Welcome to The State of the Atlantic Division — it’s not quite The State of the Union, but in this age of 24-hour news coverage, we don’t need a grand presidential address, our recap to the Nation is more than enough!
So without further ado, we’re going right into The State of Atlantic Division, summarizing where each team lies in a larger sense through the Christmas break.
Contenders
Florida Panthers
It’s no surprise, but the defending champions are still the team to beat in the Atlantic Division, withstanding an early injury to captain Aleksander Barkov. Florida is receiving sub-par goaltending but its defensive structure and offensive prowess is more than enough. Barkov is still a perpetual Selke candidate, he may get usurped by Sam Reinhart, who also leads the team with 20 goals and 43 points, Matthew Tkachuk is still a nightmare to defend, and the team is getting balanced scoring across the board. Florida remains one of the NHL’s best shot-creation teams and until proven otherwise — especially in the playoffs — it is the gold standard of the league.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto has withstood several injuries — including an ailment that kept Auston Matthews out of the lineup for most of November — and it remains atop the Atlantic Division on December 21. Matthews isn’t shooting the lights out, but Mitch Marner has been one of the NHL’s best all-around players and William Nylander is pacing towards a 52-goal season. These aren’t the Leafs of yesteryear: Toronto has morphed into arguably the league’s most sound defensive team, with Anthony Stolarz playing like a Vezina candidate prior to his injury, while Chris Tanev has formed an elite shutdown pair with Jake McCabe. Toronto could use some more secondary scoring, but Craig Berube is getting results.
The old guard is aging
Tampa Bay Lightning
We’re not trying to bait Lightning fans here, as the team is catching fire entering the break. Nikita Kucherov remains an elite force, Brayden Point is already over the 20-goal mark, while Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel and captain Victor Hedman have allowed Tampa Bay to remain as a second-tier contender. These aren’t the dynasty years, however, and Tampa Bay’s depth has been tested, while Andrei Vasilevskiy is working his way back into top form. Never count out the Lightning, as they have the requisite experience and star power to beat any team on any given day, even if there’s a steep drop-off after its top-six skaters.
Boston Bruins
Boston fired Jim Montgomery in what appeared to be a reactionary move to a terrible start to the year. Montgomery was promptly hired by the St. Louis Blues, while Jim Sacco commands the bench for the Bruins. It appeared to have worked as the Bruins are back on track with a 9-4-1 record under Sacco’s watch prior to December 21. David Pastrnak isn’t producing at an all-world level, but he still leads the Bruins in scoring. Jeremy Swayman has regressed into one of the NHL’s worst goaltenders after getting an eight-year, $66-million extension, and there are several holes in the roster that need to be addressed. It’s somewhat remarkable that the Bruins are in a playoff spot with one of the worst goal differentials in the Eastern Conference, and they could be in real danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2015-16.
A potential upstart
Ottawa Senators
Is this the year the Senators get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17? It very well may be, and it’s largely because of Linus Ullmark’s heroics. Ullmark remains in elite territory with nine goals saved above expected, and he’s been single-handedly winning games for the Senators throughout the year. Perhaps the Bruins made a calculated bet on the wrong goaltender after all! Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk have provided a real top-heavy scoring punch, but the real story has been Ullmark. Can he carry the Senators back to the postseason for the first time of the Michael Andlauer Era? If so, Ullmark deserves real consideration for his second Vezina Trophy.
Linus Ullmark's last seven starts:
-7-0-0
-.967 SV%
-0.99 GAA
-2 shutouts
-1 assist pic.twitter.com/s4qQH76T4R— NHL (@NHL) December 20, 2024
Waiting for the lottery
Montreal Canadiens
Lane Hutson is the real deal, but he’s carrying an awful Canadiens team on the back end as a 20-year-old rookie. Cole Caufield is shooting the lights out, but beyond Caufield and Hutson, there’s nothing to cheer about. Juraj Slafkovsky has three goals and 17 points in 29 games — these aren’t bad totals in a vacuum but Hutson has outscored him, while Logan Cooley appears to be the real gem of the 2022 NHL Draft class. There’s always the 2025 NHL Draft to look forward to, but Montreal is still years away from making a real dent in the Atlantic. They’ll always have Sam Montembeault’s opening night heroics to reflect upon.
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit was expected to be bad and exciting but instead, it has just been outright awful. Lucas Raymond has been a bright spot, while Moritz Seider is still one of the NHL’s most promising defencemen, but the team’s young core needs more help. Detroit cannot buy a goal at 5-on-5, while Cam Talbot is playing at a league-average rate. In a similar manner to the Canadiens, the Red Wings will be looking towards next summer’s lottery.
An absolute nightmare
Buffalo Sabres
We’re not going to prolong the Sabres’ suffering. They’ve been outright miserable, owner Terry Pegula simply does not care about the team, as he’s focused on getting the Bills their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Buffalo hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010-11 — for context, Zach Benson just turned six years old. Go Bills!
Join us for the first-ever TLN Nation Vacation!
Alright, hockey fans, this isn’t just a trip—it’s the Nation Vacation, and we’re heading to the Music City from March 20th to 23rd! Get ready to watch Toronto take on Nashville in their own barn, soak up the honky-tonk vibes, and make unforgettable memories with the Nation crew. Whether you’re all in for a flight package or prefer a non-flight option, we’ve got you covered. Just don’t wait—spots are limited, and this trip is going to be electric. Book your spot NOW at nationgear.ca. Let’s go, Toronto! Nashville is calling!
