The 2024-25 NHL season has been hard to predict. Some teams that were expected to be great haven’t lived up to those expectations, while other teams that were thought to be average have performed better than expected. As the season reaches its halfway point, there’s still time for things to change.
What we know so far this season is that there have been a lot of goals scored, and not just by Leon Draisaitl and Alex Ovechkin. After 649 games, the NHL has averaged 6.1 goals per game, marking the fourth consecutive season above six goals per game. This increase in scoring has made the season more unpredictable. According to the NHL, 44% of these games have been comeback wins, which is tied for the second-highest rate in history.
While the season hasn’t provided much clarity on which teams are the top contenders, the excitement from goals and fluctuating scores has made things interesting.
With that said, here are 20 NHL awards and superlatives for the midpoint of the season:
Best team: Winnipeg Jets
This could have been the Washington Capitals, who led the NHL standings after 44 games and played well despite losing their best goal scorer for 16 games. The Edmonton Oilers could also be in this spot, as they’ve been the top team in the NHL since October 31, overcoming a rough start following their Stanley Cup Final appearance.
However, the Jets take the spot for a few reasons. They had the best start in NHL history with 15 wins in their first 16 games. Although they couldn’t keep that pace going, they’ve settled into a solid performance, leading the Central Division by a comfortable margin while being among the top three teams in both offense and defense.
While they could be better at 5-on-5 play and less reliant on the league’s top power play, Connor Hellebuyck has been outstanding, covering up many of the team’s flaws. He looks like he could be on his way to becoming the first back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner since Martin Brodeur in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Most disappointing team: Nashville Predators
There have been other disappointing teams this season, but we knew the Chicago Blackhawks would struggle. The Pittsburgh Penguins were a flawed team holding on to hopes of success despite their issues. The Seattle Kraken’s plans for Year 4 are still unclear.
However, true disappointment comes from failing to meet expectations. For example, the Boston Bruins are barely in the playoff picture after firing their coach, despite having a record-breaking 135-point season just two years ago. The New York Rangers went from Cup contenders to rebuilding their core in just a few months. The Predators are in a similar situation.
Nashville has been a disaster in the standings, with a .407 points percentage, even though they’ve shown some improvement recently. Their offense, which was strong last season, has been one of the worst in the league, with a significant drop in scoring. Players like Tommy Novak have seen their production fall sharply. Nashville ranks last in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals by a wide margin.
Still, they are just one strong stretch away from making a playoff push, as we saw last season.
Most valuable player: Leon Draisaitl
Before his injury, Kirill Kaprizov was in the running for this award as he was the main player driving the Minnesota Wild’s offense.
With Kaprizov out, Draisaitl is now the clear front-runner for the Hart Trophy. He’s on pace to score 31 goals in 43 games, which would rank among the top 10 goal-scoring seasons since 2005.
Draisaitl leads the NHL in expected goals above replacement and has added 4.3 wins to the Oilers’ standing. This is despite playing alongside less well-known players like Vasily Podkolzin, Viktor Arvidsson, and Kasperi Kapanen.
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche deserves a mention too, as his strong December put him in the running for a chance to become the first back-to-back Hart winner since Alex Ovechkin in 2007-09. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes has also been crucial to his team’s success, and Connor Hellebuyck deserves recognition for his incredible goaltending.
Least valuable player: Jeff Skinner
On the opposite side of things in Edmonton is Jeff Skinner. The 32-year-old winger was a highly anticipated addition after being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres. Three years after a 35-goal season, fans were excited about him playing alongside Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
However, Skinner hasn’t lived up to expectations. He has just seven goals and eight assists in 40 games, playing only 12:36 per game and sometimes being a healthy scratch. He has been a defensive liability and is far behind in goals scored above replacement.
This is not a good sign for the Oilers when their free-agent acquisition has just one more point than Corey Perry at the halfway point of the season.
Greatest on-ice achievement: Alex Ovechkin
The Washington Capitals captain, Alex Ovechkin, has made his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record (894) a main focus this season. As of Wednesday, Ovechkin has scored 873 career goals, thanks to 20 goals in 27 games. This is an amazing pace for a 39-year-old player. In fact, Ovechkin’s 17 goals in his first 20 games were his best start ever at any age.
This is his 20th consecutive season with 20 or more goals, a record only surpassed by Gordie Howe (22 seasons). If Ovechkin keeps up this pace, he could break Gretzky’s record by the end of March, even though he has missed some time due to injury this season.
A fun stat about Ovechkin, shared by Mike Callow of ESPN Radio in Washington, is that Ovechkin scored 848 goals during the time Washington’s NFL team went without a playoff win, from 2006 to 2025. While this might highlight the struggles of Washington football, it also shows just how incredible Ovechkin’s scoring has been.
Best trend: The rarity of shootouts
Shootouts are often seen as an unfair way to decide a game after 65 minutes of play. However, the good news this season is that shootouts have been rare. According to the NHL, 76.5% of games that went past regulation were decided in 3-on-3 overtime, the highest rate of overtime goals in NHL history. This trend is a positive one, and fans hope it continues.
Worst trend: Deferred money
Some NHL players, such as Jake McCabe from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Seth Jarvis from the Carolina Hurricanes, and Frank Vatrano from the Anaheim Ducks, have signed contract extensions with a large portion of their money being deferred until after they retire.
This helps teams manage their salary caps. While this is allowed under the CBA and has been done before, like when Arizona re-signed Shane Doan in 2016, it’s still something the NHL frowns upon. Many feel that creative accounting like this is unfair, as it helps teams get around salary cap limits in ways that hurt competitive balance.
Most inspirational story: Columbus Blue Jackets
The hockey world is still feeling the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, whose tragic death has impacted many. His memory continues to be honored, such as when the USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints, where Gaudreau played and was a minority owner, retired his jersey. But perhaps the most powerful tribute to him has been the Columbus Blue Jackets’ performance this season.
The Blue Jackets entered the season with a new GM, a new coach, and heavy hearts. Despite this, they finished the first half of the season as a strong playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. The team has been led by Zach Werenski’s strong performance, possibly worthy of a Norris Trophy, and a great season from Sean Monahan, who has been playing in a point-per-game pace.
The memories of Gaudreau are still present around Nationwide Arena, with his picture on the outside of the building and his locker stall preserved inside. His teammates have been processing their grief, and some of that has driven them to succeed. GM Don Waddell shared that they held many meetings to figure out how to honor Gaudreau’s memory.
As Waddell explained, the team has been repeating words from Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, from the funeral: “Johnny would want you guys to go play hockey. I want you to go play hockey. Go play hockey.” These words have helped inspire the team throughout the season.
Most important rookie: Dustin Wolf
While rookies like Macklin Celebrini from the San Jose Sharks and Lane Hutson from the Montreal Canadiens have been impressive, the most important rookie performance this season is from Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames.
Celebrini has been impressive, with 0.91 points per game in 34 games, putting him in the top 10 for rookies since 2005. Hutson is also leading all rookies in points and improving with every game. Both players have been showing why they are top Calder Trophy candidates.
However, when it comes to the most important rookie, Dustin Wolf is the clear choice. In his first 23 games, Wolf had a record of 15-6-2, a .916 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average, including two shutouts. He’s also contributed three assists. Wolf’s performance has been crucial for the Flames, who would likely be focused on their draft lottery chances right now if it weren’t for him. Instead, they are still in the wild-card race, thanks to his strong play in goal.
Most forsaken player: Connor Bedard
The last thing you want to see from your franchise player in his second NHL season is the kind of empty look that Connor Bedard has when talking about the direction of the Blackhawks, which right now seems like a rocket that isn’t working properly. Even in moments when he should be proud of personal accomplishments, like reaching 100 career points faster than any other teenager in NHL history, his thoughts often turn back to how poorly the Blackhawks are performing.
The Chicago Blackhawks rebuilt their roster to get a player like Bedard in the draft, but the team still doesn’t have much to show for it. Unlike some other top rookies, like Celebrini, who joined a team with talented players like William Eklund, Will Smith, and Yaroslav Askarov, Bedard doesn’t have nearly as much support.
Where’s the Evgeni Malkin to his Sidney Crosby? The Nicklas Backstrom to his Ovechkin? The answer is “in future drafts,” which likely isn’t what Bedard wants to hear.
Goal of the (half) year: Nazem Kadri
The 1992 romantic comedy The Cutting Edge – written by Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy – asks what would happen if a hockey player became an Olympic figure skater.
Well, this goal by Kadri from December is what it might look like if a figure skater became a hockey player. The Calgary Flames center leaped over a sprawled J.J. Moser, stayed balanced when hitting the ice, spun around 360 degrees, pulled the puck back, and somehow beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
It might not be the highest technical score from the judges, but Kadri certainly nailed the presentation.
Save of the (half) year: Jacob Markstrom
It’s rare to see two save-of-the-year candidates in the same game, but that’s exactly what Jacob Markstrom did against the Seattle Kraken on January 6.
Markstrom made a fantastic glove save on a sure goal by Eeli Tolvanen. But even better was his amazing hand-eye coordination, where he stared at the puck before swatting it away. That save was absolute mastery.
Markstrom even made a third save in the game that would have been the best save of the night for most goalies, but not for him that night.
Coach of the (half) year: Spencer Carbery
In his first 125 games as a head coach, Spencer Carbery has a .608 points percentage. He coached the Capitals to an unexpected playoff spot last season and has had them near the top of the NHL this season. While last season was impressive, this year has really shown his coaching abilities. He’s kept the team strong, even without Ovechkin for 16 games due to injury, got the best performances from young players, and smoothly integrated veteran additions into the team.
Capitals GM Chris Patrick recently shared that Carbery’s open-mindedness has impressed him. Take Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is having a strong season with the Capitals. Other coaches might have hesitated to bring in a player who’s been on three teams in three years, but Carbery didn’t hesitate. He saw the talent and worked to help Dubois succeed.
Almost everything Carbery has done has worked, and this could lead to a Jack Adams Award by the end of the season — or even more recognition for Washington.
Best glow-up: Colorado Avalanche goaltending
The Avalanche started the season with a shaky goaltending trio: Alexandar Georgiev, Justus Annunen, and Kaapo Kahkonen, with Kahkonen joining after both Georgiev and Annunen had rough starts. Instead of letting his talented team be held back by weak goaltending, GM Chris MacFarland made some big moves to improve the situation.
Annunen was traded to the Nashville Predators for veteran Scott Wedgewood, who had a tough start with the team. Then came the biggest change: Georgiev, in his third year as the team’s starter, was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
So far, MacFarland’s decisions have paid off. Blackwood has been excellent, with a 9-2-1 record, a .938 save percentage, and a 1.89 goals-against average. The Avalanche was so impressed with Blackwood that they gave him a five-year contract extension worth $5.25 million per season.
Most shocking move: The Jim Montgomery migration
The Boston Bruins firing Jim Montgomery was something I expected before the season began, since he was in the last year of his contract and the team’s performance had been declining. However, the timing of the firing 20 games into the season was a surprise. What followed was even more surprising.
The St. Louis Blues fired head coach Drew Bannister after just 22 games, despite him being promoted to the role in the offseason. The Blues then quickly hired Montgomery, who had been an assistant coach with them before.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong said, “I was willing to go through the peaks and the valleys with Drew until Monty became available.”
Most ruthless front office: New York Rangers
Despite all the negative talk about the Rangers this season, they are still close to the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, caught in a group of teams with similar records.
It’s clear the team has problems, and it’s equally clear that ownership and management are willing to make moves to fix them, no matter the cost. This includes using waivers to pressure players into trades, like Barclay Goodrow in the summer and captain Jacob Trouba during the season. Trouba was even nearly traded during the offseason. The team also put veteran Chris Kreider’s name in an email to other general managers, saying they were “open for business” regarding trades.
Whether or not the Rangers make the playoffs, there are very few players on the roster whose future with the team is secure.
Best feud: J.T. Miller vs. Elias Pettersson
This season has had plenty of locker room drama. For example, Boston Bruins stars Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak recently had to deny rumors of a rift between them, with Marchand posting photos on Instagram to show they were fine, which felt very much like a celebrity scandal.
But that Boston situation is nothing compared to what’s happening across the country.
Canucks stars Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller have had issues for years, according to former Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau. The tensions started before his time with the team and were partly about who their linemates were.
This season, the issue became clear after a practice outburst where Miller allegedly called Pettersson a baby. Captain Quinn Hughes acknowledged the issue between them. While Miller and Pettersson both denied any feud, with Miller saying, “You guys are just wasting your time. I don’t care,” the rumors and trade speculations about the two players have continued.
What makes it more complicated is that Miller has a full no-movement clause, while Pettersson’s contract runs through 2031-32, and he doesn’t have trade protection. Additionally, general manager Patrik Allvin recently criticized Pettersson, saying, “He needs to mature and understand that there are certain expectations and it does not get easier. And you need to face the music when things don’t go well.”
This issue is bigger than just some Instagram posts.
Best comeback: Patrik Laine
For the first time in a while, Patrik Laine is healthy. It’s not just on the ice, where a knee injury and an illness have kept him to only 15 games this season, but off the ice as well. Laine went through the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program last summer before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens, focusing on his health and well-being.
In August, he and his fiancée Jordan Leigh launched a mental health initiative called From Us to You, inspired by the many people who shared their stories with Laine.
When Laine has played, he’s been productive, scoring 10 goals in 15 games, with nine of them coming on the power play. He continues to be one of the NHL’s most open and unfiltered players, though this can sometimes give opponents extra motivation, as he did before his first game back in Columbus.
Best in (Utah Hockey) Club: Logan Cooley
The Utah Hockey Club started off strong, faced some challenges, dealt with injuries, and is now still fighting for a wild-card spot.
There have been some standout moments in the former Coyotes’ first season in Salt Lake City, like goalie Karel Vejmelka’s surprising performances and star forward Clayton Keller’s expected success (even though he was left off Team USA’s roster).
But not enough attention is given to Logan Cooley, the 20-year-old forward. He has 37 points in 43 games, including 12 goals. He ranks second in goals and wins above replacement, just behind Keller, according to Evolving Hockey. With their roster and future potential, Utah will soon become a strong team in the West. Cooley’s performance is just a glimpse of what’s ahead.
Most likely to continue an NHL record playoff drought: Buffalo Sabres
Unless something major changes in the second half of the season, the Buffalo Sabres are set to miss the playoffs for the 14th year in a row, extending their NHL record. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season. To put that in perspective, that season was the rookie year for players like Sergei Bobrovsky, Taylor Hall, and Ryan McDonagh.
After 43 games, Stathletes gave the Sabres just a 0.4% chance of making the playoffs, even though Buffalo brought back coach Lindy Ruff and showed promise as a team that could improve in the East. It’s just another disappointing season for the Sabres.
