NHL Season Preview | Atlantic Contenders | Why Father Time could catch up with one of the Leafs, Bruins, Panthers or Lightning this year

After years of dominating the NHL’s Atlantic Division, is this finally the year one of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruin, Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning fall out of the playoff picture? Or will their long run owning the division continue? On this special Locked On NHL Season Preview Round Table, Ian McLaren (Locked On Bruins), Josh Sperber (Locked On Lighting), David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Armando Velez (Locked On Panthers) team up to preview the 2024-25 NHL season from the prospective of the Atlantic Division’s contenders. Can the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup Champions? How will the looming contract situation for Mitch Marner affect the Leafs as they head into a crucial season where going on a deep playoff run is non-negotiable? Can the Lightning adapt to fill in for the loss of franchise icon Steven Stamkos in free agency? And will the Boston Bruins be able to capture their former glory even with star goaltender Jeremy Swayman in contract limbo? All that, plus talk on the major offseason additions for each team, breakout candidates, and which teams in the Atlantic’s basement are most likely to supplant one of these long-time playoff mainstays – and who will fall out at their expense?