EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIt has been nearly three months since the Carolina Hurricanes raised the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history. Since then, the 2026 draft brought a new wave of prospects to each team, and there was a whirlwind of activity on both the trade and free agency fronts.But now, with the temperatures getting cooler, and many more pumpkin-flavored items hitting the shelves, it's almost time for hockey to return.To help get you fully prepared for the coming weeks of the preseason -- as teams make final decisions on rosters, lineups and goaltending tandems -- let's take a look at the biggest lingering question for all 32 clubs, thanks to ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark (Western Conference) and Kristen Shilton (Eastern Conference).How to watch the 2026-27 NHL season on ESPN networks -- including 100 exclusive games and the out-of-market package (over 1,050 games).Atlantic DivisionBoston BruinsHow will they respond to a roster retool?The Bruins meant business when they picked up JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in June for a pair of first-round picks. Peterka's numbers last season were average -- 25 goals and 47 points in 82 games -- but he's only 24 and has potential to be a breakout skater for the B's. Or so they hope.Peterka was the centerpiece of Boston's offseason acquisitions that otherwise notably included the return of Connor Clifton and trade addition of Will Borgen. Meanwhile, Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke departed in free agency, leaving Boston without a top-five scorer and minute-munching defenseman.The Bruins will now look inward -- perhaps to James Hagens cracking the roster full time after getting his feet wet with two NHL games last season. But that's still a "what if" -- one of a few for Boston as they head into coach Marco Sturm's second season. General manager Don Sweeney still hasn't locked in a new deal for restricted free agent Matthew Poitras, although there's time left. Poitras spent most of 2025-26 with the AHL's Providence Bruins, but there is space for him at the NHL level if he's ready. How the Bruins put all of their pieces together will be a fascinating scene.Buffalo SabresDoes Buffalo need a workhorse goaltender?It's an open secret the Sabres are trying to trade for Connor Hellebuyck. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner wants out of Winnipeg -- where he remains signed through 2030-31 with an $8.5 million annual cap hit -- and Buffalo could use a dominant presence in the crease.Buffalo got through the regular season and ended its historic playoff drought last season via a goaltending tandem of Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. That duo eventually struggled late in the postseason run as Buffalo blew its shot at an Eastern Conference finals appearance.Going back and forth between netminders isn't always a viable long-term strategy, and investing in a player of Hellebuyck's caliber ideally makes Buffalo a significant threat in the Atlantic again this season. At 33, Hellebuyck has the experience and impressive rsum to elevate Buffalo's most glaring area of need. The issue -- beyond Winnipeg appearing in no hurry to honor Hellebuyck's trade request -- is that while he earned individual hardware (including a Hart Trophy in 2025) and a gold medal at the 2026 Olympics, his NHL postseason record (24-34) has left something to be desired. Is that a reflection on him, or the Jets? We won't know until Hellebuyck suits up somewhere else.Will Buffalo give in to Winnipeg's demands to make a preseason splash? And if the Sabres can't land Hellebuyck -- what will they do to ensure goaltending doesn't halt their progress again?Detroit Red WingsHow will the new GM right the ship?This a two-parter for the Red Wings. It starts with who is going to replace Steve Yzerman as the team's general manager? Yzerman stepped down in July, and the search for a replacement has been mostly quiet since then (other than Detroit Tigers assistant GM Jeff Greenberg pointedly removing himself from the candidate conversation).What hasn't been so silent is the reverberations around captain Dylan Larkin's ongoing standoff with the team following his June trade request. The club is under no obligation to let Larkin go to one of his few desired landing spots -- the 30-year-old is under contract through 2030-31 with an $8.7 million AAV -- and even if the Red Wings wanted to play ball, any return has to reflect Larkin's status as one of Detroit's top skaters (with 67 points in 74 games last season).It's a lot of drama for the incoming GM to tackle right away. If Larkin stays, how does that affect team chemistry? Does he retain the captaincy? The still-unnamed GM should have an easier time with another internal issue though -- getting RFA Simon Edvinsson's next deal done so he's ready to be in the lineup. Whomever fills Yzerman's shoes will just have to show their mettle in a hurry.Florida PanthersWill a facelift help them bounce back?It was strange to see the Panthers outside the playoff mix last season -- but perhaps it was inevitable they'd slide down the standings following multiple championship runs (and minus captain Aleksander Barkov for the season).But this isn't the same team it was in 2025-26. The Panthers broke the internet -- again -- trading for Brady Tkachuk to enhance a top-six forward group headlined by his brother, Matthew Tkachuk. The bottom half of Florida's lineup looks different as well, with Mackie Samoskevich, Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist gone in free agency and veterans Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway added.Another critical transition for Florida is in the crease now that long-time starter Sergei Bobrovsky signed as a free agent in Toronto and has been replaced by the often-inconsistent Jacob Markstrom (working with a new backup too in Akira Schmid). GM Bill Zito has never shied away from shaking things up. Has he pushed the right buttons here again?Montreal CanadiensAre the young stars ready to take the next step?The Canadiens are fresh off an Eastern Conference finals appearance, and though Montreal ultimately fell against the eventual Stanley Cup champions, there was a litany of positives to mull over in the offseason.The team leaned on its rising stars to perform last spring, and what will propel Montreal forward this fall is the development of those same players.All eyes will be on Jakub Dobes to stand out as Montreal's definitive No. 1 starter -- he inked a three-year contract extension in June (with an AAV of $5.357 million) that reflects of how he backstopped the Canadiens' incredible run.Forward Ivan Demidov also got paid this summer, with an eight-year, $73.2 million deal that put Montreal's full faith behind the 20-year-old to build off a rookie campaign in which he led all first-year players in scoring (with 62 points in 82 games).Juraj Slafkovsky's growth -- and superb postseason production -- is also exciting for Montreal to monitor, as his line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki was a difference-maker.The Canadiens have chosen to run it back. GM Kent Hughes didn't target outside help to address a potential need at second-line center or infuse the bottom six with some pop. Montreal is betting on its collection of burgeoning young stars to be a top contender in the East again.Ottawa SenatorsIs Ottawa ready to break out after saying goodbye to Tkachuk?A change can do you good ... or so the song goes. The Senators brokered a deal with Florida in June to honor Brady Tkachuk's trade request. It was a tough break on multiple fronts; Tkachuk is a consistent point-per-game producer and carried leadership responsibilities within the group, so there is a notable gap to fill.Getting William Eklund from San Jose one day after the Tkachuk deal gave Ottawa an immediate option next to Tim Stutzle on Ottawa's top line, while infusing some renewed hope into their entire offensive operation. Andre Burakovsky was also brought in and carries with him championship-caliber experience to benefit the Senators on and off the ice. And with Tkachuk gone, there could be fresh opportunities for incumbents such as Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens.The best-case scenario is that the Senators shift into a different gear up front in the wake of their former captain's departure. Couple that with Linus Ullmark picking up where he left off in a personally excellent postseason and the Senators could be more than one-and-done in the playoffs again.It's time for Ottawa to embrace being maybe not a better team without Tkachuk, but a different one -- maybe with a chip on its shoulder. There's enough talent left to make it happen. Can the Senators make the mindset shift to embrace a new version of themselves?Tampa Bay LightningDo they have the right mix on defense?The Lightning certainly have superstar Nikita Kucherov's future to contend with as the franchise's top player approaches free agency in July, and a decision sooner than later would alleviate some anxiety. Beyond an extension for Kucherov, the team will need to figure out how to get beyond the first round, after four consecutive early playoff exits.That all starts with how the Lightning fare defensively going into this season. Darren Raddysh is gone; John Carlson is in. And what about captain Victor Hedman? The veteran had a tough season between injuries and taking leave to handle personal matters. The 35-year-old hasn't suited up since March 19, and ended 2025-26 with only 17 points in 33 appearances. It was Raddysh -- since jettisoned in a sign-and-trade with Toronto -- who was the driver in offensive production from the blue line, with 70 points in 73 games.Carlson should help replace some of what was lost with Raddysh -- he tallied 14 goals and 60 points in 71 games -- and is generally reliable. But Tampa Bay truly needs Hedman to be back on his game. That's when the Lightning excel. Hedman is an integral player at 5-on-5 and both special teams. How the Lightning reset defensively will answer early doubts about whether they have what it takes to make noise in the East again.Toronto Maple LeafsWhat does Sergei Bobrovsky have left to offer?Incoming GM John Chayka wasted absolutely no time remaking the Maple Leafs. Since May, Chayka has turned Toronto inside out: he replaced coach Craig Berube with Jim Hiller, got Darren Raddysh on an eight-year deal via sign-and-trade with Tampa Bay, selected Gavin McKenna No. 1 in the 2026 draft and signed veteran Sergei Bobrovsky as the Leafs' answer to its previous goaltending woes.That last move could be what defines the season ahead for Toronto -- good or bad. Bobrovsky -- reunited with his former Panthers' teammate Anthony Stolarz as the Leafs' projected tandem -- has won two Stanley Cups. He has won the Vezina Trophy twice. But Bobrovsky is coming off an abysmal season in which often cringeworthy play added up to the first sub-.900 save percentage of his career since 2011-12. What's more, he will be 38 when the season begins."Gamble" might be an understatement describing Chayka's move in pushing the Leafs' chips in on Bobrovsky with a three-year, $21 million deal. Because Chayka also traded Joseph Woll, and Stolarz struggled last season compared to a strong showing in 2024-25. The Leafs finished last in the Atlantic a year ago, so Chayka had to effect some change to account for that disappointment. Backing Bobrovsky, and how that decision pans out, will be telling of his early success getting back in control of an NHL team.Metropolitan DivisionCarolina HurricanesAre special teams the key to unlocking another Cup run?One of the Hurricanes' great consistencies over the last decade has been an exceptional penalty kill -- until suddenly it wasn't. That was the case last season when Carolina dipped to 11th in the league shorthanded (at 80.5%) and likely only finished that high because Jaccob Slavin, a penalty killing dynamo who was limited to just 39 regular season contests due to a lower-body issue -- bumped the Hurricanes up when he returned late in the season.Carolina should have Slavin healthy from the jump for 2026-27 and that's a serious win when it comes to levelling back up shorthanded. And if the Hurricanes can complement an elite penalty kill again with a top-10 power play -- which they found last year thanks to a surge from December onwards that carried over into the postseason -- then they'll be among the top Cup favorites again.Will that come to pass? Slavin is integral, but so is goaltending, particularly when the team is down a man. Carolina is relying on its less-experienced duo of Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov in net after letting veteran Frederik Andersen walk in free agency. It would be a pity for the Hurricanes to have goaltending be a detriment towards reaching their full potential.Columbus Blue JacketsWill stability end their postseason drought?The Blue Jackets missed out on the playoffs for the sixth straight season, and coach Rich Bowness claimed it was because Columbus' players were unbothered by losing. Ouch. Bowness vowed to change the team's culture, and to send a message that would see the Blue Jackets back into playoff contention.Columbus has already dealt with offseason distractions. First it was Zach Werenski's reported desire to be traded that has since been walked back and dismissed by him and the club. Then it was Kirill Marchenko -- an impending RFA next summer -- apparently refusing to sign an extension and putting the 70-point skater's future with Columbus up in the air.Does keeping Marchenko and Werenski both happy long term depend on what Columbus does this season? If so, that's a mountain of pressure to place on Bowness right down through the lineup, which is still lacking in secondary scoring talent usually found on playoff rosters. The early schedule could be a bonding moment for Columbus -- or reveal fractures too deep to bandage over. Just how shaky is their foundation?New Jersey DevilsWhat is the prognosis offensively?It's fair to ask whether a 36-year-old Jake Allen is steady enough to handle being the Devils' No. 1 netminder this season. But how Allen fares -- and how much heavy lifting he has to do -- will depend on what New Jersey can put together in front of him.New GM Sunny Mehta traded a conditional first-round pick and a second-rounder for Luke Evangelista. It was a surprising move that gives the Devils another option to be duking it out for top-nine minutes. Mehta landed Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist from Florida in exchange for former starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, and the Devils signed Anthony Mantha in the offseason, too. Where do they all fit with the Devils' established skaters?And speaking of that, the other perennial concern for New Jersey's offense is whether it will consistently include a healthy Jack Hughes. The team's star forward has an unfortunate history of unavailability. Maybe that's why Mehta was willing to (over) pay on insurance and create some real competition for jobs this season. Will his strategy pay off with four chemistry-filled lines for coach Sheldon Keefe to roll every game?New York IslandersHow well will they respond to a full season of Pete DeBoer?GM Mathieu Darche raised eyebrows when he fired coach Patrick Roy and brought in Pete DeBoer as replacement in the final weeks of the season. Why not just let Roy run out of the clock on 2025-26?Well, it gave DeBoer a lay of the Islanders landscape before spending several months ruminating on a re-tool. Now we'll see what DeBoer has up his sleeve to get New York back in the playoffs -- and if it's a plan his team can get behind.Let's start there for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin needs to be a brick wall if the Isles intend to make up for consistent scoring struggles. What Sorkin requires to put up Vezina-worthy numbers is a defense keeping pucks off him, and elevating the blue line is where DeBoer's impact can be felt immediately. Matthew Schaefer is exceptional, but won't carry the back end alone -- he could even be testing a new role for the left-shot heavy Islanders by transitioning to his off-side. Is that DeBoer's best option though? Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock have been a strong pairing, and keeping them as one seems wise, plus there's depth with Tony DeAngelo and Alexander Romanov.How DeBoer molds the Islanders defense will directly affect how well Sorokin can support a team that, outside of Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat, is lacking in top-end skill. Sorokin has almost single-handedly gotten New York to the playoffs in the past. DeBoer is here now to help make that feat a full-team effort.New York RangersAre they actually better off after this offseason's transactions?It's not that GM Chris Drury hasn't tried. He didn't go get Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas and sign him to a seven-year, $77 million contract so that the Rangers could languish as an Eastern Conference bottom-feeder. It's more that, once again, Drury has New York set to rely on its top-six forward group to win the day without giving the team enough secondary support throughout the lineup.The Rangers have options -- Oliver Bjorkstrand, Joe Veleno and Eeli Tolvanen were added to the equation there along with Will Cuylle, Joe Veleno and others -- but is there too much pressure on New York to sink or swim with its top six? And will that be even tougher to do even with Dorofeyev in the mix but given Vincent Trochek no longer is?New York must offer Igor Shesterkin some goal support if they expect him to keep putting up top-tier numbers. Bringing on Marcus Pettersson adds some hope the Rangers can do that. There's been enough drama for the Blueshirts the last two seasons; the focus must now be on consistency, with contributions across the board. It will quickly be clear if Drury did enough to offer coach Mike Sullivan the ability to execute on such a vision.Philadelphia FlyersHow do they line up down the middle?The Flyers certainly went for it when they put in a five-year, $90 million offer sheet for Ducks center Leo Carlsson. Their bold play didn't work -- the Ducks matched the terms to retain Carlsson -- but Philadelphia putting its neck out there was a not-so-subtle nod to their need for a top-line upgrade. Does going after Carlsson -- and failing to get him -- have a residual effect on the Flyers' remaining incumbent centers who will be battling in preseason for the opportunity to secure that top slot?As it stands, Philadelphia has Trevor Zegras (coming off a career-best 67-point season), Noah Cates, Christian Dvorak and Sean Couturier as options for their pivot slots. There's also the outside chance for Jett Luchanko. A first-round pick in 2024, he is one of the organization's top prospects, who's been marinating long enough and needs to join the NHL ranks. Is this the time when he can take advantage of opportunity with a strong training camp and boost Philadelphia's overall prospects right now at center?Competition is never a bad thing. The Carlsson business may not reflect the Flyers' full faith in who they have, but it's on the group there now to show they can help Philadelphia be sound enough down the middle to keep pace in the competitive Metro.Pittsburgh PenguinsWhat is this team's identity for 2026-27?The Penguins are in an intriguing spot. They made a surprising playoff appearance last season and could be in position to push for that outcome again in 2026-27 -- if enough things go their way.Evgeni Malkin's production at age 40 in potentially the final campaign of his career is one factor. Whether Arturs Silovs can be a true No. 1 goalie -- while getting enough support from backup Sergei Murashov -- is another. GM Kyle Dubas added around the edges in the offseason with Nicholas Robertson, Andrei Kuzmenko and Trevor van Riemsdyk coming on board, and Rutger McGroarty should be recovered from an injury he dealt with over the summer.These are all positives. But just how good can Pittsburgh realistically be? And more than that -- how good do they want to be? Are the Penguins delaying an inevitable rebuild? Or is having Malkin and Sidney Crosby around reason enough to keep their ambitions high no matter the cost?Dubas was active enough to suggest Pittsburgh is going to come out of the gate intending to compete for a postseason berth again. How long that remains their ultimate driver will depend on those X factors: Malkin, Silovs and really overall team defense.Washington CapitalsHow do all of the new faces fit in?The Capitals didn't make the playoffs last season and GM Chris Patrick appeared to take that personally. Because he went all-in on boosting Washington's offense by acquiring Jordan Kyrou via trade with St. Louis, adding big-ticket free agent winger Alex Tuch, and solidifying overall depth with signings like Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais.Oh, and Alex Ovechkin is back too -- which might be the best news of all given how he's continued to elude Father Time.It's a lot of cooks in the kitchen, and that can be either a good problem to have for coach Spencer Carbery or an obstacle towards finding the right combinations. Washington saw first hand last season what can happen when a key forward -- in that case Pierre-Luc Dubois -- suffers an early-season injury, and playoff hopes suddenly slip away without comparable talents to backfill. The Capitals wanted to guard against that by giving the team more options going into this season.But what does the final picture look like if everyone stays healthy? Is Washington doomed to endure some growing pains in pursuit of the perfect lineup? Or does chemistry spark immediately and make Carbery's job all the easier? If nothing else, Patrick is putting money where his mouth is offering the Capitals every shot at a quick turnaround.Central DivisionChicago BlackhawksHow much of an impact will Bowen Byram have in his first season in Chicago?No one defenseman can mask every issue on the back end that's plaguing a team. Yet there is a belief that Byram should be able to provide improvement in a few areas. Especially when the Blackhawks have already invested quite a bit. Chicago traded away a first-round pick before signing Byram to a contract earning $12.5 million annually.Although that extension starts next season, this season will provide quite a bit of insight into what the future could look like for the Blackhawks. Chicago was one of the most porous defensive units in the NHL in terms of allowing high-danger scoring chances, scoring chances and shots. That's just one area where Byram could have an impact. Another is on the offensive end in which the Blackhawks' points leader among defenseman last season was Louis Crevier with 25 points, whereas Byram finished with 42 points in 82 games for the Sabres last season.Colorado AvalancheWhat must happen for them to win the Stanley Cup?Continuity is crucial for any team challenging for a Stanley Cup. The Avalanche have that, with 17 returning players that were on the roster that advanced to the Western Conference finals last season. That includes Cale Makar, who just signed a record-setting contract extension, and will be the NHL's first $20 million AAV player when it kicks in.But what was learned from being swept by the Golden Knights that could make the difference? Avs general manager and team president Joe Sakic found ways to adjust in certain areas. He moved on from some familiar figures in the lineup such as Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin, while also making alterations he believes can have an impact on the lineup. Sakic signed a veteran Stanley Cup-winning winger in Jaden Schwartz and was able to add some younger players like Zachary L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to give them more depth.Dallas StarsDo they have enough depth to challenge for a Stanley Cup?Advancing to three straight Western Conference finals only to then get eliminated in the first round in 2026 leads to a number of questions. There are concerns around how the defensive structure failed to find consistency against the Wild. Dallas allowed the second fewest goals per game in the regular season at 2.71 per contest -- only to have an opening round that saw them allow more than four goals per game in three of its four losses to Minnesota.There are also questions about how the Stars struggled to receive production throughout their lineup. Six players scored all 15 of the first-round goals the Stars recorded, with nine belonging to Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. It's a jarring contrast for a team that had nine players reach double figures during the regular season.Minnesota WildWhat ends up happening with Quinn Hughes by the time the season is over?Wild GM Bill Guerin told SKOR Radio North that he was "confident" that the club could sign Hughes to a new contract.But it goes back to something else Guerin said too, which is that the Wild could not force Hughes to sign anything.Hughes' future was a talking point from the moment he arrived last December in a blockbuster trade. His arrival saw the Wild go from a playoff team to one that could be ready to challenge the Western Conference's power dynamic.That only amplified during the Winter Olympics and the playoffs, when his performance won the United States its first gold in men's hockey since 1980, and got the Wild to the second round. Hughes' place as one of the best defensemen in the league can't be questioned. But as for where he will be playing come this time next season? That is the question.Nashville PredatorsExactly where do they fit within the Western Conference?As one of three teams that fell short of a playoff spot by four points last season, the Predators could potentially challenge for a playoff berth in 2026-27. Of course, the same could be said for the other two Western Conference teams in their position. That only adds to the belief that the Western Conference has a chance to be more competitive this season than it was last season.Nashville still possesses its veteran core from last season, and added some new yet experienced players that first-year GM and team president Chris MacFarland knows from his time as GM of the Avs. Could those tweaks make a difference?St. Louis BluesWhat path will the Blues' young core guide the franchise on this season?The Blues missed the playoffs by four points last season, which paved the way for one of the more aggressive offseasons months later.They traded away Jordan Kyrou, while adding Brandon Carlo, Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael, the latter of whom came over from the Capitals in the Kyrou trade. McTavish and McMichael add to a group that could see the Blues have nine players younger than 25 make their opening night roster.Those additions -- along with the potential growth from Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud in their sophomore campaigns -- could dictate what road the Blues take this season, especially if it means improving upon a return that saw them finish with the ninth-fewest goals per game in 2025-26.Utah MammothWill the Mammoth disrupt the power structure in the Western Conference?Every Western Conference finals series since 2020 (aside from the COVID-impacted 2021 playoffs) has featured the same four teams in some combination: The Avalanche, Golden Knights, Oilers and Stars. It was that way again last season, with the Avs and Golden Knights.Vegas didn't sail smoothly to that spot, as the Mammoth took a 2-1 first-round series lead before the Golden Knights won consecutive double-overtime games en route to eventually reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Playing such a tight series against the Golden Knights presented the possibility the Mammoth could be ready for more.How does an offseason that saw them make big swings -- trading away JJ Peterka while adding proven veterans Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck -- impact their rise?Winnipeg JetsCan the Jets plot the right course to reach their desired destination?Connor Hellebuyck issued a statement through his agent saying that he has requested a trade, and this is the primary issue facing the Jets right now. The keyword there being "primary," because there are other items for the Jets to be concerned about:The depth that helped them capture the Presidents' Trophy in the 2024-25 season struggled for consistency in a 2025-26 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for the second time since 2017-18.Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi accounted for 46% of their goals.The Jets were in the bottom 10 in goals per game overall, underlining the need for them to receive additional scoring help.It's an even more pressing concern when they finished eight points out of a playoff spot, and 10 points above finishing last in the Central.Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksDo they have enough to make a significant defensive improvement?The Ducks finished last season in the bottom five of high-danger chances and scoring chances allowed, which raised its own set of questions. Losing their veteran defensive trio of John Carlson, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba in the offseason only enhanced that discussion. Plus, their goaltending also had its challenges, with the Ducks having the fourth-lowest team save percentage in 5-on-5 play.Anaheim navigated all of that to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018, with the intent of returning to the postseason in 2026 knowing that six of its seven defenseman on the current roster are younger than 25. It's a group that's anchored by Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, and is expected to see Drew Helleson, Tyson Hinds, Tristan Luneau and Ian Moore carve out a larger role for a team trying to build off last season's achievements.Calgary FlamesHow will they foster the next wave of their youth movement?One way to conceptualize development is to think of it like phases. Matt Coronato, Dustin Wolf and Connor Zary were part of the first phase in the Flames' rebuild. Now it appears the Flames are about to embark on a second phase, attaining a firmer grasp on what they have with Matvei Gridin, Samuel Honzek, Simon Nemec and Zayne Parekh.Gridin, Honzek and Parekh were all first-round picks drafted by the Flames who had extended runs with the team in 2025-26. Gridin and Parekh each appeared in 37 games while Honzek had 18, with the belief that the 2026-27 campaign could see them become more established.Nemec was drafted second overall in 2022, and came over in an offseason trade with the Devils. The 22-year-old, who signed a five-year extension shortly after he was traded, is also looking to reinforce why he could be a key figure in their long-term plans.Edmonton OilersCan Mike Babcock succeed where others didn't and win a Stanley Cup?There are plenty of questions that can be asked when it comes to the Oilers. But at the same time... why even ask those questions when it all comes back to the narrative about the need for the Oilers to win it all with superstar center Connor McDavid entering the first of a two-year contract extension?Babcock arrives facing the type of questions that are usually reserved for a new coach, along with controversial ones that aren't reserved for most coaches who've been behind an NHL bench. Babcock resigned as coach of the Blues Jackets during the 2023 preseason among questions of his conduct. The NHL investigated the situation this summer and ultimately cleared him to be hired by Edmonton.Still, the Oilers only have one real question to consider: Is this the year they win it all?Los Angeles KingsDid they do enough this offseason to ensure they'll score more goals?No team entered the playoffs last season averaging fewer goals per game than the Kings. Then again, there were only three teams in the NHL overall that averaged fewer goals per game than Los Reyes.Those struggles were further reinforced when they were swept in the first round, tying for fewest goals per game in the postseason at 1.25.Kings GM Ken Holland used the offseason to hire Peter Laviolette with the notion his system can lead to more goals. Holland also added more help up front by signing Erik Haula and Mats Zuccarello, and bringing back Corey Perry in free agency after he was moved at the trade deadline. Will that lead to more offense?San Jose SharksIs this the year the rebuild officially ends and the Sharks make the playoffs?Every rebuild has a pattern. Even rebuilds that fail have patterns. Yet the ones that are declared to be successful reach a stage in which they breakthrough in a way that creates the narrative they could be ready for more.All of that is exemplified by the Sharks in 2025-26, who had a 34-point improvement that set them up to finish four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. That's the sort of outcome that presents the idea that the playoffs could be within reach this season.So were the moves they made in free agency, adding more proven veterans around a young core led by Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith that's seeking to guide Los Tiburones to the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19.Seattle KrakenHow much can this season shape the Kraken in the years to come?Could this be one of the more interesting pivot points in the Kraken's brief existence? They made advantageous attempts to lure Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson to Seattle via trade last season, only to come up short. While the team missed on those two, they remain a potentially attractive destination due to more than $17 million in cap space (per PuckPedia), and one of the NHL's strongest farm systems.That also comes with the caveat that any hypothetical move comes in a season in which decisions must be made with Vince Dunn, Ryker Evans, Jared McCann and Shane Wright, among others. Dunn and McCann are slated to hit free agency, while Evans and Wright will be restricted free agents next summer.Vancouver CanucksWhat can Canucks expect from their centers this season?One of the items facing Manny Malhotra in his first year behind the Canucks bench is figuring out what he can get out of a center group featuring Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi and Filip Chytil.Pettersson led the Canucks with 51 points last season, yet the goal for Malhotra and his staff is to help him recover to being the consistent offensive threat that made him a franchise cornerstone when he signed his long-term contract (his current deal pays him $11.6 million annually through 2031-32).Rossi, who arrived in the Quinn Hughes trade, had his season disrupted by injuries. When healthy, he was averaging 0.70 points per game. As for Chytil, he's also seen his career disrupted by injuries, and sustained another one in February that caused him to miss the rest of the season. If he can stay healthy, there's a chance he could provide the Canucks with another top-nine option down the middle.Vegas Golden KnightsHow will they define success in Ryan Craig's first season?First-time NHL coaches are typically provided some sort of grace period, because all parties understand there is something of an adjustment. Yet the situation facing Craig ahead of his first season is quite different compared to most new coaches.Craig isn't in charge of a team with a young roster that's trying to develop. He's taking over a Golden Knights team that's one of the best in the NHL, and was two wins away from capturing the Stanley Cup three months ago. The Golden Knights are no strangers to having a new coach -- they've now made two coaching changes in less than a year -- and fully understand what it means to quickly establish continuity.All of this comes with the context that those previous coaches also had experience running an NHL bench. Craig has been on an NHL bench before. He was hired as a Golden Knights assistant back in 2017, and was in that role for six seasons before he was named the head coach of their AHL affiliate. Out of anyone, he surely understands the high expectations for this franchise.
