Things I Missed

The team previews are written, and as is seemingly the case every year, there are things that happen after I type each report. This year is no exception, so let's see what I missed or need to correct in time for the season to start Wednesday.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have settled their captaincy problem, and it isn't Justin Faulk or Jordan Staal, co-captains a year ago. Instead, the captain role will go to Justin Williams, who returned for a second tour of duty last season after spending time earlier in his career with the Hurricanes, helping them win a Stanley Cup in 2006.
• The Florida Panthers also named a new captain, as Derek McKenzie stepped down from the role to give way for Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is on the verge of being a superstar that more people will get to know about, and his progression has been on the rise from his rookie season of 2013-14. He's an excellent choice for a team that needs a stable identity after having gone through identity changes in the last three seasons.
• Corey Perry was expected to try and rebound after some subpar seasons. He won't get that chance until February or March because he will be out due to injury. With Ryan Kesler likely out for the season, pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Nick Ritchie to produce, as he has yet to be the player the Ducks have hoped for since being drafted in 2014.
• Seth Jones is also going to miss time, 1 to 2 months. While it isn't a fatal blow for Columbus, it is a blow for a team who relies on defensive ability to win games. Zach Werenski will have some added pressure to begin the season.
• Chicago may be without Corey Crawford to start the season, as he continues to recover from vertigo and concussion issues. Cam Ward will likely be the starter for opening night, and the Blackhawks will need Crawford to be 100 percent sooner rather than later because depth behind Ward is woefully thin unless Colin Delia can convince the team that he is at worst, a good AHL starter.

Time to Fly Again

WINNIPEG JETS

2017-18 record: 52-20-10 (114 points)
Lost to Vegas in Conference Finals
Captain: Blake Wheeler

This time last year, the Winnipeg Jets were just hoping to make the playoffs and the seats of both Paul Maurice and Kevin Cheveldayoff were warming up. Thanks to everything finally lining up, the Jets not only made the playoffs, but also did things they never did in their franchise history as both the current incarnation of the Jets and as the former Atlanta Thrashers. Not even a Conference Finals defeat to Vegas could dampen the team's accomplishments. Now, it is up to them to do something else they haven't done in their history: make the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

The Winnipeg Jets' offense is a game of pick your poison, as Mark Schiefele is leader in that category, but Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers can also kill you if they go unchecked. Depth is a major strength, even with rental Paul Stastny spurning them to head to Vegas in the off-season. The defense is also strong not only in talent, but in numbers, as Dustin Byfuglien is still the team's best player in that category. Up and comers Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey are close to stardom, and one player to watch for is Sami Niku, who had a couple games with the team at the end of the season. In goal, Connor Hellebuyck finally solved the team's perpetual goaltending problem, as he had a Vezina nomination to show for it. He now needs to show that the season wasn't a fluke, as it actually followed a terrible first full season.

Prediction: 1st in the Central Division

The Jets have all the pieces to make another deep run, and better, the core piees are all young and not quite hitting their prime. The potential for a drop-off is possible, given the team's history, but there is plenty of reason to hope that Winnipeg will be the one to finally bring Lord Stanley back to Canada this season.

Capital Defence

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

2017-18 record: 49-26-7 (105 points)
Won the Stanley Cup
Captain: Alexander Ovechkin

For the last two years, the Washington Capitals were the best regular season team by a country mile, yet come playoff time, their hopes and dreams died in round two. So, what to make of a team that had struggled at times to actually win their division and had trouble in the first two games of their playoff lives, yet came through in the end to win their first Stanley Cup? Now, their title defense is all about what they can do with a new head coach and higher expectations.

The offense was ranked ninth, which is actually good, but given that Alexander Ovechkin struggled a little in the regular season, it was something of a revelation that he would experience a yearly revitalization come playoff time, something that was helped this time around by his supporting cast providing the help that they hadn't before. Ovechkin will once again lead the way, with Nicklas Backstrom playing the role of sidekick and a supporting cast that includes Devante Smith-Pelly, TJ Oshie, Lars Eller, and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Defensively, the team was the definition of average, as they weren't great in the regular season and worse, Braden Holtby was awful. If not for Phillipp Grubauer playing lights out, the Capitals would not have taken the division and possibly worse, been on the edge of playoff contention. Now, Grubauer is gone and Pheonix Copley is likely the backup to start the season, so if Holtby struggles again, it may be look out below. As for the team in front of him, it was a major coup for the Capitals to not only get Brooks Orpik's contract off the books (and re-sign him to a one year deal for less money), but also re-sign John Carlson to a new deal. Carlson figures to be the leader of the defensive unit while Orpik will help the likes of Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen with depth. The biggest change is behind the bench, where Barry Trotz has moved on and assistant coach Todd Rierden is now the man in charge. Things shouldn't change much, since Rierden knows the team well.

Prediction: 2nd in the Metropolitan Division

It is fair to expect a small drop-off for a Capitals team that did't actually add any significant pieces in the off-season, and with a shorter rest period, fatigue looms as an issue. Ovechkin finally got to party it up with a Finals win, and that taste may be enough to motivate the Capitals to make another deep run.

A Golden Encore?

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

2017-18 record: 51-24-7 (109 points)
Lost to Washington in Stanley Cup Final
Captain: TBA

Everything that the Vegas Golden Knights weren't supposed to do as an expansion team, they did. They weren't supposed to even make the Finals, let alone be competitive. The Vegas Golden Knights' first year could be classified as a total success despite falling three games short of the Stanley Cup. Now, what do they do for an encore? Do they avoid a sophmore slump? The Golden Knights did what they could to make sure those answers are in their favor.

Offensively, they were fourth, thanks to some overachieving from the likes of William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. To expect Karlsson to break the 40 goal mark again would be unrealistic, but if he can score 30 like his teammate Jonathan Marchessault, then the Golden Knights will be fine. They get some help, as Paul Stastny signed with them in the off-season and they gave up a decent haul to rescue Max Pacioretty from Montreal. Defensively, this was a far better group than what the sum of the parts would indicate. They'll be missing Nate Schmidt for about 30 games for a failed drug test, but they will have Shea Theodore for seven more years, and he may be the best defender by the end of this season. Their eighth place finish defensively was a reflection of a coaching staff that got players to buy into what they were selling, which in turn allowed them to survive an injury bug that forced them down to their fourth and fifth goaltenders on the depth chart at one point. Once again, health will be key, as Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban will be expected to hold down the fort in the paint.

Prediction: 2nd in the Pacific Division

To expect a little drop-off from the Golden Knights is reasonable. The reason they may finish second won't be because they didn't improve their own roster, but because the Sharks did the same and now boast a more complete lineup. As we've seen last season however, everything on paper isn't going to end up that way in real life.

A New Era Begins

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2017-18 record: 31-40-11 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The rebuild for the Vancouver Canucks has been slow, often painful, and now, it appears to be at a point where it finally gets to turn a corner. Yes, the Sedin twins have decided to skate off into the sunset, and the new blood will be given a shot at leading the team closer to playoff contention. Being they are in the Western Conference and have a lot of work to do, it may be a few years.

While Henrik and Daniel Sedin have officially retired, the reality was that the torch had been passed to the likes of Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. The team was terrible on both ends of the ice, but Horvat and Boeser represent what the team could be offensively. The natural thought here is that both must stay healthy, and injuries decimated the team throughout the season. To that end, Antoine Roussel was brought in to be a bit of a deterrent to opposing players who attempt to take liberties with Horvat and Boeser. Defensively, the team was terrible, too. They believe some of the issues could be solved up front, hence the signings of both Tim Schaller and Jay Beagle, guys who won't solve the offensive problems, but ones who could help out defensively. The offensive improvement is likely coming from either Elias Pettersson and/or Jonathan Dahlen, both who would be in their first year with the Canucks if they make it to opening night. There is no gamebreaker on the blue line, but depth is surprisingly decent. In goal, Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson are still keeping the seat warm for Thatcher Demko, who could be an NHL regular soon.

Prediction: 8th in the Pacific Division

The Canucks will be in for another long year, but the pieces are falling into place, however slowly it may be. The old era is now gone with the Sedins, and in earnest, the team can build around Horvat, Boeser, and Sven Baertschi up front and pray that the investment in Erik Gudbranson will finally pay off somehow.

A New Hope

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

2017-18 record: 49-26-7 (105 points)
Lost to Boston in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: TBA

The Toronto Maple Leafs were living their version of Groundhog Day, as they had an opportunity to advance to the next round for the first time since 2004. As it was in 2013, however, the Boston Bruins once again ended their hopes. The culprit? A defense that was bad in front of Frederik Andersen. Their solution for this coming season? Scoring more goals, which is exactly where John Tavares comes in. They have the offense if everyone is in camp, but do they have the defense?

The second ranked offense gets better, as Tavares will be there for seven years and join the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and if he can get signed in time, William Nylander. Even with the game seven loss last year, they still scored four goals, so offense should be no problem. The 11th ranked defense is quite deceptive, as Andersen was a big reason for it. He may be inconsistent at times, but he saves a team that has pylons such as Nikita Zaitsev and notorious defensive liability Jake Gardiner as their defensemen. While they add by subtracting Roman Polak, they also lose some sandpaper in Matt Martin and Leo Komarov.

Prediction: 3rd in the Atlantic Division

The Maple Leafs won the big prize of the off-season when John Tavares signed with them. The problem immediately is still that they didn't address their defensive deficiencies, but the long-term problem may be whether they can sign all of Matthews, Marner, and/or Nylander soon.

Struck Down

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

2017-18 record: 54-23-5 (113 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference Finals
Captain: Steven Stamkos

Everything was lining up for the Tampa Bay to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in franchise history. They led the Eastern Conference, breezed through New Jersey and had little trouble with Boston. They even had a chance to advance over Washington and extend their legacy of failure, as they were up 3-2. This is where things fell apart, and the Lightning's top ranked offense couldn't be found on a milk carton, and as a result, the Lightning fell short. How do they recover from this failure? They return the same cast from the end of last year, so the answers will have to come from within.

The top-ranked offense played like it for most of the season, including the playoffs. Led by Nikita Kucherov, who was rewarded with an eight-year extension, the Lightning are suddenly more than just Steven Stamkos. The Lightning are an offensive game of Russian Roulette, as if it isn't Kucherov or Stamkos, it could be any of Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat or Victor Hedman. Obviously, having that offense run for the most important moments will be under scrutiny in the wake of the playoff collapse. Defensively, the team was middle of the pack, as the sum of the parts wasn't quite better than the sum of the whole. Ryan McDonagh will have at least eight years to find his spot on the team after having a hard time adjusting when he came over in a mid-season trade. Hedman returns with his usual pairing partner in Anton Stralman, but depth could be a small issue, which was why they were mentioned as one of the potential suitors for Erik Karlsson. In goal, Andrei Vasilevsky had his ups and downs, largely due to be a first-year starter after backing up Ben Bishop previously. Still, he was a Vezina finalist and he was hardly to blame for the Lightning's collapse, as he gave them a chance in the deciding games.

Prediction: 1st in the Atlantic Division

The Lightning have a lot to prove this season, and much of that will be especially in the playoffs. Without any major moves to bring in new players, it's going to be on the team and the coaches to prove that they haven't lost their touch when it matters the most.

Smelling Blood

SAN JOSE SHARKS

2017-18 record: 45-27-10 (100 points)
Lost to Vegas in Conference semifinals
Captain: Joe Pavelski

The San Jose Sharks have often been viewed as a perennial team that seems to be missing a piece or two. In the middle of last season, it was thought to be Evander Kane, which resulted in a second round elimination to Vegas. This season, there is hype that hasn't been seen since Joe Thornton was acquired in the middle of the 2005-06 season, with a generational talent on the blue line now in the fold. Still, in a stacked Western Conference, it will still be a tough go for the Sharks this season.

The Sharks were near the top 10 in both offense and defense, which indicates that the team isn't far off. Even with a Joe Thornton that is near the end of the line, the Sharks are now led by Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, and Kane up front. Their depth up front took a hit, but it was to fortify a blue line that is now one of the best on paper. Besides extending Couture, the Sharks made the big move of the off-season, as they traded a pretty package to get Erik Karlsson from Ottawa. Now, it no longer needs to be Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic as a pairing if the Sharks choose, as Burns and Karlsson can be put on different pairings to jumpstart an offense. Depth on the blue line has never been better, and it may need to compensate a little for the front lines. In goal, reliable Martin Jones returns, as does Aaron Dell.

Prediction: 1st in the Pacific Division

The Sharks instantly put themselves into Stanley Cup discussion with the acquisition of Karlsson. Whether or not the pieces will work together is a question worth noting, particularly with Peter DeBoer as head coach.

Feeling Blue

ST. LOUIS BLUES

2017-18 record: 44-32-6 (94 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Alex Pietrangelo

Missing out on the playoffs is something that the St. Louis Blues don't often do, but when they do, they seem to do it in the most painful fashion possible. Last year, it was getting blown out by the Colorado Avalanche in a game that they had to just win or tie. To ensure that they don't have to deal with that again, they decided to bolster their center depth and make a few other changes. The Blues should be better, but by how much is up to them.

The Blues were in the bottom third of the league in scoring, and much of that was both the lack of center depth and the overall lack of scoring up and down the lineup. The Blues addressed both issues in one fell swoop, as Tyler Bozak and Ryan O'Reilly slot in behind Jaden Schwartz at center, essentially replacing Paul Stastny. They also got Vladimir Tarasenko some needed muscle, as Patrick Maroon is a better scoring version of Ryan Reaves. Despite numerous injuries and Alex Pietrangelo underachieving, the Blues finished 6th in goals against. Much of that was due to Carter Hutton deciding to have a career year. Unfortunately, Hutton is now a member of the Buffalo Sabres, which leaves inconsistent Jake Allen to once again tap into his untapped potential as a starting goalie. Having the defense in front of him healthy again should be help, but if Allen can't find his game, the Blues will have to turn to Chad Johnson, who is even more inconsistent.

Prediction: 3rd in the Central Division

The Blues were a maddening team to figure out last year, some of it due to injuries, some of it due to everyone not named Vladimir Tarasenko having off years. The truth of who the Blues are should be better defined this year, as they addressed needs and should be healthy once again.

The Quest for Three (of Four)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

2017-18 record: 47-29-6 (100 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference semifinals
Captain: Sidney Crosby

The Pittsburgh Penguins' quest for three in a row came to an abrupt halt in the second round to a team that they had previously lorded over in the Washington Capitals. Worse for them, they saw the same Capitals shed their legacy of failure and win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The goal remains the same for the Penguins, but the motivation has now changed. To get there, they hope changes on defense will work this time around.

Offense was once again not a problem, as the Penguins were fourth in scoring, led by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. No real changes were made here, and barring injury, the Penguins should be fine here. Defensively, this is where things went off the rails, as the team finished 20th. Kris Letang was especially guilty of defensive gaffes during the Washington series, and the team had consistency issues even in the series win against Philadelphia. Their big addition was Jack Johnson, who was last seen as a healthy scratch in Columbus' short-lived playoff run against Washington. In goal, this is the biggest variable, as Matt Murray was never the player the Penguins hoped for as he was dealing with personal issues. Those issues are cleared, and now they hope his play will also improve. If there's anything good about falling short, the Penguins should be well-rested and ready to go again.

Prediction: 1st in the Metropolitan Division

Losing out on a chance for a three-peat stings for the Penguins. Doing so to their biggest division rival was salt in the wound. If nothing else, the Penguins should have little trouble finding reasons to succeed, particularly with both Crosby and Malkin just now exiting their primes.

Holding Steady

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

2017-18 record: 42-26-14 (98 points)
Lost to Pittsburgh in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Claude Giroux

The Philadelphia Flyers were good enough to make the playoffs last season despite uncertain goaltending and coaching that had little to no clue how to put it all together. Naturally, the goaltending failed them in the playoffs and their defense was nowhere to be seen in all of their losses. For the Flyers to do anything besides make the playoffs, consistency will have to be found.

For a team that features a Claude Giroux coming off a career year, Jakub Voracek, and Sean Couturier, the Flyers should be doing better than a 13th rank on offense. Their answer, besides hope for a healthy Wayne Simmonds, was bring back James van Riemsdyk to a five year deal. Whether it solves their consistency issues is another matter, as in the playoffs, Couturier was the one player up front that did things, and that was even taking into account that he got injured by a teammate in practice prior to the start of the playoffs. Defensively, this should be a team featuring Ivan Provorov, Sam Morin, Robert Hagg, and Shayne Gostisbehere on a youthful team that will grow together. Instead, coach Dave Hakstol stubbornly kept pylon Andrew MacDonald, invisible Brandon Manning, and known bone hacker Radko Gudas in the lineup for most of the season. The good news is that Manning was allowed to walk. The bad news could be anything, including the stubborn decision to keep MacDonald in the lineup. In goal, the duo of Michal Neuvirth and Brian Elliott will once again be relied upon to keep the team afloat. Neither is really the answer, and depth behind them is thin, with Alex Lyon being nothing more than a backup at the moment and Carter Hart still a year or two away as he transitions to the pro game.

Prediction: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division

The Flyers may be the most interesting team in the Eastern Conference, if only for the fact that they could be Stanley Cup contenders if things go right. However, these are the Flyers, and things rarely ever go right, and odds are it will be the usual suspects, as in goaltending.

A Greek Tragedy

OTTAWA SENATORS

2017-18 record: 28-43-11 (67 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The story of the Ottawa Senators' 2017-18 season read like a Greek tragedy from the moment their 2017 playoff season ended with a double OT loss in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. From the team having no clue how to handle Erik Karlsson's on-ice activities, as he was rushed back from surgery too soon, to the general incompetence of front office management to goaltending falling apart throughout the season to the off-ice drama, the Senators went from on the verge of the Stanley Cup Finals to being a dumpster fire. This coming season will be just another act in the ongoing tragedy of the Ottawa Senators.

Karlsson was the team's offensive spark from the blue line, and he was never fully recovered from surgery last off-season. Then, this off-season came, and word came out that Mike Hoffman's girlfriend was involved in the cyerbullying of Karlsson's significant other, specifically their stillborn son. The fallout of that saw Randy Lee resign from his assistant GM position, as he was complicit in the matters, Hoffman traded to the Sharks first, then traded to Florida, and Karlsson getting shipped out to San Jose. All told, that is quite a bit of offense leaving the team that ranked 25th and a front office personnel that had a hand in the team's prospect system. Replacing the players are Mikkel Boedker, Chris Tierney, and Dylan DeMelo, not exactly offensive threats, but okay enough to be depth pieces on a team that lacked them last season. The bulk of the offense now falls on Matt Duchene and Mark Stone, each of whom can be free agents after the season. Defensively, I don't know what to tell you, as the only real recognizable name here is Cody Ceci, and he's just above average. In goal, Craig Anderson returns, but to expect a world-beating 2016-17 season would be unrealistic at his age. Another season like 2017-18 however, would mean Mike Condon is in line to get more starts.

Prediction: 8th in the Atlantic Division

There isn't much hope for the Senators, as ownership and spineless front office management have conspired to ruin what was once a team that was on the verge of a Finals appearance as recently as two seasons ago. The players that they now hang their hat on can leave after this season, thereby rendering the team without any hope for the future.

Half-eaten Big Apple

NEW YORK RANGERS

2017-18 record: 34-39-9 (77 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The New York Rangers saw their season tumble like a stack of bricks and to their credit, decided to go through a full-scale rebuild. Well, whatever they were allowed, because Henrik Lundqvist is still here, and his contract isn't going anywhere. Many of the key players are gone and they're beginning with a new head coach whose credentials were mostly in college, albeit with a prestigious program in Boston University. There will be pain for the Rangers, one that they hope will reap rewards in a few years.

Up front, the days of Rick Nash leading the offense ended when he was traded at the deadline last season. Now, it is Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad leading the way up front. That raises plenty of questions, as only Zuccarello can be considered a consistent performer while Kreider is coming off of serious health issues that hampered his previous two years. Beyond them, they're praying that Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil crack the roster after having a year of professional experience with the AHL team in Hartford and they're hoping both Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich benefit from a change in coaching system. On the blue line, Brady Skjei is now the team's best player after Ryan McDonagh's trade last season. As with the forwards, there are question marks here, too. Can Kevin Shattenkirk stay healthy? What does Marc Staal have left? Will Brendan Smith do well enough to not be buried in the AHL? Goaltending also has question marks, as Henrik Lundqvist isn't getting any younger, and unfortunately for the Rangers, he's slowly losing his ability to steal games for the Rangers. It didn't help that last year's backup Ondrej Pavelec was like pouring gasoline onto a fire. Alexander Georgiev is the leading candidate to back up Lundqvist, as he managed to be somewhat competent in his trial run last year. Mostly, this Rangers iteration will likely have a few rookies crack the roster, so losing will be happening a lot.

Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Division

Last year's Rangers started the season as one of the oldest teams in the league and were coached by a stubborn Alain Vigneault whose ways wear thin after a while, so last season was right on cue in terms of the team needing something new. David Quinn will be learning on the job, and he will likely throw a fair number of rookies into the mix, thus forging a group that will succeed and fail together. Exactly how this will affect the Rangers long term is up for debate, but expect immediate pain.

Rebuilding the Island

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

2017-18 record: 35-37-10 (80 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The New York Islanders were an enigma last year, as they ranked in the top third of the league in offense while finishing dead last in defense. The results were long-reaching, as Lou Lamoriello was brought in as General Manager, effectively ending the Garth Snow Error. In the process, Doug Weight was fired and Lamoriello was able to convince Barry Trotz to leave the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals to become the Islanders head coach. The regime change didn't end there, as John Tavares left for Toronto and some of Lamoriello's fingerprints from Toronto are now with the Islanders. Where the Islanders go from here is anyone's guess.

A player like Tavares leaving should be a deathblow for any franchise. However, he wasn't even the team's leading scorer, as rookie Matt Barzal had the honors. Still, Tavares' production will be difficult to replace, especially since the forwards brought in were Leo Komarov, Matt Martin, and Valtteri Filppula, not exactly net burners. What the trio should bring is a better defensive presence up front. Barzal, along with Anthony Beauvillier and Anders Lee should spearhead the offense. Defensively, the Islanders were flat out terrible. Nick Leddy was a microcosm of the team's fortunes, both offensively and defensively, as he was a solid contributor on offense, but had one of the worst +/- in the league. The Islanders have to get better here, and Trotz should be helpful in that regard, as he has preached defensive responsibility in his time with Nashville and Washington. Goaltending wasn't any better, and now, Jaroslav Halak is gone. Thomas Greiss regressed badly, and will be splitting time with another inconsistent goaltender in Robin Lehner.

Prediction: 5th in the Metropolitan Division

The Islanders will likely take a step back offensively, but they should be better defensively, if only for the fact that they have nowhere to go but up. With the sweeping changes from the top down, it's uncertain what the new look Islanders will do, but there should be more stability and at least, a known direction.

Heating Up

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

2017-18 record: 44-29-9 (97 points)
Lost to Tampa Bay in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: TBA

The New Jersey Devils turned low expectations into a playoff berth, where they were cast aside in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning. How did they get in? The mid-season acquisition of Sami Vatanen and an MVP-type season from Taylor Hall will do it. Making the playoffs again this season is feasible, given the weak Eastern Conference, but whether they can is up in the air, as they made no moves worth noting.

The offense improved from near last to middle of the pack thanks to Hall. In his second year with the team, Hall showed that he could indeed put a team on his back. While there is a possibility of regression, Hall isn't without help, as Marcus Johansson and Kyle Palmieri are more than capable of contributing. Nico Hischier also helped, and more will be expected in his second year in the league. Where the Devils need more contributions from is Pavel Zacha, who is still trying to figure out how to use his big body to contribute both offensively and defensively. The defensive corps was improved, particularly when Vatanen joined the team and stabilized the unit. Will Butcher was also a key player in his rookie year. This unit will be much better if Damon Severson actually cares a little more about his own end. In goal is where things get dicey, as Cory Schneider was mediocre last season and he may miss time to start this season. Keith Kinkaid was at times, the better goalie, and he will likely have to do so again, particularly if Schneider doesn't rediscover his form.

Prediction: 6th in the Metropolitan Division

The Devils have enough talent to sneak into the playoffs. The problem is that because they are counting on a lot to improve from within, there is little room for error. Being on the edge of the playoff line is where New Jersey is likely to end up, but whether it is on the right side of that line is questionable, at best.

Movement in the NHL

In the time since I penned the thoughts on the Max Pacioretty trade to Vegas, two other big things happened. And why yes, the picture is a sign of things to come, as well as a bit of a face reveal, so if you want to punch it, now you have a visual. All that out of the way, let's get to the big news stories.

First bit of news is something of a shocker if you've been reading the headlines in the weeks prior about Tyler Seguin. For all the talk about Seguin and not being in talks with the Dallas Stars about a contract extension, the official news is that the Stars and Seguin agreed on an 8-year extension that kicks in after this season to the tune of just under 10 million per year. This development not only secures the future of Seguin in Dallas, but also gives them a chance to figure out their team beyond this season, as Jason Spezza and Marc Methot come off the books in addition to Seguin's contract extension kicking in. Seguin is coming off of a career high in goals and he has posted at least 72 points in every season with Dallas.

Now, for the news of the Ottawa Senators' long national nightmare (or is it beginning?) that they have finally traded Erik Karlsson (I told you the picture would be a hint). Yes, the Senators sent Karlsson and Francis Perron to the San Jose Sharks and get in return Josh Norris, Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, Rudolf Balcers, and conditional draft picks. On the surface, the Sharks clearly won this trade, but let's break down the parts.

First, what the Senators get are two decent players in Tierney and DeMelo, players that will play right away with the team. Neither is really a goal scorer, but Tierney has two-way potential up front while DeMelo is a depth piece on the blue line. Norris was the Sharks' first round pick in 2017 and was seen as a Logan Couture clone. He played with the Michigan Wolverines last season, where he is likely to play again this season. Balcers spent last season in the Sharks' AHL system, and he will be headed to Belleville to start the season. As for the Sharks, Perron is a throw in that will head to the team's AHL squad while Karlsson adds to an already strong defensive unit. He will take the offensive pressure off Brent Burns while giving opponents matchup problems, as Burns and Karlsson are likely playing on different pairings.

If you're a Senators fan, first, I feel sorry for you, as this will be a long season, and you deserve better, especially when it comes to ownership. The trade saved just 3.7 million (think of the savings, Eugene) and given the Keystone Kops comedy that is the Senators' front office, it's hard to blame Karlsson for wanting out. This is an instance where any Senators fans left should be hoping for a change in ownership. Of course, this season is likely just the beginning of the pain you're going to feel. Sharks fans should be excited because that window that could have closed in two seasons is now suddenly open for a little while longer. Please, don't waste Karlsson's career like the Senators did.

Not So Sweet Chin Music

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

2017-18 record: 53-18-11 (117 points)
Lost to Winnipeg in Conference semifinals
Captain: Roman Josi

The Nashville Predators were the best team in the regular season, winning their first division title and the Presidents Trophy. However, the playoffs came, and they weren't quite the same team, having a hard time fending off Colorado in six games before succumbing to Winnipeg in seven games in the second round. Nothing really changed in terms of the roster except for Mike Fisher's half-season unretirement coming to an end, as he rode off into the sunset again. The question here is how will Nashville adjust to take everyone's best shot.

The Predators' offense was seventh best, a reflection of both the overall balance in scoring within the roster and a lack of a scorer that can truly take over the game. The latter was evident in the playoffs, as they just simply didn't have that player. Of course, not having their defensemen produce like they did in the regular season, namely Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis, didn't help matters. Saying that, the extra rest may prove beneficial. Defensively, the team was the second best in the league, with Pekka Rinne winning his first Vezina Trophy. If you know the story of the Predators last season, the regular season accolades meant nothing in the playoffs, as Rinne wasn't as good. It would help if Juuse Saros gets a little more time, something that has been proven to work, as the Predators did this in their Stanley Cup Finals run in 2017. Defensive depth is still good, even with hard hitting Alexei Emelin being replaced by another stay-at-home defender in Dan Hamhuis. Team toughness takes a hit for a third of the season, as Austin Watson will serve a 27 game suspension for domestic abuse. That means either or both Ryan Hartman and Zac Rinaldo will have to fill in and play with some semblance of discipline.

Prediction: 2nd in the Central Division

While the Blues and Avalanche improved their lineups and Winnipeg basically stood pat, the Predators also chose to stand pat. In a stacked Central Division, expect some regression, but also expect the Predators to be better prepared for the playoffs.

Razing Montreal

MONTREAL CANADIENS

2017-18 record: 29-40-13 (71 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

Look up the phrase "dumpster fire" in the dictionary, and you're likely to see the Montreal Canadiens somewhere in the description. It's apt, as the Canadiens simply haven't been able to do anything right other than find a superstar goaltender. Now, the team that has Carey Price is trying to rebuild...with the same coaching staff and management that got them in this predicament in the first place. Good luck.

The Canadiens were only better than two teams on the offensive side of the ledger, and their inability to find a top line center has been a problem since Saku Koivu last played there, which was a good ten years ago. Their attempts to convert Jonathan Drouin to center didn't pan out, and thus far, neither has the Drouin trade that saw Mikhail Sergachev go to Tampa Bay. Sergachev outscored Drouin, and Sergachev is a defenseman. Their answer this year to the center problem? Bringing back Tomas Plekanec after his brief exodus to Toronto and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the team's first round pick this year. Regardless of who the top line center is, they now also have the bonus of having no depth on the wings, as Max Pacioretty was traded and Max Domi isn't the offensive source that his trade counterpart Alex Galchenyuk was. Defensively, they ranked 26th. Why did they rank there despite having Carey Price in net? Simple, their unit lacks any kind of foot speed, no one can move the puck except Victor Mete, who should have spent another year in major junior last year, and now, Shea Weber is going to miss the first two months to injury. Where the reinforcements come from is anyone's guess. As for Price, he was rather ordinary, but some of that was injury and some of it was the team in front of him giving him no help. At least Antti Niemi decided to stop letting everything in long enough to get another shot in the NHL with Montreal. Charlie Lindgren will get time in the AHL to get starter's minutes, something he isn't likely to get often backing up Price.

Prediction: 7th in the Atlantic Division

The Canadiens are a directionless team that is likely tanking for Jack Hughes in next year's draft. Knowing that the team has proven to be a destination to stay away from, as evidenced by the John Tavares sweepstakes, the rebuild may be taking longer than expected, even if the regime changes.

Holding Pattern

MINNESOTA WILD

2017-18 record: 45-26-11 (102 points)
Lost to Winnipeg in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Mikko Koivu

The Minnesota Wild did well in the regular season, going over the 100 point mark and finishing 11th in both offense and defense. Like every other season for a Minnesota sports team, though, the Wild fell short of expectations in the end. This time, the culprit was a leg injury that Ryan Suter suffered at the end of the regular season, which was like pulling the wrong block in a Jenga stack and watching it tumble. The Wild return largely the same on-ice personnel, but will have a new man in charge as General Manager.

The Wild had no trouble scoring, as they were just outside the top 10 in that category. Eric Staal is having the best seasons of his career in a Wild uniform, and Jason Zucker just got paid after amassing 30+ goals. The obvious key here is Zach Parise, who hasn't played a full season since the lockout shortened season of 2013 and hasn't played at least 70 games since the 2013-14 season, which was also the last season he scored 30 goals or more. This team can score, but were exposed when they didn't have the big body that can be physical, which is why Jordan Greenway needs to make the impact that Alex Tuch was supposed to make before he got sent to Vegas prior to last season. For all the flak that the Wild get defensively, they also finished just outside the top 10 in that category, too. The problem is that too often, the Wild rely on Suter to get everything lined up on the blue line, and it bit them in the butt when he was lost for the playoffs. What the Wild need is more balance in the back end leadership, so someone from the group that includes Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba will need to step up there. In goal, Devan Dubnyk has the ability to steal games for the Wild. Like most goaltenders, he also needs to rest up some, and unfortunately, Alex Stalock isn't the answer. The Wild's biggest change happened in the front office, where Paul Fenton will be tasked with maneuvering around the salary cap mess that Chuck Fletcher left behind.

Prediction: 5th in the Central Division

The Wild still have the pieces to at least make the playoffs. Because of salary cap restraints, they could not do much to improve their roster other than re-sign key players to extensions. The Western Conference is tough, and the Wild will need to match or exceed that if they want to make the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Fight for the Throne

LOS ANGELES KINGS

2017-18 record: 45-29-8 (98 points)
Lost to Vegas in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Anze Kopitar

The Los Angeles Kings were viewed as a dark horse entering the playoffs last season. Once again, a familiar problem surfaced, and the Kings made history alright, by being swept by an expansion team in the opening round. Worse, that problem of not having adequate enough scoring was exposed for all to see, as they averaged less than a goal a game. The Kings hope a returning Ilya Kovalchuk can address some of that offensive deficiency.

A middle of the pack team offensively in the regular season, the Kings actually didn't fare badly when you consider Jeff Carter missed half the season to injury. Adding Kovalchuk should solve some of that problem, though having a healthy Carter and a continued offensive revival from Dustin Brown would also help a team that relied far too heavily on Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Defensively, the Kings were the leaders in goals against, as teams had trouble scoring on them. Even in the sweep, the Kings played competitively, as each game was decided by a goal. Count on the defense to once again be near the top of the league and led by newly extended Doughty. Jonathan Quick shows no signs of slowing down, and in the playoffs, he was the team's best player by a mile. Health permitting, expect the same to happen.

Prediction: 2nd in the Pacific Division

The Kings have the defense to win another championship. However, their offense is what may keep them from pulling another deep run. They will need secondary scoring to show up, Kovalchuk to play well enough to justify his deal, and possibly another MVP-type season from Kopitar to have a shot at the Cup.

On the Prowl

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2017-18 record: 44-30-8 (96 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Derek McKenzie

The Florida Panthers overcame a mess of a 2016-17 season, a complete makeover (again) in the off-season, a slow start, and tragedy in their own backyard to make a furious push for a playoff spot. In the end, it did not work, but the momentum they had should carry over into this season. The question is whether they truly are ready to take the next step.

The Panthers finished in the middle of the pack offensively, and despite losing both Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith to Vegas the previous off-season, the Panthers still have some nice offensive punch thanks to the breakthrough season of Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. They also got nice contributions from Evgeni Dadonov and Jonathan Huberdeau, though the latter still has yet to play a full season thanks to injuries. Continued production from this group plus a revived Aaron Ekblad will be a factor in the team's chances. Defensively, their 18th ranked group was a reflection of the team's struggles early on, punctuated by the fact that Roberto Luongo missed time to injuries and James Reimer was merely ordinary. In front of the duo, Ekblad's return to better numbers was key to the team playing well. He is the leader of the defense, and when he plays well, so does the rest of the team.

Prediction: 4th in the Atlantic Division

The Panthers hope to ride the momentum of late last season into this one, as the sting of missing out on the playoffs by tie-breaker will be fresh in their minds. In a relatively weak Eastern Conference, the Panthers should be able to make the playoffs if they can avoid injuries and a slow start.

Clogged Pipeline

EDMONTON OILERS

2017-18 record: 36-40-6 (78 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Connor McDavid

Last year, many pundits picked the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, if not the Western Conference. A funny thing happened, as the team got off to a slow start and players not named Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl regressed. The result was a team that missed the playoffs by a fair margin and now, they have to find a way to maneuver around the salary cap. Little was done other than what amounted to window dressing.

To explain how a team with McDavid and Draisaitl finished 20th in scoring, it is quite simple: depth, or the lack thereof. Five years remain on Milan Lucic's contract, and thus far, he hasn't produced nearly enough to justify half of it. He is obviously a player that needs to find some semblance of offense, and fast. Other players up front need to step up, too, as Zack Kassian, Drake Caggiula, and Ryan Strome need to put in some offense. In short, the wingers need to close the deal, as the center is far better are for the team, as they can go three-deep minimum. Defensively, it's no surprise that the team finished 25th, as Kris Russell gets circles skated around him, Andrej Sekera has three years left and is coming off an ACL tear, Oscar Klefbom was injured, and Darnell Nurse hasn't been the game changer the team has hoped for when they drafted him in 2013. Cam Talbot's work load from the 2016-17 season took its toll on him in 2018, as he couldn't stop a beach ball. Worse, Laurent Brossoit and Al Montoya weren't the answer when he needed rest. Enter former KHL goalie Mikko Koskinen, who is coming off a successful run there with SKA.

Prediction: 5th in the Pacific Division

If the Oilers get off to a slow start again this season, it will almost certainly spell their doom as far as playoff chances. The team will go as McDavid and Draisaitl can take them, but the supporting cast needs to pitch in, too if they wish to see the playoffs.

The Dismantling of the Canadiens

It was just four years ago that the Montreal Canadiens were on the doorstep of making the Stanley Cup Finals. Sure, it was because Carey Price had been carrying the team and they didn't have much else, but guys like PK Subban, Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, and Max Pacioretty weren't scrubs. Today, only Price and Gallagher remain, as the Canadiens continue their dismantling and further head into laughingstock territory. Today, the Canadiens traded Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights and will get Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar, and a 2nd round pick in 2019 for their troubles. How did it come to this? What does the trade mean for both teams? Let's attempt to answer those questions.

First, how did it come to this? To understand how it got to this point, let's look back to the summer of 2016, when Subban was traded to Nashville for Shea Weber. Rumors circulated that Pacioretty and Subban didn't get along, and given that management didn't care for Subban, that was step one. Pacioretty, while he did play well in the 2016-17 regular season, disappeared in the playoffs that year. There was also the matter of Pacioretty's inability to play on a line with Galchenyuk, who also suffered from being moved around a lot by the coaching staff, thus leading to his move to Arizona this summer. As for Pacioretty, he needs a capable center to produce, and Montreal's long standing problem dating back to Saku Koivu's time has been finding a top line center. In short, the losing culture that has been fostered in the last year or so wore on Pacioretty, as did the swarm of locusts known as the Montreal sports media.

What does the trade mean for both teams? For Vegas, they realize that their window of opportunity is wide open, and signing Paul Stastny to a four year deal signifies that. Getting Pacioretty to potentially play alongside only helps their scoring. For some irony, Pacioretty is also going to play alongside a Subban in Vegas, as Malcolm is the backup goalie. Montreal actually did well in this trade, as they get a 20-goal scorer in Tomas Tatar, another good center prospect in Nick Suzuki, and a draft pick. Montreal will need to rebuild, and what they got for Pacioretty was nice...that is, if management, specifically General Manager Marc Bergevin, doesn't mess it up.

Spinning their Wheels

DETROIT RED WINGS

2017-18 record: 30-39-13 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Henrik Zetterberg

These are dark times in Detroit, where the glow of their glory days of the 1990's and 2000's is fading fast. While the Wings think they can still compete, the reality is that the pipeline that had given them the likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Tomas Holmstrom has been drying up, and while they haven't hit rock bottom, they are still stuck in the purgatory that is mediocrity. That figures to be the case once again this season.

If you're looking for a big reason for the Red Wings' decline, begin with the offense, which was 28th in the league. Dylan Larkin rebounded to post a nice 63 point season, and Anthony Mantha certainly has 30-goal potential, but beyond them, there's not much hope. It becomes even more pronounced because Zetterberg is likely to miss the entire season. They have to hope Filip Zadina can make the team and produce right away. Getting Thomas Vanek for a year should also bump the number slightly. The Red Wings' defense was nothing special, as they were slightly below the league average. Jimmy Howard wasn't bad when healthy, but that was a problem, and given that they traded Petr Mrazek in the middle of last season, they needed someone reliable. Jonathan Bernier should provide that. In front of them, Mike Green returns, which is a big coup, as he was their best defenseman last season. Along with Trevor Daley, they are actually the team's best defenders, which speaks poorly of the team's ability to identify talent on the back end lately.

Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division

The Eastern Conference is relatively weak, which means a mediocre team like Detroit can somehow sneak into the playoffs. The Zetterberg injury changes things, though, as he was unquestionably the leader on the team. The Red Wings won't outscore many teams, and their defense just isn't good enough to compensate, which means it will be another long year in the Motor City.

Getting Their Shine Back

DALLAS STARS

2017-18 record: 42-32-8 (92 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Jamie Benn

The Dallas Stars had everything set up for a potential parade through Dallas last season. They signed the big fish in Ben Bishop, signed Alexander Radulov and Martin Hanzal, and even brought back Ken Hitchcock. In short, this was supposed to be a team that made a deep run. Then, the season started, and things didn't go as planned, as the Stars suddenly couldn't score like they wanted, Bishop got hurt, and very little went right in a division where even the slightest miscue could spell doom. This year, expectations are tempered, and they are starting over again with a new head coach after Hitchcock decided to ride off into the sunset.

How does a team featuring Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn finish 18th in scoring? That was a question the Stars were asking, and as of this time, they still haven't shored up the depth that is now showing cracks. Jason Spezza, Martin Hanzal, and others will need to pick up the slack in scoring because Seguin, Benn, and Radulov can't do it all. Speaking of Seguin, his contract situation bears watching because this season is his last of the current deal, and Stars management hasn't engaged in talks with him yet. Whether or not it is a distraction is worth noting. Defensively, they were surprisingly in the top 10, and much of that was Hitchcock emphasizing defensive play. New head coach Jim Montgomery figures to continue where Hitchcock left off, though he is coming from the college ranks, and thus far, the results (namely Dave Hakstol) have been so-so. Depth is still an issue, and Roman Polak was the only addition for a team that needs help. If Miro Heiskanen can crack the lineup, that would go a long way in solving that issue. In goal, Bishop was everything Dallas paid for when healthy. The problem was that the health wasn't always there, and the team suffered when Kari Lehtonen was forced to start. Anton Khudobin was signed to provide better goaltending at a lower price.

Prediction: 6th in the Central Division

Unlike last season, the Stars didn't make many moves, and certainly, the Tyler Seguin contract has a lot to do with it. The Stars should be better if Bishop can stay healthy and the offense can find its spark again. However, they are in the Central Division, where just about everyone is good, so climbing past teams like Nashville, Winnipeg, and Colorado may be too big of a task.

Licking Their Wounds

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2017-18 record: 45-30-7 (97 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Nick Foligno

The Columbus Blue Jackets made history when they made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history. They were also due for their first playoff series win, and were actually up 2-0 on Washington. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets' defense faltered, their goaltending fell to pieces, and they couldn't find any offense other than Artemi Panarin. The result was the Blue Jackets failing to win a playoff series...again. Questions are still there for the Blue Jackets, and while the playoffs are still a possibility, winning a series may still be a pipe dream.

The offense was middle of the league, thanks in large part to Panarin. The rest of the scoring was fairly balanced, but they do need a healthy Cam Atkinson to have a chance, especially with Panarin's contract situation coming into play and rumors of Panarin wanting out of Columbus. Reinforcements in the off-season were non-existent. Defensively, this should be the strength of the team, and while they finished 10th in the league, they also gave up no fewer four goals in each of the games against the Capitals in the playoffs. Some of that is on the team not showing discipline, and some of it is on Sergei Bobrovsky showing a Jekyll and Hyde personality in goal. He was great in the regular season, but his habit of letting in the occasional soft goal reared its ugly head in the playoffs again.

Prediction: 4th in the Metropolitan Division

The Blue Jackets still have the pieces to make the playoffs again, but John Tortorella's seat is at inferno levels. That seat may be burning him if the Blue Jackets fail to win a playoff series again.

The Oncoming Snowstorm

COLORADO AVALANCHE

2017-18 record: 43-30-9 (95 points)
Lost to Nashville in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Gabriel Landeskog

The 2017-18 Colorado Avalanche were a study in just how quickly narratives can change on a dime, as they went from the absolute worst team in the league that was in disarray two seasons ago to pushing Nashville to six games in last year's opening round. It's amazing just how much stability within the franchise matters, as key players rebounded to have career years and they now have a head coach that isn't a headcase. The question this year is whether or not the growth is for real or if it is fool's gold.

The Avalanche were the 10th best offense in the league, thanks to Nathan MacKinnon having a MVP-type season and Mikko Rantanen showing his skill in his sophmore year. However, this is still a relatively top heavy team offensively, and they didn't get a great amount of secondary scoring help in the off-season. Defensively, the Avalanche were near the league average, as there was finally structure in how the team played defensively to the point where notorious offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie had a passable year in his own end. They added grit both up front and on the back end, as Ian Cole and Matt Calvert were added to make the Avs tougher to play against. In goal, the two-headed monster of Jonathan Bernier and Semyon Varlamov were effective when healthy last year. Bernier moved on and is now replaced by Phillipp Grubauer, who is likely replacing Varlamov as starter next year, if not sooner, especially when Varlamov suffers his annual injury. What helped the Avalanche the most was stability behind the bench, as Jared Bednar was given his real chance to see what he can do and with his guys. That stability figures to help the team moving forward.

Prediction: 4th in the Central Division

The Avalanche needed the final day of the regular season to get into the playoffs, but thanks to another year of being wiser plus a few minor additions, they figure to be in the thick of the playoff race again and maybe this time, they won't need to play all 82 games to secure a playoff spot.

Fallen Empire

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

2017-18 record: 33-39-10 (73 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Jonathan Toews

This is a time that many Chicago Blackhawks fans don't want to face, but reality hit them hard last year and now, it may be coming again, only for more than just a year. The Blackhawks will have to rebuild their pipeline, and to do, they will have to deal with depth issues up and down the lineup for the forseeable future. What's the good news? Patrick Kane is still here, which gives them some semblance of a chance to succeed.

Unfortunately, Kane was the majority of the offense, as the likes of Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad, and Duncan Keith all had off years by their standards. Even worse, Keith and Brent Seabrook crumbled under the weight of having to carry a defense that sorely lacked depth and talent behind them. As a result, the Blackhawks were in the bottom third of both allowing and scoring goals. Whereas the majority of the core struggled, a couple of rookies played very well, tying for second in team scoring. While Alex DeBrincat got all the headlines for Chicago rookies, Nick Schmaltz was quietly effective and has a future as a second line center behind Toews, provided Toews rediscovers his form. The blue line only really gained a Brandon Manning that does absolutely nothing of note other than provide a warm body. In goal is where things really need to come together, as the team fell apart when Corey Crawford went out due to vertigo symptoms. Up to that point, he was, along with Kane, carrying the team to relevance. The good news is that Cam Ward still has something left and will provide better insurance than Anton Forsberg ever could. Still, it's hard to see how Chicago really improved, since there's still massive depth issues.

Prediction: 7th in the Central Division

The Blackhawks began the rebuilding process in terms of prospects last season. It may take some time before defensive depth is less of a problem again, and now that forward depth is also becoming an issue, it may be a while before the Blackhawks are anything more than a fringe playoff contender.

Tropical Depression

CAROLINA HURRICANES

2017-18 record: 36-35-11 (83 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain(s): Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk

Last year was supposed to be different for the Carolina Hurricanes. They were supposed to be competing for a playoff spot with a new goaltender in Scott Darling, an improved core, and youth that was improving. Instead, Darling was terrible, most of the star players didn't perform to expectations, and their attendance was still dead last. What is a team to do other than blow it all up. Gone are Jeff Skinner, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Cam Ward, head coach Bill Peters, and General Manager Ron Francis. Incoming are coach Rod Brind'Amour, Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Petr Mrazek. It figures to be another long season in the Tar Heel State.

Under Bill Peters' watch, the Carolina Hurricanes went from trainwreck to just plain unwatchable, as only Sebastian Aho did anything noteworthy. Now, he is the centerpiece of a revamped squad that is unlikely to go anywhere this season. There aren't any signs that the team will improve upon their 23rd ranked offense or 22nd ranked defense, as they gave up on the youth of both an underachieving Lindholm and Hanifin to get 17 goals of Hamilton and some sorely needed toughness of Ferland. Darling will need to rebound in a big way because Mrazek also has something to prove after his disastrous runs in Detroit and Philadelphia last year. The big question mark is Brind'Amour, as he is a first time head coach and former team captain who also has legendary status with the team because that worked out for Francis.

Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Divsion

Other than the New York Rangers, the Hurricanes are one of the sure bets to not make the playoffs from the Metropolitan Division. There just isn't anything to inspire confidence that the team will do something. Aho may be worth a look, but until the defense does things and goaltending is finally solved, expect another half empty PNC Arena throughout the season.

Finding the Igniter

CALGARY FLAMES

2017-18 record: 37-35-10 (84 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Mark Giordano

The 2017-18 season was a logic defying time for the Calgary Flames, as they somehow got 84 points out of uneven play throughout the season. The only thing that made sense was that they missed the playoffs and they are now starting over again with a new head coach and Brian Burke is gone. They swapped a few chairs, brought in a perennial threat to score 30 goals every year, and still have the same goaltending problems that have plagued them since Mikka Kiprusoff retired in 2013. Where does that leave them?

The Flames were 26th in scoring, which is unacceptable for a team that has Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Mikael Backlund as their top players. To that end, they signed James Neal to a five year deal, which should solve some of their offensive problems, and they brought in Elias Lindholm to bring depth to the center position. Where the Flames desperately need improvement from here is Sam Bennett, who hasn't come close to his draft status. For all the moves made, this is still a top heavy team up front, so if their stars don't produce to their standards, it will be a long season for the Flames. Defensively, this is a really good unit on paper, even with Dougie Hamilton being swapped for Noah Hanifin. Of course, it means little once the teams hit the ice, and there is no way a team with Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Hamilton, Travis Hamonic, and Michael Stone should be ranked 19th in goals against. Beyond Hamilton for Hanifin, this unit remains unchanged, and the sum of the parts must be better than what it has been. In goal, it's Mike Smith and whoever the Flames decide on for a backup. Smith was actually very good, but like almost every other season for him, health is key, as he was injured once again. David Rittich was in over his head in his first season with the team, but he figures to be the backup to start the season. There is also the matter of a new head coach, as Glen Gulutzan and his clueless ways were chucked aside for Bill Peters and his vanilla ways. The Flames should be better, but they may also be predictable for the wrong reasons.

Prediction: 7th in the Pacific Division

The prediction is dependent on the Oilers and Coyotes improving, which seems to be expected for both teams. While the Flames improved their scoring and got a little younger in the trade with Carolina, they need their blue line to play better and for some magic pixie dust to fall onto their goaltending so they can accomplish things, especially when Smith is out due to injury. They could make the playoffs if everything goes right, but in Calgary, that is rarely the case.

Turning a Page

BUFFALO SABRES

2017-18 record: 25-45-12 (62 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

Year one of the Jason Botterill/Phil Housley era began exactly the way the Tim Murray/Dan Bylsma era went, which is to say poorly. They couldn't score, they couldn't stop the other team from scoring, and they at times, fought against themselves off the ice. With a little more of the previous regime being shipped out plus a new savior on defence and a better goalie, the Sabres have nowhere to go but up, right?

For a team that has has first round picks in the top ten for each of the last five years, not counting this year's draft, the Sabres still haven't solved their goal problems, scoring or defending. Jack Eichel was supposed to be an offensive dynamo for a team that has needed one for years. Instead, he's only been above average. Worse, there were rumors of in-fighting with Eichel and now departed Ryan O'Reilly, as well as Evander Kane constantly being in the middle of another locker room scuffle. If Eichel is ever to become close to the level of fellow 2015 first round pick Connor McDavid, he needs to take charge of the offense on the ice and show some maturity off of it because the Sabres' chances depend on him. Meanwhile, O'Reilly and Kane are gone, and now, it is up to some of their previous picks such as Alexander Nylander and Sam Reinhart to step up. It would help if Casey Mittlestadt can crack the lineup on opening night and produce right away. Defensively, it wasn't much better, as it was basically Rasmus Ristolainen and a bunch of question marks. Winning the right to draft Rasmus Dahlin this year was a big win for the franchise, as he now becomes their top defender, if not right away, before the season ends. There are still depth issues here, but at least the Sabres won't have to put the likes of Nathan Beaulieu and Marco Scandella on the top pairing. In goal, it was bad, as Robin Lehner was unpredictable in his streakiness, and that was when he could be on the ice due to health, while Chad Johnson's encore in Buffalo was a complete disaster. Enter journeyman Carter Hutton as the starter while Linus Ullmark will have a chance at becoming the backup after shuttling between Buffalo and Rochester the last two seasons.

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division

The Sabres still have depth problems, and in no way will Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund solve their offensive problems. However, they did improve their defense a little, and if Dahlin proves to be the real deal right away, it's a major step in the right direction, though the playoffs are still a ways off.