2016-17 NHL Predictions: Preview and Picks for Atlantic Division

The Florida Panthers finished atop the Atlantic Division in 2015-16. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced furthest in the 2016 playoffs, falling in seven games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final. In 2016-17, both clubs will try to fend off the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Entering this season, the Lightning and Panthers could once again compete for the top spot in the division. After missing the playoffs last season, the Canadiens and Senators will look for bounce-back performances. Transitioning toward younger rosters, the Bruins and Red Wings will try to remain in postseason contention.

The Sabres and Maple Leafs are still in the midst of rebuilding their rosters. It'll take significant improvement from their promising young players to push them out of the bottom of the division.

In this slideshow, we'll preview the NHL's Atlantic Division for the upcoming 2016-17 campaign. The top teams, best rivalry and top goaltender are among the notable categories. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below. 

The Favorite: Tampa Bay Lightning

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Injuries to several key players, such as Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, hampered the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015-16. They finished second in the Atlantic Division and were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Final by the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a healthier roster in 2016-17, the Lightning should finish atop the division.

Led by Stamkos, Johnson, Palat, top scorer Nikita Kucherov and the promising Jonathan Drouin, the Lightning have a potent offense. The defense corps is anchored by blue-line stalwarts Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman. In veteran Ben Bishop and promising Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Bolts carry a talented goaltending duo.

After announcing the re-signing of Kucherov on Tuesday, the Lightning have limited salary-cap room ($1.73 million) to address roster needs as they arise this season. Bishop's injury history is a concern, and his status as a free agent next summer could become a distraction. Drouin must prove he can produce over a full NHL season. 

Despite these issues, the Lightning possess a very talented roster this season. If their best players remain healthy and Drouin develops as expected, they should be the top club in this division and a strong Stanley Cup contender. 

The Contender: Florida Panthers

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After several years of rebuilding, the Florida Panthers surprised the hockey world last season by topping the Atlantic Division. Stocked with promising young talent, the Panthers should remain a serious contender for the top spot in the division in 2016-17. 

The Panthers possess several skilled young forwards in Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau, Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad. They're augmented by Jussi Jokinen and the ageless Jaromir Jagr. Rising defense star Aaron Ekblad is joined this season by veterans Keith Yandle and Jason Demers, while offseason addition James Riemer will help aging Roberto Luongo share the goaltending duties.

Despite their bright prospects, the Panthers will start the season with Huberdeau and Bjugstad sidelined by injuries. Barkov also has an injury history. Trading defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Vancouver Canucks in May cost them considerable toughness and grit. Age could finally catch up with Luongo and Jagr this season. 

The Panthers face the early challenge of overcoming the absences of Huberdeau and Bjugstad, while Yandle, Demers and Riemer must quickly adjust to their new club. If they can successfully address these issues, the Panthers should challenge the Lightning for first place in the division.

The Bottom-Dweller: Toronto Maple Leafs

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Last season was the first full campaign of a long-overdue rebuild for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Icing a roster comprised largely of untested youngsters and affordable depth veterans, the Leafs finished at the bottom of both the Atlantic Division and the league standings in 2015-16. 

The Leafs won the 2016 NHL draft lottery, selecting top prospect Auston Matthews first overall. He will join fellow promising talents in William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Veterans James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak will lead the offense while rising star Morgan Rielly anchors the blue line. Offseason acquisitions Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth bring some much-needed skill and depth in goal. 

Under well-respected head coach Mike Babcock, the Leafs will again be a hardworking club. But despite Babcock's presence and the growing pool of promising youth, the Leafs still lack scoring punch. They also lack experienced depth on defense and their checking lines. 

While the Leafs shouldn't be as bad as they were in 2015-16, this season will be another painful campaign of growth. Matthews, Nylander and Marner should provide Leafs fans with a tantalizing glimpse of what should be a promising future. 

Best Rivalry: Florida Panthers-Tampa Bay Lightning

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The Atlantic Division has several teams that have entertained NHL fans with longstanding rivalries. However, the recent rise to prominence of the Florida Panthers could provide a significant boost this season to their contests with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Up until last season, the Lightning were considered a rising club led by superstar center Steven Stamkos. They marched to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final and came within a game of a return trip in last spring's Eastern Conference Final. Entering 2016-17, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat are now stars in their own right. 

For the past several years, the Lightning were Florida's dominant NHL team. However, the promising Panthers saw their rebuilding efforts bear fruit last season. They surprised the hockey world by finishing atop the division. With rising stars such as Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers are poised to challenge the Lightning's dominance in the division. 

As the Lightning and Panthers jockey in the division standings, they'll face each other four times in the regular season. Should they contend for first place, the potential exists for a possibly heated rivalry to grow among these Florida clubs this season.

Honorable mention

The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have one of the longest and most intense rivalries in NHL history. They could be set to write another chapter in their feud this season.  

The lengthy mediocrity of the Toronto Maple Leafs has robbed much of the meaning from their long-time rivalry with the Canadiens. Still, it remains a point of interest for fans of both clubs whenever they meet. 

Over the years, the Ottawa Senators have had contests of varying intensity with their rivals from Toronto and Montreal. They could find themselves battling one or both clubs for postseason contention. 

The Leafs have also had an on-again, off-again rivalry with the Buffalo Sabres. With both clubs rebuilding in recent years, the intensity between the two is also being rekindled.

Prior to last season, the Lightning and Canadiens seemed to have a budding rivalry based on two heated playoff series in 2014 and 2015. The Habs' collapse last season, however, may have snuffed out its energy. 

Best Line: Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

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The Triplets Line of center Tyler Johnson, right wing Nikita Kucherov and left wing Ondrej Palat played a significant role in the Tampa Bay Lightning's march to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. In 2015-16, the line played together infrequently, in part due to injuries to Johnson and Palat. If reunited on a permanent basis this season, they could once again be the best in the Atlantic Division.

Kucherov emerged from the shadows of Johnson and Palat in '15-'16 as a star in his own right. During the regular season, he led the Lighting in points (66) and finished second in goals with 30. In the 2016 playoffs, he was their scoring leader with 11 goals and 19 points.

Palat missed 20 games to injury last season while Johnson missed 13, but both finished fifth (40 points) and sixth (38), respectively, among the Lightning's scoring leaders. Palat tied for the regular-season lead in shorthanded goals (two) and points (three). Johnson finished second in game-winning goals (seven) in the regular season and led them in that category (three) during the playoffs. 

This trio has proved they can play well with other linemates. Together, however, they're a far more potent force. It won't be surprising to see them reunited more often this season. 

Honorable mention

Forwards Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau played a crucial role in the Florida Panthers topping the division last season. Once Huberdeau returns from injury, they should continue to be an offensive force. 

Promising Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak could be skating this season alongside center Patrice Bergeron and left wing Brad Marchand. If Pastrnak develops as hoped, the Bruins should have a potent top line. 

The emergence of Alex Galchenyuk as a top-line center between Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher was among the few bright spots for the Montreal Canadiens last season. Offseason acquisition Alexander Radulov could also see playing time on that line this season. 

Best Defense Pairing: Anton Stralman and Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Over the past two seasons, Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman formed one of the NHL's most effective blue-line pairings. Entering 2016-17, the duo will continue to anchor the Lightning's defense corps. 

The 6'6", 223-pound Hedman is among the NHL's elite blueliners. He uses his big frame well and possesses superb all-around defense skills. His 47 points placed him third among the Lightning's scoring leaders. He also finished third in playoff points (14) on the Bolts and among all postseason rearguards. 

A broken fibula late in the season sidelined Stralman for 19 games, including the opening two rounds of the 2016 playoffs. Prior to the injury, he tied his second-best points total (34). The 5'11", 190-pound Stralman lacks Hedman's size, but makes up for it with a solid defensive skill set. Like Hedman, he's a reliable top-two blueliner who can log big minutes. 

Hedman and Stralman provide the Lighting with a one-two punch on defense few of their rivals can match. They are a key part in the Bolts' rise to Stanley Cup contention and the best blue-line pairing in the Atlantic Division.

Honorable mention

The Florida Panthers replaced Aaron Ekblad's departed blue-line partner, Brian Campbell, with former New York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle. This duo has the talent to challenge the Lightning's top pairing of Hedman and Stralman.

Two-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner Erik Karlsson will continue to patrol the Ottawa Senators blue line alongside Marc Methot. Karlsson is the offensive linchpin of the Sens' offensive attack. 

The Montreal Canadiens shocked the hockey world by shipping P.K.Subban to the Nashville Predators for the more defensively responsible Shea Weber. The former Predators captain could be paired with Andrei Markov this season. 

The rebuilding Buffalo Sabres could have a solid defense tandem in promising Rasmus Ristolainen and offseason acquisition Dmitry Kulikov. 

Best Goaltender: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

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If there was any question about goaltender Carey Price's importance to the Montreal Canadiens, it was answered last season when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Prior to Price's injury on Nov. 25, the Habs were first overall in the league standings. Without their superstar netminder, they tumbled out of the playoffs by season's end. 

In 2014-15, Price had a season for the ages. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender. He also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by the players and shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks for allowing the fewest goals in a season.

Before his knee injury, Price was off to a strong start to 2015-16. He won 10 of 12 starts with a 2.06 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and two shutouts. He recently backstopped Team Canada to victory in the World Cup of Hockey, leading all starting goalies in wins (five), goals-against average (1.40) and save percentage (.957). 

Price's play in the World Cup of Hockey bodes well for another superior performance with the Canadiens in 2016-17. Should he regain that dominant form of two seasons ago, he'll once again be the top goalie in the Atlantic Division.

Honorable mention

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season. Over the past three seasons, however, he's been hampered by injuries. The Bolts need him healthy for another run at the Stanley Cup this season. 

Winner of the 2013-14 Vezina Trophy, Tuukka Rask will once again carry a heavy workload for the Boston Bruins in 2016-17. He'll have to be at his best for the Bruins to secure a playoff berth. 

Over the past three seasons, Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson has proved he can steal games despite a porous defense in front of him. Like Bishop, his injury history is a concern. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs bolstered their goaltending this summer by acquiring Frederik Andersen. He played well for the Anaheim Ducks, but it'll be interesting to see how he fares behind a rebuilding Leafs blue line. 

Projected 2016-17 Standings

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Tampa Bay Lightning

Led by captain Steven Stamkos, top defenseman Victor Hedman and goalie Ben Bishop, the Lightning have a solid core of talent. A legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they should top the Atlantic Division this season.

Florida Panthers

The defending division champions, the Panthers are well-stocked in rising young talent such as Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. They should be the Lightning's biggest rival for the top spot in the conference. 

Montreal Canadiens

A healthy Carey Price should carry the Canadiens back into a playoff berth. The addition of Alexander Radulov could bolster their offense. How well offseason acquisition Shea Weber fits in on their blue line will  also be a factor. 

Detroit Red Wings

The Wings barely made the playoffs last season. Despite adding veterans Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek this summer, they're still transitioning toward younger players such as Dylan Larkin and Petr Mrazek. Reaching the playoffs is no certainty this season. 

Ottawa Senators

The Senators have a new head coach in Guy Boucher and shipped center Mika Zibanejad this summer to the New York Rangers for veteran Derick Brassard. It remains to be seen if these moves improve their woeful defensive game. 

Boston Bruins

Like the Wings, the once-mighty Bruins are a team in transition. The defense corps is the biggest issue. Captain Zdeno Chara is aging (39), and the blue line lacks depth. The Bruins could miss the playoffs for a third straight season.

Buffalo Sabres

Led by promising youngsters Jack Eichel, Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart, the Sabres' rebuild is progressing well. Adding veteran winger Kyle Okposo and blueliner Dmitry Kulikov this summer bolsters their depth. If the Bruins, Senators or Wings struggle, the Sabres could surge in the standings. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Now in the second year of rebuilding, the Leafs are stocking up on promising youth such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander. They'll be a hardworking team under coach Mike Babcock, but the Leafs roster still needs work.