1. Tampa Bay Lightning
They can’t have a repeat of last year and they shouldn’t.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
This is a crucial year for this group to finally live up to their potential.
3. Boston Bruins
After coming up short in the Stanley Cup final, they’re still contenders once again.
4. Florida Panthers
They have a new goaltender and a Stanley Cup winning coach to go with their high powered offense.
5. Montreal Canadiens
The health of goalie Carey Price will determine their fate this season.
6. Buffalo Sabres
Once again they made a coaching change, but their talent pool is as deep as it’s ever been.
7. Detroit Red Wings
With Steve Yzerman now in charge it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes for them to be contenders.
8. Ottawa Senators
The long rebuild continues north of the border.
Head Coach: Jon Cooper
Key Position: Forwards
Key Acquisitions: F Pat Maroon (St. Louis), D Kevin Shattenkirk (NY Rangers), G Curtis McElhinney (Carolina)
Head Coach: Mike Babcock
Key Position: Defensemen
Key Acquisitions: F Alexander Kerfoot (Colorado), D Tyson Barrie (Colorado), D Cody Ceci (Ottawa)
Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy
Key Position: Forwards
Key Acquisitions: F Par Lindholm (Winnipeg)
Head Coach: Joel Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks)
Key Position: Defensemen
Key Acquisitions: F Noel Acciari (Boston), F Brett Connolly (Washington), D Anton Stralman (Tampa Bay), G Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus)
Head Coach: Claude Julien
Key Position: Goaltender
Key Acquisitions: D Ben Chiarot (Winnipeg), G Keith Kinkaid (New Jersey)
Head Coach: Ralph Krueger (Edmonton Oilers – 2013)
Key Position: Everything
Key Acquisitions: F Marcus Johansson (Boston), F Jimmy Vesey (NY Rangers), D Colin Miller (Vegas)
Head Coach: Jeff Blashill
Key Position: Defensemen
Key Acquisitions: F Valtteri Filppula (NY Islanders)
Head Coach: DJ Smith (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Key Position: Everything
Key Acquisitions: F Artem Anisimov (Chicago), F Connor Brown (Toronto), F Tyler Ennis (Toronto), D Ron Hainsey (Toronto), D Nikita Zaitsev (Toronto)
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