Well, another NHL season is in the books, and as the dust settles on the 2024-25 campaign, it’s time to start looking ahead. For some guys, the offseason will be a time for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. For others, it’ll be a summer of soul-searching and hard work, a chance to right the ship after a season they’d rather forget.
Every year, there are players who, for one reason or another, just don’t live up to expectations. Whether it’s due to injury, a new system, or a good old-fashioned slump, some guys just can’t seem to find their game. And when you’re making big bucks and playing in a hockey-mad market, the pressure to perform can be immense.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at six players who had a rough go of it in 2024-25 and will be looking to have a big bounce-back season when the puck drops in the fall.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Let’s be honest, Canucks fans, this one hurts. After inking a massive eight-year, $92.8 million contract extension in March of 2024, the expectations for “Petey” were sky-high. And why wouldn’t they be? The guy was in the midst of an 89-point season and looked every bit the part of a franchise cornerstone. But last season was, to put it mildly, a disaster.
With just 15 goals and 30 assists in 64 games, Pettersson looked like a shadow of his former self. The slick, confident puck-handler who could take over a game was replaced by a player who struggled to find any semblance of consistency. The Canucks’ offense, which was supposed to run through him, sputtered for long stretches of the season, and Pettersson’s struggles were a major reason why.
For the Canucks to have any hope of returning to contender status, they need the real Elias Pettersson to show up in 2025-26. That means getting back to his creative, dynamic self, driving the play, and putting up the kind of numbers we all know he’s capable of. The pressure is on, and another season like the last one just won’t cut it.
Alexis Lafrenière, LW/RW, New York Rangers
A first-overall pick who finds himself at a crossroads. After a breakout 2023-24 season that saw him pot nearly 60 points, the Rangers rewarded Lafrenière with a seven-year, $52.15 million deal. The thinking was that the young winger was ready to take the next step and become a consistent offensive force for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Instead, the Rangers took a massive step back, missing the playoffs entirely, and Lafrenière’s production stagnated. While 45 points in 82 games isn’t exactly a tire fire, it’s a far cry from what the Rangers were hoping for from their young star.
The Rangers are a team in flux, and with the high-stakes pressure of playing in the Big Apple, Lafrenière needs to prove that last season was a blip on the radar and not a sign of things to come. He has all the tools to be a top-tier forward in this league, but he needs to put it all together and become the kind of impact player the Rangers envisioned when they drafted him.
Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins
When the Bruins signed Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract last summer, they were hoping they had found their new number-one center. After the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the B’s were desperate for a top-six pivot, and Lindholm, a recent 40-goal scorer, seemed like the perfect fit.
Unfortunately for the Bruins and their fans, it was anything but. Lindholm was a ghost for most of the season, finishing with a paltry 47 points in 82 games and failing to crack the 20-goal mark. He never seemed to find his footing in the Bruins’ system.
The Bruins are a team in transition, and with a long-term commitment to Lindholm, they desperately need him to find his game. Whether that means finding new linemates or a new role, something has to give. Another season of sub-50-point production just won’t be acceptable for a guy making that kind of coin.
Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
For years, Juuse Saros has been the backbone of the Nashville Predators. The diminutive Finn has a reputation for stealing games and dragging his team into the playoffs, even when the roster in front of him has been less than stellar. But last season, the magic seemed to run out.
After signing a massive eight-year contract extension, Saros had one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. His goals-saved-above-expected was in the negatives, and he was no longer the Vezina-caliber goalie that Preds fans had become accustomed to. The team in front of him was certainly not a juggernaut, but Saros was unable to bail them out like he had so many times in the past.
The Predators have invested heavily in Saros, and for them to have any chance of competing in a tough Central Division, they need him to return to form. He’s proven in the past that he can be one of the best goalies in the world, and the Preds are banking on him finding that form once again.
Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
Another Predator who had a down year, Roman Josi’s offensive production took a significant dip last season. After a Norris-caliber 85-point campaign in 2023-24, Josi’s numbers fell back to earth in a big way, with 38 points in 53 games. While he’s still a top-tier defenseman, the Predators rely on him to drive their offense from the back end, and that just didn’t happen with the same consistency last year.
The Predators’ struggles weren’t all on Josi, of course, but as the captain and the team’s highest-paid player, he’ll be expected to lead the charge in a bounce-back season. He’s still one of the best skaters and puck-movers in the game, and the Preds will need him at his best if they want to get back to the postseason.
Kirby Dach, C, Montreal Canadiens
It’s been a tough go for Kirby Dach since being traded to the Canadiens. The 2019 third-overall pick has been plagued by injuries, and last season was no exception. While he was limited to just 57 games, his production when he was in the lineup was underwhelming, to say the least.
With just 10 goals and 12 assists, Dach struggled to make a consistent impact, and his minus-29 rating was a black eye on his season. The Canadiens are a young team on the rise, and they need players like Dach to take a step forward and become key contributors. For Dach, that means staying healthy and finally living up to the potential that made him such a high draft pick. The clock is ticking, and another injury-plagued, unproductive season could see him labeled as a bust.
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