Assessing the ‘long national nightmare’ of an NHL division that won’t make the playoffs

Hope does not die in the summer for NHL fans who have not watched their team play since early April.

Could the 2024-25 season be the one in which teams that missed the playoffs in previous editions advance to the postseason?

In this four-part series, we take a look at the teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs last season and see if they have improved enough to give fans hope of playing beyond early April.

We divided the 16 teams into four tiers — the “Long National Nightmare” division, the “Groundhog Day” division, the “Scratch-off” division, and the lowest tier, the “Puh-leeze” division.

Here’s how teams from the top league, the “Long National Nightmare Division,” rank.

In this particular division, it’s starting to feel like a never-ending nightmare for these teams and their fans. These franchises are close to figuring it out, but will they get there?

4. St. Louis Blues | 43-33-6, 92 points, 17th

The surprise of the offseason was the Blues acquiring winger Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg from the reigning Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Going the route of the rarely used offer sheet, St. Louis kept its first-round picks and still got two NHL players.

Owners admitted that a complete teardown was out of the question for financial reasons. Instead, the Blues have added to a core that, while not lacking in talent, struggled to score points last season. St. Louis ranked in the bottom five of the NHL in goals allowed per 60 minutes, expected goals per 60 minutes and high-danger chances per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Nightmare: Without undertaking a true rebuild, the Blues simply started spinning their wheels.

3. Minnesota Wild | 39-34-9, 87 points, 20.

The team has a track record of above-average accomplishments, but the coach (Dean Evans) responsible for most of them is now in Columbus after a rough 5-10-4 start in the Twin Cities last season. The Wild made two small additions and one small subtraction this offseason, bringing in forwards Yakov Trenin and Jakob Lauko while letting forward Vinny Lettieri leave in free agency. Trenin’s defensive play and forechecking should make Minnesota a frustrating team to play against this upcoming season.

With Minnesota’s commitment to team defense, depth in the lineup, star power and goaltending, there’s a path for this team to be good. But can it be great?

Nightmare: Minnesota has not won a playoff series since 2015.

2. Buffalo Sabres | 39-37-6, 84 points, 22.

The Sabres are tied with the New York Jets for the longest playoff drought in major North American sports. They have not won a playoff series since 2007.

In April, the Sabres hired Lindy Ruff, who coached the team from 1998-2013, as head coach.

GM Kevyn Adams overhauled the front six this summer, signing forwards Sam Lafferty, Jason Zucker and Nicolas Aube-Kubel in free agency, and the organization also paid a hefty price tag in trades for forwards Ryan McLeod from Edmonton and Beck Malenstyn from Washington.

The Sabres have emphasized speed and experience in these signings. Is this finally the answer?