As most NHL teams have now reached the 20-game mark of the 2024-25 season, they find themselves a quarter of the way through the regular-season schedule. Several teams that were playoff contenders last season, including the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, are in a fierce battle for playoff positioning. Notably, some postseason teams from the previous year are experiencing slow starts, leading them to either cling to the wild-card berth or sit outside the playoff picture as of November 24. The performances of these teams could jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the 2025 playoffs, which will conclude in April. Among them, one team was a finalist for the Stanley Cup last season, two others have previously won the championship, and another has captured the Presidents' Trophy twice since the 2019-20 season. This raises questions about how these teams have found themselves in their current predicament.

The Boston Bruins, who last missed the playoffs in the 2015-16 season, have been a dominant force in the league since then, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 and securing the Presidents' Trophy in both the 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons. During the latter season, the Bruins set league records with 65 wins and 135 points. However, since 2019, they have seen a steady loss of quality players, including goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Linus Ullmark, defensemen Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, and forwards Patrice Bergeron, David Krejčí, Taylor Hall, and Jake DeBrusk, who retired, were traded, or departed as free agents. General manager Don Sweeney has sought to address these gaps by acquiring forwards Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo through trades and free agency. Additionally, he has promoted young talents like Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, and John Beecher. However, Lindholm and Zadorov have struggled to adapt to their new environment, and the young players have yet to realize their full potential. Aging may be affecting 36-year-old captain Brad Marchand, while goaltender Jeremy Swayman has struggled after missing training camp amid contract negotiations, leading to a fall from standards for superstar winger David Pastrňák and top defenseman Charlie McAvoy. This has resulted in the Bruins holding onto just a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, recording a league-worst goals-per-game average of 2.32 and a high goals-against average of 3.18. Consequently, Jim Montgomery was relieved of his duties as head coach, with Joe Sacco taking over on an interim basis, leaving the effectiveness of this decision to be seen.

The Colorado Avalanche, winners of the Stanley Cup in 2022, have faced considerable challenges in returning to the Final. Last season, they were ousted by the Dallas Stars in the second round after being eliminated by the Seattle Kraken in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Currently, the Avalanche are competing for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Despite superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen ranking among the league's top scorers, their contributions have not translated into a higher standing. A roster beset by injuries has hindered early-season performance. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is attempting to return from two seasons lost to knee surgeries, while center Ross Colton’s promising start was derailed by a foot injury. Forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Jonathan Drouin have only recently returned from their injuries, and Valeri Nichushkin has just rejoined the team after serving a six-month suspension related to the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. The absence of Nichushkin’s two-way presence was glaring. The Avalanche boast the seventh-best goals-per-game average at 3.48; however, their goals-against average of 3.57 ranks fourth-highest in the league. Starter Alexandar Georgiev carries a goals-against average of 3.37 with a save percentage of .874, while backup Justus Annunen offers a slightly better GAA of 2.81 but struggles with an .886 save percentage. Recently, a healthier roster has made a significant difference, with the Avalanche winning six of their last seven games by November 24. Nevertheless, without addressing their untenable goals-against average, they risk complications as the season progresses.

At the same juncture last season, the Edmonton Oilers were struggling to find their footing in the Western Conference after winning only three of their first 13 games. The team elected to replace head coach Jay Woodcroft with Kris Knoblauch on November 13, 2023, a move that proved fruitful as they climbed the standings. Fueled by stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers qualified for the 2024 playoffs, ultimately reaching the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Florida Panthers in seven games. As of this season’s late November, the Oilers find themselves vying with the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche for a wild-card spot in the conference. Their record of 11 wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses marks an improvement from the prior year. Still, concerns persist that could derail their progress. The goaltender duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has been inconsistent, with a goals-against average of 3.10 almost putting them among the league’s bottom third. Skinner has a GAA of 3.23 and an .882 save percentage, while Pickard boasts a better GAA at 2.44, but his save percentage remains underwhelming at .893. Defensive depth has also become a pressing issue. This off-season, the Oilers lost Vincent Desharnais to free agency, traded Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks, and lost promising defenseman Philip Broberg to an offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues, leaving them thin on the blue line beyond their top trio: Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse. While McDavid and Draisaitl continue to spearhead the offense with elite production, support from players such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman has waned, and winger Evander Kane is currently sidelined indefinitely. New acquisitions Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson have not lived up to expectations, adding to the team's woes.

The Nashville Predators made headlines in the 2024 off-season with prime signings, acquiring former 40-goal scorers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, along with puck-moving defenseman Brady Skjei. These acquisitions aimed to maintain competitiveness while transitioning to younger players. However, the Predators find themselves near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Stamkos and Marchessault have so far failed to match their previous 40-goal seasons, while Skjei, paired with captain Roman Josi, struggles defensively. Although it is tempting to attribute the team’s struggles to their off-season signings, their decline has been evident for some time. Since winning the Presidents' Trophy in the 2017-18 season with a franchise-record 117 points, their performance has steadily dropped, leading to a missed playoff berth in 2022-23. Although the Predators qualified for the postseason last year, they were eliminated in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks after a strong finish that featured a 20-5-4 record. Barry Trotz took over as general manager in July 2023, seeking to avoid a complete roster rebuild, instead using free-agent signings to give young players time to develop. However, competitive issues persist. The Predators rank parmi’s league-worst for goals-per-game with an average of 2.38 and sit mid-pack with a goals-against average of 3.10. Observations pointed out that the team struggles to move the puck effectively out of their zone, making too many neutral-zone turnovers while conceding odd-man rushes. Without significant improvements, they risk falling into a standings hole too deep to escape.

The New York Islanders appeared poised to contend for the Stanley Cup after strong performances from 2019-20 to 2020-21, showcasing solid goaltending and strong team defense which took them to the 2020 Eastern Conference Final and semifinals in the COVID-shortened season. However, a missed postseason in 2021-22 was followed by seventh-place finishes in both of the latter two seasons and early exits from the playoffs last season. The Islanders have experienced frequent changes behind the bench, transitioning from head coach Barry Trotz after 2021-22 and replacing Lane Lambert with Patrick Roy on January 20, 2024. What has remained consistent for the Islanders is their reliance on goaltending and defensive play, as their offensive output remains stagnant. Since the 2019-20 season, they have ranked among the league’s lowest-scoring teams, with a goals-per-game average of 2.86. Notable scorers like Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, and Noah Dobson have contributed, while general manager Lou Lamoriello added players such as Bo Horvat and Anthony Duclair to boost scoring. Yet, the Islanders’ current goals-per-game average sits at 2.48, again relegating them toward the bottom of the league. The absence of a reliable scoring leader has plagued the team, and core players are aging, with key contributors Nelson, Lee, Pageau, and Palmieri now 31 or older. Additionally, Dobson has carried much of the offensive load on the blue line. While the Islanders may rely on strong goaltending and defensive play to inch back into the postseason, inconsistency within their offense raises concerns about their ability to secure a playoff spot.

The Tampa Bay Lightning enjoyed a remarkable streak from 2014-15 to 2021-22, making four Stanley Cup Final appearances and securing two championships, alongside a Presidents' Trophy win in 2018-19 with 62 wins and 128 points. However, since 2020, salary-cap constraints have seen the team lose several key players to free agency or trades, including notable names such as Ondřej Palát, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Carter Verhaeghe, Yanni Gourde, and Pat Maroon, alongside losses to Stephen Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev last summer. This diminishing depth has taken its toll, culminating in the Lightning failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs over the past two seasons. As of mid-November, the Lightning find themselves just one point outside the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, with 22 points in 19 games. While scoring has not been an issue, as they rank fifth in the league at 3.58 goals per game, defensive challenges arise with a goals-against average of 3.05, placing them in the middle tier among the 32 teams. Their special teams' performance also requires improvements, with a power-play percentage of 20.3% placing them 14th overall, while their penalty kill at 76.3% sits 22nd. Observations from late November pointed to the team's tendency to make unnecessary extra passes instead of shooting, costing them in games against defensively resolute opponents. Head coach Jon Cooper noted that his team is overcomplicating simple plays. Despite retaining experienced leaders and talent within their core, if the Lightning cannot rectify these issues, their path to the playoffs could become precarious.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks look to build on their recent playoff success after qualifying for the 2024 postseason with 109 points, their third-best performance in franchise history since making the playoffs sporadically since 2014-15. With key players like captain Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Brock Boeser leading the charge, the Canucks seemed poised for a bright future. However, as of late November, they find themselves just one point shy of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, accumulating 23 points in 19 games. The absence of starting goaltender Thatcher Demko, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, looms large, as he has been out due to a knee injury sustained in the opening game of the 2024 playoffs, with no set return date. Meanwhile, with a goals-against average of 3.21—ranking 10th in the league—the Canucks have had to rely on the goaltending of Kevin Lankinen and Arturs Silovs. Further complicating matters is their blue-line depth, as recent observations highlighted struggles with their second defensive pairing, featuring Carson Soucy and Tyler Myers, who faced issues with puck management and defensive reads. The goal production from Pettersson and Miller has also waned, further exacerbated by Boeser’s upper-body injury. Pettersson has begun to find his form, but with Miller on indefinite leave, the Canucks must address these challenges promptly to remain relevant in the playoff chase.