The Charlie Kelly Tier
Anaheim Ducks
Last season: 44-25-13 (101 points), Eliminated by San Jose in First Round
Summer Changes: Nothing crazy.
Trending: Down
The Ducks you know about are starting to enter the downswing of their careers. Corey Perry is having a harder time scoring, Ryan Kesler is having a harder time staying on the ice, and Ryan Getzlaf is having trouble with the injury bug as well. However, they also have a budding star in Rickard Rakell, top prospect Sam Steel ready to make a statement, and key players Adam Henrique, Cam Fowler, and Josh Manson all in their prime in front of freshly locked up goalie John Gibson. This team could finish high if everyone stays healthy, or plummet if they don’t.
Arizona Coyotes
Last season: 29-41-12 (70 points)
Summer Changes: Swapped Max Domi for Alex Galchenyuk, signed Michael Grabner, got Hossa’s contract, and gave Oliver Ekman-Larsson a C.
Trending: Up
After a brutal start to last season, the Coyotes had way too much ground to cover to get back into a playoff hunt, but they were not a doormat down the stretch. Clayton Keller, Derek Stepan, and Antti Raanta led a late season charge that showed that they’re to be taken seriously nowadays. They probably won’t make too much noise this year, but with Raanta playing excellent goal when healthy, we don’t know what a full season with him around can bring. It could lead to a big surprise for all we know.
Chicago Blackhawks
Last season: 33-39-10 (76 points)
Summer Changes: Didn’t sign Scott Foster long-term, signed Chris Kunitz, Cam Ward, and Brandon Manning on the same day, traded Marian Hossa to the Coyotes, and that’s about it.
Trending: Down
Despite the presence of the old guard from the dynasty, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith, the Hawks went into a freefall after Corey Crawford’s season succumbed to injury. With a very top heavy salary cap situation, injury trouble, and aging players, the Blackhawks seem to finally be paying their dues for all their winning ways of the past decade. They have a couple of young pieces to look forward to, such as Alex DeBrincat, but if Crawford can’t get back to form, who knows what we’ll get in Chicago.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Last season: 45-30-7 (97 points), Eliminated by Washington in First Round
Summer Changes: Signed Riley Nash and Anthony Duclair, let a few pieces drift.
Trending: Steady
The young core of the Jackets is full of stars, such as Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, and Pierre-Luc Dubois. They have a good supporting cast, and good leadership under coach John Tortorella. Their two best players make them a wild card team, though. Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky are both in contract years, and neither made any move toward signing an extension.
If Columbus can’t get them signed, and if they fall on hard luck before the deadline, they may have to trade the backbone of the team before they lose them for nothing. It’s one of the more intriguing story to monitor as the days go on. If they stay, the team can easily contend. If they are forced out, the team may fall hard.
Edmonton Oilers
Last season: 36-40-6 (78 points)
Summer Changes: Signed Tobias Rieder and Mikko Koskinen, nothing too much else.
Trending: Oilers
The Oilers were so much fun to watch in the playoffs two seasons ago. One would think that with the team mostly intact, and holding the most talented player in the league (Connor McDavid), they’d go right back to where they were.
But, everyone besides McDavid and Leon Draisaitl forgot to show up during the season, and the Oilers returned to the doldrums. The forward group is oozing with young talent, and the defense looks like it can handle itself on paper, and Cam Talbot can be good at times.
With expectations high yet again, who knows what the Oilers would do this season? All we know is mass hysteria will rain down, one way or another.