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2022-2023 NHL Season Preview: The Pacific Division

By Matt McGinnis

Edmonton Oilers, Zach Hyman #18, Calgary Flames, Jacob Markstrom #25 (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Edmonton Oilers, Zach Hyman #18, Calgary Flames, Jacob Markstrom #25 (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks, Trevor Zegras #46
Anaheim Ducks, Trevor Zegras #46 (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

While I only have them finishing in sixth place, I’m expecting the 2022-2023 season to be one of growth for the Seattle Kraken.

Last year looked as you might expect an expansion team to look in its first campaign, but with Justin Schultz and Andre Burakovsky signing in Seattle via free agency, the league’s 32nd franchise has added some much-needed experience this time around.

Plus, Seattle added Oliver Bjorgstrand in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This version of the Kraken feels much more established and dangerous, and if Philipp Grubauer can bounce back in goal, this group has an outside shot at the playoffs.

In fifth place, I’m predicting the Vegas Golden Knights, though I’m very conflicted when it comes to this team. I think hiring Bruce Cassidy to be the franchise’s new head coach was a great move, and the star power that Vegas boasts is virtually unrivaled.

With that said, this organization is in a difficult spot. Fans around the league have grown tired of the way the Golden Knights have treated coaches and players, and years of going all-in now have Vegas strapped for cash.

This team has no depth as a result, and there is no proven goaltender in the lineup. If Vegas reaches the postseason, it will be entirely based on the skill of the top lines, but I don’t think that alone will be enough to get the job done.

At fourth, and making the playoffs, I have the Anaheim Ducks. For the first half of last season, the Ducks hung around and looked poised to remain in the playoff hunt. However, their youth crept in, and it became clear that they were not yet ready to take that next step.

As the 2022-2023 season begins, though, I think they are ready to take that step. A plethora of free agent additions that includes Ryan Strome and John Klingberg will complement Anaheim’s young core, and that has the potential to be a lethal combination.

The Ducks are not a lock to qualify for the playoffs by any means, but there’s something about this team that I find exciting.

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