Penguins will have potent offence
Kessel addition helps Pens but Bolts most talented team
A look at the Eastern Conference in the predicted order of finish by division (asterisk indicates wild-card playoff teams):
ATLANTIC DIVISION 1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last season: 50-24-8, 108 points, second in Atlantic, lost Cup final to Chi Who’s gone: LW Brenden Morrow Who’s new: RW Erik Condra, G Kevin Poulin
Outlook: Top to bottom, there’s no more talented team in the East than the Lightning, who boast the “Triplets” line of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov in addition to stalwarts Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman. The Stamkos contract situation is the only red flag for Tampa Bay.
2. Montreal Canadiens
Last season: 50-22-10, 110 points, first in Atlantic, lost in division final to Tampa Bay Who’s gone: LW Brandon Prust, Who’s new: RW Zack Kassian, RW Alexander Semin
Outlook: The Canadiens still have elite goaltender Carey Price and could produce more offence with the addition of Semin and the move of Alex Galchenyuk to centre.
3. Detroit Red Wings
Last season: 43-25-14, 100 points, third in Atlantic, lost in division semifinal to Tampa Bay
Who’s gone: C Stephen Weiss, D Marek Zidlicky, G Jonas Gustavsson
Who’s new: C Brad Richards, D Mike
Green
Outlook: The biggest departure is coach Mike Babcock, so it’ll be apparent early how much of an effect he had on the Red Wings. Mini-Babcock Jeff Blashill is considered one of the best young coaches in hockey, and the team still has Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and a lot of good young forwards.
4. Ottawa Senators
Last season: 43-26-13, 99 points, fourth in Atlantic, lost in division semifinal to Montreal
Who’s gone: RW Erik Condra, D Erik Gryba, G Robin Lehner, F David Legwand
Who’s new: None Outlook: The Senators can’t count on another Hail Mary late-season run to make the playoffs again. Andrew “Hamburglar” Hammond is Craig Anderson’s backup now, but they still have Norris winner Erik Karlsson.
5. Buffalo Sabres
Last season: 23-51-8, 54 points, eighth in Atlantic, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: D Nikita Zadorov, D Andrej Meszaros, F Cody Hodgson, D Andre Benoit, D Tyson Strachan, C Mikhail Grigorenko
Who’s new: C Ryan O’Reilly, C Jack Eichel, LW Evander Kane, G Robin Lehner, D Cody Franson, F David Legwand
Outlook: Under new coach Dan Bylsma and with an influx of talent, the Sabres will be much better than a year ago, when they wanted to be bad to nab a top draft pick. Second-overall pick Eichel will be a star.
6. Florida Panthers
Last season: 38-29-15, 91points, sixth in Atlantic, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: RW Brad Boyes, RW Jimmy Hayes, LW Scottie Upshall, F Tomas Kopecky
Who’s new: RW Reilly Smith Outlook: The Panthers’ young stars, like Aleksander Barkov, Calder Trophy-winner Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau are another year older and should take a step forward.
7. Boston Bruins
Last season: 41-27-14, 86 points, fifth in Atlantic, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: D Dougie Hamilton, LW Milan Lucic, RW Reilly Smith, G Niklas Svedberg, C Carl Soderberg, C Gregory Campbell, LW Daniel Paille, DMatt Bartkowski
Who’s new: LW Matt Beleskey, RW Jimmy Hayes, LW Zac Rinaldo, D Matt Irwin
Outlook: Goaltender Tuukka Rask said confidently that he didn’t believe the Bruins got worse. Objectively, without Lucic and Hamilton, they did, and though it won’t be his fault, it could cost coach Claude Julien his job during or after the season.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last season: 30-44-8, 68 points, seventh in Atlantic, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: RW Phil Kessel, LW David Booth, F Zach Sill, D Eric Brewer, DTim Erixon
Who’s new: RW P.A. Parenteau, F Shawn Matthias, C Nick Spaling, LW Brad Boyes, F Mark Arcobello, RW Michael Grabner, D Matt Hunwick, DMartin Marincin
Outlook: The Lou Lamoriello/Mike Babcock era will begin with a team that works very hard but isn’t tal- ented enough to make much of an improvement.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION 1. Washington Capitals
Last season: 45-26-11, 101 points, second in Metropolitan, lost in division final to Rangers
Who’s gone: RW Troy Brouwer, F Eric Fehr, RW Joel Ward, D Mike Green, D Tim Gleason, LW Curtis Glencross
Who’s new: RW Justin Williams, RW T.J. Oshie, G Philipp Grubauer
Outlook: Alex Ovechkin is poised for yet another 50-goal season, even with centre Nicklas Backstrom working his way back from hip surgery. Goalie Braden Holtby is elite and he’ll prove it into the playoffs.
2. New York Rangers
Last season: 53-22-7, 113 points, first in Metropolitan (won Presidents’ Trophy), lost in conference final to Tampa Bay
Who’s gone: RW Martin St. Louis, LW Carl Hagelin, G Cam Talbot, D Matt Hunwick
Who’s new: RW Emerson Etem, G Antti Raanta, C Jarret Stoll, F Viktor Stalberg
Outlook: It’ll be a challenge making up for the retirement of St. Louis and trade of Hagelin, but this is still an Alain Vigneault-coached team with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. The Rangers’ Cup window is still open for now, but it won’t be for very long.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last season: 43-27-12, 98 points, fourth in Metropolitan, lost in division semifinal to Rangers
Who’s gone: D Paul Martin, C Brandon Sutter, D Christian Ehrhoff, RW Steve Downie, LW Blake Comeau, G Thomas Greiss
Who’s new: RW Phil Kessel, C Nick Bonino, F Eric Fehr, D Tim Erixon, F Sergei Plotnikov
Outlook: Put Kessel on the wing with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin and watch the former Maple Leafs star score 40 goals — or more.
4. New York Islanders*
Last season: 47-28-7, 101 points, third in Metropolitan, lost in division semifinal to Washington
Who’s gone: RW Michael Grabner, D Lubomir Visnovsky, G Michal Neuvirth
Who’s new: D Marek Zidlicky, RW Steve Bernier, G Thomas Greiss
Outlook: Their new digs in Brooklyn will take some getting used to, though the talented roster is still the same, led by captain John Tavares and defenceman Johnny Boychuk. The Islanders are a surefire playoff team again in a competitive Metropolitan Division.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets*
Last season: 42-35-5, 89 points, fifth in Metropolitan, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: C Artem Anisimov, RW Marko Dano
Who’s new: LW Brandon Saad, C Gregory Campbell
Outlook: The Blue Jackets were the most injury-plagued team in the NHL last season, and still they made a late run to show what they can do when healthy. Saad is a young superstar who joins a terrific core that includes Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
6. Philadelphia Flyers
Last season: 33-31-18, 84 points, sixth in Metropolitan, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: D Niklas Grossmann, LW Zac Rinaldo, G Ray Emery
Who’s new: F Sam Gagner, D Evgeny Medvedev, G Michal Neuvirth, D Radko Gudas, F Chris Porter
Outlook: GM Ron Hextall brought in a new coach in Dave Hakstol and is trying to stockpile defensive prospects with an eye on building the right way, like the Kings did. That could happen to make Philadelphia a contender down the line, not this year.
7. Carolina Hurricanes
Last season: 30-41-11, 71points, eighth in Metropolitan, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: RW Alexander Semin, G Anton Khudobin
Who’s new: D Noah Hanifin, D James Wisniewski, RW Kris Versteeg, G Eddie Lack
Outlook: This is a turning-point season in Carolina, with captain Eric Staal and starting goalie Cam Ward’s contracts up next summer. Ron Francis could turn this into a complete youth movement, though that’ll mean more years without a playoff appearance to come.
8. New Jersey Devils
Last season: 32-36-14, 78 points, seventh in Metropolitan, missed playoffs
Who’s gone: C Scott Gomez, LW Dainius Zubrus, RW Steve Bernier, D Bryce Salvador, RW Michael Ryder, LW Martin Havlat
Who’s new: LW Jiri Tlusty, D John Moore, C Kyle Palmieri, D David Schlemko
Outlook: The remaking of the Devils post-Lou Lamoriello begins now under new GM Ray Shero and coach John Hynes.