NHL season preview: Colorado Avalanche poised to repeat
The NHL's flat salary cap is causing issues for many of the top teams. Three of five best teams recordwise last season will have a new primary goaltender. Pacific Division winner Calgary lost two-thirds of its top line in free agency and the trade.
The NHL season starts Tuesday. Colorado Avalanche are favourites to repeat.
The defending champions will try to repeat without starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper or No. 2 center Nazem Kadri.
Minnesota Wild lost Kevin Fiala, but they have depth and one of the NHL's top farm systems.
St. Louis Blues have a scary forward group. The defense is still a question mark and the goalie is not Ville Husso.
Colorado Avalanche is the favorite to repeat their success. Nashville Predators were swept in the first round last season.
Pete DeBoer takes over a roster with plenty of young talent and some underperforming veterans.
Winnipeg Jets were not good enough to compete last season. New coach Rick Bowness might shake things up this season, but they are still not a team that deserves to be considered for the top pick.
Arizona Coyotes are moving to Arizona State this season. They are waiting for a new arena to be built.
It's rebuild time in Chicago. Alex DeBrincat was traded this offseason. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are next.
Edmonton Oilers are the last season's Western Conference runners-up. They promoted interim coach Jay Woodcroft and re-signed right wing Evander Kane. Jack Campbell is their starting goaltender.
Calgary Flames are reigning Pacific champions. They added Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar to replace Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.
Kevin Fiala joins a young team with plenty of room to improve. Los Angeles Kings need to score more goals to get back to the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks played at a 106-point pace in 57 games last season.
Colorado Avalanche are the favorite to repeat. Anaheim Ducks are a long way off from contention.
Seattle Kraken finished with the NHL's third-worst record in its inaugural season. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer needs to improve.
The San Jose Sharks have a lot of lean years ahead because of a salary-cap situation and a shallow prospect pool. New general manager Mike Grier tried to address the former by trading defenseman Brent Burns in the offseason.
Colorado Avalanche is the favorite to repeat as NHL champions. Toronto Maple Leafs haven't advanced past the first round since 2004. New goalie tandem Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov are tasked with changing that.
Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar are gone, so Florida Panthers have to make room for Matthew Tkachuk. New coach Paul Maurice will be tasked with getting the Presidents' Trophy winners to go deep in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning have been to the Stanley Cup Final three straight years and won it all twice. The Lightning played 26 more playoff games than anyone else in that span.
Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci return under new coach Jim Montgomery. Several key players are injured, so Boston Bruins could have a slow start.
Colorado Avalanche are the favorite to repeat their title. Ottawa Senators are making a jump after signing Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux.
Detroit splashed cash in the offseason after picking in top 10 the past six years.
Buffalo Sabres are developing young forwards and have a new defenseman in Owen Power. Goaltending is still a question.
Montreal Canadiens went from the 2021 Stanley Cup Final to the NHL's worst record in one season. New general manager Kent Hughes is trying to rebuild the club, starting with 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty should fit well together on Carolina Hurricanes.
Colorado Avalanche are the favorite to repeat their success. New York Rangers made it to the Eastern Conference Final last year.
Pittsburgh Penguins have a good team with Evgeni Malkin, Letang and Crosby.
Alexander Ovechkin has his ninth 50-goal season. Darcy Kuemper should be able to keep the Washington Capitals in the game.
New York Islanders lost 13 games on a 13-game season-opening road trip and due to COVID-19 delays last season. New coach Brad Lambert will try to right the ship.
The New Jersey Devils have a lot to be excited about with Jack Hughes and their forward group. However, the team's goalie is still a concern.
Johnny Gaudreau should provide some firepower for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team allowed the fifth-most goals in the NHL last season.
Philadelphia Flyers finished with the second-fewest goals in the league last season. John Tortorella has been hired as coach.
