OFFICIAL HOCKEY THREAD: NHL, KHL, NCAA, IIHL

How active is the trade deadline in the NHL?

Closer to NBA/MLB or NFL
 
elpablo21 said:
How active is the trade deadline in the NHL?

Closer to NBA/MLB or NFL
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it can be REALLY active and full of big names moving. def similar to what we saw in the MLB this year. you'll see some big names move typically as contenders try and patch holes and the teams that are out of it try and get something for guys in their final year of a contract that they know they can't afford. last year was really fun.
 
3-1 is a worse lead IMO lol

edit: game is hot

edit edit: easy call lol dude was moving his skate forward
 
DeadsetAce said:
no "distinct kicking motion". that looked like a kick to me rather than just the puck just hitting a skate in motion but oh well
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I thought it was weird the crew calling the game implying soccer players don't kick with the outside of their foot
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I was hoping you would've thought it was legal. Now I'm sad to feel screwed in my first official game as a fan :{

Darkest day in franchise history

Fun game though
 
nuclear1990 said:
Forecast for tomorrow is calling for a Hurricane for me.
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www.espn.com

2021-22 NHL season picks: Stanley Cup, division winners and awards

Who will win the Stanley Cup? Who are the favorites for the Hart, Norris and Vezina? Here are our picks.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

experts are pretty high on the Canes. Being on the west coast it was surprising to see them make it to the 2nd round last year because it seemed like they came out of nowhere. Rod the Bod and team chemistry really went a long way I guess.
 
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1. Colorado Avalanche
Last season: 39-13-4, lost in second round

Stanley Cup odds: +550

Key players added: D Ryan Murray, G Darcy Kuemper, D Jordan Gross, C Dylan Sikura, C Darren Helm, C Stefan Matteau, D Kurtis MacDermid

Key players lost: G Philipp Grubauer, LW Brandon Saad, C Carl Soderberg, LW Matt Calvert, RW Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, G Devan Dubnyk, D Patrik Nemeth, D Conor Timmins, D Ryan Graves, F Joonas Donskoi (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: Cale Makar makes magic. He's the most offensively creative defenseman to hit the NHL since the halcyon days of Erik Karlsson. Makar reached point-per-game status in 44 games last season. He finished second for the Norris and is the favorite for the award entering this season. Perhaps you've seen him on those highlight reels where the analyst yells "Now stop it right there!" so they can describe how Makar is about to deke an opponent out of his skates with a twirl at the blue line. And he's only in his third NHL season.

Best case: The Avalanche win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001, and Nathan MacKinnon wins the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. Because if this version of the Avs is going to break through and win the championship, we have to imagine the player who looked like he could no longer stomach postseason defeat last summer will be the one to lead it there.

Worst case: The Avalanche follow another outstanding regular season with another second-round exit, thanks to the inexperience of their depth players and the discovery that Darcy Kuemper isn't Philipp Grubauer. This leads to the kind of rash reactions that teams unable to "get over the hump" make ... like firing their head coach.

X factor: Where did the Colorado forward depth go? Brandon Saad (St. Louis), Joonas Donskoi (Seattle) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Tampa Bay) are all playing elsewhere. Matt Calvert retired. Obviously there are impressive reinforcements, such as rookie Alex Newhook and Mikhail Maltsev, who came over from the Devils in the Ryan Graves trade. But this is a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. You'd want a few more players who are battle-tested to that end in your bottom six -- or at least ones who have a bit more left in the tank than Darren Helm. Such is life when you're suddenly spending $16 million against the cap for Makar and Gabriel Landeskog.

Fantasy outlook: With both MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen legitimate top-10 fantasy forwards, Landeskog rounds out the best top unit in hockey and serves as a steady fantasy presence worth grabbing in Rounds 7-10 in most conventional leagues. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: The fourth time's the charm for MacKinnon, who wins his first Hart Trophy in his fourth time as a finalist.

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2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last season: 36-17-3, won Stanley Cup

Stanley Cup odds: + 700

Key players added: F Corey Perry, F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, G Brian Elliott, D Zach Bogosian

Key players lost: C Yanni Gourde (expansion draft), F Blake Coleman, F Barclay Goodrow, C Tyler Johnson, D David Savard

Most fascinating player: We last saw Nikita Kucherov delivering a shirtless, beer-soaked interview after the Lightning won their second straight Stanley Cup. (Personal favorite line: Him shouting "buy new microphone!" to a struggling Zoom interviewer.) He had a playoff-best 32 points in 23 games after missing the entire regular season following a hip labrum tear surgery, the rehab time for which was about five months (of open salary cap space). We haven't seen Kuch ply his trade in the regular season since 2019-20. In his past two regular seasons, the 28-year-old Russian was second to Leon Draisaitl in total points (213) and captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2018-19. Welcome back to the regular season, Kucherov. You were missed.

Best case: The Lightning give the NHL its first three-peat Stanley Cup champion in 40 years -- and they've got a legitimate chance to do just that. Victor Hedman, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos are the foundation. Ryan McDonagh, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn are the load-bearing supports. But the key to Tampa Bay's three-peat potential is that their past two championship seasons were 70 regular-season games and 56 regular-season games, respectively. It's a lot of hockey, to be sure, and without traditional offseasons. But it's not the full grind that other teams have experienced in chasing a dynasty.

Worst case: It turns out that the past two seasons were a grind, and the Lightning suffer significant injuries to key players at the wrong time of the season ... rather than being able to stash them on long-term injured reserve and make do without them, as is tradition. But there are also changes in personnel for the Lightning that could alter their recipe enough to cost them when the games matter most.

X factor: If you ranked the top five on-ice reasons for the Lightning winning back-to-back Cups, the line of Gourde, Coleman and Goodrow would make the cut. Constructed in 2020 thanks to two aggressive trades by GM Julien BriseBois, the trio had the ability to shut down opponents while hitting the scoreboard themselves. The goals they generated were frequently the biggest in a series: Think Gourde's Game 7 shorthanded goal against the Islanders or Coleman's goal with two seconds left in the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have to find another combination that gives them a viable third line because this group will be sorely missed.

Fantasy outlook: Don't sleep on Palat, who somehow is always underrated in drafts. He was a top-50 fantasy play last season. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: For the third straight season, the Lightning are the best team in the Atlantic Division, but they do not win their division.

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Will the Lightning be the first team to 3-peat since the Islanders dynasty?
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to become the first NHL team to three-peat since the Islanders in the early 80's.
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3. Vegas Golden Knights
Last season: 40-14-2, lost in Stanley Cup semifinals

Stanley Cup odds: +750

Key players added: RW Evgenii Dadonov, G Laurent Brossoit, C Nolan Patrick, C Brett Howden

Key players lost: G Marc-Andre Fleury, RW Ryan Reaves, D Nick Holden, C Tomas Nosek, C Cody Glass

Most fascinating player: Robin Lehner has been one of the most talked-about players of the NHL preseason for what he has said: Protesting the Sabres' treatment of his friend Jack Eichel, calling coaches like Philadelphia's Alain Vigneault bullying "dinosaurs," and accusing NHL teams of giving players pain medication without prescriptions.

But he'll also be one of the most talked-about players of the regular season, as he's tasked with leading the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup championship. There's no Fleury there as competition -- or as a safety net. It's the Robin Lehner Show now.

Best case: The Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup. They're considered one of the favorites to hoist the chalice, having built a strong defense led by Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore; two solid top lines, one led to Mark Stone and the other the "Golden Misfits" originals featuring Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith and William Karlsson; and improved depth at forward with the additions of Patrick and Dadonov. Add in Lehner's solid playoff performances, and the Knights finally break through to win owner Bill Foley his Cup.

Worst case: The Knights make the playoffs but simply can't get over the hump to a championship. The depth at forward doesn't come through. They end up missing Fleury. The center depth is exposed by conference rivals ... unless, of course, they do the typically aggressive thing for the Knights and trade for Jack Eichel.

X factor: Trading for Nolan Patrick was a gamble worth taking. The Knights weren't sold on Cody Glass, so they shipped him to the Predators for Patrick, whom Nashville acquired from Philadelphia in the Ryan Ellis trade. A battle with a migraine condition took a season away from the 2017 No. 2 overall pick. He was trending toward being a "bust" for the Flyers with just nine points in 52 games last season, his role limited by Vigneault.

But the trade to Vegas means a reunion with GM Kelly McCrimmon, who had him in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Patrick turning his career around would be a great story. It would also help the Golden Knights' center depth considerably as they chase the Cup.

Fantasy outlook: Defenseman Alec Martinez will be challenged to reproduce his unprecedented combo of 0.6 points/game and 3.17 shots/game. If drafted too high, Martinez might disappoint fantasy players hoping for a carbon-copy showing. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Theodore is a Norris Trophy finalist.

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4. New York Islanders
Last season: 32-17-7, lost in Stanley Cup semifinals

Stanley Cup odds: +2000

Key players added: D Zdeno Chara, F Zach Parise, F Richard Panik

Key players lost: F Jordan Eberle (expansion draft), F Andrew Ladd, D Nick Leddy

Most fascinating player: Parise is 37 years old and had 18 points in 45 games last season. His time as a game-breaking left wing is over. But there's just something about this long-awaited reunion between Parise and the general manager who drafted him, Lou Lamoriello, that's intriguing. The Islanders have him skating with center Jean-Gabriel Pageau on the third line, which is certainly indicative of the team's depth this season.

Best case: The Islanders win the Stanley Cup for the first time since the 1980s dynasty. This was a team that lost a one-goal Game 7 to the Lightning in the Stanley Cup semifinals last season. This is a better team than that one, if only because Anders Lee is back and healthy. The veteran additions Parise and Chara blend well with what's already here. It's a veteran team with the best coach in the NHL in Barry Trotz, and one that has a lane to win the Cup this season.

Worst case: Trotz's teams have a floor. They've made the playoffs for seven straight seasons, including all three seasons he has been with the Islanders. But they might also have a ceiling, in that the Islanders have made the conference final in consecutive seasons but haven't been able to get through the Lightning to play for the chalice. The Islanders are a playoff team, and anything short of that would be a major disappointment. Worst case? They bump their heads on that ceiling again.

X factor: The opening of UBS Arena this season is an X factor on two fronts. While the arena is being completed, the Islanders begin the season with 13 games on the road, including swings through the U.S. southwest and Canada. How they react to that stretch could set the tone for the rest of the season. But there's also the arena itself. Anyone who attended an Islanders playoff game last season understood how the energy of Nassau Coliseum was like having an extra attacker on the ice. We've seen the Islanders in buildings where the vibe wasn't good -- cough, Brooklyn, cough -- so what will the new barn contribute to the effort?

Fantasy outlook: There is no doubt Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov could cancel out each other's fantasy potential by splitting time. While Varlamov was awesome to start last season, Sorokin was the better goalie late in the season and into the playoffs. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Oliver Wahlstrom ends up on Mathew Barzal's wing, and they make highlight-reel magic that defies the reputation of the Islanders' style of play.

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5. Boston Bruins
Last season: 33-16-7, lost in second round

Stanley Cup odds: +1400

Key players added: F Nick Foligno, F Erik Haula, F Tomas Nosek, D Derek Forbort, G Linus Ullmark

Key players lost: C David Krejci, C Sean Kuraly, LW Nick Ritchie, RW Ondrej Kase, D Jeremy Lauzon (expansion draft), G Jaroslav Halak

Most fascinating player: Linus Ullmark. Picture an actor who's the best thing in a string of terrible movies who suddenly gets cast to lead a Marvel franchise. That's basically Ullmark, 28, who improved every season in Buffalo even as the Sabres were devolving into primordial ooze. Well-respected in the goalie analytics community, Ullmark was given a four-year deal worth $5 million annually and gets a chance to shine behind one of the NHL's most consistent defensive machines. If things don't click? The B's have Jeremy Swayman, 22, challenging for playing time, and free agent Tuukka Rask rehabbing from hip surgery, ready to rappel from the rafters midseason if the opportunity arises.

Best case: The Bruins overcome some key personnel losses, get peak performances from their forwards and challenge for the Stanley Cup again while defiantly refusing to let the window close on their time as a contender.

Worst case: The losses of David Krejci and Rask are too dramatic to overcome, the bottom six can't find chemistry and the Bruins miss the playoffs in a competitive division. And then Patrice Bergeron decides to retire rather than sign a new contract. Indeed, the darkest timeline.

X factor: Finding a No. 2 center who can do a reasonable percentage of what Krejci did. Krejci was an essential ingredient in the Bruins' secret recipe, giving solid performances in the regular season before transforming into Playoff Krejci every postseason. (His 35 goals tied him for 10th in the playoffs since 2010.) With Krejci leaving to play in his native Czech Republic, the Bruins are looking for Charlie Coyle to ascend to the No. 2 center spot, flanked by Taylor Hall and Craig Smith. But as Coyle has healed from offseason knee surgeries, rookie Jack Studnicka has gotten a look there in the preseason. Neither can replace Krejci, but one of them (or someone else) has to fill the void as best as possible.

Fantasy outlook: Charlie McAvoy dominated as a power-play quarterback in the playoffs (best points per 60 minutes on PP) and should finally take that mantle in the regular season. With David Pastrnak in his prime, and both Bergeron and Brad Marchand still looking strong, the sky is the limit for McAvoy this season. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: McAvoy wins the Norris Trophy. The 23-year-old finished fifth last season for the award. The only drag on his candidacy has been his point production, which has been stellar at 5-on-5. He'll get more power-play reps this season, and as a result, he'll have the numbers to go along with his status as one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL. Plus, a Norris win would certainly come at the right time, what with Charlie Mac needing a new contract and all.

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6. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last season: 35-14-7, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +1100

Key players added: F Nick Ritchie, F Ondrej Kase, F Michael Bunting, C David Kampf, G Petr Mrazek

Key players lost: LW Zach Hyman, C Jared McCann (expansion draft), G Frederik Andersen

Most fascinating player: No one has scored more goals (88) in the past two seasons than Auston Matthews. The 24-year-old center has entered his dominant, scoring-at-will years, validating those comparisons to Mario Lemieux that he earned in his early NHL seasons. But obviously what makes Matthews fascinating -- besides his style-icon, Justin Bieber-adjacent off-ice life -- is that his statistical dominance is overshadowed by his team's lack of postseason success, and that Matthews has contributed to that dearth. He's first in the regular season (0.72) and 68th in the postseason (0.25) in goals per game. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, especially when one is left staring at their skates after another opening-round elimination.

Best case: The Toronto Maple Leafs get championship performances from their star players, favorable playoff matchups, a combination of great team defense and competent goaltending, and a lot of luck to win their first Stanley Cup championship since 1967.

Worst case: The Toronto Maple Leafs get underwhelming playoff performances from their star players, are bounced in the first round, and the pressure finally fractures the Leafs' "core four" players.

X factor: There comes a time for every "cursed" franchise when the team either overcomes its self-defeating mental obstacles or it doesn't. It's not diminishing the play of an opponent to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs will go as far as the Toronto Maple Leafs will allow themselves to go. As assistant coach Paul MacLean recently said on the Amazon Prime "All Or Nothing" docuseries: "They got demons in their heads. They got them in their car. They got them under their beds. Everywhere they turn, there's a demon. The biggest obstacle this team has right now is itself."

Fantasy outlook: You know Matthews and Mitchell Marner are fantasy stars, but the question is who joins them and benefits? Ritchie looks like the early candidate to replace Hyman on the top line, and he fits the mold nicely for a potential breakout. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: If the Maple Leafs fail to advance past the first round, then this will be GM Kyle Dubas' last season in Toronto. Rightly or wrongly.

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7. Florida Panthers
Last season: 37-14-5, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +2200

Key players added: F Sam Reinhart

Key players lost: C Alex Wennberg, D Anton Stralman, D Keith Yandle, G Chris Driedger (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: Spencer Knight, 20, is the Panthers' goalie of the future. But it's an odd future that also includes 33-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky, who has a nearly untradeable contract ($10 million AAV, five years remaining, full no-movement clause). Knight showed in very limited time last season that he has the potential to be a dynamic NHL goaltender. How often do we see him in 2021-22? Can he supplant Bobrovsky as the primary starter as a rookie? And if so, then what?

Best case: The Panthers are even more of an offensive juggernaut than they were in 2020-21, get better defense with a healthy Aaron Ekblad in front of Bobrovsky and Knight, win the Atlantic and challenge for their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1996.

Worst case: An injury to either Aleksander Barkov or Jonathan Huberdeau, a regression from No. 2 center Sam Bennett and mediocre goaltending leave the Panthers outside the top three in the Atlantic -- and outside the wild-card bubble.

X factor: The Sams could turn a very good Panthers team into a great one. Bennett, acquired at the trade deadline last season, had 15 points in 10 games for Florida, earning him a four-year contract extension. He clicked well with Huberdeau on the second line, and the Panthers helped balance out that offense by acquiring Reinhart from the Sabres to play on Barkov's wing. He has broken 20 goals in five of his past six NHL seasons. If Bennett builds on last season -- and helps improve the Panthers' penalty kill, which was 18th in 2020-21 -- and Reinhart thrives on the top line ... look out.

Fantasy outlook: It's easy to want rookie Knight to get his chance and run with it as the goaltender for the Panthers, but there are 10 million reasons (in dollars) that Bobrovsky can't be ignored completely. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Reinhart breaks 30 goals for the first time in his career, skating with Barkov and helping the Panthers' power play improve from 15th overall in 2020-21 to the top eight in the NHL.

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8. Carolina Hurricanes
Last season: 36-12-8, lost in second round

Stanley Cup odds: +1800

Key players added: G Frederik Andersen, G Antti Raanta, D Ethan Bear, D Tony DeAngelo, D Brendan Smith, D Ian Cole, F Stefan Noesen, C Derek Stepan

Key players lost: D Dougie Hamilton, F Warren Foegele, F Morgan Geekie (expansion draft), F Cedric Paquette, F Brock McGinn, G Alex Nedeljkovic, G Petr Mrazek, G James Reimer

Most fascinating player: The 2019-20 season felt like the dawn of Andrei Svechnikov. He had 24 goals in 68 regular-season games and four goals in six playoff games before an injury ended his time in the bubble. Not coincidentally, the rest of the Hurricanes left soon after as well. Maybe it was injury rehab or the weirdness of a pandemic season, but Svechnikov regressed in 2020-21 (including a career-low 10.2% shooting percentage). Creating chances isn't the problem for him; finishing them has been the issue. He has seen time with Jordan Staal as his center this preseason, which is not good. He has also seen time with Sebastian Aho, which is ideal. This is a superstar in waiting, and admittedly we're getting impatient.

Best case: The Hurricanes are often mentioned with the New York Islanders as the two teams with the best chances of making the playoffs out of the Metro. Rod Brind'Amour's teams have never finished with less than a .596 points percentage, which translates to around 97 points. If the personnel changes don't sour the chemistry -- on and off the ice -- that has defined his teams in Carolina, this team could emerge from the Metro and reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Worst case: The team's offseason bets on its defense and goaltending all go bust, and the Hurricanes find themselves just outside the playoff bubble in a tightly packed division.

X factor: For a player whose positive analytics have defined him in the NHL, it's hard to quantify exactly what the loss of Dougie Hamilton will mean to this team. The Canes had the 10th-best power play in the league with Hamilton running point for the past three seasons. He was ninth in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in that span (1.26). How much does his loss affect Jaccob Slavin, his primary defensive partner? While his off-ice behavior overshadows his ability, Tony DeAngelo will make up for some of that offensive loss. But for many reasons, he's not Dougie Hamilton.

Fantasy outlook: Hamilton leaves behind some massive potential for fantasy points on the blue line. You can't help but think DeAngelo has the right skills to step in, but you have to overlook the off-ice stuff from the past couple of years. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Andersen puts up the best numbers of any goaltender on the Hurricanes, Red Wings or Maple Leafs.

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9. Washington Capitals
Last season: 36-15-5, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +2500

Key players added: G Vitek Vanecek

Key players lost: D Zdeno Chara, D Brenden Dillon, G Vitek Vanecek, G Craig Anderson, G Henrik Lundqvist

Most fascinating player: Evgeny Kuznetsov is still a member of the Capitals, which is a bit of a surprise. He had a terrible 2020-21 season: 29 points in 41 games, marred by two bouts with COVID-19. He was one of the players who was suspended for breaking COVID-19 protocols. Please recall in September 2019, he was suspended three games by the NHL for testing positive for cocaine while representing the Russian national team at the world championships. All of this led to trade speculation, but he remains with Washington.

"It was a hard year for him. Things didn't go his way in a number of areas, and he wants to show people a response year," Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. "I think everybody expects more. Teammates, management, ownership. We know there's a really good player in there. He was given a good contract and played well. He just had a bad year."

Best case: The Capitals make the playoff cut, Nicklas Backstrom plays through his hip issues to the best of his abilities, and Washington ends its string of first-round postseason exits. Alex Ovechkin hits 50 goals again, continuing his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time record.

Worst case: The Capitals miss the playoffs with a roster that's past its prime and over-compensated, as goalies Ilya Samsonov and Vanecek play below-average hockey behind a leaky defensive team.

X factor: Anthony Mantha, 27, arrived from the Red Wings in the Jakub Vrana trade and had eight points in 14 games with the Capitals last season. He's a tenacious forechecker and should slot in with Ovechkin on the top line and on the team's top power-play unit. Could he end up as the team's second-leading scorer?

Fantasy outlook: How much faith should we have in a leading trio on offense in which each member will turn 34 or older this season? That's a key question when it comes to Ovechkin, Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. They should be fine for another season, but it would not be a shock to start seeing a drop in what has been elite production for the better part of 15 years. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: The Capitals miss the playoffs.

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10. Edmonton Oilers
Last season: 35-19-2, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +2200

Key players added: LW Zach Hyman, F Warren Foegele, C Derek Ryan, D Duncan Keith, D Cody Ceci

Key players lost: D Adam Larsson (expansion draft), D Ethan Bear, D Caleb Jones, F Dominik Kahun, C Jujhar Khaira

Most fascinating player: There hasn't been a more maligned transaction this offseason than the Oilers acquiring Keith from the Blackhawks. Keith had 15 points in 54 games last season. The last time he received votes for the Norris Trophy was in 2016-17. Analytically, he was one of the worst players in the NHL in 2020-21, with a league-low minus-7.8 goals scored above average. The fact that he has been paired with Ceci this preseason feels like an attack on the advanced stats community.

Best case: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the top two scorers in the NHL for the third straight season and carry an uneven roster to a playoff spot, despite glaring inefficiencies on the Oilers' back end. Free-agent addition Hyman adds a net-front presence and north-south game that enhances the top six. Keith somehow finds some of his old game while skating second-paring minutes. Goalie Mike Smith finishes with a save percentage above .920.

Worst case: Not even McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Jesse Puljujärvi and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are enough to overcome the Oilers' depth issues on defense, and their goaltending finally turning into a pumpkin.

X factor: This offseason featured a goalie carousel that saw 18 teams make a change to their tandems. The Oilers were not one of those teams, as they ran it back with Mikko Koskinen and Smith, the latter of whom turns 40 in March. Smith was inexplicably excellent last regular season, with 15.8 goals saved above average, a .923 save percentage and .633 quality start percentage. Koskinen (.899, minus-2.2 goals saved above average) was not. The Oilers have been on borrowed time with this duo, and many are expecting it'll run out this season. Then again, many said the same thing last season.

Fantasy outlook: Defenseman Tyson Barrie is of exceptional value in leagues that count power-play points at a premium -- he fell one short of Victor Hedman for the blue-line lead in that category last season. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Connor regresses from his 1.88 points-per-game average in the North Division last season and posts only 120 points for a career high.

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11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last season: 37-16-3, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +2200

Key players added: F Danton Heinen, F Brock McGinn, F Dominik Simon

Key players lost: F Jared McCann, F Brandon Tanev (expansion draft), D Cody Ceci

Most fascinating player: Sidney Crosby, 34, enters his 17th NHL season needing 14 goals to reach 500 in his career. He's also seeking to win a playoff round for the first time since 2018. That drought is not due to any lack of impact from Sid, who has been a point-per-game player in every season of his career and finished fourth in the MVP voting last season. He's going to miss the start of the season after wrist surgery, but will be back within the first month.

Best case: The Penguins do what they do best, which is manage to make the postseason despite injuries to significant players. Case in point: They were 21-11-1 with Evgeni Malkin in the lineup last season. Very impressive. Without him? They were 16-5-2. Crosby will miss a few games. Malkin could miss two months after knee surgery. But Pittsburgh has always managed to play through this adversity, looking inward for solutions and defying those expecting that their time as a contender is over. So the best case is to make the playoffs, hope for good health in the postseason and really hope for better goaltending than what they received in the first round last season.

Worst case: Either one of two things happen. The Penguins could make the playoffs again after a promising regular season, only to have Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith unable to provide the kind of goaltending you need to win a playoff series. Or the Penguins get off to a rough start and can't recover in a competitive division, missing the playoffs ahead of the most critical offseason in recent memory as Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust all hit unrestricted free agency.

X factor: The Penguins scored 36 power-play goals last season, and their 23.7% conversation rate was fourth best in the NHL. The problem is that their penalty kill, the fifth worst in the NHL, gave up 35 of them. This was an unexpected change for the Penguins, who ranked ninth on the PK (80.8%) in the two preceding seasons combined. The good news is that the penalty kill improved as the season progressed. They'll miss Tanev, who is now in Seattle, but players like Brian Boyle and McGinn could continue to turn the unit around.

Fantasy outlook: Letang remains one of the best at his position when healthy -- and he was last season. That said, he's now 34 and the absence of Crosby and Malkin will take some juice out of the power play that pads his stats. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Pierre-Olivier Joseph plays his way into the lineup and makes the kind of first-season impact as a young defenseman that John Marino did in 2019-20.

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12. St. Louis Blues
Last season: 27-20-9, lost in first round

Stanley cup odds: +4000

Key players added: LW Brandon Saad, LW Pavel Buchnevich

Key players lost: LW Jaden Schwartz, LW Alex Steen, D Carl Gunnarsson, LW Mike Hoffman, LW Sammy Blais, D Vince Dunn (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: Vladimir Tarasenko asked for a trade earlier this year because he was displeased with the way his multiple shoulder surgeries were handled by the Blues. Trust between player and team was fractured because of it. But the offseason passed with no trade, and Tarasenko remains a member of the Blues. He arrived in camp in good shape, with a positive attitude, hoping to contribute more than just the 34 regular-season games he has played over the past two seasons combined because of shoulder problems.

Best case: The Blues do as the Blues do: get contributions from throughout their lineup, with stars Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron shouldering most of the offensive load. The deep defense, led by a healthy Colton Parayko, drives play with strong skaters like Justin Faulk and Torey Krug; and goalie Jordan Binnington has another solid regular season for a playoff team.

Worst case: The Blues remain staggeringly average. Their goals per game last season: 2.98. Their goals against per game last season: 2.98. Their power play was good. Their penalty kill was not. But the true worst case is that they make the playoffs and watch Binnington struggle in the postseason again, where he has lost nine straight games.

X factor: The personnel changes at forward. Schwartz was signed by the Kraken, ending a 10-season run in St. Louis. Hoffman, Zach Sanford and Blais are all in new environs. Coming aboard are Buchnevich, the offensive play driver from the Rangers; Saad, late of the Avalanche, who brings consistent offense on the wings; and prospect Jake Neighbours, a tenacious forechecker, who earned his spot during training camp.

Fantasy outlook: In their present state, the Blues are one of the league's tougher teams to scrutinize through the fantasy microscope. Outside of the top forward pairing of Ryan O'Reilly -- who provides a high-impact fantasy punch in leagues that celebrate more than just scoring -- and last season's overachieving David Perron, their lineup is shuffled around more than most. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Robert Thomas stays healthy and finally has the breakout offensive season for which the Blues have been yearning.

i


13. Winnipeg Jets
Last season: 30-23-3, lost in second round

Stanley Cup odds: +4000

Key players added: C Riley Nash, D Brenden Dillon, D Nate Schmidt

Key players lost: G Laurent Brossoit, D Derek Forbort, D Jordie Benn, D Tucker Poolman, C Mathieu Perreault, C Nate Thompson, C Trevor Lewis

Most fascinating player: Connor Hellebuyck is either the first- or second-best goalie in the NHL, depending on how one feels about how Andrei Vasilevskiy benefits from what's in front of him in Tampa. The Jets are 55-39-8 with him in net over the past two seasons. They're 12-12-1 when he doesn't play. The takeaway here might be that he plays a lot, and that would be true: Hellebuyck has led the league in games played in three of the past four seasons. But you want your best player to appear as much as possible, right? His profile is only going to grow as the potential starter for the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Best case: The additions of Dillon and Schmidt solidify a defense that has been shaky for two seasons. They get peak performances from their top line -- Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler -- and see continued progression to star status from Nikolaj Ehlers. Hellebuyck does the rest, and the Jets end up a surprising conference title contender in the West.

Worst case: The Jets' defense is only moderately better, regression hits Ehlers, and the top line starts showing its age. Or Hellebuyck gets hurt, in which case they better just pack up the tents and move on to next season.

X factor: After looking like a No. 1 center in the bubble playoffs for the Blue Jackets, Pierre-Luc Dubois couldn't build on that performance last season. He wanted out of Columbus but was traded to Winnipeg, and his season never really came together thereafter, with 20 points in 41 games. If he finds his stride playing behind Scheifele to give Winnipeg two potent lines, they could really make some noise in the Western Conference.

Fantasy outlook: From a fantasy view, your 2021-22 Jets are fairly similar to the 2020-21 version. Top-line forwards Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor -- watch him score 40 this year -- are tried, tested and true assets you can take to the proverbial fantasy bank. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Ehlers is the real deal, and hits the 35-goal mark.

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14. New York Rangers
Last season: 27-23-6, missed playoffs

Stanley Cup odds: +2500

Key players added: F Barclay Goodrow, F Sammy Blais, F Ryan Reaves, D Jarred Tinordi, D Patrik Nemeth

Key players lost: F Pavel Buchnevich, F Brett Howden, C Colin Blackwell (expansion draft), D Brendan Smith

Most fascinating player: Mika Zibanejad, 28, followed his best NHL season (1.32 points per game) with a solid 50 points in 56 games last season. Artemi Panarin drives one scoring line, and Zibanejad is tasked with driving the other. But there are some interesting wrinkles to the center's season. He lost his primary winger in Buchnevich, who was traded to the Blues. He has one year left on his contract before unrestricted free agency, and the possibility of him remaining with the Rangers could be tied to the Jack Eichel sweepstakes.

Best case: New head coach Gerard Gallant gets the Rangers to play playoff-caliber defense in front of goalies Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev, and New York makes the playoff tournament for the first time since 2017.

Worst case: The Rangers improve but miss the playoffs again, as the additions they made to add toughness are actually an anchor on the team's upward mobility in the standings. Worst of the worst case: Shesterkin struggles with injuries again after signing the second-richest contract for a goalie in NHL history.

X factor: Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko were drafted first and second overall in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The sky's the limit on their potential. But Kakko, 20, hasn't scored more than 10 goals in a season yet, and Lafrenière, who turns 20 on Oct. 11, had 21 points in 56 games during his rookie season. If either player, or both, level up significantly this season, so could the Rangers.

Fantasy outlook: Per Natural Stat Trick, Shesterkin led all NHL starters in high-danger save percentage and looks ready to challenge for the fantasy equivalent of the Vezina Trophy. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Adam Fox surpasses Cale Makar's $9 million average annual value on his next contract, following his Norris Trophy win.

i


15. Minnesota Wild
Last season: 35-16-5, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +2500

Key players added: D Dmitry Kulikov, D Alex Goligoski, D Jon Merrill, C Frederick Gaudreau

Key players lost: LW Zach Parise, D Ryan Suter, C Nick Bonino, D Ian Cole, D Brad Hunt, C Marcus Johansson, D Matt Bartkowski, D Carson Soucy (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: One of the offseason's most overrated dramas was Kirill Kaprizov's contract negotiation with the Wild, which ended with him signing a five-year deal with a $9 million annual cap hit. He was always coming back. The Wild were always going to pay him. He even said there was "no chance" he was going to follow through on the threat to play in the KHL, with GM Bill Guerin quipping, "You shouldn't answer that. You're going to blow it for the next contract negotiation." Putting this all behind us, "Dolla Dolla Kirill Y'all" had 51 points in 55 games to win rookie of the year honors, and infused the Wild with a jolt of enthusiasm in the same way a young Alex Ovechkin did for the Capitals 16 years ago.

Best case: The Wild continue to build on their impressive 2020-21 season, which saw their offense (3.21 goals per game) produce more than expected, and their defense play well in front of goaltending that often didn't (2.84 goals against per game). Kaprizov graduates from the Calder race to the Hart race, forming a formidable line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello, and the rest of the forwards play well enough for another playoff berth.

Worst case: Kaprizov has a sophomore slump, goalies Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen once again can't match the defensive effort in front of them, and the Wild get swallowed up in a competitive Central Division to just miss the playoff cut.

X factor: Matthew Boldy and Marco Rossi are both top names in the Wild prospect pool, and could really make an impact for a team that's left wanting for a little more help at the center spot (Hence those Jack Eichel rumors from last season. Are they still interested?). Boldy, a Boston College product, got 14 games in the AHL last season to cut his teeth. He's a fast, point-producing skater. Rossi had his rookie season derailed by COVID-19-related symptoms. An outstanding playmaker, he was in the mix to make the team in the preseason. If either earn the chance, they could be transformative for the Wild this season.

Fantasy outlook: The most appealing fantasy pair might be Kevin Fiala and rookie Rossi. That under-the-radar combination of speed, playmaking talent and scoring skill could reap substantial rewards for the Wild and fantasy managers alike. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: The Eriksson Ek hype train pulls into the station, and he walks away with the Selke Trophy.

i


16. Dallas Stars
Last season: 23-19-14, missed playoffs

Stanley Cup odds: +3000

Key players added: D Ryan Suter, G Braden Holtby, LW Michael Raffl, D Jani Hakanpaa, D Andreas Borgman, C Luke Glendening, D Alex Petrovic

Key players lost: C Justin Dowling, C Andrew Cogliano, D Mark Pysyk, D Sami Vatanen, D Taylor Fedun, D Stephen Johns, D Julius Honka, D Jamie Oleksiak (expansion draft), F Jason Dickinson

Most fascinating player: Jason Robertson has an incredible backstory. He's the third NHL player of Filipino descent and the second Filipino American. He was a captivating interview at the NHL players' media tour, it's clear he's an outstanding ambassador for the game. It also helps that he's really good at this hockey thing: blazing fast, with a great transition offense and creativity in the offensive zone. He was second in the rookie of the year voting last season. His line with Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz could end up as one of the NHL's best this season. Absolutely one to watch.

Best case: Step one is the Stars getting great goaltending, whether it's from Anton Khudobin, free-agent pickup Braden Holtby, a healthy Ben Bishop or young Jake Oettinger. It starts there, and adding Suter to their blue line will help the defense in front of them. Next is to have their best players producing at an elite level (like Jamie Benn) and healthy for the majority of the season, like Alexander Radulov and Tyler Seguin, who appeared in 14 games combined last season. If that happens, they can get back to the offensive levels they had in 2019-20 (2.35 expected goals per 60 minutes) and be a dark-horse contender in a stacked division.

Worst case: The injury bugs swarm around Dallas again, the Stars struggle to score, they stick with middling veteran goalies for too long and they're edged out by division rivals for a playoff spot.

X factor: This could very well be the last ride for this group. Pavelski, Radulov and defenseman John Klingberg will all be unrestricted free agents next summer. "I think there's a certain finality," Seguin told ESPN earlier this year. "All the guys on our team know in the back of our minds that we got guys whose contracts are coming up." We've seen what this Dallas team can do when the chemistry clicks, the goaltending is strong and the players are healthy -- the Stars were in the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, after all. Last season they were beset by injuries and off-ice issues, from COVID-19 to a winter storm in Texas, and the Stars want nothing more than to find redemption before some core veterans might leave.

Fantasy outlook: There's much to mine fantasy-wise from this healthy and inspired corps of forwards (Seguin, Radulov, Hintz), especially after all the hardships suffered January through May. And most will be available in mid to late rounds of your draft. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Coach Rick Bowness is fired during the season.

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17. Montreal Canadiens
Last season: 24-21-11, lost in Stanley Cup Final

Stanley Cup odds: +3000

Key players added: C Mathieu Perreault, C Cedric Paquette, LW Mike Hoffman, D David Savard, D Chris Wideman, F Christian Dvorak

Key players lost: C Phillip Danault, F Corey Perry, F Tomas Tatar, D Jon Merrill, D Shea Weber (injury), D Cale Fleury (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: Cole Caufield. We'd say he's one to watch, but that would assume your eyes can track a player this fast. He's instant offense, with five points in his first 10 NHL games, and then 12 points in 20 playoff games. He plays defense like a 20-year-old, but the league's current style of play means a 5-foot-9 winger can step in and thrive, especially if he's got a center like Nick Suzuki, who could propel Caufield into Calder front-runner status this season.

Best case: The Canadiens' run to the Stanley Cup Final wasn't an aberration. They're able to overcome the short-term loss of Carey Price, who voluntarily entered the NHL/NHLPA player-assistance program, and the long-term loss of Weber, who will miss the season with a combination of injuries. Their forward depth and veteran back end propels them into the division's top three and beyond.

Worst case: The Canadiens finish worse than their .527 points percentage last season due to regression from their young star players and a lack of quality center depth. The interruption in Price's season proves too much for their goaltenders to shoulder, and the loss of Weber has a significant impact on and off the ice.

X factor: David Savard isn't Shea Weber, but squint hard enough and he might be able to fill in for the injured captain, who will miss the season because of multiple injuries. More pressing for the Canadiens is the replacement for their entire second line. Danault is in Los Angeles. Tatar is in New Jersey. Brendan Gallagher is likely to start down the lineup. In their place: Dvorak, acquired from the Coyotes, who is expected to begin the season centering winger Josh Anderson (17 goals) and a returning Jonathan Drouin, who had 23 points in 44 games before leaving the team last April due to insomnia caused by his anxiety. Dvorak has looked great in the preseason, and this line could be dynamite if it clicks.

Fantasy outlook: With the specter of a healthy Weber eating into his value already removed for the coming season, confidence in veteran Jeff Petry is at an all-time high. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: The great regression hits Tyler Toffoli's shooting percentage (17.7% last season), while Anderson (13.6%) avoids that and finishes with more goals than Toffoli.

i


18. Philadelphia Flyers
Last season: 25-23-8, missed playoffs

Stanley Cup odds: +3000

Key players added: D Ryan Ellis, D Rasmus Ristolainen, D Keith Yandle, LW/RW Cam Atkinson, G Martin Jones

Key players lost: C Nolan Patrick, LW Jakub Voracek, D Robert Hagg, D Philippe Myers, D Shayne Gostisbehere, G Brian Elliott

Most fascinating player: It's Carter Hart, and it's not particularly close as far as the Flyers' most compelling player. The season rests on his shoulder pads. If he's the goalie who looked like he was progressing toward Vezina Trophy contention in the 2019-20 season, Philadelphia can be a playoff team. If he's the goalie who ranked near the bottom in both traditional and analytic metrics last season -- .877 save percentage, 3.67 goals-against average, minus-16.7 goals saved above average -- then the Flyers might have a problem that goes beyond this season.

Best case: The Flyers' goaltending stabilizes, their defense improves and their goal-scoring ticks up into the top 10, earning Philadelphia a playoff spot in a very competitive division.

Worst case: Remember how the Canadiens made a bunch of veteran additions before last season and they added up to a Stanley Cup run for Montreal? The worst-case scenario for the Flyers is having done a similar thing and then getting the complete opposite result. Oh, and if the goaltending stinks.

X factor: The Flyers changed their defense corps in a dramatic way in the offseason. Gone are Gostisbehere, Hagg and Myers. Arriving are Ellis, Ristolainen and Yandle, who was bought out by the Panthers. Ellis could fill the hole that was left by Matt Niskanen's sudden retirement before last season. Yandle is Yandle. The mystery is Ristolainen, whose reputation with the Sabres left many scratching their heads about the Flyers giving up so much for him. Is that subtraction by addition?

Fantasy outlook: It might be difficult to give Hart a mulligan for last season's dismal showing, but it's a wise choice. The Flyers are giving him the chance to shake it off and, from a pure talent perspective, he remains primed to become one of the league's best netminders. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: Travis Konecny has a big bounce-back season as a goal-scorer, setting a career high. More importantly, he scores neither 11 goals nor 24 goals, one of which has been his final total in each of his five NHL seasons. That's some arithmophobia right there.

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19. Chicago Blackhawks
Last season: 24-25-7, missed playoffs

Stanley Cup odds: +5000

Key players added: G Marc-Andre Fleury, D Seth Jones, C Tyler Johnson, D Caleb Jones, D Jake McCabe, LW Jujhar Khaira

Key players lost: D Duncan Keith, D Adam Boqvist, D Brent Seabrook, C Pius Suter, C David Kampf, C Vinnie Hinostroza

Most fascinating player: The last time we saw Jonathan Toews play a meaningful game was Aug. 18, 2020, when the Blackhawks lost Game 5 of their first-round bubble series to the Golden Knights. Toews missed all of last season with what he reported as chronic immune response syndrome. The 33-year-old captain had put together his two strongest offensive seasons since 2013-14 for the Blackhawks before opting out. His return improves their depth chart considerably, but what does his game look like a year removed from his last campaign?

Best case: Marc-Andre Fleury plays at a Vezina level behind an improved defense that swapped out Duncan Keith and brought on Seth Jones. The Blackhawks' young players hit their marks, while Patrick Kane puts up an MVP-level point total and Toews leads by example. Chicago claims a playoff spot in the Central Division, ahead of teams with better championship odds.

Worst case: Fleury can't save his way out of a dreadful defensive system in front of him. The team's lack of depth is exposed in a competitive division. Chicago enters an offseason searching (again) for a starting goalie ... and with Toews and Kane entering the final years of their contracts.

X factor: If Chicago is going to will itself back into contention, Fleury is the way. The reigning Vezina winner agreed to a trade out of Vegas and to the Blackhawks, where he'll be tasked with stealing games behind a defense that was 27th in goals against per game (3.29) and 30th in expected goals against at 5-on-5 (2.56). The 36-year-old remains a glowing congeniality beacon -- within an organization that's embroiled in a sexual assault investigation -- and should bolster what was the weakest aspect of last season's team.

Fantasy outlook: This improved Blackhawks squad is riddled with attractive fantasy options from the net out. Fleury has plenty left in the tank in tending net for a defensively improved squad. The 36-year-old might not start 60 games, but he's likely to play 55. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: With expectations high and the pressure on, the Blackhawks fire Jeremy Colliton, who is signed through the 2022-23 season.

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20. Nashville Predators
Last season: 31-23-2, lost in first round

Stanley Cup odds: +6000

Key players added: G David Rittich, D Philippe Myers, C Cody Glass, RW Matt Luff

Key players lost: G Pekka Rinne, D Ryan Ellis, RW Viktor Arvidsson, D Erik Gudbranson, RW Erik Haula, C Brad Richardson, F Calle Jarnkrok (expansion draft)

Most fascinating player: Filip Forsberg is a canary in a coal mine for the Predators. He's entering the final season of his contract. If Nashville decides to re-sign him -- and Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog has been seen as a potential comparable contract -- then that signals the Predators believe they remain a contender with their current group. If they decide to let Forsberg walk, and move him before he does, then it's a signal they want to retool. Perhaps we got a hint of that direction when the team traded Arvidsson to the Los Angeles Kings, a deal to which Forsberg famously gave a thumbs-down on Instagram.

Best case: The Predators get an unexpected uptick in offense from either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene after being unable to unload them in the offseason; great breakout performances from young players, like center Cody Glass, whom they acquired in the Ryan Ellis three-way trade, winger Eeli Tolvanen and winger Philip Tomasino; and another year of strong goaltending to break through the muddle of the Central Division to claim a playoff spot for the second straight season.

Worst case: The Predators are the second-worst team in the Central thanks to a lack of goal production and a regression from goalie Juuse Saros. Forsberg and defenseman Mattias Ekholm are moved at the trade deadline as the rebuild begins.

X factor: Saros had a couple of motivating factors last season. The first was to outplay Rinne for the Predators' starting job. The second was to earn a significant new contract in the process. That motivation led to a career year (.927 save percentage) that saw him lead Nashville to the playoffs and earn votes for the Vezina and the Hart. But now he has that contract, a four-year extension worth $20 million. He has the starting job, with Rinne retired and Rittich as the clear backup. What does a season without those carrots dangling in front of him look like?

Fantasy outlook: The true potential fantasy diamond in Nashville for 2021-22 is Saros, who is set to make the No. 1 job thoroughly his own with Rinne basking in retirement. Through 36 appearances in this past truncated campaign, Saros posted a 2.28 GAA, .927 SV% and 21-11-1 record. Those are top-10 fantasy netminder numbers. More on fantasy outlook

Bold prediction: A member of our general manager hot seat ranking, David Poile, is kicked upstairs and the Predators have their second GM in franchise history for the 2022-23 season.
 
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