Summary
- Franchise Mode in NHL 25 has improved with new contract negotiation features for rebuilding teams.
- Rebuilding NHL teams like Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Columbus require strategic player trades for draft picks and prospects.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins are a prime candidate for a complete overhaul by trading aging veterans for young prospects and picks.
The prospect of a franchise mode, of taking over a multi-million-dollar sports club in order to lead them to greatness, has been a key part of sports video games ever since Madden 98 introduced the feature. Since then, it has spread into all sorts of sports games, including the MLB, the NFL and, of course, the National Hockey League. With NHL 25, EA has improved Franchise Mode in some outstanding ways, including new features for contract negotiations and more.
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One of the best ways to approach Franchise Mode is by looking at all 32 NHL teams and deciding which team to rebuild, a process of moving out veteran players for draft picks and young prospects. Tanking is also a big part of the process, as finishing lower in the standings gives teams the opportunity to pick higher in the NHL Entry Draft every year. Sometimes, a team is already in their rebuilding phase, but is in need of a few more years of work in order to become a contender. So, when it comes to rebuilding some of the NHL’s most interesting teams, these are the ones to watch, as they all offer a unique challenge in order to reach the top and win a Stanley Cup.
8
Tampa Bay Lightning
Repeat Cup Champions Could Be A Great Rebuild Target
- Best Prospect: Connor Geekie, Forward (selected 11th overall in 2022)
- Needs: 1C
- Last Stanley Cup: 2021
Several years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning were a dominant force in the NHL and are still a contender, but Franchise Mode can last up to 25 years, which means that the Bolts’ aging core and barren prospect pool make them a perfect choice to start a rebuild. Following the departure of their captain, Steven Stamkos, to the Predators in the off-season, the team isn’t quite as stacked as they used to be. Superstars like Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Victor Hedman are still all-world players, and Andrei Vasilevski is still one of the best goalies in the game, but they are all reaching 30-plus years of age.
A Tampa rebuild would start with trading Point, Hedman, Vasilevski, Guentzel, and Kucherov, as their trade value is outrageously high. They would easily be enough to stock up on first-round picks and prospects, with a keen eye on the future and the present. As it stands, the Lightning have a few key young pieces on the main roster that would work well when paired with an influx of new, fresh talent. With some years toiling away at the bottom of the NHL standings, a rebuild of the Bolts could see them become perennial contenders again for years.
7
Ottawa Senators
Ontario’s Team Needs A Superstar To Build Around
- Best Prospect: Carter Yakemchuk, Defenseman (selected 7th overall in 2024)
- Needs: 1C, Top 2 D
- Last Stanley Cup: None
The Ottawa Senators have missed the playoffs every year since 2017, when they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since then, a series of awkward trades, bizarre signings, and front-office decisions have left them outside the playoff picture. When one takes a look at their current system, there are a few good pieces in the form of Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Josh Norris, Tim Stutzle, and Ridley Greig, but no true superstars to build around.
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Taking over the Senators for a successful rebuild would absolutely require tanking to get the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, where one could secure a potential franchise player. In the meantime, trading veteran forwards Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins, as well as building a stronger defense in front of the outstanding Linus Ullmark in goal, would help immensely. Within a few years, the speedy, youthful Senators could easily start making consistent appearances in the playoffs.
6
Columbus Blue Jackets
Aging Team Needs A Fresh Start
- Best Prospect: Denton Mateychuk, Defenseman (selected 12th overall in 2022)
- Needs: 1C, Goalie
- Last Stanley Cup: None
After a stretch of four consecutive playoff appearances, including a sweep over the odds-on favorite Tampa Bay in 2019, the Columbus Blue Jackets suffered a series of key departures that have resulted in them not seeing post-season activity since the COVID-19 season in 2020. Following the tragic death of superstar forward Johnny Gaudreau, the team is in a state of confusion and uncertainty, but it’s obvious that the Blue Jackets are in desperate need of a complete restart.
With no true young superstar to build around, as well as an aging defense and questionable goaltending, the first step in any Jackets rebuild in NHL 25 must involve shipping out players like Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson, as well as trying to see what value is out there for Zach Werenski. With some good pieces, including Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli, it’s also crucial over the first few years of the rebuild to find a goalie either on the free agent market or in a trade.
5
Anaheim Ducks
Young Team Needs Some More Help To Reach The Playoffs
- Best Prospect: Cutter Gauthier, Forward (selected 5th overall, 2022)
- Needs: Top 2 D, Goalie
- Last Stanley Cup: 2007
In some cases, it’s clear that an NHL team is already rebuilding, but the prospects and young players haven’t quite reached their full potential yet. This is certainly the case with the Anaheim Ducks, who began their rebuild following a long, successful series of post-season runs which ended in 2018. Having recently drafted some exciting prospects in the form of Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Mintyukov, this is a team with an eye on the future.
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However, outside their top prospects, the Ducks are also bloated with too many bad contracts and aging players that need to be sent elsewhere. The defense needs a complete overhaul, as well as the acquisition of a true number one, and it’s clear that goalie John Gibson’s time in Anaheim is close to an end. Finishing at the bottom of the league for a few more years with Anaheim is probably necessary in order to get a few more high-end prospects, as well as trading out the likes of Gibson, Killorn, and MicGinn for some defensive help.
4
Seattle Kraken
One Of The Newest NHL Franchises
- Best Prospect: Berkley Catton, Forward (selected 8th overall in 2024)
- Needs: 1C, Goalie, Top 4 D
- Last Stanley Cup: None
After having played three full NHL seasons, the Seattle Kraken have been a fairly inconsistent team, missing the post-season twice but making a second-round playoff appearance in the middle. Taking over the Kraken in NHL 25 comes with a unique challenge, as they ultimately have a lot of good, solid pieces, but no true superstars to build a franchise around. While players like Matty Beniers and Sean Durzi are very good, they’re not going to propel a team to the playoffs.
Selling off assets like Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz would be a good start, as they likely have decent value that could fetch second or third-round draft picks. Meanwhile, the defense and goaltending are decent, but are in need of some work. Joey Daccord is a good goaltender, but it remains to be seen if he can put up Stanley Cup-caliber numbers, so trading for or drafting a number one goalie would also be a fine start to a rebuild.
3
Utah Hockey Club
The Former Arizona Team Is In Need Of A Retool
- Best Prospect: Tij Iginla, Forward (selected 6th overall in 2024)
- Needs: 1C, Goalie
- Last Stanley Cup: None
Having spent over twenty-five years in the NHL as the Arizona Coyotes, the team was sold and relocated to Utah following the 2023-2024 season. As a result, the Utah Hockey Club brings the entirety of the Coyotes roster with them, as well as all their problems. Missing the post-season eleven out of the last twelve seasons, the Utah Hockey Club has a lot to live up to, and rebuilding them in NHL 25 means combining two schools of thought.
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As it stands, Utah has some pretty excellent pieces in the form of Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, and Michael Kesselring, but lacks a true number one goalie and defenseman. Going out and acquiring a cornerstone player to build around would also benefit Utah, as they have a decent roster, but one that needs a few more years to truly develop. They also have a few dead contracts due to buyouts, which makes signing superstar free agents a bit more difficult, so waiting for money to free up over the first few seasons will be necessary.
2
Buffalo Sabres
The Longest Post-Season Drought In North American Sports History
- Best Prospect: Devon Levi, Goalie (selected 212th overall in 2020)
- Needs: 1C, Goalie
- Last Stanley Cup: None
The Buffalo Sabres hold the dubious title of the longest post-season drought in North American sports history, tied with the New York Jets of the NFL at 13. In recent years, the Sabres have acquired a few young pieces through the draft, including the likes of Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Benson, but they still find themselves outside the playoff picture. After having lost former first overall pick Jack Eichel due to a strained relationship between the player and the team, Buffalo remains locked in a perilous state.
With no true superstar to build around, as well as some questions in the goalie department, the Sabres are in need of another few years at the bottom to acquire more picks and prospects. Taking over the Sabres in NHL 25 likely begins with acquiring a true number one goalie and a franchise player to carry the team, as well as shipping out some aging forwards. Once these are locked in place, freeing up cap space to sign some veteran players to give the team some grit, which it severely lacks, should be the next priority.
1
Pittsburgh Penguins
5x Stanley Cup Champions Looking At A Complete Rebuild
- Best Prospect: Owen Pickering, Defenseman (selected 21st overall, 2022)
- Needs: 1C, Top 2 D, Goalie
- Last Stanley Cup: 2017
After winning three Stanley Cup championships together, the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are winding down their careers. As a result, the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins is bleak, and they are one of the most obvious candidates for a rebuild in NHL 25. While getting around the no-move clauses in contracts is tricky, it can be done in order to gain a maximum number of picks and prospects for the future.
The Penguins are in need of a complete overhaul, tearing down everything and starting from scratch. Trading out players like Crosby, Letang, Malkin, Kalrsson, Jarry, Petterson, and Rust is a good start, as they all have great value, and can be used to acquire an immense number of assets. Bringing up young prospects like Owen Pickering, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and goalie Joel Blomqvist would help start a brand-new identity for the team, and within four or five years, they can return to their former greatness.
NHL 25
