Pressing questions for every NHL team to answer this season

FanSided’s hockey mavens pose the most pressing questions all 30 NHL teams face for the 2015-16 season.

Adam Savard and David Stevenson | Oct 7, 2015

Pressing questions for every NHL team to answer this season /

SI.com’s NHL preview hub | Cauldron answers the more offbeat questions

Anaheim Ducks

Last season: Third in NHL
Record: 51-24-7

Anaheim Ducks 2015-16 preview

• Do they have enough experience on their blue line to make a Stanley Cup run? Frederik Andersen isn’t among the league’s elite goaltenders, but he’s good enough to keep the Ducks in most games. Recent Cup winners have proved that you can overcome having a better than average goaloe if the team around him is strong enough to overcome it. The will be relying on Sami Vatanen (37 points), Cam Fowler (34 points), and Hampus Lindholm (31 points) to play significant roles on defense. Each is under 25 years old. While the addition of Kevin Bieksa should help, he hasn’t scored more than 24 points in a season since he put up 44 in 2011-2012. Then again, his true value lies in his edgy physicality.

For more on the Ducks visit Pucks of a Feather

Arizona Coyotes

Last season: 29th in NHL
Record: 24-50-8

Arizona Coyotes 2015-16 preview

• Are their young guns ready? Both Max Domi and Anthony Duclair made the roster out of training camp. Arizona can use plenty of offensive help after finishing last season second from last in goals.

• Can Mike Smith remember how to stop pucks? He’s coming off his worst season since joining Arizona in 2011-12 when the Coyotes lost the Western Conference Finals.

• Is Klas Dahlbeck part of their defensive future? He has good size (6' 2", 190) but only 23 NHL games of experience. This is a big season for the young defenseman.

For more on the Coyotes visit Howlin Hockey

Boston Bruins

Last season: 17th in NHL
Record: 41-27-14

Boston Bruins 2015-16 preview

• Is their blue line good enough? The Bruins have been known for having a strong defense since their run to the Cup in 2011. That’s no longer the case. Zdeno Chara is still a very good defenseman despite being 38 years old. Torey Krug has had success in a sheltered role. Matt Irwin could be a diamond in the rough. But outside of Chara, the B’s lack elite talent. They had Dougie Hamilton and Johnny Boychuk two years ago, but they were both shipped out due to cap constraints and other issues. With Dennis Seidenberg (back injury) out for roughly eight weeks and Chara potentially having durability issues, can Irwin and Krug step up?

For more on the Bruins visit Causeway Crowd

Buffalo Sabres

Last season: 30th in NHL
Record: 23-21-8

Buffalo Sabres 2015-16 preview

• Is Jack Eichel the best rookie on the team? He has had plenty of hype, but Sam Reinhart made the Sabres roster as well. Reinhart had an excellent camp and looks like he can carry his production into the regular season ... and like he’s playing angry.

• Is Robin Lehner worth the first-round pick Buffalo paid for him? Between his backup role in Ottawa and his injuries, he hasn’t played in more than 36 games in any of his five seasons. And Buffalo’s shaky defense likely won't help him look good. That will mostly be up to him.

• How good can Rasmus Ristolainen be? After a strong rookie season, the big Finnish defenseman gets his first chance on an NHL team with expectations of improving.

For more on the Sabres visit Sabre Noise

Calgary Flames

Last season: 16th in NHL
Record: 45-30-7

Calgary Flames 2015-16 preview

• Did the they make enough improvements to fix their possession woes of last season? Despite making a playoff run for the ages, they finished the regular season 28th in the NHL in Corsi For % at even strength. To fix that, they traded for Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton and signed former Jets wing Michael Frolik. Both are noted for being good possession players. Combined with Johnny Gaudreau, Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan, T.J. Brodie (out the first 3-6 weeks with a broken hand) and Mark Giordano, the Flames certainly have a ton of talent for Jack Adams winner Bob Hartley to utilize.

For more on the Flames visit Flame For Thought

Carolina Hurricanes

Last season: 26th in NHL
Record: 30-41-11

Carolina Hurricanes 2015-16 preview

• Will their young centers give them needed offensive spark? Eric Staal anchors the top line, but Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm can make Carolina dangerous down the middle. The better the centers are, the more the Canes can get out of wingers not named Jeff Skinner or Nathan Gerbe.

• Can Jordan Staal bounce back after a year of injuries? Limited by a fractured fibula to 46 games, Carolina needs him as the possession monster he can be. Even an average season from him will make the Hurricanes deeper and better.

• How long before Eddie Lack takes the crease? Cam Ward had respectable numbers (22-24-5, 2.40 GAA, .910 save pct.) on a bad team last season, but Lack was brought in to compete for the top spot. Ward is on a short leash to start the season and may likely end up as trade bait.

For more on the Hurricanes visit Cardiac Cane

Chicago Blackhawks

Last season: Seventh in NHL, Stanley Cup champions
Record: 48-28-6

Chicago Blackhawks 2015-16 preview

• How much will the changes made during the off-season affect this team? The Blackhawks will look quite different than they did back in June when they won their third Stanley Cup in the past six seasons. They will be sans Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya, and Brandon Saad(among others). The long-term status of star forward Patrick Kane is still up in the air due to allegations of sexual assault. However, as long as they have Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa, the Blackhawks can’t be counted out.

For more on the Blackhawks visit Blackhawkup

Colorado Avalanche

Last season: 21st in NHL
Record: 39-31-12

Colorado Avalanche 2015-16 preview

• If Jarome Iginla leads them in scoring, does that mean the Avalanche are good? That formula didn’t quite work out that well last season. Iginla still has plenty to give at 38, but the roster is too talented to have him carry the load.

• How do Nikita Zadorov and Mikhail Grigorenko fit in? Both came over from Buffalo in the Ryan O’Reilly trade to fill positions of need. Zadorov slides into the top four and must prove he’s grown off-ice as much as on. He has the talent to be special. Grigorenko has been reunited with head coach Patrick Roy from their days together in juniors. If the perpetually promising Grigorenko can’t get going with Colorado his time in the NHL may be short.

• Speaking of Roy, can he the Avalanche back to the playoffs? His first season ended with an opening-round loss. Last season had too many injuries and slumps for the Avs to make a serious run. Are they actually good or did Roy have beginners luck?

For more on the Avalanche visit Mile High Sticking

Columbus Blue Jackets

Last season: 26th in NHL
Record: 42-35-5

Columbus Blue Jackets 2015-16 preview

• Can their forward group and elite goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky overcome a questionable blue line? Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen, and Brandon Saad should form an elite scoring line. Columbus has the forward depth necessary to make a playoff run if the Jackets stay healthy (which isn’t a given). However, they have an obvious weakness on defense. Jack Johnson and David Savard aren’t top pairing-caliber defensemen, but they are probably the best option. Fedor Tyutin is an expensive, but serviceable, second pairing option, but it is likely that 2012 first round pick Ryan Murray will determine how good this group is. That's a lot to put on the plate of a 21-year-old.

For more on the Blue Jackets visit Union and Blue

Dallas Stars

Last season: 19th in the NHL
Record: 41-31-10

Dallas Stars 2015-16 preview

• Can Kari Lehtonen stop anything? His play was a major factor in last season’s disappointing playoff DNQ. Antti Niemi was brought in to back him up and could take the starting job if Lehtonen doesn’t get straightened out.

• Will anyone stop this offense? Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, Valeri Nishushkin ... do NOT take a penalty against Dallas.

• Does the young defense come together? John Klingberg, Jyrki Jokipakka, and Patrick Nemeth all are under 25. Klingberg was a budding star last seasons at both ends of the ice, Nemeth is back from a freak arm injury, and Jokipaaka is entering his second season. Strong performances from all three will likely put the Stars in the playoffs.

For more on the Stars visit Blackout Dallas

Detroit Red Wings

Last season: 12th in NHL
Record: 43-25-14

Detroit Red Wings 2015-16 preview

• Is their new young core ready to take the torch from the aging stalwarts? The Red Wings have been led by grizzled veterans Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, and Niklas Kronwall for most of the past decade. However, each is over 34 years old and beginning to decline. The Wings have a new core of players in Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan and Dylan Larkin that will be expected to improve steadily. Detroit's success and chances of extending its playoff run to 25 consecutive seasons will largely depend on how ready the kids are to lead.

For more on the Red Wings visit Octopus Thrower

Edmonton Oilers

Last season: 28th in NHL
Record: 24-44-14

Edmonton Oilers 2015-16 preview

• Have the Oilers finally figured out their goaltending? Cam Talbot gets his chance in the crease after the Oilers spent the past several seasons bringing in other teams’ backups only to have them not pan out. At least in Edmonton, right Mr. Dubnyk?

• The offense can’t be bottom five in the league again—can it? Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle... and now Connor McDavid. On paper, that's impressive. Keeping the Oilers playing from behind all the time will make it easier to slow down this much talent.

• How well do the new defensemen fit in? Andrej Sekera adds stability and offense from the point. Oscar Klefbom had a strong second half last season. The offense should be fine as will the goaltending. The defense will determine how far Edmonton climbs from the bottom of the league.

For more on the Oilers visit Oil on Whyte

Florida Panthers

Last season: 20th in NHL
Record: 38-29-15

Florida Panthers 2015-16 preview

• Are the kids ready for the big time? The Panthers have quietly built an impressive core to build their team around. Nick Bjugstad, Aleksander Barkov, Brandon Pirri, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad, and Dmitry Kulikov are all 25 years or younger. Roberto Luongo, Jussi Jokinen, Willie Mitchell, Brian Campbell, and Jaromir Jagr are all over 30, but still provide valuable leadership both on and off the ice. In a mostly wide open Atlantic Division, the Panthers could be playoff contenders if their young players continue to develop, and 36-year-old Roberto Luongo continues to be solid in net.

For more on the Panthers visit The Rat Trick

Los Angeles Kings

Last season: 18th in NHL
Record: 40-27-15

Los Angeles Kings 2015-16 season preview

• The Anze Kopitar deal has to get done, right? He's one of the best two-way players in the game and he’s bound to get a contract that pays him top 10 player money. He deserves it. Relating his situation to another high profile contract-in-waiting, Kopitar means more to the Kings than Steven Stamkos does to the Lightning. This must get done.

• Who will produce from the wings? Last season’s top three scorers were centers. Take Marian Gaborik off the team and, with Justin Williams gone, the next highest scoring winger was Dustin Brown with 27 points. Yikes. Here’s looking at you, Tanner Pearson and Kyle Clifford.

• How do newcomers Milan Lucic and Christian Ehrhoff fit in? Lucic must find that 20-goal touch he had in Boston for the Kings to rely less on goalie Jonathan Quick to bail them out. Which Christian Ehrhoff did the Kings sign? He’s solid on good teams but he’s struggled on bad ones, sp Ehrhoff seems to be a product of his environment. Which one shows up if the Kings are in ninth place with two weeks left in the season?

For more on the Kings visit Rink Royalty

Minnesota Wild

Last season: 11th in NHL
Record: 46-28-8

Minnesota Wild 2015-16 preview

• WillDevan Dubnyk prove that his 2014-2015 season was not a fluke? On January 14th, the then-12th place Wild traded for the Coyotes backup. During the next 40 games, Dubnyk started 39 of them and the Wild went on a 28-9-3 run to make the playoffs. He set career highs in wins (27), save percentage (.936), GAA (1.78) and shutouts (5). Ifcore guys Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jason Pominville, and Thomas Vanek produce as they should, their young players continue to improve, and Dubnyk proves he’s not a one-year wonder, the Wild could make a Stanley Cup run.

For more on the Wild visit Gone Puck Wild

Montreal Canadiens

Last season: Second in NHL
Record: 50-22-10

Montreal Canadiens 2015-16 preview

• Are the Canadiens balanced enough? Montreal’s lack of scoring and depth was exposed in last spring’s playoffs. The mercurial Alexander Semin was the big signing for the offense. Brian Flynn, Torrey Mitchell, and Devante Smith-Pelly are lower-profile but equally important new players.

• Where will Alex Galchenyuk play? Bounced from center to wing, his production will benefit from a little consistency with his position and linemates. Even though Galchenyuk is only 21, it’s time to give him the added workload down the middle and see what he does with it.

• Will Carey Price regress? Unless your name is Hasek, it’s unheard of to put together the kind of back-to-back seasons that Price is building on. If the offense doesn’t improve and Price slips, the Habs could be in tough to get more than a wild card spot.

For more on the Canadiens visit A Winning Habit

Nashville Predators

Last season: Sixth in NHL
Record:47-25-10

Nashville Predators 2015-16 preview

• Will they have a more balanced offense? Last season, Nashville had a phenomenal first forward line of Mike Ribeiro (62 points), Filip Forsberg (63), and Craig Smith (43). That’s a combined 146 points from that one line—40.3% of the total scored by all of the team’s forwards. The Preds absolutely relied too heavily on that one unit. If James Neal can bounce back from his unimpressive 37 point season, and Colin Wilson can build on his 42 point campaign, it will go a long way toward giving Nashville some crucial scoring depth.

For more on the Predators visit Predlines

New Jersey Devils

Last season: 25th in NHL
Record: 32-36-14

New Jersey Devils 2015-16 preview

• Where is the offense?! Mike Cammalleri scored 27 goals last season, but depth is an issue. The Devils posted the third worst goals-for total in the league and despite the addition of Kyle Palmieri from Anaheim appear headed for another bottom five season.

• Can the defense keep Corey Schneider alive? The Devils allowed their starting goalie to be peppered by more than 30 shots per game last season. Rising star Adam Larsson (he of the shiny new contract) and Damon Severson can anchor the back-end for years. Both are young and growing into the position, particularly Severson. The Devils could use another reliable veteran—captain Bryce Salvador retired and Andy Green is the only defenseman who is older than 29.

• When will Pavel Zacha make the roster? If new head coach John Hynes expects to play a faster, more aggressive game, Zacha is a must eventually. The Devils won't make the playoffs, so a developmental season was a realistic option. Zacha has an NHL body now at 18. His sticking in the NHL for the full season would make the Devils more watchable but they took the safe route by returning him to his junior team in Sarnia.

For more on the Devils visit Pucks and Pitchforks

New York Islanders

Last season: 9th in NHL
Record: 47-28-7

New York Islanders 2015-16 preview

• Did they make the right decision in not making major changes during the off-season? The Islanders had a very successful season in 2014-2015 as they made a playoff run and pushed the Capitals to a Game Seven before falling to them in the first round. They have a strong core of forwards led by John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Anders Lee, Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson and Frans Nielsen. Any change was going to be hard to make there. However, the backline could use another reliable veteran and they decided to keep head coach Jack Capuano despite some questionable lineup decisions and a plethora of superior head coaching candidates being available. But all things considered, the Isles should make a return to the playoffs.

For more on the Islanders visit Eyes on Isles

New York Rangers

Last season: First in NHL
Record: 53-22-7

New York Rangers 2015-16 preview

• How do all the young wingers fit together? Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast, Emerson Etem, Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider are all 25 or under. Replacing the retired Martin St. Louis in last season’s third-ranked offense won’t be an issue.

• How good will this defense be with a full season of Keith Yandle? Solid defensively and able to put up points, Yandle immediately makes the power play more potent. He will get his chances: in 21 regular season games with the Rangers last season, two-thirds of the face-offs taken with him on the ice were in the offensive zone.

• Is this the season the Rangers break through and win the Cup? After their Final loss in 2014 and Eastern Conference Finals defeat last season, the Rangers are younger and faster. This is arguably the best team Henrik Lundqvist has had in front of him during his career, but it may be now or never.

For more on the Rangers visit Blue Line Station

Ottawa Senators

Last season: 13th in NHL
Record: 43-26-13

Ottawa Senators 2015-16 preview

• Who is their number one goaltender? There’s a saying in hockey: “If you have two starting goaltenders, you have none.” This rings true in Ottawa, as head coach Dave Cameron must make a choice between Craig Anderson and Andrew Hammond. Do the Senators go with the veteran who has been at worst a slightly above average goalie or the majority of his career? Or do they go with the youngster Hammond, who led the Sens on a Cinderella run to the playoffs with a 20-1-2 record while posting a 1.79 GAA and 94.1 save percentage? Cameron must pick the right one or find a way to get each enough work. If he doesn’t, the Sens could end up with a DNQ come spring.

For more on the Senators visit Senshot

Philadelphia Flyers

Last season: 24th in NHL
Record: 33-31-18

Philadelphia Flyers 2015-16 preview

• Can we agree that goaltending isn’t the problem? The Flyers upgraded by signing Michal Neuvirth to back up Steve Mason. When he wasn't hurt, Mason was sneaky good. Did you know his save percentage was .928 last year? The list of goalies who were better: Carey Price and Devan Dubnyk. Is that who Mason is now or does he regress to his career average? With Neuvirth as insurance do the Flyers defensively challenged Flyers pick up enough points to challenge for a playoff berth?

• What happens to Vincent Lecavalier? Both less productive and injured last season, he is 35 with a cap hit over $4 million. The Flyers are near the cap ceiling and GM Ron Hextall isn’t known for his “wait and see” approach.

For more on the Flyers visit Broad Street Buzz

Pittsburgh Penguins

Last season: 15th in NHL
Record: 43-27-12

Pittsburgh Penguins 2015-16 preview

• Can Kris Letang stay healthy? The Penguins have a very talented forward group that, if healthy, might be the best in the NHL. However, what will determine their success is their blue line. Since it’s unproven, they'll be asking Letang to carry a heavier load. He’s had health and injury issues, overcoming a stroke in 2013 and multiple concussions in 2014 but his 69 games played last season were his most since 2010-2011 and just three fewer than his combined 72 during his previous two seasons. It’s simple. If he stays healthy, the Pens will contend for the Stanley Cup. Continued health and development by Olli Maatta, who battled cancer last season, will be a big plus.

For more on the Penguins visit Pens Labyrinth

St. Louis Blues

Last season: Fourth in NHL
Record: 51-24-7

St. Louis Blues 2015-16 preview

•Was basically standing pat the correct move? Despite another early playoff exit after significan regular season success, the only major change made was trading forward T.J. Oshie to Washington for Troy Brouwer and prospect Pheonix Copley. Oshie's lack of playoff production was certainly an issue. However, he wasn't the only one with such issues. You can point to David Backes,& Alex Pietrangelo, and Alexander Steen as well. Brouwer adds versatility and Cup-winning experience. If the Blues can’t at least get past the first round this season, expect huge changes that may include head coach Ken Hitchcock and general manager Doug Armstrong being fired.

For more on the Blues visit Bleedin' Blue

San Jose Sharks

Last season: 23rd in NHL
Record: 40-33-9

San Jose Sharks 2015-16 preview

• When does GM Doug Wilson really land on the hot seat? The Sharks’ core had a long run of promising regular seasons only to frustratingly flame out in the playoffs. At least missing the postseason last spring was different than a first round elimination. But that’s not the point. Wilson needs some reliable and productive younger players. Not bickering with Joe Thornton would be a nice improvement, too.

• Which Tomas Hertl will the Sharks get? Will he be the dynamic 25 points-in-31 games rookie of two seasons ago? Or the sophomore-slumping 31 points in a full season edition?

• Who takes over the goaltending job? Alex Stalock seemed the goalie of the future, but that was before Martin Jones arrived. Jones has shown flashes of brilliance as a backup, but how reliable is that sample. He had the Kings defense in front of him. The Sharks are a different animal.

• How will new head coach Peter DeBoer handle this situation? His teams (Devils, Panthers) have made only one playoff appearance during his seven seasons in the NHL.

For more about the Sharks visit Blades of Teal

Tampa Bay Lightning

Last season: Fifth in NHL

Record: 50-24-8

Tampa Bay Lightning 2015-16 preview

• Do the Lightning have a concern in goal? Starter Ben Bishop dealt with that torn groin during the Stanley Cup Final. Groin injuries are delicate matters in goaltenders, and if Bishop goes down again, there'll be no Andrei Vasilevskiy to fall back on, at least for the first two months due to a blood clot. Former Islanders backup Kevin Poulin is now the option.

• How does Jonathan Drouin fit into the potent offense? Will he again be the 13th forward as he was some nights and in the playoffs? Or does he fully display the talent and potential that made him the top pick in the 2013 draft?

• What becomes of the Steven Stamkos contract situation? Hard to believe that it won’t get done. If Stamkos breaks the bank, GM Steve Yzerman will deal with ripples throughout the roster. The Lightning could pay Stamkos, but Nikita Kucherov, Cedric Paquette, Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Killorn are all due for new deals. That’s a lot of talent to risk losing by signing one player. Yzerman will be the most interesting GM to follow as the trade deadline gets close.

For more about the Lightning visit Bolts By The Bay

Toronto Maple Leafs

Last season: 27th in NHL
Record: 30-44-8

Toronto Maple Leafs 2015-16 preview

• Is Nazem Kadri part of their future? Plenty of good forwards are piling up in Toronto’s system while Kadri remains talented but frustrating. This is his make or break season with the Leafs.

• How long before the Dion Phaneuf trade rumors fire up again? With Mike Babcock coaching him, it could be a while. Then again, Toronto figures to finish in the league’s bottom five this season, so it could also be in the early going. Phaneuf won’t be the only Leaf rumored to be on the block.

For more about the Maple Leafs visit Editor in Leaf

Vancouver Canucks

Last season: Eighth in NHL
Record: 48-29-5

Vancouver Canucks 2015-16 preview

• In what direction will the Canucks ;go? After a successful regular season that saw a return to the playoffs, Vancouver had a puzzling off-season to say the least. GM Jim Benning traded Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening and a 2016 2nd round pick for Brandon Sutter, whose career high of 40 points was reached back in 2009-2010. He traded Zach Kassian for Brandon Prust, who hasn't scored over 20 points in a season since 2010-2011. He traded younger (and arguably better) goaltender Eddie Lack and kept declining veteran Ryan Miller. These appear to be “win now” moves if the Canucks believe that Sutter and Prust are upgrades. Are they? Probably not. That means it will be up to kids like Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi, Jacob Markstrom, Jake Virtanen and Ben Hutton to step up.

For more about the Canucks visit The Canuck Way

Washington Capitals

Last season: 10th in NHL
Record: 45-26-11

Washington Capitals 2015-16 preview

• Have they done enough to win the Stanley Cup? With Alex Ovechkin turning 30 earlier this month, the Capitals want to get him a chalice. Their acquisitions of three-time Cup champion Justin Williams and winger T.J. Oshie certainly make the team more talented and most likely better. Youngsters Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky are primed for breakout seasons. Braden Holtby is a franchise goaltender who is at his best in the playoffs. This is the most talented team the Caps have had since at least 2009-2010. Barry Trotz has arguably the most talented team that he’s ever coached. However, is it enough to bring Lord Stanley to the nation’s capital?

For more about the Capitals visit Stars and Sticks

Winnipeg Jets

Last season: 14th in NHL
Record: 43-26-13

Winnipeg Jets 2015-16 preview

• How far can the kids carry the Jets? Nine players are age 25 or under, led by Alexander Burmistrov, Jacob Trouba, and Mark Scheifele. Is there enough experience to get this team through a playoff run?

• Can the newcomers pick up where they left off? Both Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers were reborn in Winnipeg after being traded from Buffalo. Carrying that performance through a full season will take pressure off the young players. Speaking of carrying good play over, which Ondrej Pavelec shows up in 2015-16? The career-year goaltender from last season or the “Oh my goodness, he’s still a starter” horror show from 2013-14?

For more about the Jets visit Hockey at the Forks

GALLERY: Why Your Team Won’t Win The Stanley Cup

Why Your Team Won't Win the Stanley Cup

Anaheim Ducks

Can you really trust a team that blows a 3-2 series lead and then fails to clinch at home in Game 7... three years in a row? These Ducks have plenty of talent. What they're lacking is heart.

Arizona Coyotes

A team that posted a league-worst minus-68 goal differential needed to add a significant defenseman to shore up the blueline. GM Don Maloney scoured the market and managed to pick up an all-time great. Unfortunately, it was Chris Pronger, who has been sidelined by lingering concussion symptoms since 2011 and currently works in the league front office. Probably not the answer they were looking for.

Boston Bruins

A preseason injury scare for Zdeno Chara illustrated how close this team is to having a defense led by Torey Krug, Zach Trotman and Adam McQuaid. After trading Dougie Hamilton and losing Dennis Seidenberg long term (back surgery), the B's can plan of spending a lot of time chasing the puck around their own zone for the first two months. By that point the playoffs could already be out of reach.

Buffalo Sabres

If Robin Lehner is the answer, what exactly was the question? The league's worst defense last season (35.6 shots allowed, 3.28 goals-against) is counting on a bunch of kids (Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen) to man the blueline and a goaltender whose GAA over the past two seasons hovers above 3.00. That's a recipe for something, but it's not a Stanley Cup.

Calgary Flames

You see that guy jumping up and down and waving his arms over there? He's dying to tell someone, anyone, that the Flames are going to suck hard this year. Because, yep, #fancystats. Calgary's possession numbers were brutal last season, second worst in the entire league. Sure, they still got into the playoffs and knocked off a higher-ranked opponent in the first round, but even Ken King, the team's own president, admitted they “made a lot of 40-foot putts” along the way. The stats nerds will swear to you that that sort of thing has a way of catching up to a team, and since hockey is a game of math they're probably right. Better luck next year, Flames!

Carolina Hurricanes

A team that's finished no better than 12th in the conference over the past four years and hasn't made the playoffs since 2009 looks like a solid bet to extend both streaks this time around. The main culprit? An offense that tallied 183 goals last season, 27th in the league, and might be even worse this year.

Chicago Blackhawks

The defending champs should be in the mix to repeat, but the lingering stench of the Patrick Kane rape investigation, the loss of key players Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya and the hangover effect of a short, difficult summer could conspire to derail them early in the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche

Maybe the power play won't be quite as bad as the one that clicked at just 15 percent last season (second-to-last in the league). And maybe their brutal possession numbers under coach Patrick Roy (43.8 percent last season) will improve organically. And maybe...nah. This team is cannon fodder.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jackets won't have to worry about a crippling string of injuries crushing their dreams this season. Their wafer-thin blueline should derail them long before sick bay starts looking for extra beds.

Dallas Stars

Not to put too much weight on the preseason, but wasn't the goaltending supposed to be better this year? Somehow Kari Lehtonen went 0-3-0 with a 4.57 GAA and an .821 save percentage and Antti Niemi, signed as a free agent to push for the top job, went 1-2-0 with a 3.00 GAA and an .877 save percentage. Forget the Cup—at this rate, the Stars can count on missing the playoffs... again.

Detroit Red Wings

Mike Babcock is gone, replaced behind the bench by the promising but unproven Jeff Blashill. They aren't sure whether veteran Jimmy Howard is their starter or if playoff hero Petr Mrazek is ready for the role. They'll start the season with several key injuries, including the irreplaceable Pavel Datsyuk. And let's face it—that playoff streak has gotta end some time.

Edmonton Oilers

Before the arrival of Connor McDavid elicits visions of the next Stanley Cup parade, take a moment to consider Edmonton's defensive top-four: Andrej Sekera, Justin Schultz, Oscar Klefbom and Mark Fayne. The worst group in the league? Sure looks like it, eh?

Florida Panthers

The Panthers are counting on their maturing young core to bridge the seven-point gap that separated them from the playoffs last season. It might work—both Sasha Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau are poised for big years—but kids like these come with no guarantees. If they do make the cut, their D will make for a short stay. Asking Willie Mitchell to play top-four minutes is courting disaster.

Los Angeles Kings

No team will be happier to welcome the new three-on-three OT format than the Kings, who were an awful 3–15 in extra time games last season. While ground made up there should be enough to get them into the playoffs, an inconsistent offense and a feckless power play will trip them up.

Minnesota Wild

Two numbers to consider: .936 and .914. The first is the remarkable save percentage Devan Dubnyk posted after joining the Wild midway through last season. The second is Dubnyk's very pedestrian career save percentage. If Minnesota's most important player comes within five points of that average, the Wild can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price can't possibly be as good as he was last season, can he? He'd better be, because if the reigning MVP regresses even a little, Montreal's 20th-ranked offense and brutal possession game will drop this team into wild card territory...or worse.

Nashville Predators

The Preds have most of the pieces needed to mount a serious Cup challenge—elite goaltending from Pekka Rinne and a deep, talented blueline—but can any team dressing Mike Ribeiro, Matt Cullen, Cody Hodgson and Paul Gaustad as its four centers be taken seriously as contenders? Ribeiro and Cullen are both 35 and aging out quickly. Hodgson has washed out in Vancouver and Buffalo. Gaustad is strictly a two-zone player. That group's not up to the challenge of Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar and Tyler Seguin.

New Jersey Devils

Remember that pop-gun offense that outscored only the Coyotes and Sabres last season? Yeah, the Devils solved the problem by signing veteran castoffs Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty. May as well go ahead and order the champagne now.

New York Islanders

Are we really sure Jaroslav Halak is the answer in goal? Sure, he set a few franchise marks last season, and arguably kept the team afloat by himself in the first half. But he also bears most of the responsibility for his team's 2.73 goals-against average—23rd overall and the worst of any team that made the playoffs—and deserves a large share of the heat for a penalty kill that ranked 26th at just 78 percent. Hard to make any headway when you're not getting the stops.

New York Rangers

Remember last season when Henrik Lundqvist went down and Cam Talbot stepped in to save the day? Well, Talbot's manning the pipes in Edmonton now, leaving Antti Raanta and Magnus Hellberg as the fallbacks if the 33-year-old King is deposed. Anyone feel good about that? And while the Blueshirts have come close in each of the past two years, the additions of Emerson Etem, Jarret Stoll and Viktor Stalberg aren't likely to put them over the top.

Ottawa Senators

Hard to knock this team beyond saying they're good... but not good enough. The Sens are counting heavily on solid sophomore campaigns from Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone. The pair combined for 53 goals as rookies and might need to ramp that up to 60 to keep Ottawa in the hunt for a wild-card spot.

Philadelphia Flyers

Remember last season when Steve Mason delivered a Vezina-caliber performance (his .928 save percentage ranked third in the league) and the Flyers still were a bottom-10 team defensively? Unless they've cloned Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek, Philly won't score anywhere near enough to compensate for the pylons that man their blueline.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh's forwards might be hockey's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters, but they'll need to get the puck out of their own zone before they start whistling Sweet Georgia Brown. A defense of Kris Letang, Ian Cole, Olli Maatta, Ben Lovejoy, Rob Scuderi and Brian Dumoulin ranks in the bottom half of the league, maybe bottom third. Not exactly a championship foundation.

San Jose Sharks

Remember what happened to the last team that gambled on a Kings backup to become its starter? Keep poor Ben Scrivens in mind when you ponder what young Martin Jones—he of 29 career starts—can bring to a San Jose team that ranked 24th in team defense last season. He's been terrific in exhibition action, but he's yet to prove himself capable of facing a steady diet of NHL-caliber talent.

St. Louis Blues

Forget about winning the four consecutive playoff rounds it takes to capture the Cup. It'll be a stunner if the Blues can sneak past in the first round. That's a trick that St. Louis has managed just once in the past 13 seasons, despite finishing first or second in their division six times during that span.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Steven Stamkos contract will be the stick that gets jammed in the spokes of their season. Forget trying to play it down. Every time the Bolts cross the border the drama will kick into high gear and the assumption will grow that he’s wanted to test free agency all along. Imagine what this team could look like if he gets traded before the deadline...

Toronto Maple Leafs

I see what the problem is here. It's not that the Leafs have been stripped down for parts as they undertake an extensive rebuild. And it's not the lack of depth up front or a defense that allowed 33.5 shots against last season, second-most in the league. It's that they don't have enough good Ontario boys!

Vancouver Canucks

Ryan Miller is like the singer who can't quite hit the high notes anymore. He still reaches but he can't quite get them. Sort of like the pucks that keep finding the open corners of his net. Miller's career is in sharp decline, and backup Jacob Markstrom doesn't offer much in the way of insurance. Tough to win when you can't get a stop.

Washington Capitals

It's not a sketchy commitment to defense that's destined to sink the Capitals come playoff time. It's their overreliance on special teams. That's the common thread that binds their recent postseason flops. Calls are tougher to come by when it gets down to the marrow, and that's why stars like Alex Ovechkin (1-1-2 in his last five Game 7s) and Nicklas Backstrom (1-2-3 in his past nine) become peripheral players when it matters most. Until they figure out how to become beasts at five-on-five, the Caps are doomed to also-ran status.

Winnipeg Jets

No team felt more shame last season than the Jets, who spent more time in the box than any other team. Winnipeg played at least one man down for a league-high 521:46, which is a lousy way to conduct business when your PK ranks a middling 13th. Tough to win a championship with no self-discipline.

Published Oct 7, 2015

ADAM SAVARD AND DAVID STEVENSON