One reason each NHL team should be excited for the 2018 season

Arizona Coyotes – An Exciting Team

The Arizona Coyotes haven’t made the playoffs since the 2011-12 season when the Los Angeles Kings beat them in the Western Conference Final. Since then, they’ve spent most of their days toiling in mediocrity. A huge reason for this is they’ve lacked an identity. The Coyotes have never had a franchise goalie or center to call their own.

With Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, and Dylan Strome, suddenly the Coyotes are looking strong down the middle.

Now they have a franchise defenseman to call their own, thanks to Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The likely future captain of the Coyotes made a huge statement, signing a massive eight-year extension to stay in Arizona.

Not only that, the Yotes have slowly built a team that should at least be exciting. Center depth used to be an issue for Arizona. With Derek Stepan, Alex Galchenyuk, and Dylan Strome, suddenly the Coyotes are looking strong down the middle.

Clayton Keller’s amazing rookie season got overshadowed by the likes of Brock Boeser and Mathew Barzal, but he still quenched the thirst of the star-thirsty desert dwellers. And with Antti Raanta in goal, the Coyotes finally have someone they can rely on in net.

It might not be this season. Heck, it likely won’t be this season. But for the first time, the Coyotes are starting to resemble a team that could sneak into the playoffs.

Boston Bruins – Marchand and Bergeron

Today’s NHL is built around star power. You’re not going anywhere without some stars in your lineup. The Boston Bruins have two of the brightest stars in the league in Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Not only that, they have an emerging one in David Pastrnak.

Bruins fans are familiar with this trio of forwards. They make one of the best, if not the best, forward lines in the NHL. In 535 minutes at five-on-five last season, the Bruins top trio dominated whenever they were on the ice.

the Bruins have the hardest part of the Stanley Cup puzzle figured out

With them on the ice, Boston controlled 58.86 percent of the shot attempts, 56.75 percent of the unblocked shot attempts, 55.12 percent of the shots on goal, and 57.45 percent of the scoring chances. The Bruins also outscored their opponents 28 to 16.

Last season, Boston’s elite trio finished first, second, and third on the team in goals, with each of them scoring at least 30. Combined, Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak scored 99 goals and accumulated 228 points.

The Bruins are still working on getting the right guys to back them up. As the Washington Capitals proved, that sometimes takes a while. But the Bruins have the hardest part of the Stanley Cup puzzle figured out. Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak show no signs of slowing down.

Buffalo Sabres – The Age of Dahlin

The Buffalo Sabres have been trying to take shortcuts throughout their rebuild. None of them have worked and the Sabres have suffered because of those feeble attempts. Under new general manager Jason Botterill, Buffalo has committed to rebuilding the right way. And yes, they got a bit lucky by finally winning the draft lottery.

This means the Sabres got to draft Rasmus Dahlin. He’s one of the best defensive prospects to come around in a very long time. Aaron Ekblad was drafted first overall in 2014 and even he didn’t have nearly as much hype surrounding him as Dahlin.

Aaron Ekblad was drafted first overall in 2014 and even he didn’t have nearly as much hype surrounding him as Dahlin.

The Sabres have put together a surprisingly strong team. Botterill has done a great job in his first 12 months on the job. He acquired Conor Sheary and Jeff Skinner while giving up zero first-round picks and zero roster players. The only meaningful assets Botterill had to give up to get both? A second-round pick and Cliff Pu, one of their top 10 prospects.

Though they are weaker without Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt should form an impressive duo down the middle. And their top six is sneaky good. In the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Sabres are all rebuilding. Only one of them seems to have any idea of what they’re doing. That would be Buffalo.

Calgary Flames – They’re Going For It

The Calgary Flames were one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL last season. Had it not been for the Edmonton Oilers, they likely would have been the biggest underachievers in the Western Conference. The Flames entered the 2017-18 season with a lot of hope and still didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It remains to be seen if the Flames did enough to upgrade despite giving up their best defenseman in Hamilton. But it’s clear Calgary isn’t rebuilding yet.

General Manager Brad Treliving could have blown up his roster, but he kept it mostly intact (excluding Michel Ferland and Dougie Hamilton). He fired head coach Glen Gulutzman, whose message got tired in the locker room and was never much of a strategy guy. The Flames hired former Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters to replace him.

Peters will have a talented roster to work with. The Flames went out of their way this offseason to address a major concern – their lack of right wing depth. Signing James Neal (who has experience as a right-wing) and Elias Lindholm should help significantly. The former should help them with their lack of finishing as well, as Neal has always been a good goal scorer.

Mike Smith did a better job last season than he got credit for. It remains to be seen if the Flames did enough to upgrade despite giving up their best defenseman in Hamilton. But it’s clear Calgary isn’t rebuilding yet.

Carolina Hurricanes – Sea Bass And Turbo

The Carolina Hurricanes have been toiling in mediocrity ever since their magical Stanley Cup run in 2005-06. If they don’t make the postseason in 2018-19, it will mark a full decade since their last playoff appearance. Their fanbase has been thirsty for some excitement. The Hurricanes top forward line duo of Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho are prepared to deliver.

Carolina’s been looking for a true top forward line for a while now. They might finally have one.

Together, the Finnish duo were simply outstanding. In about 733 five-on-five minutes together, they were extremely effective. When Aho and Teravainen were on the ice together, the Hurricanes controlled 56.77 percent of the shot attempts, 54.7 percent of the unblocked shot attempts, 53.88 percent of the shots on goal, and 56.09 percent of the scoring chances. Moreover, they outscored their opponents 42-31.

Teravainen and Aho proved they were better off without Jordan Staal, so the Hurricanes will have to try to find a more effective member for the top line duo. Especially since the former can play center. Maybe young forward Valentin Zykov could be that guy. In a 10 game sample size, he did extremely well with Tervainen and Aho.

Aho is only 21 and Teravianen will be merely 24 once the season starts. They’re only going to get better from here on out. Carolina’s been looking for a true top forward line for a while now. They might finally have one.

Chicago Blackhawks – The Year Of The Cat

2018, according to the Chinese, is “the year of the dog”. However, for the Chicago Blackhawks, the 2018-19 season should be different. It will be the year of the cat. The Alex DeBrincat, to be specific. Thanks to a loaded Calder Trophy class, his rookie season went largely unnoticed, as he finished 10th in the Calder Trophy race.

The dreaded sophomore slump has claimed many victims. DeBrincat should be able to avoid it completely.

It will be far more difficult for DeBrincat to go unnoticed after this season. Last season, he put up 52 points (29 goals and 23 assists). At the age of 20, DeBrincat led the Blackhawks in goals and finished tied for second in points. His 2.14 five-on-five points per hour were second on the team, trailing only Patrick Kane. While DeBrincat’s possession stats were not quite as good, they were still great considering it was his first NHL season.

DeBrincat should see even more playing time this season. Especially if he can prove his impressive stint on Jonathan Toews’s line was more than a blip on the radar. DeBrincat is an outstanding player in the offensive zone and showed he can handle his own on defense as well. That was always his biggest question mark as a project.

The dreaded sophomore slump has claimed many victims. DeBrincat should be able to avoid it completely.

Colorado Avalanche – A Strong Young Core

Few NHL teams will be younger than the Colorado Avalanche next year. Hart Trophy Finalist Nathan MacKinnon will be 23 years old once the season starts in October. Tyson Jost is just 20 years old and is well on his way to becoming a solid NHL player.

Young defenseman Samuel Girard, acquired in the Matt Duchene trade, will be just 20 years old as well. At 26 years old, Philip Grubauer is ready to prove he’s a starting goalie after posting outstanding numbers as a backup goalie for the Washington Capitals.

Colorado will be under pressure in 2018-19 to replicate their success from last season. But their core players are a year older and a year better.

The Avalanche added even more to their young core during the 2018 NHL Draft, drafting talented wing Martin Kaut in the first round. Mikko Rantanen had a breakout season, putting up 29 goals and 84 points alongside MacKinnon. Alexander Kerfoot was a surprising contributor, posting 43 points in 79 games after being signed as a college free agent.

Colorado will be under pressure in 2018-19 to replicate their success from last season. But their core players are a year older and a year better. Their core is much stronger than a lot of people want to believe. Most importantly, they own the Ottawa Senators’ 2019 first-round pick, and let’s just say there’s a really good chance that one’s going to be somewhere in the top three.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Mister Jones

The Columbus Blue Jackets made a might bold trade in January of 2016. They gave up an extremely talented, but disgruntled, center in Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators. In exchange, the Blue Jackets got young defenseman Seth Jones. Rarely do trades work out so well for both parties. Though the trade has worked out great for both sides, the Blue Jackets won the trade because Jones has emerged into a franchise defenseman.

Though the trade has worked out great for both sides, the Blue Jackets won the trade because Jones has emerged into a franchise defenseman.

Last season, he finished fourth in the Norris Trophy voting. Jones was also named a second-team All-Star as one of the top four defensemen in the NHL. This came after he set career highs with 16 points, 41 assists, and 57 points in 78 games. Jones also only had 30 penalty minutes, which is pretty impressive for someone who played nearly 2,000 minutes in the regular season.

The Blue Jackets defenseman will enter the 2018-19 season as one of the Norris Trophy favorites, and rightfully so. Jones will be just 24 years old when the season starts, so his best years are ahead of him. Much like last season, the Blue Jackets will ask him and his defensive partner Zach Werenski to continue to dominate. That’s all they’ve done together as a pairing. But Jones has emerged as the clear leader of the pairing, and of the Blue Jackets as well.

Dallas Stars – Montgomery’s Coming Home

The Dallas Stars have struggled in recent years thanks to their coaching. Lindy Ruff didn’t work out and was a huge reason for their 2016-17 collapse. The Ken Hitchcock experiment lasted only one season and the Stars faltered down the stretch.

It should come as no surprise that the Stars got sick and tired of having re-treads as their head coach. So Dallas got bold and thought outside of the box. Eventually, the Stars got their guy in former Stars forward Jim Montgomery.

Montgomery’s system should work well in Dallas and he will have some talented forwards to work with.

Everywhere he has gone, he has won. This includes a recent stint at Denver University, where he turned them into national champions. Montgomery’s track record of success extends to the USHL as well.

He entered this offseason as arguably the best available coaching candidate. Whatever the Stars did, it won Montgomery over. As recently as last summer, he was among the final candidates for an NHL job. However, Montgomery turned down the Los Angeles Kings and reportedly the Florida Panthers as well.

Montgomery will be under pressure to win right away in Dallas. He’ll have to get to the bottom of one of the biggest collapses in NHL history. Montgomery’s system should work well in Dallas and he will have some talented forwards to work with. Throughout his career, he’s coached his best when the stakes are the highest. So don’t be surprised to see Montgomery flourish in his first NHL season.

Detroit Red Wings: Larkin-mania

Times are tough for the Detroit Red Wings. Gone are the days of their impressive postseason streak. The days of the Red Wings consistent dominance are over. So might Henrik Zetterberg’s career. However, Detroit is not without reason for optimism. Even the most pessimistic fan should be excited about Dylan Larkin.

And if the captain is done, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the Red Wings are going to turn to. Larkin seems ready for that pressure.

It’s rare to see hometown boys play for their team, but Larkin’s a Michigan product. He even went to college at the University of Michigan. It’s always fun to cheer for guys like that. And it certainly helps when they are as great as Larkin.

After a sophomore slump, questions were raised about the young forward. Larkin answered those questions emphatically with his best season as a pro. He set career highs with 47 assists and 63 points. Larkin emerged as one of the Red Wings’ better penalty killers as well. He saw his average time on ice per game increased from 16:09 to 19:51.

Now, even if Zetterberg isn’t quite done yet, Larkin’s brand spanking new five-year deal suggests he has already taken the torch from his captain. And if the captain is done, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the Red Wings are going to turn to. Larkin seems ready for that pressure.

Edmonton Oilers – Captain Connor

The Edmonton Oilers are a hard team to figure out. They obviously aren’t as bad as they were last season. But at the same time, the Oilers clearly aren’t as good as they were in 2016-17. They proved this last season. The best thing that can be said for the Oilers’ offseason is that general manager Peter Chiarelli didn’t make any panic moves.

So why do the Oilers have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup? Because they happen to have the best player in the world in Connor McDavid. Through his first three seasons, the Oilers captain has picked up two Art Ross Trophies, two Ted Lindsay Awards as the players’ choice for MVP, and a Hart Trophy.

Even if the Oilers are a horrible team, McDavid is worth the price of admission every single game.

Frankly, McDavid probably should have won the Hart in 2017-18 too, especially when you consider he posted even better numbers last season than he did in 2016-17, when he won the award.

Edmonton has a generational talent to build around. Now it’s up to the Oilers and Chiarelli to put together the right complementary pieces. McDavid is the kind of player who can elevate the play of those around him.

Even if the Oilers are a horrible team, McDavid is worth the price of admission every single game.

Florida Panthers – An Incredible Top Six

The Florida Panthers nearly made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. They nearly had a Cinderella run that would have put even the 2014-15 Ottawa Senators run to shame. The Panthers went 25-8-2 over their last 35 games, but narrowly missed out on the postseason.

How did they do it? By having one of the best top-six forward cores in the NHL. Aleksander Barkov is arguably the NHL’s most underrated player. But if he keeps on doing what he did last season, this title won’t belong to him for long.

This group is way too good to not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vincent Trocheck is among those competing with Barkov for that lofty title. It’s remarkable how little people talk about someone who has three consecutive seasons with at least 50 points, especially considering he nearly had a point per game in 2017-18 (75 points in 82 games).

Jonathan Huberdeau is among the NHL’s best wing, posting 69 points in 82 games last season. Evgeny Dadonov was a questionable addition last summer, but it appears his time in the KHL helped him develop immensely as a player. He posted 65 points in 74 games. Nick Bjugstad put up 49 points in 82 games.

The addition of young forward Henrik Borgstrom could give the top six a much-needed boost. Florida managed to not make the playoffs despite having an outstanding top two forward lines. Failure to do so again shouldn’t be tolerated. This group is way too good to not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings – Gabriel Vilardi

The Los Angeles Kings have struggled to score for years. Fans were hoping this would change with the firing of Darryl Sutter and the hiring of John Stevens. But the Kings, as is tradition, were a below average scoring team (17th out of 31 in goals scored). Their offensive issues were highlighted in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Vegas Golden Knights held them to just three goals in four games.

It’s questionable if the Kings top prospect is truly ready for the NHL. But given their immense offensive struggles last season, they might not be able to resist what Vilardi brings to the table.

Even the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk, if it works out, isn’t going to make the Kings that much better on offense. However, the potential addition of 2017 first-round pick Gabriel Vilardi could very well transform them into Stanley Cup contenders.

After dealing with injuries early, he made his 2017-18 season debut in January. And dear goodness did Vilardi dominate. After posting 61 points in 49 games in his draft year, he posted an outstanding 58 points in 32 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. Additionally, Vilardi was stellar in the postseason, accumulating 22 more points in 16 games.

It’s questionable if the Kings top prospect is truly ready for the NHL. But given their immense offensive struggles last season, they might not be able to resist what Vilardi brings to the table. At the very least, he’s proven he’s learned about everything he can from junior hockey. It’s time for him to get a promotion.

Minnesota Wild – The Evolution of Dumba

Ryan Suter has been the heart and soul of the Minnesota Wild blueline ever since signing with them in 2012. However, a terrible ankle injury last season puts some understandable doubt into his future. Suter appears ready to come back healthy. But even if he doesn’t, the Wild should be fine because of Mathew Dumba.

The 2018-19 season could be the year when the student (Dumba) finally passes the teacher (Suter).

Last season, he posted impressive totals. His previous career-high in points was 34. Dumba shattered that with 14 goals, 36 assists, and 50 points (all career-bests). He’s emerged as a very valuable weapon, posting 12 power-play points, including two power-play goals.

The 2018-19 season could be the year when the student (Dumba) finally passes the teacher (Suter). Suter is mighty lucky to still be able to play. Ankle injuries are brutal and obviously affect you as a hockey player. Dumba’s health is much more of a certainty. And he’s just 24 years old, meaning his best years are most likely ahead of him.

Though Suter should still be a workhorse and should be assumed to be one until he proves otherwise given his outstanding history of being able to take on huge minutes, Dumba will help ease the pressure on his 33-year-old teammate. The Wild will likely have to ease Suter back into the lineup. Because as much as he claims to be healthy, deep down, that’s probably not the complete truth.

Montreal Canadiens – A Pair Of Young Snipers

The Montreal Canadiens struggled immensely to score goals last season. Even team captain Max Pacioretty, who is usually as consistent as they come, had a down year with just 17 goals after scoring 35 in 2016-17.

However, two players stand out – Charles Hudon and Arturri Lehkonen. The former had a shooting percentage of just 5.6 percent while the latter’s was 7.3 percent. Given their respective histories as prospects, it’s safe to assume they should improve in 2018-19.

Hudon and Lehkonen are both great shooters who were cursed by bad luck last season. The addition of Domi should help expedite their improvements.

The addition of Max Domi should help significantly as well. He’s one of the best playmakers in the league. Domi’s assist rates are among the best in the NHL. He might not be the goal scorer that Alex Galchenyuk is (which makes the straight Domi for Galchenyuk trade a confusing one), but he should still be able to make a huge impact.

Hudon and Lehkonen didn’t score much in 2017-18. Combined, they had 22 goals in 138 games. However, their shot attempt numbers are quite encouraging. Among the 301 forwards with at least 700 five-on-five minutes, Lehkonen had the 18th-highest individual shot attempts per hour rate at even strength while Hudon had the 44th-highest.

Expect both of them to do much better in 2018-19. Hudon and Lehkonen are both great shooters who were cursed by bad luck last season. The addition of Domi should help expedite their improvements.

Nashville Predators – The Best Blueline In The NHL

The Nashville Predators have a proud tradition of having a great blueline. It used to be led by the likes of Kimmo Timonen, Shea Weber, and Ryan Suter. These days, the vaunted Predators defense is led by P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis. The 2018-19 cast of Nashville defensemen might be their best one yet.

Subban requires no introduction. He’s a three-time Norris Trophy finalist and has won the award once. Subban has set a high bar for himself with his consistently stellar numbers. But last season was one for the ages. Subban’s 59 points fell just short of his career high of 60 points, set back in 2014-15.

The 2018-19 cast of Nashville defensemen might be their best one yet.

Josi put up 53 points, which is remarkably a bit of a down year for him. However, it’s worth noting he’s been taking on more of a defensive role at even strength as of late. Josi remains a lethal threat on the power-play, posting 20 points there in 2017-18.

Everybody knows about Subban and Josi, but Ekholm is a bit of an unknown. This shouldn’t be the case for much longer. Ekholm, much like Subban, narrowly missed setting a career-high in points. His 34 points were just short of his 35 points in 2015-16. Ellis came back strong from an injury and enters the 2018-19 season hoping to earn himself a huge payday.

Combined with the addition of Dan Hamhuis, the Predators boast the deepest, most outstanding blueline in the NHL.

New Jersey Devils – A Hopefully Healthy Johansson

The New Jersey Devils were one of the biggest surprises in the NHL last season. Besides the Vegas Golden Knights (who literally had zero expectations) and the Colorado Avalanche (who were historically bad the previous season), no team took the league by surprise as much as the Devils did.

Everyone projected them to finish among the worst teams in the league. But it turns out their young players were a bit better than everyone anticipated. Players like Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood took significant steps forwards.

Obviously, Johansson probably won’t put up 58 points, like he did in 2016-17 with the Caps. But the Devils need him to be a consistent contributor, something he has proven he can be.

Going into the 2018-19 season, the Devils will have to look internally for any improvements. They’ll be turning to Marcus Johansson for a bit of help. Last summer, the Washington Capitals traded him to the Devils for salary cap reasons. Now, Johansson is not a star. But he’s a darn good player who has evolved into a very good two-way forward. Those are mighty hard to find.

Unfortunately, the usually durable Johansson suffered numerous injuries, including a terrible concussion caused by Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. So the Devils never got to see what he could do.

Obviously, Johansson probably won’t put up 58 points, like he did in 2016-17 with the Caps. But the Devils need him to be a consistent contributor, something he has proven he can be.

New York Islanders – Some Long Overdue Changes

The New York Islanders will enter the 2018-19 season still licking their wounds from the loss of captain John Tavares. But there are still two huge reasons for optimism. The first? Lou Lamoriello.

Though it’s questionable that he’s a general manager at this point, everywhere he has gone, he has won. If the Islanders can find a general manager, Lamoriello can remain the President of Hockey Operations, where he is much better suited. He gives the Islanders something their front office hasn’t had in well over two decades – credibility.

Trotz has experience turning around franchises. Not only did he help the Nashville Predators get to where they are today, he turned a struggling Capitals organization into a thriving one.

The second change was bringing in Stanley Cup winning head coach Barry Trotz. He’s been a head coach in the NHL for over 20 years. Trotz has experience turning around franchises. Not only did he help the Nashville Predators get to where they are today, he turned a struggling Capitals organization into a thriving one.

Trotz has a long road ahead of him. When he took over in Washington, he had a ton of talent to work with. Though Mathew Barzal should thrive even without Tavares and Anders Lee is in the discussion for being the most underrated player in the league, the Islanders lack the star power of the Capitals.

But hey, that’s why they’re paying Trotz the big bucks. And he’s fully capable of making the Islanders respectable and consistently relevant for the first time in years.

New York Rangers – Buchnevich Unleashed

Former New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault committed a lot of transgressions behind the bench. Arguably his worst one was his misuse of gifted forward Pavel Buchnevich. Though he was one of the Rangers’ most productive forwards, he was also among their least used at five-on-five. And it wasn’t just Buchnevich. Ask any Rangers fan and they’d air out their grievances, listing a number of other players just like him who were misused.

Sometimes all a player needs is a fresh start. That’s precisely what Buchnevich will be getting under new head coach David Quinn. Props to the Rangers for finally acting like the wealthiest team in the NHL, paying him enough money to make him leave his dream job at Boston University.

What stands out to me about Quinn is he gets his best players playing time. He’s not afraid to bench anyone or cut anyone’s playing time. Buchnevich should thrive under him, as Quinn will love his outstanding skills with the puck.

Going into the last season of his entry-level contract, he will be under pressure to produce. Given Buchnevich’s lack of playing time, his production is noteworthy. He’s immensely skilled and just needs a coach to let him grow. All signs point to Quinn being that guy.

Ottawa Senators: A Fun Young Defenseman

The 2017-18 Ottawa Senators season was a tirefire. That’s putting it about as politely as possible. Going into the 2018-19 season, Senators fans are rightfully pesimistic about their team’s future. Not only are Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Matt Duchene likely goners, but their owner has fans putting up billboards demanding accountability.

However, even in the darkest days for the Senators, there is a shining light. That light comes in the form of young defenseman Thomas Chabot. He had an impressive rookie season, putting up 25 points in 63 games.

The Senators need more guys like Chabot moving forward. And, at 21 years old, his best years are ahead of him.

Despite being in a third pairing role, Chabot looked really impressive whenever he was on the ice. Among Senators defensemen who played at least 500 minutes, his five-on-five relative CorsiFor percentage of 3.25 ranked second, trailing only Karlsson.

Chabot also has a hint of personality in him, which is always fun to see. He’s a great guy and is a ton of fun to root for. The Senators need more guys like Chabot moving forward. And, at 21 years old, his best years are ahead of him. Expect to see Chabot play a larger role this season, and an even larger one once Karlsson inevitably gets traded or leaves via free agency. The Senators have a great player in him.

Philadelphia Flyers – The Best Defenseman No One’s Talking About

The Philadelphia Flyers have a ton of reasons to be excited for next season. James van Riemsdyk is back where he belongs in black and orange. Sean Couturier should be healthy and is coming off a breakout season. A year after looking like he was on the decline, captain Claude Giroux came storming back, putting up triple digits in points.

However, the most exciting thing about the Flyers is a young defenseman who not nearly enough people are talking about – Ivan Provorov. Whenever people discuss the best young players in the NHL, unless a Flyers fan is involved, it takes a while for his name to get mentioned. That is, if Provorov is even mentioned.

This is partially understandable. After all, he doesn’t have an awesome name like Shayne Gostisbehere. The Ghost Bear also puts up more points than Provorov, so naturally, he gets more attention.

However, this season should be the year everyone starts talking about him. Provorov has been consistently improving the past two seasons, posting his first 40 point season last year. He also scored 17 goals. It’s easy to overlook Provorov because of the guys around him. But expect him to make that impossible this season. Provorov should become more of a household name during the 2018-19 season.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Another Year of Crosby and Malkin

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the envy of the NHL. They have two of the top five centers in the league on the same team. Sidney Crosby is still one of the best around and Evgeni Malkin is almost always among the league leaders in points per game. Every year those two take the ice, Penguins fans should be thanking their lucky stars.

Crosby is now 31 and Malkin is 32. This is usually when players start to decline. In some ways, Crosby and Malkin have already started. They are probably past those days when they were both in the Hart Trophy conversation. But this doesn’t mean Crosby and Malkin aren’t still outstanding players who are two of the best skaters in the world.

Even though age isn’t on their side, don’t count them out. Crosby and Malkin have the skill necessary to laugh in the face of Father Time. As long as those two guys are healthy, the Penguins will always have a chance of winning the Stanley Cup. The Pens have already won three Stanley Cups with Crosby and Malkin. And they might not even be done yet.

Penguins fans, don’t ever take Crosby and Malkin foregranted. Cherish them. Be in awe of everything they do. It’s OK. Because once they’re gone, you’ll probably never see a duo in Pittsburgh like those two again.

San Jose Sharks – The Most Interesting Team In The World

The San Jose Sharks are on the verge of greatness. They’re consistently contenders but haven’t been able to bring home a Stanley Cup. Considering a team fitting that precise description won the Stanley Cup a few months ago, people should have their eyes on the Sharks.

There are some other reasons you should as well. First of all, defenseman Brent Burns is perhaps the most fascinating athlete in all of sports. How many other athletes possess such a great toothless grin and such a long beard? Burns also have a fun fashion sense, as his supply of plaid suits are seemingly endless. He’s basically a hippie living in the modern day. How can you not love someone like that?

San Jose is a team to watch because they’re in a position to make a huge move.

And then there’s Joe “Jumbo Joe” Thornton. He’s the only hockey player who can boast his beard is better than Burns’. Thornton is also getting older, as he’s 39 years old and has suffered two significant knee injuries in just over 12 months. This could be his last season.

Evander Kane provides the Sharks with a bit of scoring that they have lacked in recent years. Sure, it was risky signing him to a long-term deal. But San Jose is trying to win a Stanley Cup for Thornton. Kane unquestionably makes the Sharks better right now, which is all they really care about.

Finally, San Jose is a team to watch because they’re in a position to make a huge move. Could they trade for Max Pacioretty? Might Erik Karlsson be their cup of tea? They have a ton of cap space and general manager Doug Wilson has a history of getting what he wants, no matter what the cost.

St. Louis Blues – Most Improved Team In The NHL

Ask any St. Louis Blues fan what they hate the most about their team and you’ll likely hear how they never “go for it”. They rarely get involved in free agency, for better or for worse. Now, you can have success without diving into free agency. But you’d better be amazing at drafting, which the Blues aren’t.

This summer, though, was different. The Blues, coming off a historic collapse that saw them miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, made some huge chances. On July 1, St. Louis was remarkably active, signing center Tyler Bozak, goaltender Chad Johnson, and forward David Perron. Yes, the Blues and Perron are back together. They’re the Ross and Rachel of the NHL.

However, their biggest move came via a trade. The Blues traded for Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly. What’s most impressive is they managed to do it without parting with any of their top young prospects. Tage Thompson isn’t a scrub by any means, but he was expendable. Guys like Robert Thomas aren’t.

The Central Division should prove to be a dogfight, as it usually is. This time around, the Blues are well equipped to come out as one of the top teams in the division. Their team lacked depth last year. Fast forward one year later, not too many teams can boast their overall strength. Jake Allen is an enigma, but if the Blues can help him be better, he’s good enough to bring a Stanley Cup to St. Louis.

Tampa Bay Lightning – The Next Dream Team

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a lot of success recently. They’ve been to three of the past four Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Lightning have won just one of them. They later lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final. The past two times, they’ve gone to seven games, losing each time.

Last season, the Lightning were an amazing team, even though they basically slept through the second half. This season, they could be even better if they can find a way to get Karlsson from the Senators.

If the Bolts find a way to do it, the Lightning would have arguably the first “dream team” of the salary cap era. They’d have a defense featuring 2018 Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman, along with Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner. In goal, the Lightning have Andrei Vasilevskiy, a budding goaltender who was a Vezina Trophy Finalist last season.

Even if they don’t manage to get Karlsson, few teams are as talented as the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos are two of the best players in the NHL. Brayden Point is quickly becoming a star. Not to mention Yanni Gourde, who might have had the quietest 64 point season I’ve ever seen.

Toronto Maple Leafs – The Big Four

The Toronto Maple Leafs used to have a “big three”. This trio consisted of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. They were consecutive first-round picks from 2014 to 2016. The Leafs hit a home run with each pick, giving the Leafs three outstanding young forwards. This trio has grown into a quartet with the signing of John Tavares.

This season’s Leafs team might be one of the best in franchise history. Which is saying a lot considering they are an Original Six team. Not only do the Leafs have Matthews and Tavares, they also have Nazem Kadri, who had 30 goals last season. This gives Toronto a trio of centers that maybe only the Pittsburgh Penguins can match.

Teams are going to have a very hard time trying to match up against the Leafs. They’ll have three scoring lines and potentially a fourth one in their fourth line. If Toronto decides to go with a more skilled fourth line, at least one of their lines is going to be facing a mismatch in their favor. It should be interesting to see how head coach Mike Babcock creates his lines and juggles them throughout their games.

Tavares gives the Leafs another dynamic player and a center who can help ease the massive burden placed on Matthews.

Vancouver Canucks – The Future Is Now

The Vancouver Canucks have been stuck in a rut ever since the 2014-15 season. They surprisingly made the playoffs, but got eliminated in the first round by the Calgary Flames. Since then, the Canucks have been trending downards. To make matters worse, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are no longer playing, which ends an era in their franchise history.

But a new one is beginning. One that could lead the Canucks to the Stanley Cup. This season should be when Vancouver starts passing the torch on to their younger players. Brock Boeser had an outstanding rookie season and is already one of the best goal scorers around. Bo Horvat is entering his best years and has emerged as a legit first line center.

2017 first-round pick Elias Pettersson should make his NHL debut at some point this season. Heck, there’s a good chance he’ll make the Opening Night roster. Pettersson has put up historically great numbers overseas and has all the tools you want to see in a franchise center.

Adam Gaudette is another guy to keep an eye on. He’s likely going to be a top-nine forward at best, but he can certainly score goals. Goaltender Thatcher Demko made his NHL debut last season and could be up for good at some point this season, depending on what the Canucks do with Anders Nilsson.

There’s been a lot of pain for Canucks fans over the past few years. But this year should be a lot of fun to watch for them.

Vegas Golden Knights – A Team To Be Proud Of

It will be hard for the Vegas Golden Knights to outdo themselves this season. Last season, the Knights became the first expansion team since the St. Louis Blues to make the Stanley Cup Final. They eventually fell to the Washington Capitals, but hockey is well and alive in Las Vegas.

The Knights have already proved a lot of people wrong. So it’s not like it’s anything new for them to be facing those who doubt them. Vegas improved a bit this summer, signing center Paul Stastny from the Winnipeg Jets. They also managed to re-sign all of their restricted free agents, including defenseman Colin Miller and center William Karlsson.

Some might criticize their extension of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, but hey, that’s something they had to do. Fleury is the face of a franchise filled with a self-described bunch of misfits. The team lives and dies by him.

As great as the Knights were last season, they could be just as good, if not better, this season. Most of their best players are either young or just entering their prime years. No, Karlsson probably won’t score on 24 percent of his shots on goal again. But he might not need to if guys like Tomas Tatar and Erik Haula can continue to step up.

Washington Capitals – Back To Back?

The Washington Capitals are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. After years of falling short of their lofty goal, the Caps broke through last season. They overcame a lot of adversity in order to do so, including a 2-0 series deficit in the first round against the Blue Jackets.

This season brings a new challenge to the Capitals – repeat as champions. At the parade, the Caps started a “back to back” chant, implying they’re up for the new obstacle of being the champions. It should be interesting to see how the Capitals deal with their great expectations. Last season, the Caps seemed to do well as the underdogs. Now they’re going to be the team everyone’s gunning for.

Luckily, the Capitals are bringing back most of their roste from last season. The only meaningful players they lost this offseason were center Jay Beagle and backup goalie Philipp Grubauer. Alex Ovechkin has tasted victory, and knowing him, he’s going to want to keep on tasting it. Both literally and figuratively.

New head coach Todd Reirden has some huge shoes to fill as he’ll be replacing Barry Trotz. But its’ worth noting he was a huge reason for their success last season. In fact, Reirden helped trade deadline acquisition Michal Kempny get up to speed very quickly. Kempny wound up playing a huge role for them down the stretch and in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets – Future’s So Bright

The Winnipeg Jets had their best season in franchise history in 2017-18. For the first time, they won a playoff game. And then the Jets won their first playoff series. After that, they made it to the Conference Final for the first time. Even though the Jets lost in five games to the Golden Knights and later lost Stastny to them in free agency, their future is still extremely bright.

Patrik Laine has been one heck of a goal scorer so far in his NHL career. Many consider him the most likely candidate to unseat Ovechkin from his goal scoring throne. Laine has 80 goals in his first two seasons and he isn’t even old enough to drink alcohol in America legally. It remains to be seen if he can truly remain a guy who can sustain an 18 percent shooting percentage, but so far, he’s done it.

Mark Scheifele has one of the best contracts in the NHL. He had his second straight season averaging at least a point per game with 60 points in 60 games. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Scheifele added 14 goals and six assists for 20 points in just 17 games.

Connor Hellebuyck has emerged as one of the best goalies in the NHL. He finished last season as a Vezina Trophy finalist. It’ll be up to Hellebuyck to repeat last year’s performance.