One emo or punk song for every NHL team: (Mostly) regionally accurate picks for 2024-25

It's time.

Time for a new NHL season and a new season preview that channels all your angst, rage and worry into a single track that could describe your team's 2024-25 season chances, your feelings about that team or all of the above.

I've added a couple of wrinkles in this third annual Emo Preview (here are the 2023 and 2022 previews). By request, I've tried to find a band from the same region as the team; with a couple of exceptions, I think it was mostly successful. There's a wide range of emo, punk, post-punk and screamo, and it goes from back to the early days of punk up to recent releases — something for everyone to be mad about.

And there is a reason for the order of the teams — it runs from most emo ("Man, we're screwed!") to most punk ("Screw you, man!"). So the teams at the top of the list are probably in the most trouble heading into the season, and the teams at the end will be vying for the Stanley Cup. When they don't win, you can listen to this playlist while you throw things.

So here we go.

Anaheim Ducks

'California' by Wax

This Ducks team sure is ... something. Intrigued by all of the young talent ( Cutter Gauthier , Leo Carlsson , Mason McTavish , Pavel Mintyukov , Olen Zellweger ) while also being less than intrigued by the cast of veterans, several of whom are either reportedly on the way out or could be at the trade deadline. Low-key pick for worst team in the NHL this season, this mid-'90s pop-punk classic about regretting a move to SoCal seems just right.

"Why did I move to Southern California? Smog isn't blue, someone shoulda warned you"

Calgary Flames

'Expendables' by Fake Names

We might all be sleeping on how bad the Flames will be this season. After the Jacob Markström trade, they're inexperienced in net, their defense is two solid guys and a whole lot of "huh?", and they're old and not that deep up front. We had to go off the map here — maybe some Flames fans can give their favorite local emo/punk acts in the comments. Fake Names is a newish punk supergroup from some old-head bands (Minor Threat, Refused, Girls Against Boys), and they can still bring it. They do not have a lot in common with this Flames team.

"We're nothing but expendables"

Chicago Blackhawks

'October' by Knuckle Puck

The Connor Bedard Show enters year two, and it's a fun one to watch, even if the cast around him somehow gets weirder. Teuvo Teräväinen ? Yeah, OK! Tyler Bertuzzi ? Sure. T.J. Brodie and Alec Martinez ? Uh ... yeah, I guess. ... Pat Maroon and Craig Smith ? C'mon now. Even the Sharks might have more Guys than this. Knuckle Puck is quality Chicago emo, and this track describes how, outside of Bedard, there can't be that much thrill around this season out there. The real fear is that Bedard himself begins to dread October in Chicago if the Hawks don't find a decent supporting cast soon.

"Would you save me as we slide into October?"

San Jose Sharks

'Salvation' by Rancid

The Sharks will be bad. Macklin Celebrini will be good. These two opposing facts can coexist in San Jose this season, but it won't be too pretty when Celebrini isn't on the ice. The Sharks did import some Actual NHL Guys ( Barclay Goodrow , Tyler Toffoli , Alex Wennberg ), and if Yaroslav Askarov catches fire in net, maybe it won't be so bad. This track from the Bay Area's preeminent punks covers Sharks fans' feelings nicely.

"Come on baby won't you show me what you got I want your salvation"

Montreal Canadiens

'I'd Do Anything' by Simple Plan

Trading for Patrik Laine probably qualifies as doing anything. The Habs have some great young pieces, but do they have anything else worth mentioning? It feels like there have been multiple years of growing pains and they don't seem to be dissipating yet, hence the Hail Mary move to acquire Laine and his entire $8.7 million cap hit. It's hard to see how they can crack the big four of the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens have never missed the playoffs four years in a row in their 107-year history. Better do anything to fix that.

"This could be the one last chance to make you understand"

Pittsburgh Penguins

'Alone at St. Luke's' by Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties

Sidney Crosby is not alone, of course. It just feels that way. The greatest player of this generation is probably going to finish out his incredible career in Pittsburgh with a bunch of missed playoffs — or worse, he could bolt for a good team and leave the Pens completely bereft. Using this track from Wonder Years leader Dan Campbell's current side project feels like salt in Yinzers' wounds, what with Campbell being the ultimate Philly emo guy. This era of Pittsburgh hockey stings.

"We've been thinking As long as we're still here We might as well be drinking"

Seattle Kraken

'In Circles' by Sunny Day Real Estate

SDRE was one of those '90s emo bands you couldn't really get but were still fascinated by. That's the Kraken experience entering year four: I like it but I am confused. Dan Bylsma might bring a little more juice behind the bench than Dave Hakstol, but this team still doesn't seem to have much of an identity. Matty Beniers is a good player, and I'm interested to see what Shane Wright can do. Outside of those two, does this team have any young players to get excited about?

"In circles (I'm running down)"

Philadelphia Flyers

'Numb, But I Still Feel It' by Title Fight

Yes, yes, I know all about the Matvei Michkov hype. I hope it's real. Even if it is, Philly's prognosis isn't very good this season, and that would extend an ugly streak — it's been 14 years since the Flyers won a non-bubble playoff round. So by all means, get excited about Michkov. Get some life back into what used to be one of the best, scariest buildings in the league. The league could use a Flyers team people care about. Title Fight isn't from Philly, but repping Northeast Pa. is good enough. This team has to earn a track from the city.

"Everything's so uncertain Can't find the right direction"

Minnesota Wild

'Be Good' by Off With Their Heads

This feels like the last year the Wild have to hibernate. The Zach Parise/ Ryan Suter buyout pain ends after 2024-25, presumably Minny can reset in goal after this year, and, most importantly, Kirill Kaprizov will be entering his walk year in 2025-26. So this OWTH screamer could be seen as a way to blow off some steam of a couple of irrelevant years or a plea — be good, Wild, or else.

"Be good Be loud Hands up To the sky and shout"

Buffalo Sabres

'Bored of Being Sad' by Microwave

Again, I had to go off the map to grab this one from a really good new emo band from Atlanta, but this feels like it was written for Sabres fans. I could have Buffalo at the "most emo" end of the preview every year, but this one feels different. Maybe the Sabres' media cheerleaders have finally given up after 13 years of hoping the team really makes it happen; maybe Buffalo fans just don't get their hopes up anymore. So, without any unfounded hype, could this be the year? Eh, probably not, but no expectations are better than whatever's been happening the last few years.

"And I'm so bored of being sad It's not cool anymore It's old and I'm bored"

Washington Capitals

'I Against I' by Bad Brains

The main story is Alex Ovechkin 's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record. After a summer of whirlwind moves, the main Caps story is ... still Ovechkin. I applaud Caps management for trying to change things up, but this is still a team made up of some strange parts that is also spending less than $2 million on its goaltending. Let's reach back to the birth of the D.C. punk scene for a classic Bad Brains track about the only question worth answering this season: Will Ovechkin do it? Asking any other question — like, is this team better? — only invites problems.

"The same old story, no factual glory I against I against I against I against"

Detroit Red Wings

'Keep On Knocking' by Death

The Wings' big turnaround always seems to be a year away. General manager Steve Yzerman spent his summer grinding every dollar in talks with Detroit's most important young forward, Lucas Raymond , and its most important young defenseman, Moritz Seider — Yzerman also spent making salary-dump moves to sign Vladimir Tarasenko and bring back Patrick Kane . There's a ton coming in their pipeline, but this year doesn't look promising. The greatest decade in the Detroit punk scene was the 1970s, and Death was one of the best punk bands out there all those years ago. It's not lost on me that the 1970s was the worst era of Wings hockey and the current playoff drought, eight seasons and counting, is slowly starting to match those bad old days.

"You know we tried Baby, we just missed Keep on knockin', keep on knockin' on the door"

Ottawa Senators

'Breakout' by Thunder Queens

Is this the year for the Senators? It sure feels like the bottom half of the Atlantic, where teams have missed the playoffs for 13, eight, seven and three straight seasons, is not going to jump above the cut line. The Sens are poised to be this year's top contender of the bottom-dwellers, what with a legitimate goalie in Linus Ullmark and their cast of good young talent. We've all been burned before by that hope, though, so temper your expectations.

"No need to cry No need to pout No need to fight 'Cause we gotta breakout"

St. Louis Blues

'The Problem Is Me' by The Get Up Kids

The Blues are not without their charms — decently young core, some good prospects on the horizon, high-level goalie — but I'm not exactly sure where this team is going. The transitional GM arrangement is interesting, with Alexander Steen the boss-in-waiting for the next two years. The offer-sheet gambits this summer were a nice jolt for a very staid league, but are you shooting your shots on a middle-six winger and a second-pair (at best) defenseman? The Blues are the most mid team in the league, not good enough to be elite and not bad enough to need an overhaul. It isn't where you want to be. We do at least get a track from Missouri's finest (only?) emo purveyors, though.

"Could it be Maybe the problem is me Am I doomed to always repeat Over and over again"

Utah Hockey Club

'Dream Big' by Bob Vylan

Things are finally looking up for this "new" team after it escaped the clutches of suburban Phoenix. New owner, new city, new arena (soon). The former 'Yotes are in a better place, and they actually weren't all that terrible a season ago. The roster isn't totally bereft of talent, the Mikhail Sergachev move gives them an anchor D-man, and the Hockey Club isn't exactly in a powerhouse division. Playoffs? Hey, why not? I had to go across the pond to find this track, a grime-punk mashup from a duo whose members both go by Bob Vylan (one is Bobby, the other is Bobbie, of course). Like the new Utah team, it's different.

"New shoes, new coat, old hat I did it all and I won't go back Nah I been there, yeah I done that"

Los Angeles Kings

'Thought You Were Waving' by Militarie Gun

I made this list and still managed to surprise myself with how far down the "most emo" rankings I had the Kings. This is not a great situation: Still relying on two terrific but aging star players in Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty , a couple of nice young players ( Quinton Byfield , Brandt Clarke ) and a whole lot of not good enough. Joel Edmundson and Warren Foegele are your big July 1 multi-year free agency additions? Yikes. This team sends out the most mixed signals of any in the NHL, so this new track from L.A.'s Militarie Gun seems just right.

"I thought you were waving Turns out you were drowning Really wish I could read your mind"

Tampa Bay Lightning

'All Downhill From Here' by New Found Glory

Predicting a top team's demise is usually bad business, mostly because teams like the Lightning have the right people in place to prevent that from happening. As much respect as we all have for Julien BriseBois and Jon Cooper, though, it's hard to see how Tampa isn't sliding away from the elite. Dealing Sergachev and replacing him with a well-worn Ryan McDonagh is certainly a choice. So is Jake Guentzel for Steven Stamkos , though I kind of like that choice. BriseBois has been pretty fearless in trying to keep this team at the top, but we'll see if I'm correct in my choice of always-great Floridians New Found Glory this year.

"Catalyst, you insist to pull me down You contradict the fact that you still want me around And it's all downhill from here"

New York Islanders

'S'old' by Taking Back Sunday

Now, I'm not making any jokes about a soon-to-be 82-year-old GM with this track choice. As a rapidly aging dude myself, that wouldn't be wise. And Lou Lamoriello's Islanders did get a bit younger this summer, shedding longtime favorites like Cal Clutterbuck and (maybe) Matt Martin for 20-somethings. But this is still a place for the 30-and-up crowd, and it's still a team that isn't a Cup contender. The Long Island emo/hardcore scene is so good, though, there was lots to choose from. TBS still reigns supreme.

"You're going to get s'old You're going to get so old You're going to get so old either way"

Vegas Golden Knights

'I Will Survive' by Me First and The Gimme Gimmes

It's hard to believe this is only year eight of the Golden Knights experience. It feels like they've cycled through about 26 different versions of themselves. They are always aggressive with personnel, which may not win them many friends, but it sure has won them a lot of games. And now, they're going into 2024-25 with two pending unrestricted free-agent goalies, no salary cap space and a surprisingly young roster. I wonder what's coming next. Me First is a supergroup of some old punk heads that plays only covers. If that doesn't scream Vegas to you, what does?

"I will survive Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive"

Winnipeg Jets

'Reconstruction Site' by The Weakerthans

Everything's just OK in the 'Peg — nice roster, nice coach, nice prospects. The Jets pulled back from the brink a couple of summers ago when it felt like every decent player there wanted out, and, on paper, they look like a solid playoff team. But this team feels like the bottom is always lurking around the corner, waiting to drop out from underneath them. Maybe it's this year, maybe next, maybe never. But it's always there. Like a Weakerthans song. Hail to only the first Winnipeg band to make our playlist this year!

"If I'm more Then it means less Last call for happiness I'm your dress near the back of your knees And your slip is showing"

Nashville Predators

'For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic' by Paramore

The Preds and GM Barry Trotz won the offseason with some seriously bold moves. Winning the offseason means precisely squat now and, with $ 11.8 million in dead cap space, Nashville is an injury or two away from being in real roster trouble this season. But the vibes are superb, and Nashville is no longer just a fun place for visiting teams. It's been a minute since the Preds were real contenders, so we'll have to see on that front, but for now, things are on the up. And we get to hear from the best emo band to open for Taylor Swift, even if this Paramore track gives off more of a "what if it doesn't work?" feel.

"I never wanted to say this You never wanted to stay I put my faith in you, so much faith And then you just threw it away"

Carolina Hurricanes

'So Yeah, So' by Free Throw

The Canes are still a good team. We can agree on that. But their status as hockey Twitter darlings took a pretty serious blow this summer. New GM Eric Tulsky couldn't persuade Guentzel to stay, let Brady Skjei , Teräväinen and Stefan Noesen walk, barely persuaded Martin Nečas to stick around, signed a bunch of replacement-level guys ($2.8 million for Jack Roslovic ?) and still didn't fix the main reason why they haven't won anything yet, which is goaltending. They'll win plenty of games this season because they still have Rod Brind'Amour behind the bench and a core of guys that thrive under his style. But are they better than the top four teams in the East?

"Why does it feel like I'm working on a puzzle with the lights off? In a windowless room I'm feeling for the edges of the pieces"

New Jersey Devils

'Through Being Cool' by Saves The Day

Speaking of internet darlings, the Devils have been a viral meme waiting to happen for a few years now. And it's gotten them nowhere. After a strong summer in which they added a top-flight goalie in Markström, a well-regarded coach in Sheldon Keefe and some solid support pieces ( Brett Pesce , Brenden Dillon , Noesen), the Devils are poised to go from internet sensation to actual sensation. Another Hughes brother is on the shelf to start, but they can overcome injuries now. Saves The Day doesn't have many tracks that inspire, but this one about just getting mad and getting stuff done sounds right for the 2024-25 Devils.

"Cause I'm through being cool"

Boston Bruins

'That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate' by Mission of Burma

I can't keep track of how many years we've all been waiting for the B's to crumble. This year we've got: Hard-balling their best goalie, captain coming off three surgeries at age 36 and not much depth up front. And they're still going to post 100-plus points and host a playoff series or two. Credit to GM Don Sweeney and coach Jim Montgomery. They're not serious Cup contenders, but I give up predicting their demise.

"Can I count on you If I fall apart? If I fall a If I fall apart

That's how I escaped my certain fate"

Vancouver Canucks

'Hungry' by White Lung

Now, I could have gone a safer route with the Canucks track — Japandroids aren't exactly punk, but they would have worked just fine. The Canucks could have gone a safe route, too, this offseason once they knew that Thatcher Demko wouldn't be ready for the start of the season, but front-office execs Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin are gambling a bit. So did I. White Lung isn't for everyone, but they do have a few rippers. The Canucks have some high-end scoring, some of the most talented players in the West ... and if they don't have Demko, does any of it matter? Still expect to see them near the top of the Pacific this season.

"And we're all hungry for it"

Edmonton Oilers

'Dear Coach's Corner' by Propagandhi

Everyone, it seems, wants to see Connor McDavid hoist the Stanley Cup. He came as close as a player and team could get last spring and, especially now that Leon Draisaitl has re-upped, the McDavid stans are still out in full force. Except there's one small hitch: The Oilers hired Stan Bowman after the NHL reinstated him from exile for his handling of allegations of sexual assault while Bowman was Blackhawks GM. No one asked for this, and yet, here we are. Propagandhi calls Winnipeg home, but this track references the Alberta roots of lead singer Chris Hannah and his disappointment back in the late 2000s over Don Cherry's pro-military antics on Coach's Corner .

We're probably not going to get an updated version about the Bowman hire from these Canadian punk legends, but the sentiment is the same — why on earth does hockey have to keep doing this?

"We may not be the same but it's not like we're from different planets We both love this game so much we can hardly f—— stand it"

Toronto Maple Leafs

'The Barbed Wire Fence Around Happiness' by Chastity

This is the third installment of our emo preview, and with each one, I find about 750 tracks that could apply to the Leafs, historically the most emo team in the league. Now, I have them toward the end of the list here because they will a) again be very good and b) probably not be good enough. Chastity takes you back to the mid-'90s, grungy emo era — think Hum or Swervedriver — but they're from Ontario, so they must be inspired by the Leafs. This track, about the frustrating inability to be truly happy, should come with a Mats Sundin poster.

"Held in the fringes of happiness"

New York Rangers

'Something Higher' by Taking Meds

The Rangers are going to be good again, but is that enough? That Metro Division looks awfully weak, so the true measuring stick for this team is the playoffs and whether the Rangers can get to a Final and compete once there. It's hard to believe they've been to five conference finals in the last 11 seasons, and that includes a four-season rebuild. The mandate is always winning, and a Presidents' Trophy or other accolades just aren't enough.

"There's something higher but I don′t know what it is

I know it's there 'cause I can taste it"

Florida Panthers

'King of Everything' by Meet Me The Altar

The reigning champs should be the kings of everything, but there's a catch in the quest to repeat: Their 36-year-old goaltender has made 151 appearances over the last two years. Even if you believe in Sergei Bobrovsky 's yoga routine, that's a lot of down-and-ups. The Panthers will be good again. They might even make a third straight Stanley Cup Final. But my faith in The Bob is wavering, just like the snarky tone of positivity in this track by a really solid new pop-punk band from Florida.

"I'd be fine, I'd be fine I'd start over in a blink I'd feel like, I'd feel like I'm the king of everything"

Colorado Avalanche

'So Stoked' by Teenage Bottlerocket

I can't help but be upbeat about the Avs, who have stumbled the last couple years but still reside comfortably among the NHL's elite. Of course, I can't imagine Nathan MacKinnon would love anyone being upbeat about his team — you've got to put the work in. Still, the Avs will be there at the end, or close to it. Fans should be stoked! And Teenage Bottlerocket is truly the only punk band from Wyoming.

"Woke up this morning to a great day without hassle I was so happy I was grinning like an a—— It seems like everything is going as expected And now for once I feel like all my s—'s collected"

Dallas Stars

'No Wolf Like the Present' by At The Drive-In

They're great. They should be bigger than they are. Are we talking about the Stars or ATDI? Dallas is the best team not to win in the last decade, and the Stars should be there again this season. But will they be there at the end? Are they better than Edmonton or Colorado? I can't say. But it's time to forget the past and push forward.

"There's no wolf like the present They own your history Scrap it for parts"

Columbus Blue Jackets

'Hold On Hope' by Guided By Voices

No more snark, no more bite. The Gaudreau brothers' tragic deaths will stay with all of us for a long, long time. Fans of the other 31 teams will get back to rising and falling with every game; Blue Jackets fans will just need all of our support this season. So, here's the most beautiful track from Ohio's favorite musical sons.

"Everybody's gotta hold on hope It's the last thing that's holding me"

(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Photos: Alexander Hassenstein, Luke Hales, Patrick Smith, Gregory Shamus, Bruce Bennett / )