NHL Standings Watch 2024-2025 - UPDATED 2/06/25

Buried in the lede in my opinion in the pace stuff is the concept of pace. Probably poorly worded but let me elaborate.

They are on pace for 88 points. That is seen as essentially, the best case scenario. In theory, that means there's a lot of other outcomes that are worse, which should tell you all you need to know about how realistic this team's playoff chances actually are.

I don't think the Bruins will make it in, but just want to point out that hockey-reference's simulated projections have the Bruins best-case point total at *103. Their worst-case for the Bruins = 75.

* They also currently only give the Bruins a ~19% chance of making the playoffs.
 
IMG_4349.jpeg

 
The Bruins now need to go 16-8-1 down the stretch to get into the playoffs.

I'll classify teams into 3 categories; contenders, playoff bubble, and non-playoff teams.

Contenders - Florida, Toronto, Tampa, Washington, Carolina, New Jersey, Winnipeg, Dallas, Minnesota, Edmonton, Vegas, LA, Colorado.

Playoff Bubble - Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Calgary, Vancouver

Non-playoff teams - Pittsburgh, Montreal, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Utah, St. Louis, Anaheim, Seattle, Nashville, Chicago, San Jose

Out of their remaining 25 games, 12 are against contenders, 3 against bubble teams (all Eastern), and 10 against the non-playoff teams.

Let's just say for arguments sake I'll go glass-half-full and say they take 8 of 10 vs. non playoff teams, and 2 of the 3 against bubble teams, they would still need to go .500 in those 12 games remaining against the contending teams roughly.

They play 9 contending teams over the 12 games (3 teams they play twice) , all of whom they've played at least once this season.

Florida, LA, Toronto, Carolina (2), Washington, Tampa (2), New Jersey (2), Minnesota, Vegas.

Their record against those teams this year is 6-9-0, with only 3 of their 6 wins coming in regulation.

Then factor in it's a very compressed schedule, 25 games in 53 days, it does not bode well, in my opinion. Is there any reason at all to think this team can go on a run of basically .650 hockey coming out of the break? Not that I can see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PlayMakers
Detroit coming back to earth today 2-0 tampa first 3 mins
Good thing McClellan started Lyon instead of Talbot. Detroit could use another shutdown RD. Wonder if Yzerman would consider Carlo and a B's 2nd, in say '26, in a trade for Detroit's '26 1st Round pick and a cap dump in RD Petry?
 
Good thing McClellan started Lyon instead of Talbot. Detroit could use another shutdown RD. Wonder if Yzerman would consider Carlo and a B's 2nd, in say '26, in a trade for Detroit's '26 1st Round pick and a cap dump in RD Petry?

Why? What would you gain? What if the first rounder would be in the late 20s if Detroits will get their shit together? Carlo is one of the best chips to get a good center prospects.
 
Good thing McClellan started Lyon instead of Talbot. Detroit could use another shutdown RD. Wonder if Yzerman would consider Carlo and a B's 2nd, in say '26, in a trade for Detroit's '26 1st Round pick and a cap dump in RD Petry?
I’d find it hard to believe Carlo value wouldn’t be higher than that. Giving him and a second to Detroit for an 1sr and Petry no big deal as his contract expires at the end of the year, but solid RHD are hard to come by.

I know Carlo has his shortcomings but I think he’s easily worth a 1st alone and a 2026 one, but Id try to package him with Marchand to Colorado or Edmonton
 
  • Like
Reactions: PlayMakers
Why? What would you gain? What if the first rounder would be in the late 20s if Detroits will get their shit together? Carlo is one of the best chips to get a good center prospects.
Why? Because Carlo IMO has regressed to a 3RD pairing guy with a decent potential due to his concussion history to be an average 3RD. You aren't getting a top 6 Forward for the guy, no way.

Taking a gamble on a bubble team like Detroit regressing trying to ride a 38 year old goalie next year paired with a rookie (Cossa) may provide an opportunity to
hit a top 14-15 pick next year. Of course there is a realistic possibility that Detroit improves more next year with the good young players they have but sometimes
young teams on the rise take a step back.
 
I’d find it hard to believe Carlo value wouldn’t be higher than that. Giving him and a second to Detroit for an 1sr and Petry no big deal as his contract expires at the end of the year, but solid RHD are hard to come by.

I know Carlo has his shortcomings but I think he’s easily worth a 1st alone and a 2026 one, but Id try to package him with Marchand to Colorado or Edmonton
If you're a right I'll have no issue saying I was off, but I think Carlo's best days are behind him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bruin4
A quick analysis of what it took to gain the 16th seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Salary Cap era.

16 full NHL seasons of 82 games (excluding 2012-13 and the two Covid seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21).

Highest point total = 97 (two occurrences)

Lowest point total = 87 (one occurrence)

Average point total over 16 seasons. 92 points

Now lets smooth the data, and drop the two highest (97 and 97) and two lowest (87 and 88).

We still get 92 points.

They have 60, they have 50 more available to them. So call it 32 more points needed out of 50, that's a pts. % of .640 the rest of the way.

To give that some context, there are only 5 teams in the NHL this season with Pts. % above .640

The math just doesn't work. Too many pts. given away, especially in the early going under Monty and the month of January.
 
Last edited:
Why? Because Carlo IMO has regressed to a 3RD pairing guy with a decent potential due to his concussion history to be an average 3RD. You aren't getting a top 6 Forward for the guy, no way.

Taking a gamble on a bubble team like Detroit regressing trying to ride a 38 year old goalie next year paired with a rookie (Cossa) may provide an opportunity to
hit a top 14-15 pick next year. Of course there is a realistic possibility that Detroit improves more next year with the good young players they have but sometimes
young teams on the rise take a step back.

Carlo has probably the highest value of the players the Bruins should trade. A future first round pick from a team like Detroit is too uncertain and won´t help the Bruins in the near future. I am all over using him for a retool trade and try to get a player with potential. I already mentioned him in the past and I still want him, Kulich from the Sabres. Also Carlo to the Sabres makes a lot of sense for them too.
 
Carlo has probably the highest value of the players the Bruins should trade. A future first round pick from a team like Detroit is too uncertain and won´t help the Bruins in the near future. I am all over using him for a retool trade and try to get a player with potential. I already mentioned him in the past and I still want him, Kulich from the Sabres. Also Carlo to the Sabres makes a lot of sense for them too.
I would be surprised if Buffalo traded Kulich for Carlo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 22Brad Park
if you look at the standings and the way other teams that are battling are playing, the playoffs are still within reach, especially with a game with Ottawa and a game with Detroit coming. Get Hampus back and win those two games and streak win some more and they are solidly back in the wild card spots. This is far from over.
 
Carlo has probably the highest value of the players the Bruins should trade. A future first round pick from a team like Detroit is too uncertain and won´t help the Bruins in the near future. I am all over using him for a retool trade and try to get a player with potential. I already mentioned him in the past and I still want him, Kulich from the Sabres. Also Carlo to the Sabres makes a lot of sense for them too.
Marchand has the highest value to a team wanting to win now.I see what you are saying though but not sure Sabres do that deal .
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad