5 biggest disappointments midway through 2024-25 NHL season ft. the Nashville Predators 

The 2024-25 NHL season is halfway through, and there have already been multiple key storylines that fans have paid attention to.

But what are the biggest disappointments so far through the midway point of the season?

5 biggest disappointments midway through 2024-25 NHL season

#1. Nashville Predators

The Predators entered the 2024-25 NHL season viewed by most as legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. After all, they spent a metric ton of cash to sign free-agent forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Brady Skjei, and re-sign goaltender Juuse Saros.

However, the Predators have inexplicably been one of the worst clubs in the NHL this season. At 13-21-7, they're ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference standings, while Stamkos and Marchessault have not performed at the levels of their contracts.

#2. New York Rangers

The Rangers, who won the President's Trophy and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final last season, brought back essentially the entire club for 2024-25.

But after a solid 12-4 start, the Rangers have sunk into a puzzling funk. In their last 26 games, they've gone 9-16-1 and currently sit at 6th place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Rangers have also found themselves at the center of rumors of mutiny against general manager Chris Drury, while their captain Jacob Trouba and former second overall draft pick Kaapo Kakko were traded away.

#3. Boston Bruins

Expected to build off their postseason victory last year over the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins instead have battled inconsistency all season long and even had to counter rumors of strife in the locker room between captain Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

General manager Don Sweeney, who has felt the wrath of fans recently, also fired head coach Jim Montgomery after he felt the players weren't performing up to expectations.

Right now, the Bruins have a record of 21-19-5, which falls short of expectations for this point in the season.

#4. Buffalo Sabres

It's more of the same for the Buffalo Sabres, who, instead of taking the next step toward a postseason spot under coach Lindy Ruff, have continued their customary losing ways and appear poised to extend their NHL-leading postseason drought; they last qualified in 2011.

At one point in the season, the Sabres dropped 13 consecutive games, including a stunning 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in which they initially led 4-0. As if that weren't cruel enough, the Sabres also recently blew a rematch against the Avalanche after leading 3-0 and 5-3, losing 6-5 in overtime.

#5. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins and starter Jeremy Swayman were involved in a hotly contested standoff before the season began on a new contract; Swayman wanted to be one of the top-paid goaltenders in the NHL, while Bruins management was understandably hesitant to hand over that kind of contract to a goalie who had never played over 44 games in a season.

The Bruins and Swayman eventually came to terms on a new deal, making him the fifth highest paid goalie in the NHL. But Swayman has not delivered the kind of numbers that are expected with that kind of contract. He's 14-15-3 with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage.