NHL Teams Most Likely to Regress in the 2014-15 Season

Every NHL club enters training camp expecting improvement, but several could see their performances regress this season. For the teams on this list, a variety of factors could derail their expectations.

Several underwent significant offseason changes, while others failed to adequately address ongoing roster issues. Some possess aging stars, while others lack depth in key areas. Contract holdouts, injuries and dressing-room tensions can also take a toll.

Most of the clubs on this list should remain in playoff contention this season but could end up lower in the standings than anticipated. How they fare will depend upon what they do over the course of this season to address their problem areas.

10. St. Louis Blues

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

2013-14 record

52-32-7, 111 points, second in the Central Division.

Notable offseason moves

• Signed free-agent center Paul Stastny to a four-year, $28 million contract.
• Dealt defenseman Roman Polak to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Carl Gunnarsson and a draft pick.
• Lost goaltender Ryan Miller and forwards Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy to free agency.

Why they could regress

While loaded with scoring punch and blue-line depth, the Blues' goaltending remains an issue this season. Having dealt away former starter Jaroslav Halak for Ryan Miller last season and then cutting ties with Miller via free agency, the Blues are going with longtime backup Brian Elliott and promising Jake Allen.

At 29, it's doubtful Elliott can finally establish himself as a reliable starter. Allen, who has only 16 games of combined NHL regular-season and playoff action, will be groomed as their eventual starting goalie. If he struggles and Elliott remains inconsistent, the Blues could once again enter the trade market for help between the pipes.

9. Anaheim Ducks

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2013-14 record 

54-20-8, 116 points, first in the Pacific Division.

Notable offseason moves

• Traded center Nick Bonino, defenseman Lucas Sbisa and two draft picks to Vancouver for center Ryan Kesler and a trade pick.
• Signed free-agent winger Dany Heatley.
• Lost goaltender Jonas Hiller and forward Daniel Winnik to free agency.
• Forwards Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu retired.

Why they could regress 

The Ducks have inexperienced goaltenders in John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, who between them have a combined total of 42 NHL regular-season and playoff games. Forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry will again carry the offensive load. An injury or decline in performance for either player could seriously hurt the Ducks' offensive production.

Kesler was added to bolster their second-line depth, but his aggressive two-way style has taken its toll. TSN.ca notes he's been sidelined in recent seasons by hip, shoulder, foot, hand and knee injuries.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

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2013-14 record 

43-32-7, 93 points, fourth in the Metropolitan Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Traded winger R.J. Umberger and a draft pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for winger Scott Hartnell.
• Dealt defenseman Nikita Nikitin to the Edmonton Oilers for a draft pick.

Why they could regress 

The longer Ryan Johansen's current contract standoff with management drags on, the more it could adversely affect his performance when he finally returns to the lineup. It could also hamper the development of Johansen's promising linemate Boone Jenner.

Oft-injured right wing Nathan Horton is once again sidelined indefinitely, this time with a back injury. The Blue Jackets were 20th overall in shots against last season and lack a proven shutdown defenseman to reduce that figure.

7. New York Rangers

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2013-14 record 

45-31-6, 96 points, second in the Metropolitan Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Signed free-agent defenseman Dan Boyle and forwards Ryan Malone, Lee Stempniak and Tanner Glass.
• Bought out the remainder of center Brad Richards' contract.
• Lost forwards Brian Boyle and Benoit Pouliot, as well as defenseman Anton Stralman, to free agency. 

Why they could regress 

Like many Stanley Cup finalists in recent years, the Rangers could find it difficult adjusting to a shorter-than-usual offseason. Malone, Stempniak and Glass could struggle to fill the void left by the departures of Boyle, Richards and Pouliot. 

First-line right wing Rick Nash needs a bounce-back performance following last season's injury-hampered effort. It remains to be seen if 38-year-old Boyle has enough left to remain an effective top-four defenseman. Age is also a concern for 39-year-old winger Martin St. Louis. 

6. Boston Bruins

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

2013-14 record 

54-19-9, 117 points, first in the Atlantic Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Re-signed center David Krejci to a six-year, 43.5 million contract extension.
• Lost right wing Jarome Iginla to free agency.

Why they could regress 

In July, NHL.com's Dan Rosen speculated the Bruins will promote playmaking right wing Loui Eriksson to replace the departed Iginla on the first line. He won't replace Iginla's powerful shot, physical presence and leadership. 

Age is creeping up on 37-year-old blue-line anchor Zdeno Chara. Defenseman Torey Krug and Reilly Smith are currently missing training camp due to contract holdouts. The longer they're absent from preseason action, the more it could hurt their play when they finally return to the lineup. 

5. Minnesota Wild

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

2013-14 record 

43-27-12, 98 points, fourth in the Central Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Signed free-agent winger Thomas Vanek to a three-year, $19.5 million contract.
• Lost forwards Matt Moulson and Dany Heatley to free agency.

Why they could regress 

The goaltending is a mess. Josh Harding is sidelined indefinitely with a broken foot. Promising Darcy Kuemper, 24, has yet to play a full NHL season. Aging Niklas Backstrom is now best used as a backup. They also invited free-agent netminder Ilya Bryzgalov to training camp.

The skilled but inconsistent Vanek might not be enough to bolster an offense that was 24th overall last season. Promising young forwards Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and Erik Haula could struggle to play up to heightened expectations.

4. San Jose Sharks

Don Smith/Getty Images

2013-14 record 

51-22-9, 111 points, second in the Pacific Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Traded defenseman Brad Stuart to the Colorado Avalanche for draft picks.
• Dealt defenseman Dan Boyle's rights to the New York Islanders.
• Bought out the remaining year of winger Martin Havlat's contract.

Why they could regress 

Fallout from last spring's epic playoff collapse against the Los Angeles Kings still lingers. In June, the San Jose Mercury News' Dave Pollak reported general manager Doug Wilson was pushing a rebuilding message, but his most significant move was stripping Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau of their leadership roles.

While Wilson talks of transitioning toward a younger core, Pollak's colleague Curtis Pashelka reports the veterans remain confident in the current group. Pashelka also noted a reason for the Sharks' collapse against the Kings was they were more like co-workers than teammates. If that attitude persists, any hope of significant improvement this season will disappear.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

2013-14 record 

51-24-7, 109 points, first in the Metropolitan Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Hired Jim Rutherford as their new general manager and Mike Johnston as head coach.
• Traded winger James Neal to the Nashville Predators for forwards Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.
• Signed free-agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to a one-year contract.
• Lost defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik and center Jussi Jokinen to free agency.

Why they could regress 

It could take some time adjusting to this summer's changes. It remains to be seen if Hornqvist will mesh well with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. The health of defenseman Kris Letang, who has an injury history and missed part of last season to a stroke, could be an ongoing concern.

The Penguins have depth in promising defensemen like sophomore Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot. They could struggle, however, to compensate for the lost experience of Niskanen and Orpik. 

2. Detroit Red Wings

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

2013-14 record 

39-28-15, 93 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division.

Notable offseason moves 

• Lost center David Legwand to free agency.
• Bought out the remaining year of winger Jordin Tootoo's contract.

Why they could regress 

The Wings remain in transition. Stars Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen are aging and more susceptible to injury. Management was unable to add an experienced top-four defenseman with a right-handed shot.

The Wings have promising talent in Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Danny DeKeyser and Riley Sheahan. Some of them, however, could struggle in the face of heightened expectations. NHL.com's Dan Rosen speculated on the possibility Nyquist, coming off a 28-goal performance, could regress this season. 

1. Colorado Avalanche

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2013-14 record 

52-22-8, 112 points, first in the Central Division.

Notable offseason moves

• Traded right wing P.A. Parenteau to the Montreal Canadiens for center Daniel Briere.
• Signed free-agent right wing Jarome Iginla to a three-year contract.
• Traded two draft picks to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Brad Stuart.
• Lost center Paul Stastny to free agency and goaltender J.S. Giguere to retirement.

Why they could regress 

The Avalanche possess impressive firepower but failed to significantly improve their defense. The addition of Stuart aside, this is still the same defense that gave up the sixth-most shots against per game (32.7) and ranked 24th on the penalty kill (80.7 percent). According to HockeyAnalysis.com, the Avalanche were among the NHL's worst possession teams last season.

They were bailed out last season by goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who led the league in shots against among NHL starters. Another season like that could burn him out. If Varlamov gets injured, the Avalanche will be in big trouble.

Unless otherwise indicated, all player and team information via NHL.com.