Every NHL Team's Biggest Storyline Entering Training Camp in 2016-17
As we get ready for the start of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, we reflect on what has been a busy NHL offseason. Plenty of changes have taken place, from blockbuster deals involving big names such as Shea Weber, P.K. Subban and Taylor Hall, to coaching changes and a plethora of free-agent signings.
There are contracts still in question and rookies who about to prove they belong in the NHL.
Multiple storylines will evolve when camps open across North America, but there can be only one for each team that starts off as the biggest.
Click ahead to see what your team's biggest storyline is for the 2016-17 season, and drop a comment in the section below to weigh in with a different opinion.
All stats via NHL.com. Contract info from General Fanager.
Anaheim Ducks
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The Lead Story
The Return of Randy Carlyle. New head coach Carlyle is actually old head coach Carlyle. He won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and was brought back after a disappointing stint in Toronto to help the Ducks get back to the Cup Final.
The Buzz
Carlyle did help the Ducks win it all almost 10 years ago, but the Ducks weren't able to maintain that success in the following years, making it to the second round just once the next four seasons and missing the playoffs altogether once before Carlyle was let go.
Even though things went awry for the old-school, anti-analytics bench boss for much of the past decade, the Ducks are hopeful his presence will reignite the aging core players and get them playing to their full potential.
"He will hold people in the organization accountable," general manager Bob Murray after he hired Carlyle, per NHL.com's Abbey Mastracco. "And that's just not on the ice during games; he'll do it in practice, he'll do it in the weight room, he'll hold everybody accountable."
The Bottom Line
Bruce Boudreau is one of the best coaches of modern times, and he came within one win of the Stanley Cup Final two years ago before a first-round loss this spring sealed his unfortunate fate. Carlyle isn't likely to make the difference for this Ducks team, but the squad does have the talent to make it all the way to the final series if the gesture itself inspires them to give a little more.
Arizona Coyotes
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The Lead Story
The Arizona Coyotes brought back a familiar old face but a lot of new ones, too , especially on defense.
The Buzz
Stopping others from scoring was a big problem last year, as the Coyotes allowed 244 goals and sat 28th in the league in the category.
General manager John Chayka got busy trying to solve that problem by trading for Alex Goligoski's rights and then signing him before free agency, bringing in prospect Anthony DeAngelo in another deal and signing veteran Luke Schenn as an unrestricted free agent. Along with carryovers Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Michael Stone and Connor Murphy, the group should be able to improve on that number and help out goaltender Mike Smith.
The Bottom Line
Bringing back Shane Doan was an important move in terms of leadership for a young group, but the defense and goaltending are the areas to watch this month. Smith has struggled in recent years but may have more help than in the recent past to improve on his goaltending numbers.
Boston Bruins
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The Lead Story
The Boston Bruins made a big free-agency splash by signing David Backes, and all eyes are on the new addition.
The Buzz
Losing winger and 30-goal scorer Loui Eriksson to the Vancouver Canucks in free agency was a tough loss, so the Bruins went out and signed St. Louis Blues captain Backes as a replacement. The move, however, brought more questions than answers.
Backes is a natural center, and the Bruins already have David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron there. Eriksson was a top-line winger who eclipsed 30 goals whereas Backes only had 21.
Backes did play right wing in the playoffs last spring during the Blues' run to the Western Conference Final, but Charlie Jacobs, the son of the team's owner Jeremy Jacobs, suggested to WEEI's DJ Bean at a charity function that Backes would be the third-line center to give the Bruins tremendous depth at the position.
The Bottom Line
We'll see in training camp what kind of line combinations the Bruins go with, but having Backes in the middle with some young players complementing each of the top three lines could make people forget how porous the defense will likely be once again after the team failed to make any key additions there in the offseason.
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Buffalo Sabres
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The Lead Story
The Buffalo Sabres look to be powering up with the addition of sniper Kyle Okposo in free agency.
The Buzz
Where Okposo may play will be a big focus in training camp, as it is with all players who have traded jerseys in the offseason. The former New York Islanders winger will be in the top six after inking a lucrative seven-year, $42 million deal with the Sabres on July 1, but it's not yet known whether he will suit up alongside sophomore stud Jack Eichel or veteran Ryan O'Reilly.
O'Reilly has Evander Kane on the left side but an obvious vacancy on the right, where Okposo often lines up. However, when Tyler Ennis was healthy, he wasn't really in sync with linemates Eichel and Sam Reinhart, so head coach Dan Bylsma may tinker with the top six.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of storylines in Buffalo, but we choose to let the Kane off-ice stuff sort itself out in the courts and assume goaltender Robin Lehner will have all year to redeem himself for an injury-plagued and disappointing debut as a would-be No. 1 NHL goalie last season. The Okposo placement is the thing to watch to kick of 2016-17.
Calgary Flames
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The Lead Story
The Calgary Flames have a new bench boss and maybe a new style of play coming as a result.
The Buzz
A couple of big things happened for the Flames this offseason. They addressed a terrible goaltending situation with a trade for veteran Brian Elliott at the NHL draft. He should be a huge upgrade over Jonas Hiller and company from last season.
In the bigger picture, though, the addition of new head coach Glen Gulutzan makes training camp a complete question mark for the Flames.
The 44-year-old former Dallas Stars head coach and assistant with the Vancouver Canucks told NHL.com's Aaron Vickers there will be a definitive style change:
"We're going to change the style of game. We want to play a little quicker. We're going to be a lot more determined to deny entries into the zone. Our gap and the way we play rushes will change significantly. The way we break out the puck will change. Those are fundamental changes.
"
The Bottom Line
The Flames have addressed the two key things that seemed to derail their improvement after a surprise second-round playoff performance in 2014-15 with the goaltending and strategy from behind the bench. They could be a team to watch in the Western Conference playoff race this season if both of those moves pan out.
Carolina Hurricanes
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The Lead Story
The youth movement is on for the Carolina Hurricanes, and it could actually mean more scoring for the squad.
The Buzz
The Hurricanes have been the fourth-worst scoring team in each of the last two seasons. As a result of seven straight years without a playoff berth, the team moved on from a handful of regulars, including captain Eric Staal, Kris Versteeg, Nathan Gerbe and Riley Nash.
That means others are going to have more opportunity, including trade acquisition Teuvo Teravainen and third-year players Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm. Rask went from 11 goals to 21 from his rookie to sophomore season. Lindholm's numbers went the other way, but he had 17 goals as a rookie and could have a promising future.
The Bottom Line
There are some very talented young players who could thrive with increased roles, and the young roster is one to watch as the season progresses.
Chicago Blackhawks
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The Lead Story
By dealing away forwards Teuvo Teravainen, Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell, and snatching blueliner Brian Campbell away from the Florida Panthers in free agency, the Chicago Blackhawks have shifted their roster depth from forward to defense this season.
The Buzz
The team's depth on the back end has suffered over the years, and Johnny Oduya's departure definitely left it vulnerable last season. With the addition of Campbell, the team has provided more relief on offense and the power play front for top dog Duncan Keith. Campbell also boasts savvy performance in his own end, which makes up for the things Oduya did previously.
Behind the top four, they have a handful of solid 20-somethings in Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, Michal Kempny and Viktor Svedberg competing for time in the bottom pairing along with veteran Michal Rozsival.
Hawks GM Stan Bowman commented on his surplus of D-men this offseason, per The Athletic's Scott Powers:
"You can never have too many defensemen. I don’t want to go into a year with just seven defensemen. You’ve got to go in with at least 10 to 12, knowing that there’s never been a year when a team uses just seven defensemen all year long. You’ve got to be nine, 10, 11 deep on defense. That’s the way this team goes, so everyone’s going to get their opportunity.
"
The Bottom Line
The talent on defense should take some pressure off Keith, who is skipping the World Cup of Hockey to get healthy.
Fortunately, the Blackhawks are no slouches on offense despite the loss of some key depth players over the past couple of years. They have plenty of firepower with Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Jonathan Toews, and support from Marian Hossa and Artem Anisimov as well. They'll look for guys like Richard Panik, Tyler Motte, Nick Schmaltz and Vincent Hinostroza to force their way into top-six roles as well.
Colorado Avalanche
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The Lead Story
The shadow of Patrick Roy will loom large over the Colorado Avalanche this season after he quit the team this summer, but his departure may be what the Avs need as a team.
The Buzz
Roy had a backward coaching career in Denver, winning the Jack Adams for coach of the year in his NHL coaching debut in 2013-14 after the Avalanche qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four seasons while winning the division. This all happened despite underlying numbers that suggested what they accomplished wasn't sustainable, including a sky-high save percentage (.927) from Semyon Varlamov.
The team plummeted back to reality the past two years, winning 39 games in each and finishing well shy of the playoffs. The team has loads of talent up front, but the vision Roy had wasn't the same as management's, so he bailed.
A change in approach and philosophy may be coming with the hiring of Jared Bednar, who won the Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters last season and has done a great job preparing young players for the NHL through the minors.
The Bottom Line
It wasn't working with Roy, and that the players will be able to get a fresh start with a new guide who has had recent success working with a young group, it could be the right mix moving forward into a new era.
Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Lead Story
After becoming the third overall draft pick unexpectedly, can Pierre-Luc Dubois force his way onto the Columbus Blue Jackets roster by making an impression in camp?
The Buzz
Dubois was a shocking choice with consensus No. 3 pick Jesse Puljujarvi still on the board after Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine were taken first and second, respectively. The Blue Jackets, however, knew what they were looking for and hope they've found their top center of the future following the departure of Ryan Johansen. Training camp will provide the first opportunity to see whether their "risky" pick will pay off.
The Bottom Line
Dubois believes if he can stick around in the NHL this season, he will have a chance to win the Calder Trophy, according to Mike Morreale of NHL.com. The competition may be stiff, but he should be given every opportunity to thrive if he shows he's capable of handling a big role early on.
Dallas Stars
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The Lead Story
The Dallas Stars are seemingly stuck with the philosophy that the best defense is a good offense. The goaltending tandem remains the same, and the defensive group lost three of its top four players.
The Buzz
The Stars allowed 228 goals, more than any other playoff team last season, and relied on their dynamic offense to win games.
While goalies Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi didn't hinder the team from winning games during the regular season, they were exposed as a weakness in the playoffs, as the Stars were knocked out in the second round by the St. Louis Blues. Lehtonen let in three of the first eight shots he faced in Game 7, sealing the Stars' fate. Neither netminder finished with a save percentage in the .900s in the postseason.
The defense gave up pending unrestricted free agent Alex Goligoski and lost Jason Demers in free agency, with Kris Russell also expected to sign elsewhere for the coming season. That's a lot of turnover for an already struggling crew.
The Bottom Line
General manager Jim Nill has to explore trades during the season, both to add to his defense if prospects such as Stephen Johns and Julius Honka don't pan out and in goal to improve arguably the most important position on the roster.
People will be watching to see how newcomer Dan Hamhuis can help the group and expecting a lot from the free-agent signing. The fans won't soon forget how goaltending cost them a real chance at the Stanley Cup, either.
Detroit Red Wings
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The Lead Story
A huge playoff streak is on the line this season, and for the first time in 15 years, the Detroit Red Wings won't have Pavel Datsyuk to help them get there.
The Buzz
Datsyuk left for the KHL, and although the Red Wings have some solid young players and established veterans still forming the core of this team, they have their work cut out for them if they want to make it 26 straight postseasons.
They brought in veterans Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek to help fill the gap positionally and offensively, but there's no replacing Datsyuk. The last time the NHL playoffs were played without Detroit was 1990, but all good things must come to an end.
The Bottom Line
The Wings are missing arguably their most important piece of that lengthy streak now with Datsyuk gone. A lot of pressure will be on younger scorers such as Gustav Nyquist, Dylan Larkin, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Tatar and Teemu Pulkkinen.
Edmonton Oilers
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The Lead Story
The Edmonton Oilers need a captain, and it may very well be sophomore Connor McDavid who gets to wear the "C."
The Buzz
Former teammate Taylor Hall suggested to the National Post's Michael Traikos that McDavid is deserving of the captaincy in Edmonton, and the coaches are likely to make a decision in training camp regardless of whether the second-year star is worthy at 19 or if a more veteran player will get the honor.
Oilers head coach Todd McLellan could get a preview of McDavid's leadership skills if he names him captain of Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey this month.
"The captain of the Oilers? We’ll figure that out at training camp,” McLellan told Traikos. "The captain at the World Cup? We’ll find out this week."
The Bottom Line
The future of the Oilers in the absence of Hall is in the hands of McDavid, and the team will eventually offer him the captaincy. Why delay the inevitable?
Florida Panthers
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The Lead Story
James Reimer was signed as a backup and potential heir to the starting job, but the goaltender may be more important early on than originally thought with Roberto Luongo's status uncertain for the start of the regular season.
The Buzz
Luongo is 37 and coming off hip surgery following a strong season that ended in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring. The injury bothered Luongo all of last year, and the surgery is what prompted the Panthers to back him up with Reimer and Reto Berra, whom they acquired via trade before landing Reimer in free agency.
Luongo was arguably the team's MVP last year, winning 35 games with a .922 save percentage and 2.35 GAA. He started at least 60 games for a second straight season and looked fatigued by the end of the playoff matchup against the New York Islanders, so how he performs in training camp should determine the Panthers' starting goalie come October.
The Bottom Line
The hip surgery carries a five-month rehab schedule, which would put Luongo on track to be back in the net early in the regular season barring a setback.
The problem is his age and amount of playing time the past few years. Even if he returns to form and takes on the top role, the Panthers will likely spell him more often after landing one of the top goalies on the open market to back up their star. Reimer should see lots of action in training camp and the preseason.
Los Angeles Kings
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The Lead Story
Dustin Brown remains with the Los Angeles Kings despite being stripped of his captaincy and his playing time.
The Buzz
Brown has yet to top the 29 points he scored in 2013—and that total was put up during a lockout-shortened season. Since that 46-game performance, Brown has posted totals of 27, 27 and 28 the past three years with a combined minus-22 rating the past two. He's had 11 goals in 82 games in each of the last two seasons and has seen his role diminish from top six to bottom three.
His salary-cap hit of $5.88 million has become a burden on his cash-strapped team, and now he could become a bother in the dressing room thanks to hurt feelings.
"Ultimately, I understand the decision and I respect the decision," Brown said back on June 30, per the Associated Press (via USA Today) "Part of my problem was how it was handled. It just put me in an awkward spot."
Brown also said he believes the Kings have tried to trade him and bit his tongue when it came to describing his relationship with Kings brass: "I'm not going to say it's rosy."
The Bottom Line
It's unlikely another team would rescue the Kings from Brown's contract, so they're stuck with him and he with them until he proves to be a more valuable commodity. In the meantime, the Kings have to hope newcomers such as Teddy Purcell can make up for the offense lost with the departure of Milan Lucic via free agency.
Minnesota Wild
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The Lead Story
New head coach Bruce Boudreau will try to lead the Minnesota Wild to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.
The Buzz
The Wild have been postseason participants for four straight years but haven't been able to make it to the next level and compete for a Western Conference championship. They brought in veteran Eric Staal in free agency and hope he can return to top-center status and help some of the team's younger forwards evolve.
An even bigger part of that mentorship/tutelage formula is the addition of Boudreau after he was fired by the Anaheim Ducks in the spring.
Boudreau has a history as a great possession coach and has been great with grooming young players. He helped get the Washington Capitals to the level they're at now and made his presence felt in Anaheim. His only failure has been his inability to get over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final.
How the team responds to his direction in camp will be interesting as a barometer for whether this team is in decline or on its way up.
The Bottom Line
The Wild have many promising yet unheralded young players up front but could use more depth. The defense is a position of strength, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them peddle one of the blueliners in return for another key forward. If the team responds to Boudreau, it could have its best regular-season showing in years rather than squeak into the spring tournament.
Montreal Canadiens
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The Lead Story
Shea Weber brings a new presence to the Montreal Canadiens' blue line after the trade that sent P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators.
The Buzz
While there is little doubt that over time the Nashville Predators could win the trade by adding one of the most dynamic defenseman in the league in P.K. Subban, the Canadiens got what they needed in Weber—a gritty, physical, responsible leader who isn't so shabby offensively himself. But for a fanbase that was left reeling because of the love affair it had with the effervescent Subban, that needs to be seen.
Weber's competitiveness in training camp will have to wait until after the World Cup, where he is serving as one of Team Canada's assistants, but the Habs faithful will be keeping a close eye on their new defender when he gets there.
The Bottom Line
The Canadiens addressed scoring with the potential steal of free agency in Alexader Radulov but also focused on creating a tougher image with the additions of Andrew Shaw and Weber. Weber's reputation around the league instantly changes the way some teams (especially forwards who have to battle him in corners) view the Habs coming into a matchup against them.
Nashville Predators
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The Lead Story
P.K Subban comes in and makes the defense even more dangerous offensively, but does he hurt the speedy club defensively?
The Buzz
While the Montreal Canadiens are looking to get grittier, the Preds are building up with speed. The already mentioned swap of Shea Weber for P.K. Subban was all about adding someone on the upward trajectory for the Predators. Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne were inconsistent in the playoffs against the quicker teams.
So while Subban is younger and quicker than Weber, a lot of scrutiny will be heaped on Rinne during training camp. The Preds are not going to fly under the radar this year, and the veteran netminder's underlying numbers were well off his previous years' totals. He finished with a .908 save percentage and 2.48 GAA last year with many peaks and valleys as the season wore on.
The Bottom Line
Rinne is a key to the Predators' success, and at 34, he may be looking at the downward turn to his goaltending career. If he struggles in camp or early on in the season, the team could be in trouble, and Subban doesn't offer the same assurances in his own end that Weber did consistently.
New Jersey Devils
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The Lead Story
The addition of sniper Taylor Hall gives the New Jersey Devils' league-worst offense some hope.
The Buzz
The Devils scored a paltry 182 goals last season and still finished within nine points of a playoff berth. Hoping to fix that, they added Edmonton Oilers winger Hall in a surprising trade this summer, parting ways with defenseman Adam Larsson in the one-on-one deal.
"I think we're a lot better in terms of trying to become a deeper team at forward," general manager Ray Shero told the NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "We want to become a four-line team. Certainly the trade for Taylor Hall really helps us and sets the direction for where we want to go. You can't replace Adam Larsson, but I think we're a better team now than when we ended last season."
The Bottom Line
Shero's statement may prove true...except for the part about not being able to replace Larsson. With all due respect to Larsson, who has grown into a very good rearguard, Hall is a gamebreaker.
New York Islanders
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The Lead Story
The New York Islanders have too many goaltenders...again.
The Buzz
Islanders fans will get a sneak peak at the goaltending battle at the World Cup, where teammates Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss will fight for the crease for Team Europe. When they return, they will work on securing more starts for the Isles.
Complicating matters, though, is the presence of J-F Berube. He was signed as insurance for the oft-injured Halak and showed well enough in his six starts and role as Greiss’ backup in the playoffs last year to be brought back on a one-year deal that exposes him to waivers if he is sent down.
That means another three-headed monster, at least until Halak proves he can stay healthy. It wasn't a popular situation with Halak a year ago when all three were looking for starts.
The Bottom Line
If Halak is healthy and Greiss is playing well when he gets his chances, Berube could be sent to the minors regardless of his contract situation. The team will be cautious of Halak initially, though, and also signed Christopher Gibson for depth at that spot.
New York Rangers
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The Lead Story
The New York Rangers have a lot of shiny new toys to play with at forward.
The Buzz
The Blueshirts weren't messing around this offseason, making some big moves for little money in free agency and via trade. They added 23-year-old up-and-comer Mika Zibanejad for the older Derick Brassard and then surrounded him with potential goal scorers and speedsters in Jimmy Vesey, Brandon Pirri, Michael Grabner, Nathan Gerbe and Josh Jooris. And they've still got Rick Nash, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan J.T. Miller and Mats Zuccarello there, too.
The Bottom Line
As questionable as that defensive group may be—especially in terms of value based on salaries—the forward group should be as deep as it's been in a long time in the Big Apple. This team should be fun to watch if nothing else. And if the best defense is a good offense, the Rangers should do just fine in front of goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
Ottawa Senators
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The Lead Story
The Ottawa Senators' coaching tandem is looking to crack the whip and turn these Sens into a playoff team again.
The Buzz
After letting Dave Cameron go, the Senators brought in Guy Boucher as head coach and Marc Crawford as associate coach. That fiery combination is expected to inspire players such as Bobby Ryan and Kyle Turris to play to their full potential. The coaches themselves will be amped up over their return to the NHL after coaching in Switzerland while waiting for another shot in North America.
The Bottom Line
Boucher and Crawford are going to be fun to watch, regardless of how good (or bad) their team is. It might even be better if they are bad because there could be fireworks between the two of them.
Philadelphia Flyers
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The Lead Story
The Philadelphia Flyers have a solid goaltending tandem, but will one of them rise to be the outright No. 1?
The Buzz
The Flyers were terrible defensively last season, failing miserably to stop shots from getting on goal. They allowed the eighth-most shots in the league with an average of 30.7. Yet the team was great in goal, putting together the second-best save percentage at five on five with a .933, pushing the Flyers into the playoffs with a stellar final month from Steve Mason.
But it was Michal Neuvirth who took over in the playoffs when Mason faltered, and the backup helped the team give the Washington Capitals a real challenge over the latter half of the first-round series.
The Bottom Line
The Flyers may have the best tandem in goal this season with Mason and Neuvirth. Expect Mason to get every opportunity to take the majority of the starts, but if he stumbles at all, Neuvirth will get his chance in the net and force the Flyers to go with the hot hand.
Pittsburgh Penguins
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The Lead Story
The starting goalie role is the battle everyone will be talking about heading into camp. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup with Matthew Murray leading the charge in the playoffs, but veteran Marc-Andre Fleury is still in town and isn't just going to hand over the crease he's patrolled for the last decade.
The Buzz
Despite the fact Murray was playing well in the postseason, the Pens went to Fleury in the third round when he was fully healthy and Murray had a minor stumble. After a strong third-period performance in relief, Fleury got a start. That shows the coaching staff was still willing to give him a chance to regain the net even though he hadn't played much in almost two months.
His comments over the summer, per NHL.com's Robert Laflamme, suggest he still believes that to be the case. "I had some good conversations with management after the season," Fleury said. "Nothing is written in stone. I want to come to camp ready to win my job back. I have to get back to the same level of play and help the team win games."
The Bottom Line
Murray is only 22 and still inexperienced at the NHL level. His success has come in a very small sample size. Keeping both players would be the smart move.
The problem is the upcoming expansion draft. Teams will be allowed to protect only one goaltender, and Fleury's no-movement clause means he could not be exposed without consent. That would leave Murray exposed. So unless they can get Fleury to agree to be the guy available to the Las Vegas franchise, they'll likely try to trade him over the course of the season.
That might mean letting him start early in the season to show his value to other teams.
San Jose Sharks
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The Lead Story
This could be veteran Joe Thornton's last camp with the San Jose Sharks.
The Buzz
Jumbo Joe is 37 but is coming off his best season since 2010 with 19 goals, 63 assists and 82 points in 82 games last year. He's one of three big-name players with contracts that expire at the end of this season, along with defenseman Brent Burns and fellow former captain Patrick Marleau. There may only be room under the salary cap for one of them, and that likely goes to Burns.
If Thornton's career is coming to a close with the Sharks, it means the end of a decade in teal for the former Boston Bruins draft pick.
The Bottom Line
Thornton is in total control here. Another good season boosts his value on the open market, but if he wants to continue playing with the Sharks, he could ink a cap-friendly deal for a couple of years.
St. Louis Blues
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The Lead Story
A youth movement started for the St. Louis Blues this summer, and although it goes against the usual method of improvement, it could work.
The Buzz
The Blues named a new captain in defenseman Alex Pietrangelo after losing veteran David Backes to the Boston Bruins as a UFA this summer. Another gritty goal scorer was snatched up by the Calgary Flames with Troy Brouwer leaving via free agency. And the undisputed starting goaltender is now 26-year-old Jake Allen after the Blues traded Brian Elliott to the Flames at the draft.
Vladimir Tarasenko is the team's clear offensive leader, and Jaden Schwartz, Robby Fabbri and Colton Parayko are going to be leaned on this season with GM Doug Armstrong looking forward to the new dynamic, according to NHL.com's Louie Korac:
"At some point, our younger players have to become our leaders. And now as Pietrangelo and Steen are the players with the most seniority here, Tarasenko and Schwartz are going to have to take a bigger part of that, as does (defenseman Colton) Parayko. The leadership is changing, and now it's going to be interesting to see how these younger guys evolve into leaders.
"
The Bottom Line
The Blues should be just fine despite the turnover. They have great depth at all positions and can trust their young players to contribute. Allen started more than half the games last season and had a .920 save percentage, 2.35 goals-against average and a 26-15-3 record.
Tampa Bay Lightning
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The Lead Story
The lack of a new deal for star winger Nikita Kucherov is weighing on the minds of some members of a Tampa Bay Lightning fanbase that has had to deal with a lot of drama over the past year with the Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin situations.
The Buzz
After a season full of uncertainty and drama with Stamkos' impending unrestricted free-agent status and Drouin's holdout and eventual suspension, it's understandable that some would be nervous about one of the team's top players still waiting on a new deal as a restricted free agent.
Kucherov has had a couple of incredible seasons and playoff performances and will cash in at some point. Having him signed during camp is critical for the team to get on track for another potentially deep playoff run.
The Bottom Line
Kucherov will play for Team Russia at the World Cup and should be in great shape when ready to join the Bolts at camp. GM Steve Yzerman seems to always get his man when it comes to contracts (and holdouts), so Kucherov should be signed, sealed and delivered without missing much time, if any.
Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Lead Story
Goaltender Frederik Andersen's injury is a big deal but doesn't change the course for the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs. The biggest storyline of training camp will be how No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews adapts to the pace of the NHL.
The Buzz
Like Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad and Nathan MacKinnon before him, Matthews enters training camp with massive expectations and all eyes on him. The difference is Matthews is located in the hotbed of Toronto, where hyperbole runs wild and perennial parade plans are made.
"A lot of hype. A lot of expectations A lot of noise. He’s a hot topic," MacKinnon, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, told Sportsnet's Mark Spector from the World Cup training camp. “Going first to Toronto? Yeah, he’s going to be a focal point."
The Bottom Line
The World Cup offers Matthews a bit of a preview of the quality of competition and should help him transition. While with the Leafs, the team has the luxury of taking its time with his development and giving him a third-line role as a starting point and increase his responsibilities as he grows.
Vancouver Canucks
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The Lead Story
Brandon Sutter and Alex Edler are coming to camp healthy and could make a big difference for a team that was among the worst in the league last season after qualifying for the postseason the previous year.
The Buzz
Sutter only played 20 games last year thanks to sports hernia surgery and a broken jaw. He was expected to be a big part of the Canucks' plan, and his numbers in limited appearances seem to support that—he had five goals and nine points and projected as a 20-goal scorer. If he stays healthy, he will be a stellar second-line center capable of some offense and a shutdown role, which should allow twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin some better matchups to take advantage of.
Edler missed the last two months of the season with a broken leg after putting up six goals and 20 points in 52 games. He was a big part of the power play and should help boost it from the third worst in the league.
The Bottom Line
The void left by the injured Sutter last year was large. The Canucks have holes in many areas, with questions in goal and a lack of depth overall even with the addition of top sniper Loui Eriksson, but Sutter should help them be respectable again with a shot at the playoffs.
Washington Capitals
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The Lead Story
Defenseman Dmitry Orlov is a restricted free agent in need of a new contract and looking to take over one of the top four spots on the blue line. The contract demands, however, may be too high for the Washington Capitals to meet.
The Buzz
Orlov finished his first full NHL season with promising numbers despite playing a bottom-pairing role for much of the year. He wasn't a regular on special teams and averaged 16 minutes a night but still scored eight goals and 29 points in 82 games. That total left him just outside the top 50 scoring defenders on the year, but none of those ahead of him played fewer than 19 minutes per game.
Head coach Barry Trotz envisions bigger things for him this season, per CSN Mid-Atlantic's Tarik El-Bashir:
"I envision him playing with a [Matt] Niskanen or a [John] Carlson, probably more prime minutes as we try even out our defense a little. It’s a great opportunity for him. He’s at the right age where he can really contribute. We’ll look for his contributions on the power play, the penalty kill, playing in that top-four on a pretty regular basis. I just think it’s right for him.
"
The Bottom Line
The kind of production the Caps got from the 25-year-old Orlov makes him a key signing, and they may have to move someone else out to make it happen. According to General Fanager, the Caps have less than $3.5 million to spend right now. Comparable player Michael Stone had seven more points while playing a bigger role for the Arizona Coyotes last season, and he got a one-year deal worth $4 million this summer.
Winnipeg Jets
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The Lead Story
The Winnipeg Jets are dealing with a bit of a new identity with former captain Andrew Ladd moving on and many youngsters emerging as key pieces.
The Buzz
The Winnipeg Jets were without a captain the last couple of months of last season when they traded Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks. This year, they've named Blake Wheeler the new man in charge of his peers' accountability. The transition will likely be seamless. There may not have been a better leader by example on the entire roster than Wheeler—a power forward with a tireless work ethic who scored 27 goals and 78 points in 82 games last year.
The Bottom Line
The 30-year-old Wheeler is a perfect candidate to guide the young forwards—from Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers to rookie Patrik Laine—as they deal with the high expectations heaped on them. The Jets are solid candidates for a return to the playoffs after a year away.
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