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    • Breaking down all 32 teams
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    Breaking down all 32 teams

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    Detroit — There’s a belief in sports, and especially in hockey, that a team needs to take steps before it wins a championship.

    You learn from the losses, take the pain of losing, and grow and evolve from it.

    The Edmonton Oilers have taken major strides the past several years, and last year reached the Stanley Cup Final before losing in Game 7 — after rallying from a 3-0 series deficit — to Florida.

    Led by the superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton appears to have learned its lessons. It knows what it takes to win, especially in the playoffs.

    But it’s not going to be easy. Florida is capable of defending the Cup, and teams like Boston, Toronto, Tampa, the New York Rangers, Dallas, Colorado and Vancouver all can make legitimate arguments they are ready to win.

    It’ll be another exciting season. Here’s a look at the 32 teams, the projected order of finish in the four divisions and playoff predictions:

    Eastern Conference 

    ATLANTIC DIVISION 

    Toronto Maple Leafs 

    ▶ Coach: Craig Berube

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 46-26-10, 102 points (3rd, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Auston Matthews, 69; Assists — Mitch Marner, 59; Wins — Ilya Samsonov, 23

    ▶ Pressure is on: RW Mitch Marner. Heading into the final year of his contract, Marner was rumored to be dealt over the summer. Will this be a seasonlong distraction?

    ▶ Rising star: LW Matthew Knies. He’s going to play with some star players and appears ready for the opportunity. He should improve upon last season’s 15 goals.

    ▶ The skinny: Expect Berube to have a significant and positive impact on this group. This should be an improved defensive team, and top this division in the regular season.

    Boston Bruins 

    ▶ Coach: Jim Montgomery 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 47-20-15, 109 points (2nd, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — David Pastrnak, 47; Assists — Pastrnak, 63; Wins — Jeremy Swayman, 25

    ▶ Pressure is on: Montgomery. The Bruins had a historic regular season two seasons ago and a shockingly good one last season despite a litany of retirements, salary cap losses and trades. But the Bruins haven’t gotten past the second round, and they usually aren’t patient.

    ▶ Rising star: Swayman. With his contract finally settled, the 25-year-old goalie is going to be motivated to have a huge season.

    ▶ The skinny:  Free agent additions of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov should fit nicely, and there’s young talent being moved in. This roster could be ready to make noise in the playoffs.

    Florida Panthers 

    ▶ Coach: Paul Maurice 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 52-24-6, 110 points (1st, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Sam Reinhart, 57; Assists — Matthew Tkachuk, 62; Wins — Sergei Bobrovsky, 36 

    ▶ Pressure is on: RW Sam Reinhart. Coming off a 57-goal season, he signed a massive free agent contract to stay in Florida. How close can Reinhart come to matching 57?

    ▶ Rising star: C Anton Lundell. The young player gets lost amid this Stanley Cup-winning roster but he’s becoming a force in his own right.

    ▶ The skinny: The Stanley Cup champs have lost key pieces but there’s still a lot of talent. They’ve played so much hockey over the last two seasons, though, it’s likely they’ll eventually wear down in this spring’s playoffs.

    Tampa Bay Lightning 

    ▶ Coach: Jon Cooper

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 45-29-8, 98 points (4th, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Brayden Point, 46; Assists — Nikita Kucherov, 100; Wins — Andrei Vasilevskiy, 30

    ▶ Pressure is on: Vasilevskiy. The all-world goaltender simply wasn’t himself last season after returning from back surgery. If he returns to form, Tampa easily becomes a formidable Stanley Cup contender.

    ▶ Rising star: C Conor Geekie. Acquired in the Mikhail Sergachev trade, Geekie is the type of elite prospect the Lightning didn’t have.

    ▶ The skinny: It’ll be strange not seeing Steven Stamkos in the lineup, but the Lightning didn’t lose much by signing Jake Guentzel. This lineup looks a bit deeper too, and could be dangerous by the playoffs.

    Ottawa Senators 

    ▶ Coach: Travis Green

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 37-41-4, 78 points (7th, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Brady Tkachuk, 37; Assists — Tim Stutzle, 52; Wins — Joonas Korpisalo, 21 

    ▶ Pressure is on: G Linus Ullmark. The Senators have long lacked elite-level goaltending. They finally have it with Ullmark, but in this market, every game and every play will be scrutinized.

    ▶ Rising star: D Jake Sanderson. Only 22, he’s going to keep improving his offensive numbers and impact on a roster that looks ready to make a playoff push.

    ▶ The skinny: The veteran, free-agent additions Ottawa made will make this a competitive team, along with having Ullmark. If Ottawa doesn’t make the playoffs, it’ll be real close.

    Detroit Red Wings 

    ▶ Coach: Derek Lalonde 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 41-32-9 (91 points, 5th, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Dylan Larkin, 33; Assists — Shayne Gostisbehere, 46; Wins — Alex Lyon, 21 

    ▶ Pressure is on: RW Alex DeBrincat. The Farmington Hills native had a good, but not great, first season with the Wings. He’ll need to surpass 30 goals to make up for the offense the Wings lost in the summer.

    ▶ Rising star: D Simon Edvinsson. He showed during the Wings’ playoff push he’s ready to be an impactful NHL player. To be 6-foot-6 and skate like he can is quite a combination.

    ▶ The skinny: You can’t get any closer than the Wings did last season, missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Did they make enough of an improvement to qualify this time around?

    Buffalo Sabres 

    ▶ Coach: Lindy Ruff

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 39-37-6, 84 points (6th, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Tage Thompson, 29; Assists — Rasmus Dahlin, 39; Wins — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 27 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Kevyn Adams. Buffalo has missed the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons, and there’s been so much promise the last two years. More changes are coming if the Sabres stretch that streak to 14.

    ▶ Rising star: RW JJ Peterka. He doesn’t get the headlines on this talented young roster, but he might this season. He could be pushing toward a 30- or 35-goal season.

    ▶ The skinny: Ruff should give this lineup a boost, and there is promising talent. But does anyone really expect this snakebit organization to make the jump into the playoffs?

    Montreal Canadiens 

    ▶ Coach: Martin St. Louis 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 30-36-16, 76 points (8th, Atlantic) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Nick Suzuki, 33; Assists — Mike Matheson, 51; Wins — Sam Montembeault, 16 

    ▶ Pressure is on: Montembeault. If the goaltending is elite, this Montreal roster could be a huge surprise. There’s a lot to like here.

    ▶ Rising star: LW Juraj Slafkovsky. The former No. 1 overall pick scored 20 goals last season and is aiming toward 30 or more. Slafkovsky’s size (6-3, 225 pounds) and skill is an impressive combination.

    ▶ The skinny: Patrik Laine’s knee injury, keeping him out for two to three months, will hurt. But this exciting young roster seems destined to surprise people.

    AUTOMATIC TOP THREE PLAYOFF TEAMS: Toronto, Boston, Florida

    METROPOLITAN DIVISION 

    New York Rangers 

    ▶ Coach: Peter Laviolette

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 55-23-4, 114 points (1st, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Artemi Panarin, 49; Assists — Panarin, 71; Wins — Igor Shesterkin, 36 

    ▶ Pressure is on: D Jacob Trouba. The Rangers appeared close to trading their captain but decided to stay the course. They need the Rochester native to rebound from a poor playoffs.

    ▶ Rising star: LW Alexis Lafreniere. The former first overall pick looks ready to reach full stardom. He should be a 30-goal scorer this season.

    ▶ The skinny: This lineup is among the best in the East, but it’s debatable whether enough was done over the summer to put the Rangers over the top. Shesterkin’s impending free agency could be a distraction.

    New Jersey Devils 

    ▶ Coach: Sheldon Keefe 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 38-39-5, 81 points (7th, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Timo Meier, 28; Assists — Jesper Bratt, 56; Wins — Vitek Vanecek, 17 

    ▶ Pressure is on: G Jacob Markstrom. The Devils finally have their elite goaltender, after having their season derailed by inadequate goaltending last season. Markstom is viewed as the savior.

    ▶ Rising star: D Luke Hughes. The youngest of the Hughes brothers has the potential to be the best, which is scary to think about.

    ▶ The skinny: Markstrom should be good enough to forget last season’s misery, when the roster was bitten by an inordinate amount of injuries. New Jersey should be much better, and humbled.

    Carolina Hurricanes 

    ▶ Coach: Rod Brind’Amour 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 52-23-7 (111 points, 2nd Metropolitan)  

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Sebastian Aho, 36; Assists — Aho, 53. Wins — Pyotr Kochetkov, 23 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Eric Tulsky. The new GM steps into a messy situation, with the roster losing quite a bit of talent due to salary cap restrictions. There’s still significant talent but has Tulsky complemented it well enough?

    ▶ Rising star: Kochetkov. He took a major step last season in his career but there still doubt about Carolina’s goaltending.

    ▶ The skinny: The Hurricanes appeared to be all in last season and didn’t escape their division in the playoffs. They don’t look as formidable this time around, though they’ll still likely be a playoff team.

    New York Islanders 

    ▶ Coach: Patrick Roy

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 39-27-16, 94 points (3rd, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Brock Nelson, 34; Assists — Noah Dobson, 60; Wins — Ilya Sorokin, 25 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Lou Lamoriello. This roster looks stale and uninspiring, but that’s been said for a while now. The Islanders keep making the playoffs and losing in the first round.

    ▶ Rising star: D Noah Dobson. He notched a career-high 70 points last season and looks ready to be among the top tier of NHL defenders.

    ▶ The skinny: Yes, they look old and boring and predictable. But a full season of coaching under Roy, and several interesting prospects that materialized during the preseason, give the Islanders the look of a playoff team again.

    Washington Capitals 

    ▶ Coach: Spencer Carbery

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 40-31-11 (91 points, 4th Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Alex Ovechkin, 31; Assists — John Carlson, 42; Wins — Charlie Lindgren, 25

    ▶ Pressure is on: Ovechkin. He’s 42 goals away from Wayne Gretzky and the all-time goals scored mark. Can he reach it in the next two or three years while the Capitals continue to be a playoff threat?

    ▶ Rising star: C Hendrix Lapierre. The Capitals need Lapierre to make a big offensive jump and he’s showing signs there might be a leap forthcoming.

    ▶ The skinny: The Capitals miraculously made the playoffs last season and arguably improved their roster over the summer. Yet, few people are picking them to make the playoffs. Strange, because they do look good.

    Pittsburgh Penguins 

    ▶ Coach: Mike Sullivan 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 38-32-12, 88 points (5th, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Sidney Crosby, 42 ; Assists — Crosby, 52; Wins — Tristan Jarry, 19 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Kyle Dubas. The Penguins’ core is old, yet still so good, and it’s been difficult to find the right pieces around them. Dubas took a lot of interesting gambles this past summer.

    ▶ Rising star: RW Rutger McGroarty. The promising power forward injects youth, energy and size to a roster that is lacking those ingredients.

    ▶ The skinny: It’s difficult to think Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson and Crosby are going to simply fade away. The bottom-six forwards look better, and there’s more depth. Underestimating the Penguins could be dangerous.

    Philadelphia Flyers 

    ▶ Coach: John Tortorella 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 38-33-11, 87 points (6th, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Travis Konecny, 33; Assists — Konecny, 35; Wins — Samuel Ersson, 23 

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Sean Couturier. One of the NHL’s best two-way forwards didn’t have a typical season last year. If he had, the Flyers might have sneaked unexpectedly into the playoffs. He needs to rebound.

    ▶ Rising star: RW Matvei Michkov. The Flyers took a gamble drafting Michkov last year, not knowing when he’d come over from Russia. He’s here quicker than expected, and instantly becomes one of the NHL’s exciting young stars.

    ▶ The skinny: A disastrous final 10 days kept the Flyers out of the playoffs, when no one expected them to be there. This roster is still learning, but if Michkov dominates, they could surprise again.

    Columbus Blue Jackets 

    ▶ Coach: Dean Evason

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 27-43-12, 66 points (8th, Metropolitan) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Kirill Marchenko, 23; Assists — Johnny Gaudreau, 48; Wins — Elvis Merzlikins, 13 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Don Waddell. The new Blue Jackets leader’s job became tougher with the tragic death of Gaudreau. There is potential in the lineup, but the climb to the playoffs is going to be long and hard.

    ▶ Rising star: C Adam Fantilli. He showed flashes last season but he should be more comfortable and effective this time around.

    ▶ The skinny: Gaudreau’s death will linger for a long time. On the ice, his ability offensively will be missed in a lineup that is still finding its way.

    AUTOMATIC TOP THREE PLAYOFF TEAMS: N.Y. Rangers, New Jersey, Carolina

    EAST WILD CARDS: Tampa Bay, N.Y. Islanders

    EAST PLAYOFF DIVISION WINNERS: Boston, New Jersey

    EAST CHAMPION: Boston

    Western Conference 

    CENTRAL DIVISION 

    Dallas Stars 

    ▶ Coach: Pete DeBoer 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 52-21-9, 113 points (1st, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Wyatt Johnston, 32; Assists — Jason Robertson, 51; Wins — Jake Oettinger, 35 

    ▶ Pressure is on: Johnston. With Robertson injured and unavailable for the start of the season, Johnston will have to take another step offensively.

    ▶ Rising star: C Logan Stankoven. There’s been a steady stream of explosive talent out of Dallas’ organizational system in recent years, and the impressive Stankoven is the latest to likely become a force after an impressive late-season NHL look.

    ▶ The skinny: GM Jim Nill has assembled quite a roster that continues to inch closer to a Stanley Cup. Is this the year the Stars finally take that next step?

    Colorado Avalanche 

    ▶ Coach: Jared Bednar 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 50-25-7, 107 points (3rd, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Nathan MacKinnon, 51; Assists — MacKinnon, 89; Wins — Alexandar Georgiev, 38

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Casey Mittelstadt. The Avalanche need secondary scoring and Mittelstadt will be given every opportunity to provide it after being acquired from Buffalo last season.

    ▶ Rising star: RW Nikolai Kovalenko. Colorado isn’t flowing with top-level prospects but Kovalenko is one of the rare ones and provides capable depth in the star-studded lineup.

    ▶ The skinny: The Avalanche have several of the best players in the world (MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen), but they are trying to find pieces to complement that star power. If nothing else, those superstars will keep Colorado in contention.

    Nashville Predators 

    ▶ Coach: Andrew Brunette 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 47-30-5, 99 points (4th, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Filip Forsberg, 48; Assists — Roman Josi, 62; Wins — Juuse Saros, 35 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Barry Trotz. He was aggressive on July 1, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei to huge contracts. Is it going to bring a Stanley Cup to Nashville?

    ▶ Rising star: C Tommy Novak. Nashville has a lot of star power but it’ll need some of young players to provide quality depth. Novak looks to be on the verge of being a 20-goal scorer after tallying 17 and 18 the last two seasons, respectively.

    ▶ The skinny: Trotz’s aggressiveness was something to behold on July 1. The Predators are better and definitely have the Stanley Cup-winning experience to be a tough out in the playoffs.

    Winnipeg Jets 

    ▶ Coach: Scott Arniel

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 52-24-6, 110 points (2nd, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Kyle Connor, 34; Assists — Josh Morrissey, 59; Wins — Connor Hellebuyck, 37 

    ▶ Pressure is on: Hellebuyck. He’s among the best goaltenders in the NHL, and has been for a long time. But Hellebuyck is coming off a substandard playoff showing and the Jets are going to be leaning on him heavy.

    ▶ Rising star: C Brad Lambert. He fell to the Jets in the draft two years ago and he’s quietly developing into a dangerous offensive player.

    ▶ The skinny: The Jets lost key players in free agency but this organization has a way of replacing people. There is enough talent on hand, along with quality prospects, to stay competitive.

    St. Louis Blues 

    ▶ Coach: Drew Bannister

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Jordan Kyrou, 31; Assists — Robert Thomas, 60; Wins — Jordan Binnington, 28 

    ▶ Pressure is on: Kyrou. He had productive season but the Blues need him to become closer to a 40-goal scorer considering the contract and expectations.

    ▶ Rising star: LW Jake Neighbours. He blossomed into a 27-goal scorer and became a fixture in the top-six forward group for the Blues.

    ▶ The skinny: The Blues were aggressive signing restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg and lengthening their roster. This could be a darkhorse playoff team.

    Minnesota Wild 

    ▶ Coach: John Hynes

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 39-34-9, 87 points (6th, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Kirill Kaprizov, 46; Assists — Mats Zuccarello, 51; Wins — Filip Gustavsson, 20

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Bill Guerin. The Wild have had salary cap issues after gutsy decisions by Guerin and haven’t been able to rise above mediocrity. Guerin is betting on some of his young talent developing quickly.

    ▶ Rising star: RW Matt Boldy. The Wild gave Boldy, 23, a long-term contract before last season and he scored 29 goals. You get the feeling there will be many more from this natural scorer.

    ▶ The skinny: This is a good roster but not overwhelming, and that’s been the issue. The Wild are good but haven’t been good enough to crack the postseason and aren’t likely to do it this season.

    Utah Hockey Club

    ▶ Coach: Andre Tourigny 

    ▶ 2023-24 record (Arizona): 36-41-5, 77 points (7th, Central) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Clayton Keller, 33; Assists — Keller, 43; Wins — Connor Ingram, 23 

    ▶ Pressure is on: D Mikhail Sergachev. He wasn’t going to be the No. 1 defenseman in Tampa Bay anytime soon, but he’ll quickly step into that role in Utah. Is he ready for the challenge?

    ▶ Rising star: C Logan Cooley. After a 20-goal rookie season, he has his sights on bigger numbers. Cooley is a crafty offensive player who lived up to the rookie expectations.

    ▶ The skinny: Finally freed from the daily soap opera in Arizona, this organization is likely to grow and prosper in a quality market.

    Chicago Blackhawks 

    ▶ Coach: Luke Richardson 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 23-53-6, 52 points (8th, Central) 

    ▶ 2022-23 leaders: Goals — Connor Bedard and Jason Dickinson, 22; Assists — Bedard, 39; Wins — Petr Mrazek, 18 

    ▶ Pressure is on: LW Taylor Hall. The Blackhawks need veterans to complement Bedard’s offense and Hall, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, could be a key addition.

    ▶ Rising star: D Alex Vlasic. Bedard is going to be a generational star, but a defender like Vlasic is going to be a key part of the Blackhawks core.

    ▶ The skinny: Chicago has better depth this season and more offensive pieces around Bedard. But contending for the playoffs is another year or two away.

    AUTOMATIC TOP THREE PLAYOFF TEAMS: Dallas, Colorado, Nashville

    PACIFIC DIVISION 

    Edmonton Oilers 

    ▶ Coach: Kris Knoblauch

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 49-27-6, 104 points (2nd, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2022-23 leaders: Goals — Zach Hyman, 54; Assists — Connor McDavid, 100; Wins — Stuart Skinner, 36 

    ▶ Pressure is on: D Darnell Nurse. The Oilers’ top defenseman had some cold stretches in the playoffs. There aren’t many weaknesses on this roster and Nurse simply has to be a bit more consistent.

    ▶ Rising star: D Evan Bouchard. He’s rapidly becoming one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL. He posted career highs with 18 goals, 64 assists and 82 points last season.

    ▶ The skinny: Edmonton almost pulled off the miraculous comeback before losing to Florida in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. It sure seems as if the Oilers are ready to secure that elusive Stanley Cup next spring.

    Vancouver Canucks 

    ▶ Coach: Rick Tocchet 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 50-23-9, 109 points (1st, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Brock Boeser, 40; Assists — Quinn Hughes, 75; Wins — Thatcher Demko, 35 

    ▶ Pressure is on: Demko. The Canucks have many of their bases covered but the goaltending has been riddled with injuries. Demko is a clear No. 1 when he’s healthy and playing.

    ▶ Rising star: C Dakota Joshua. The Dearborn native scored a career-high 18 goals last season and stayed in Vancouver in free agency. He’ll miss the start of the season but projects as a budding force defensively with his physicality.

    ▶ The skinny: Vancouver took a major step forward last season but ran into Edmonton in the playoffs. The Canucks’ main task going forward will be to overtake the McDavid-led Oilers.

    Vegas Golden Knights 

    ▶ Coach: Bruce Cassidy 

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 45-29-8, 98 points (4th, Pacific)

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Jonathan Marchessault, 42; Assists — Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore, 37; Wins — Logan Thompson, 25

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Tomas Hertl. Vegas paid a steep price at the trade deadline to acquire Hertl, and with the offense lost in free agency, he has to be an offensive force for the Golden Knights.

    ▶ Rising star: C Brendan Brisson. Vegas doesn’t have many elite prospects, having traded them for established stars, but Brisson is one of its rare potential difference-makers.

    ▶ The skinny: This is an older roster and injuries plagued Vegas last season. There’s elite stars on this roster, but the depth is lacking and there are questions about the goaltending.

    Los Angeles Kings 

    ▶ Coach: Jim Hiller

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 44-27-11, 99 points (3rd, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Trevor Moore, 31; Assists — Adrian Kempe, 47; Wins — Cam Talbot, 27 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Rob Blake. The Kings have had one of the deepest pools of organizational prospects in recent years. But the Kings haven’t been able to get past Edmonton in the playoffs and some of the prospects have stalled.

    ▶ Rising star: RW Quinton Byfield. He’s one of the prospects that hasn’t stalled. He had a career-best 20 goals last season and the future looks bright.

    ▶ The skinny: At some point the Kings need to make a major step forward. Even then, can the Kings overtake Edmonton? The injury to Drew Doughty (ankle), who’ll miss most of the season, isn’t going to help.

    Seattle Kraken 

    ▶ Coach: Dan Bylsma

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 34-35-13, 81 points (6th, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Jared McCann, 29; Assists — Oliver Bjorkstrand, 39; Wins — Joey Daccord, 19

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Shane Wright. The much-ballyhooed former first-round pick has yet to crack the NHL on a full-time basis. The Kraken need his potential impact.

    ▶ Rising star: D Vince Dunn. He has transformed his career in two seasons in Seattle, becoming one of the more exciting offensive defensemen in the game.

    ▶ The skinny: Adding Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour deepens a stale lineup. If the goaltending comes through, Seattle will be clawing at a playoff spot.

    Calgary Flames 

    ▶ Coach: Ryan Huska

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 38-39-5, 81 points (5th, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Yegor Sharangovich, 31; Assists — Nazem Kadri, 46; Wins — Jacob Markstrom, 23 

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Jonathan Huberdeau. After two seasons of 55 and 52 points, Huberdeau’s massive contract is shaping up to be one of the worst in the NHL.

    ▶ Rising star: C Connor Zary. A 14-goal, 34-point season was impressive for the rookie, who will play a bigger role this season.

    ▶ The skinny: There are some intriguing pieces here, but the Flames are in a rebuild and quite a distance away from contending.

    Anaheim Ducks 

    ▶ Coach: Greg Cronin

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 27-50-5, 59 points (7th, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Frank Vatrano, 37; Assists — Troy Terry and Cam Fowler, 34; Wins — Lukas Dostal, 14 

    ▶ Pressure is on: C Trevor Zegras. The flashy Zegras took a major step backward (six goals, 15 points) due to injuries and a contract dispute. The Ducks need Zegras confident and creative on the ice.

    ▶ Rising star: C Leo Carlsson. The big center showed flashes of the offensive potential he’s capable of. He’s the key piece in a young and deep forward corps.

    ▶ The skinny: GM Pat Verbeek is assembling a promising, young roster, but it’s nowhere close to contending.

    San Jose Sharks 

    ▶ Coach: Ryan Warsofsky

    ▶ 2023-24 record: 19-54-9, 47 points (8th, Pacific) 

    ▶ 2023-24 leaders: Goals — Fabian Zetterlund, 24; Assists — Mikael Granlund, 48; Wins — Mackenzie Blackwood, 10 

    ▶ Pressure is on: GM Mike Grier. The Sharks have been totally disassembled and are gradually being put together, but whether Grier has gotten fair value on some of his moves can be debated.

    ▶ Rising star: C Macklin Celebrini. The No. 1 overall pick looked ready to step in and be a major contributor in the preseason. He has other exciting young teammates around him, so it’ll be a growing process.

    ▶ The skinny: The Sharks are a long way from being competitive, but Grier added veterans who will help young players like Celebrini.

    AUTOMATIC TOP THREE PLAYOFF TEAMS: Edmonton, Vancouver, Vegas

    WEST WILD CARDS: Winnipeg, St. Louis

    WEST PLAYOFF DIVISION WINNERS: Dallas, Edmonton

    WEST CHAMPION: Edmonton

    STANLEY CUP: Edmonton def. Boston

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