 0.91
Career 1037 316 429 745 -73 780 0.72
Forecast 79 26 40 66 - - 0.84

Though Kadri turns 34 when the '24-25 campaign starts, he is coming off the second-best offensive season of his career and showing no signs of slowing down. His 29 goals in '23-24 were his most since '17-18, and he has reached double figures in power-play goals in each of the past two seasons. His leadership is also a bit underrated.

Andrei Kuzmenko [RW/LW]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 194
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Van/Cgy 72 22 24 46 -9 12 0.64
Career 265 83 95 178 -9 50 0.67
Forecast 75 28 28 56 - - 0.75

The Russian winger's scoring touch returned last season after a late trade to the Flames. He potted 14 goals in 29 games following the trade, looking much more like the player who rang up 39 tallies in 2022-23–his first NHL season. His defensive play leaves a lot to be desired, but players who can score like him are not easy to find.

Ryan Lomberg [LW]

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 5-9
  • Wt: 187
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Fla 75 5 2 7 -1 80 0.09
Career 384 34 36 70 -6 471 0.18
Forecast 79 8 7 15 - - 0.19

The 29-year-old veteran excels at racing in on the forecheck and getting under opponents' skin with his physicality. Lomberg finished second on the Panthers with 179 hits last season, despite averaging 9:32 of ice time. He plays with energy and contributes in a limited role. That said, his offensive output fell sharply last campaign.

Anthony Mantha [LW/RW]

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 234
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Wsh/VGK 74 23 21 44 11 25 0.59
Career 558 162 176 338 -4 294 0.61
Forecast 70 18 20 38 - - 0.54

The 30-year-old Mantha is coming off his third year of 20-plus goals–but first since 2018-19. He is big (6'5'', 234 pounds) and skilled, but he has never been a great skater. That lack of speed is the main reason why he has never been as big of a scorer as was projected, despite his soft hands and ability to get his shot off quickly.

Martin Pospisil [LW/RW]

  • Age: 24
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 173
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 63 8 16 24 14 109 0.38
Career 147 12 37 49 14 193 0.33
Forecast 72 12 19 31 - - 0.43

Opportunity finally knocked for Pospisil after four years in the AHL, and he answered the call–mostly by banging bodies. His offensive totals were something of a surprise, but his most notable number was 238–the number of hits he was credited with in 63 NHL contests. Opponents always have to be aware when the Slovakian is on the ice.

Kevin Rooney [C]

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 33 3 1 4 -4 2 0.12
Career 331 33 28 61 -11 134 0.18
Forecast 64 4 7 11 - - 0.17

Persistence paid off for Rooney, who overcame early shoulder surgery and battled his way back to play 33 games in the NHL–after spending most of 2022-23 in the AHL. He is a career fourth-line center who has never finished with more than eight goals or 14 points in any NHL season, but his work ethic and defensive skills are exemplary.

Yegor Sharangovich [W/C]

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 196
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 82 31 28 59 -29 8 0.72
Career 408 112 105 217 -74 67 0.53
Forecast 80 27 30 57 - - 0.71

The Belarusian forward is coming off his best offensive campaign in 2023-24. He set career highs across the board and broke the 30-goal mark for the first time, thanks largely to a great shooting percentage (17.3%). He thrived despite averaging just 17:19 of ice time in all 82 games. The only drawback was his plus/minus rating (–29).

Connor Zary [C/LW]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 178
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 63 14 20 34 12 22 0.54
Career 167 35 46 81 0 50 0.49
Forecast 75 22 29 51 - - 0.68

Injuries to other Flames forwards gave Zary his NHL chance and he ran with it last season, finishing in the top 10 among rookies in scoring and points per game. Zary was also among the top defensive forwards among rookies, and he held his own while playing a top-six forward role most of the time for a team that missed the postseason.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Rasmus Andersson

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 202
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 78 9 30 39 -11 47 0.50
Career 587 58 205 263 -12 334 0.45
Forecast 79 8 32 40 - - 0.51

The all-around defenseman will try to bounce back after seeing his offensive numbers drop a bit in 2023-24–while his plus/minus rating took a serious tumble. He can play effectively while logging big minutes (23:50 TOI/GP in '23-24) and is willing to give up his body (186 blocks, 10th in the NHL). He can do a variety of things well.

Kevin Bahl

  • Age: 24
  • Ht: 6-6
  • Wt: 230
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
NJ 82 1 10 11 1 82 0.13
Career 272 10 47 57 4 195 0.21
Forecast 81 2 11 13 - - 0.16

Size is Bahl's most notable attribute; at 6'6'', 230 pounds, he can make life tough for opposing forwards trying to get to the net. He kills penalties but gets almost no power-play ice time. His 31 minor penalties taken in 2023-24 were the most on New Jersey. He has a huge point shot, but any offense he provides is almost accidental.

Jake Bean

  • Age: 26
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 186
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
CBJ 72 4 9 13 -10 32 0.18
Career 277 16 49 65 -26 100 0.23
Forecast 71 4 14 18 - - 0.25

The 2016 first-round pick had another ''meh'' season in '23-24, finishing with 13 points and a career-worst minus-10 rating in 72 games. Bean is a solid skater and passer but often seems reluctant to join the rush. His play in his own zone also leaves a little bit to be desired–he is not very physical and loses too many puck battles.

Daniil Miromanov

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-4
  • Wt: 198
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
VGK/Cgy 24 3 4 7 -2 8 0.29
Career 94 7 16 23 -6 24 0.24
Forecast 75 12 21 33 - - 0.44

The 27-year-old right-shooting Russian is still trying to establish himself at hockey's top level, after splitting each of the past three seasons between the NHL and AHL. He is fine in his own zone and moves the puck well. After moving to Calgary in the Noah Hanifin trade late last season, Miromanov produced seven points in 20 games.

Ilya Solovyov

  • Age: 24
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 208
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 10 0 3 3 -3 4 0.30
Career 31 1 6 7 -7 12 0.23
Forecast 50 2 11 13 - - 0.26

The 24-year-old from Belarus has grown into a candidate for a full-time NHL role after three seasons in the AHL (plus three short call-ups by the Flames last season). His big shot is an asset, and although he is not going to lead the rush or run the power play, he is a reliable defenseman in his own zone. Solovyov's future is bright.

MacKenzie Weegar

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 200
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Cgy 82 20 32 52 2 51 0.63
Career 602 62 205 267 82 449 0.44
Forecast 82 13 29 42 - - 0.51

At 30, Weegar is coming off one of the greatest NHL career years of all time in '23-24: he scored 20 goals (tied for third among NHL D-men) after never getting more than eight in any of his first six NHL seasons. Much of this stemmed from a career-best shooting percentage (9.6%). He was also good in his own end and blocked 200 shots.

Dan Vladar

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-5
  • Wt: 209
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Cgy 20 8 9 2 0 3.62 0.882
Career 134 65 42 20 4 2.89 0.896
Forecast 32 13 - - 0 3.33 0.895

The 6'5'' native of Czechia has settled into a backup role, but he will likely have to fight for a job after his numbers tanked last season–which ended early because of season-ending hip surgery. At his best, he uses his size and strength to control the crease. However, Vladar's career may now be at a crossroads due to his hip issue.

Dustin Wolf

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 166
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Cgy 17 7 7 1 0 3.16 0.893
Career 110 52 43 12 5 2.83 0.903
Forecast 45 21 - - 1 3.18 0.902

The 23-year-old Wolf is coming off three straight seasons in which he was among the AHL's top 'tenders. However, his 17-game NHL cameo last season had more downs than ups. Wolf, who was selected in the seventh round of the '19 draft (214th overall), has little left to prove in the AHL but may need more strength to succeed in the NHL.