The final NHL Power Rankings of 2024-25 are here, and what a season it’s been. Some teams have come out of nowhere to be pleasant surprises, while others have failed to meet the bar set for them in the offseason.

One of the teams that has met those expectations, and perhaps exceeded them, is the Toronto Maple Leafs. They were expected to contend atop the Atlantic Division once again, and they just clinched first place and a first-round matchup against the Ottawa Senators.

Toronto has thrived with its Core Four leading the way, and with Matthew Knies emerging as a fifth star in that mix. The signing of Chris Tanev proved to be a valuable one for the defense, and the goaltending duo of Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz held up nicely.

Other teams weren’t quite as fortunate. The Nashville Predators spent big last summer and finished miles away from the playoffs. The New York Rangers got off to a fast start, but they experienced an implosion of epic proportions that left them on the outside looking in.