As the 2024-2025 NHL season progresses, the spotlight is often fixed on the league’s perennial powerhouses — the teams with the richest histories, the deepest pockets, and the most star-studded rosters. These teams, such as the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins, typically dominate the conversation when it comes to Stanley Cup predictions, media coverage, and fan expectations.
However, every season also brings with it the potential for surprises. Dark horses — those teams that fly under the radar, avoid the spotlight, and exceed expectations — have a way of making their mark when the games matter most. These squads are not necessarily the ones with the flashiest names or the biggest budgets, but they possess that elusive quality: a blend of talent, chemistry, and resilience that can propel them to unexpected success.
In 2024-2025, several NHL teams have the potential to shock the league and become the dark horses of the season. Let’s take a closer look at the squads that are poised to rise above their preseason projections, ignite their fanbases, and perhaps even challenge the established order in pursuit of hockey’s greatest prize.
Buffalo Sabres: The Up-and-Comers
In recent years, the Buffalo Sabres have been in rebuild mode, but a combination of smart drafting, strong development, and the emergence of young stars has positioned them as a potential breakout team. Under the leadership of head coach Don Granato, the Sabres have been steadily climbing the ranks of the NHL’s Eastern Conference. With an exciting young core led by captain **Jack Quinn**, **Dylan Cozens**, and **Rasmus Dahlin**, Buffalo boasts a dynamic mix of skill, speed, and grit.
What makes Buffalo a compelling dark horse this season is its blend of youthful energy and veteran leadership. The Sabres added key offseason acquisitions like **Connor Clifton** and **Erik Johnson** to bolster their defense, while goaltender **Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen** continues to develop into a reliable netminder. If the Sabres can find consistency in goal and continue to improve their defensive play, they have the potential to make a serious run for the playoffs.
Buffalo’s high-flying offense, powered by stars like **Tage Thompson** and **Alex Tuch**, can outscore many teams on any given night, and with a strong power play and penalty kill, the Sabres have the tools to surprise even the league’s best.
Ottawa Senators: Building on Momentum
After years of disappointment, the **Ottawa Senators** are on the rise and appear to be heading in the right direction. With an exciting mix of young talent and seasoned leadership, Ottawa is ready to make a push for the postseason. The offseason additions of **Dominik Kubalik**, **Vladislav Namestnikov**, and the trade for **Jonas Korpisalo** in goal have added depth and stability to the lineup, while the core of players such as **Brady Tkachuk**, **Tim Stützle**, and **Drake Batherson** have given the team a renewed sense of optimism.
What sets Ottawa apart is their impressive combination of skill and physicality. Tkachuk, one of the most aggressive and tenacious players in the league, brings a unique brand of leadership to the team. Meanwhile, Stützle is emerging as one of the brightest young talents in the NHL, capable of taking over a game with his speed and playmaking ability. With **Thomas Chabot** leading the defense and Korpisalo offering stability between the pipes, Ottawa is poised to surprise many as they seek to return to playoff contention for the first time in several years.
The Senators’ success will depend on their ability to play a balanced game, particularly in terms of defensive consistency. If they can get solid goaltending from Korpisalo and their defensive corps can limit mistakes, Ottawa could be a dangerous team in the postseason.
Detroit Red Wings: The Rebuild That’s Paying Off
For the Detroit Red Wings, the days of being a perennial contender seem far behind, but a long-awaited rebuild is beginning to bear fruit. With **Dylan Larkin** leading the way, the Red Wings have quietly assembled a roster that has the potential to surprise in 2024-2025. **Lucas Raymond** and **Moritz Seider** have emerged as two of the most exciting young players in the NHL, while the additions of **David Perron**, **Jussi Olkinuora**, and **Alex DeBrincat** have strengthened both their offensive depth and defensive presence.
The Red Wings’ biggest challenge remains their goaltending, but the emergence of **Ville Husso** and the acquisition of **James Reimer** provide stability in net. Detroit will rely heavily on its youth, particularly on the offensive side, but its defense — anchored by Seider and veteran **Ben Chiarot** — should be much improved.
In terms of their overall style of play, the Red Wings are fast, skilled, and disciplined. They have the potential to be a high-scoring team, but their defense and goaltending must hold up under pressure. If the pieces fall into place, Detroit could be a sleeper team to watch this season, potentially vying for a wild-card spot or even sneaking into the playoff race.
Seattle Kraken: From Expansion to Contender
In just their second season in the NHL, the **Seattle Kraken** shocked many by making it to the second round of the playoffs, and they appear to be ready to take the next step in 2024-2025. As an expansion team, Seattle had to build its roster from scratch, but general manager **Ron Francis** and head coach **Dave Hakstol** have done a remarkable job of assembling a competitive, hard-working group. With players like **Jaden Schwartz**, **Jordan Eberle**, and **Matty Beniers** leading the charge, the Kraken have the offensive firepower to compete with anyone in the league.
Seattle’s key to success lies in its balanced team structure. Unlike other teams that rely heavily on one or two star players, the Kraken have depth throughout their lineup. Their defense, led by **Vince Dunn** and **Adam Larsson**, is solid, while goaltender **Philipp Grubauer** has shown that he can be a game-changer when he’s on his game. The Kraken will need to find consistency in net, but with a strong team defense and a lineup that can score from all four lines, they have the potential to shock the Western Conference.
Seattle’s high-energy style and relentless work ethic make them a tough opponent for any team, and if they can continue to build on their playoff experience, the Kraken may become a legitimate contender sooner than expected.New Jersey Devils: The Dark Horse with Bit
While the **New Jersey Devils** are not an unknown quantity, their quiet ascent to the top of the Metropolitan Division last season made them one of the league’s biggest surprises. With a core built around **Jack Hughes**, **Nico Hischier**, and **Dougie Hamilton**, the Devils have all the makings of a playoff contender. However, it’s their depth and overall balance that could make them an even more dangerous team in 2024-2025.
New Jersey is a team that can dominate on the power play, boast one of the best faceoff units in the league, and has a mobile, fast-paced defense that can create offense from the back end. **Vitek Vanecek** and **Akira Schmid** provide a strong tandem in goal, but the Devils’ strength lies in their ability to play with speed and tenacity. Hughes, in particular, has emerged as one of the most electrifying players in the league, capable of taking over a game and leading New Jersey to victory.
With a young, skilled roster and the kind of depth that can wear down opponents over the course of a series, the Devils are a dark horse to watch this season. They could very well surprise some of the more established teams in the Eastern Conference and push for a deep playoff run.
Conclusion: A Season of Surprises?
The NHL is a league where anything can happen, and the 2024-2025 season has all the makings of one filled with surprises. Teams like the **Sabres**, **Senators**, **Red Wings**, **Kraken**, and **Devils** are all primed to be dark horses — squads that, if they can stay healthy, play to their potential, and catch a few breaks along the way, could make serious noise in the standings.
As always, there will be upsets, breakout performances, and unexpected contenders. Whether it’s a team like Buffalo, with its potent young stars, or Seattle, with its tenacious team-first mentality, one thing is certain: the NHL’s dark horses are hungry, and they’ll stop at nothing to prove the hockey world wrong. Keep an eye on these teams as the season unfolds — they may just be the ones to take you by surprise and leave the league stunned.
Kumater Moses