NHL Teams Most Likely to End Lengthy Title Droughts in 2014-15

Several teams enter this season with hopes of ending their lengthy Stanley Cup droughts. For the clubs on this list, it's been over a decade since they last hoisted hockey's holy grail.

Factors such as offensive or defensive depth, goaltending, experience and coaching will affect their championship aspirations. Those that have best addressed these issues in the offseason, and throughout this season, stand the best chance of ending their title droughts.

The following ranking, from least likely to most likely, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these teams and how these clubs could end their lengthy championship droughts this season. 

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

11. Calgary Flames

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Last championship season: 1988-89.

Strengths: The Flames possess plenty of promising young talent in Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, T.J. Brodie, Joe Colborne and Mikael Backlund. They also bolstered their goaltending by signing Jonas Hiller and added experienced wingers Mason Raymond and Devin Setoguchi. Team captain Mark Giordano has emerged as a stellar all-around defenseman. Coach Bob Hartley has instilled a strong work ethic in his players.

Weaknesses: While they will continue to be a hard-working team, the Flames still lack overall roster depth. Their young talent is promising but inexperienced. Their offense, which ranked 23rd in goals per game (2.46) and 24th in power-play percentage (15.7) in 2013-14, could remain an issue this season. 

Analysis: With the Flames entering the second year of their rebuilding process, winning the Stanley Cup this season would make them the biggest Cinderella story in NHL history. Doing so would require Hiller to play up to Vezina Trophy standards, all their young players to significantly improve and their overall team play must be substantially better. 

10. Edmonton Oilers

JASON FRANSON/Associated Press

Last championship season: 1989-90.

Strengths: Possess talented young forwards in Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. They also have potential stars in winger Nail Yakupov and defenseman Justin Schultz. Improved their goaltending by adding Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth. Bolstered their veteran depth by acquiring Benoit Pouliot, Teddy Purcell, Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin.

Weaknesses: Beyond Nugent-Hopkins, they're lacking experienced, skilled depth at center. The Edmonton Sun's Robert Tychkowski reports they'll employ rookie Leon Draisaitl as their second-line center. They're still lacking a true top-two defense pairing. Scrivens and Fasth have little experience as NHL starters.

Analysis: After missing the playoffs eight straight years, there's no where to go but up for the rebuilding Oilers. To win the Cup, however, requires stellar goaltending from Scrivens or Fasth and considerable improvement in their defensive game, plus the addition of skilled depth at center and a proven top-two defenseman.

9. New Jersey Devils

Mel Evans/Associated Press

Last championship season: 2002-03.

Strengths: Defense remains the Devils' strong suit. Cory Schneider is a terrific goaltender with Vezina Trophy potential. HockeyAnalysis.com indicates they were among the league's best puck-possession teams last season and allowed the lowest shots against per game (25.5) in the league. The Devils also added scoring wingers Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat.

Weaknesses: Top forwards Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias, Michael Ryder and Dainius Zubrus are getting long in the tooth. In recent years, injuries have hampered Cammalleri and Havlat. The Devils' inability to score in a shootout last season could become an issue again in 2014-15. The departures of Mark Fayne and Anton Volchenkov could hurt their blue-line depth.

Analysis: On the strength of Schneider's goaltending and their defensive play, the Devils could make the playoffs this season. To go on to a championship, however, requires considerable improvement in their offensive production. 

8. New York Islanders

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Last championship season: 1982-83.

Strengths: In John Tavares, the Islanders have the most underrated superstar in the NHL. Winger Kyle Okposo is coming into his own as a scorer. Improved their goaltending by acquiring Jaroslav Halak and Chad Johnson, added veteran forward depth in Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin and recently brought in championship blue-line experience in Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy.

Weaknesses: They lack a skilled left wing for the Tavares line. Despite the additions of Grabovski and Kulemin, there's no established scorer to anchor the second line. The 38-year-old Lubomir Visnovsky remains their best puck-moving defenseman. They must significantly improve a penalty kill that was a woeful 29th overall (78.1 percent) last season.

Analysis: The improved goaltending, along with the recent additions of Boychuk and Leddy, should enhance the Islanders defense. Halak must regain his stellar playoff form of 2010, when he carried the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final. The Isles also need a top-line scoring left wing and for their promising young players to step up in a big way.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Last championship season: 1966-67.

Strengths: Led by Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk, the Leafs should rank among the top-scoring clubs in the league. Expect improvement from promising center Nazem Kadri. A healthy Jonathan Bernier should provide them with solid goaltending. They took steps to better their defensive system by hiring new assistant coaches and implementing an analytics department. 

Weaknesses: Though they're attempting to improve their defense, the Leafs blue line remains pretty much the same one that gave up the most shots against per game last season. They also lack a skilled top-line center. It remains to be seen if oft-injured wingers Joffrey Lupul and David Clarkson can stay healthy this season. 

Analysis: To end the NHL's longest-active Stanley Cup drought, the Leafs must significantly improve their defensive game without sacrificing too much scoring punch. They'll also require healthy and productive performances from Bernier, Lupul and Clarkson. Youngsters like Kadri and Jake Gardiner must step up this season.

6. Philadelphia Flyers

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Last championship season: 1974-75.

Strengths: Led by superstar center Claude Giroux, the Flyers possess considerable firepower among their forward lines, ranking eighth in goals per game (2.84) last season. Forwards Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier could be poised for big performances this season. Goaltender Steve Mason shores up what was once the Flyers' weakest position.

Weaknesses: Their blue line remains their Achilles' heel. They still haven't found a suitable replacement for Chris Pronger, who suffered career-ending injuries three years ago. Lost a stabilizing influence when defenseman Kimmo Timonen was sidelined by blood clots this summer. Mason has yet to prove he can carry a team deep into the postseason.

Analysis: The Flyers have the scoring to contend for a championship, but they must significantly improve their defensive game. They need strong goaltending from Mason throughout the season. Adding a top defenseman at some point could also improve their chances. 

5. Dallas Stars

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Last championship season: 1998-99.

Strengths: The Stars possess two rising young superstars in forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Bolstered their secondary scoring by adding Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky in the offseason. Promising winger Valeri Nichushkin has potential to become a serious scoring threat. In Lindy Ruff, they're guided by one of the best coaches in the league.

Weaknesses: They lack a true top-two defenseman. The Hockey News indicates all their blueliners are left-handed shots. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen is steady but has an injury history and lacks significant playoff experience. Spezza's history of back injuries could become a drawback if it flares up again.

Analysis: Several factors are necessary for the Stars to win it all. Adding an experienced top-two defenseman with a right-handed shot is a must. Lehtonen must remain healthy and consistent between the pipes. Spezza and Hemsky must come through as expected, while youngsters like Nichushkin must significantly improve. 

4. Tampa Bay Lightning

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Last championship season: 2003-04.

Strengths: In superstar Steven Stamkos, the Lightning possess arguably the NHL's best sniper. Added veteran depth in Brenden Morrow, Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison and Brian Boyle. Goaltender Ben Bishop was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season. The Lightning have considerable depth in young talent, headed by 2014 Calder Trophy finalists Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson.

Weaknesses: Much of their promising talent still lacks NHL playoff experience. It remains to be seen if goaltender Ben Bishop can maintain his Vezina finalist form. His recent injury history (elbow, right wrist) could also be a concern, considering their backup is a fading Evgeni Nabokov. They must improve a penalty kill that was 23rd overall (80.7) last season.

Analysis: The Lightning possess a solid mix of speed, skill and youth. If Bishop can stay healthy and maintain last season's form, and their young players continue to improve, the Bolts could be a force in the Eastern Conference and challenge for a championship. 

3. Colorado Avalanche

John Locher/Associated Press

Last championship season: 2000-01.

Strengths: The Avalanche possess considerable offensive firepower, led by Matt Duchene, Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan O'Reilly. Adding veteran sniper Jarome Iginla provides experienced leadership to this young team. The Avs possess solid goaltending in 2014 Vezina Trophy finalist Semyon Varlamov. They've bought into the system of Patrick Roy, winner of the 2014 Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year.

Weaknesses: Defense is the biggest issue. NHL.com's John Kreiser reports the Avalanche were outshot by 3.2 shots per game while allowing an average of 32.7 shots on goal, the most of any team that qualified for the playoffs last season. Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling notes their puck-possession stats were among the league's worst last season.

Analysis: If the Avalanche can tighten up their defensive game, they stand a very good chance of ending their Stanley Cup drought. They'll still need another Vezina-worthy performance from Varlamov and continued development from their young scorers.

2. Montreal Canadiens

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Last championship season: 1992-93.

Strengths: The Canadiens carry two true superstars in goaltender Carey Price and defenseman P.K. Subban. Possess a potential 40-goal scorer in Max Pacioretty. Promising forwards Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher and Lars Eller should continue to improve and take on larger roles. Additions of blueliner Tom Gilbert and checking-line center Manny Malhotra should improve their overall defensive game.

Weaknesses: They lack a true first-line center. Management failed to replace the experienced leadership of Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges, who departed this summer via free agency and trade, respectively. The Canadiens are a swift team but can be outmuscled by bigger clubs. They must bolster an offense that was 19th last season in power-play percentage (17.2) and 21st in goals per game (2.55).

Analysis: When healthy and in top form, Price and Subban demonstrated last spring they can carry a team deep into the postseason. They'll need help, however, if the Canadiens are to end their Cup drought. They need more production from their young forwards as well as more skilled size at forward and defense.   

1. New York Rangers

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Last championship season: 1993-94.

Strengths: The Rangers possess one of the NHL's great goalies in Henrik Lundqvist and a solid top-four defense corps in Ryan McDonagh, Dan Boyle, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi. They have two proven scoring stars in Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash, along with emerging stars Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello.

Weaknesses: Failed to adequately replace departed players (Anton Stralman, Benoit Pouliot and Brian Boyle) who were solid contributors on their run to the Cup Final last spring. The Rangers lack a true first-line center. Nash struggles offensively in postseason play.  St. Louis and Boyle are both pushing 40.

Analysis: If their new additions mesh well, the Rangers could be in good shape for another run to the Cup Final. They can rely on Lundqvist's stellar goaltending as well as their depth on defense and the wings. Stepan's recent injury (fractured leg), however, reveals a need to improve their depth at center before the playoffs.