4.) Ilya Samsonov will be better than people think
You know, I was sifting through Ilya Samsonov's stats from last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nothing stands out with the goaltender, specifically with a GAA of 3.13 and a save percentage of .890. That's especially true during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he posted a GAA of 3.01 and a save percentage of .896.
These stats don't jump out to people in a good way, leaving them uninspired. However, the Russian netminder had good moments in the preseason and would benefit from a goalie-friendly defensive system. Therefore, he'll be like his fellow countryman, Pavel Dorofeyev, and surprise people in 2024-25.
5.) Mark Stone will play a full 82-game season
Mark Stone is projected to start the NHL season with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev in the top line. He's projected to be on Eichel's right wing, setting up the offense as needed. The Captain should also play a full 82-game season in 2024-25, which is a bold claim.
However, there's merit to this statement. Yes, The forward missed time with a spleen injury, playing in 56 games in 2023-24. However, spleen injuries aren't as frequent as people would like to believe. He should have a better bill of health for the upcoming campaign, where he'll re-establish himself as a bona fide forward for the Vegas Golden Knights.