NHL PUCK DROPS
NHL pundit ranks Canada’s NHL franchises as the 2017-18 season begins Wednesday
Pundit Lyle Richardson’s first column ranks Canada’s franchises as the 2017-18 season begins Wednesday
Of Canada’s seven NHL teams, the Alberta franchises have the best chance of ending the country’s quarter-century Stanley Cup drought.
1. The Edmonton Oilers possess two of the league’s top forwards in MVP Connor McDavid and playoff hero Leon Draisaitl and they’re backstopped by underrated goaltender Cam Talbot. The ongoing improvement of defencemen Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse should bolster their blue-line.
2. In Calgary, the Flames are led by young scoring stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Their defence, anchored by Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton, was improved by the off-season addition of Travis Hamonic. Goalie Mike Smith, another summer pickup, should be a good upgrade between the pipes.
3. The Ottawa Senators could find it challenging to exceed the effort that carried them to the 2017 Eastern Conference finals. Top defenceman Erik Karlsson could be hampered by offseason foot surgery. They need more consistency from scoring forwards Bobby Ryan and Derrick Brassard. Goaltender Craig Anderson, 36, is getting long in the tooth.
4. Thanks to youngsters Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue to improve. The Leafs have considerable potential, but their blue-line needs improvement if they’re to become Cup contenders.
5. Led by forwards Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and young sniper Patrik Laine, the Winnipeg Jets possess ample scoring punch. They also have a decent defence anchored by Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba. Goaltending, however, remains a issue. Steve Mason was acquired via free agency, but has a history of erratic play.
6. Thanks to superstar goaltender Carey Price, the Montreal Canadiens always have a shot at reaching the playoffs. However, he could face a heavier workload this season behind a depleted defence corps. The Habs acquired scoring forward Jonathan Drouin this summer, but still lack skilled depth at centre.
7. The Vancouver Canucks are in the midst rebuilding their roster. Promising forwards Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser could one day form the nucleus of a future perennial playoff contender. For now, however, the Canucks are a work in progress and they aren’t expected to reach the playoffs.
Other Things To Watch
1. Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin believe their team could become the first since 1982 to win three consecutive Stanley Cups. That’s a daunting challenge, but so was repeating as champs last season.
2. The Dallas Stars should become a Cup contender. They brought back Ken Hitchcock as coach, acquired Ben Bishop to solidify their goaltending and improved their offensive depth by signing winger Alexander Radulov.
3. Waylaid by an injuryriddled roster last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning should return to Cup contention status in 2017-18. Captain Steven Stamkos will be healthy and sniper Nikita Kucherov has 50-goal potential.
4. The Carolina Hurricanes could surprise. They have a talented young blue-line and winger Sebastian Aho could blossom into a star.
5. Don’t expect the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to reach the playoffs. But with Summerside native Gerard Gallant as coach, they won’t be a pushover in their inaugural season.