As the 2024-25 NHL regular season nears its end, 16 playoff spots are all but locked in, and fans are gearing up for the most exciting time of the year—Stanley Cup Playoff season. While many players on these teams are no strangers to post-season pressure, there’s a fresh crop of players—both young and seasoned—set to make their NHL playoff debut this spring. Some are rookies ready to surprise the league, while others are veterans finally getting their long-awaited shot at the big stage.
The Veterans: Playoff Dreams Finally Come True
Several players who’ve been in the NHL for years are finally going to experience playoff hockey. These veterans, aged 26 and up, have played hundreds of regular-season games but never had a shot at Lord Stanley’s Cup—until now.
One of the most talked-about names is Jeff Skinner. The 32-year-old winger played over a decade without a single playoff game, first with Carolina and then Buffalo. Now with the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner seems to be regaining his scoring touch at the right time, with five goals in his last nine games. After 1,000 career games, he’s finally heading to the playoffs.
Two other former Sabres also make this list—Victor Olofsson (now with Vegas) and Zemgus Girgensons (now with Tampa Bay). Both are seasoned pros still chasing that first post-season moment.
Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot and Drake Batherson are finally getting their shot too. Chabot, drafted in 2015, has been a key defenseman for the Senators for years, while Batherson, with over 380 games played, is part of the team’s core forward group.
Montreal’s Sam Montembeault will get the spotlight as the starting goalie in his first NHL playoff appearance. With playoff hockey returning to Bell Centre, he’ll look to carry the torch passed down by legendary Canadiens netminders.
Also on the list: New Jersey’s Johnathan Kovacevic, a solid defenseman who’s tied for the team lead in plus-minus, and Andrei Kuzmenko, who’s finding form again in L.A. after a mid-season trade from Vancouver.
The Tweeners: Young But Experienced NHLers
This group includes players 25 or under who already have a few NHL seasons under their belt but will be making their playoff debuts this year.
Brady Tkachuk leads the pack. At 25, the Senators captain has played over 500 games and is known for his gritty style—perfect for playoff hockey. He’s expected to recover from a recent injury in time for the post-season.
Other Senators also making their first playoff appearances include Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and Dylan Cozens—who previously played with Buffalo. These youngsters bring energy and skill to Ottawa’s lineup, and the team is hungry to make an impact.
St. Louis also features several first-timers like defenders Tyler Tucker and Matthew Kessel, and forward Alexandre Texier, who’ve stepped up during the Blues’ bounce-back season. Goalie Joel Hofer, just 25, is also expected to see post-season ice.
Tampa Bay picked up J.J. Moser from Utah in the Mikhail Sergachev trade, and the 24-year-old defenseman is ready to debut in the playoffs as part of a solid blue line.
The Young Guns: The Future Is Now
Every playoff season features breakout stars, and this year could be no different. Several high draft picks will get their first taste of NHL playoff hockey and have a chance to shine on the biggest stage.
In Montreal, the spotlight will be on 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson. Both have impressed during the regular season and could become playoff X-factors.
Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson, just 22, has shown he’s ready for big moments. He was recently selected to Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, a clear sign of his growing reputation.
St. Louis forwards Jake Neighbours and Zach Bolduc, both recent first-round picks, have been strong contributors and now get a chance to prove themselves in playoff conditions.
Brandt Clarke of the Kings and Simon Nemec of the Devils are two more young defensemen to watch. Clarke has become a regular on a solid Los Angeles defensive unit, while Nemec is still finding his role in New Jersey.
Minnesota’s Marco Rossi is coming off a breakout season with nearly 60 points and is ready to help the Wild make noise. Florida’s Mackie Samoskevich, a 22-year-old rookie, has carved out a key role on the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The 2025 NHL playoffs won’t just be a battle of the league’s best teams—it will also be the debut stage for a wide variety of players chasing their first taste of post-season glory. From veterans like Jeff Skinner finally getting their shot after over a decade, to young stars like Jake Sanderson and Juraj Slafkovsky ready to announce themselves under the spotlight, these first-timers could shape the outcomes of this year’s Cup chase. Whether it’s rookies trying to impress or veterans looking to make up for lost time, the NH
