The Top NHL Storylines to Follow in 2017

There are so many NHL storylines for 2017 the mind struggles to comprehend them all. Bottom feeder teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers are finally turning north, while Sidney Crosby has apparently decided this is the year he will fill the net with goals.

It is also a season where the balance of power has shifted in a major way. The Pacific Division and the Central Division were previously dominant, but this year the entire league is watching the Metropolitan Division with shock and awe.

A stunning Calder race is also on display, and the Stanley Cup Finals have no clear favorite from either conference. For many hockey fans, the summer will bring a new experience, another expansion draft, as the Vegas Golden Knights will compete for the championship in 2017-18.

Here are 10 notable hockey stories worth following in 2017.

NHL Expansion

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The NHL's newest team has a name and a logo, but the real work of building a team is just beginning. The Vegas Golden Knights were introduced to the world via a splashy press conference and party, with stories detailing the enormous amount of work ahead. NHL.com covered the opener, complete with the reason behind the name from majority owner Bill Foley.

General manager George McPhee and the team's new scouting staff are attending the World Junior Championships over Christmas week and into the new year. Several players eligible for the draft are on display, and the Golden Knights may also be looking at trade possibilities. Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal had a story on it leading up to Christmas.

The fan interest is very high, to the point where CapFriendly has a wildly popular expansion tool. Fans can go online, find the most logical protected list for their teams and create an expansion club for Las Vegas. New technology and the NHL's open policy in terms of expansion rules and potential protected lists has given way to a brand new passion among fans.

The expansion rules, via NHL.com, are specific in spirit while being vague enough to allow for massive trades before, during and after the draft itself. Fans are already enjoying the experience; it will only grow in enthusiasm as draft day approaches in Nevada.

Contenders for Major Player Awards

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The 2016-17 season could be a year of transition for some major awards. Edmonton Oilers' phenom Connor McDavid leads the scoring race, although Sidney Crosby appears ready to defend his crown as the best player in the game.

Crosby could be the NHL's most valuable player this year and could also win the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy as leading scorer. His 25 goals lead all players by six and is even more impressive when factoring in games lost to injury.

The NHL's best defenseman is always open to debate, but San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is gaining consideration for the James Norris Trophy. He leads defenders in points and brings an intimidating physical game to the rink every night.

Among goalies, it is a wide open race for the Vezina Trophy so far this year. Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk and Columbus Blue Jackets stopper Sergei Bobrovsky stand at the top of the save percentage discipline this season. Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens is also a favorite based on the sensational start for his team in 2016-17.

Coach of the year might be a lock already. John Tortorella, so maligned after the World Cup of Hockey, is now on top of the hockey world with his brilliant Columbus Blue Jackets. The turnaround by Columbus can be tracked to some tactical moves, like positioning on the power play, so Tortorella has a story to tell this year.

Stanley Cup Contenders

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This is shaping up as a fantastic year for fans across the league, as almost every team remains in playoff contention. The odds of winning the Stanley Cup usually favor the two finalists from the previous season, and in fact the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks are in the mix in a big way for 2016-17. 

There are also the perennial contenders like the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. The Los Angeles Kings have faded a little, but the chances improve for a California Stanley Cup when Jonathan Quick returns from injury. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets are receiving some attention for the first time in team history, as goaltending and a stunning power play are driving results in Ohio. The Minnesota Wild are also receiving mentions, and on the very outside of the proceedings are teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The entire Metropolitan Division seems to have a chance, and after that the usual suspects are most prominent. A few new names give this year's race some real flavor, and this should be a fun sprint to the finish of the regular season. 

Who Will Win the Scoring Championship?

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Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid leads a close scoring race as we head into 2017, with an army of elite veterans chasing him. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins have been unleashed offensively with the Penguins running three scoring lines, and both men will push for the Art Ross Trophy during the first months of 2017.

The St. Louis Blues are finding a way to get Vladimir Tarasenko into the offense more, as his playmaking ability has been accentuated this year. Always a formidable sniper, Tarasenko has an excellent chance to win the overall scoring title with his ability to pile up assists at a rapid rate.

A pair of Philadelphia Flyers, Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux, have impacted scoring in a big way this year and are a big part of the team's resurgence.

There are possibly one dozen players who could win the scoring title this year with a strong second half. Nothing is decided, although McDavid is the man to chase heading into 2017.

The Trade Deadline

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This year's trade deadline has a new wrinkle that could result in some explosive transactions. The usual deals are likely, with unrestricted free agents possibly on the move to contenders.

Among the biggest names are two goaltenders. Ryan Miller of the Vancouver Canucks and Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning should be in great demand, if those teams chose to make them available in trade.

Among defenders, Dmitry Kulikov of the Buffalo Sabres, Kris Russell of the Edmonton Oilers and Michael Stone of the Arizona Coyotes could be on the move. The forward group includes Patrick Sharp of the Dallas Stars, Jarome Iginla of the Colorado Avalanche, Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers and Shane Doan of the Arizona Coyotes.

Fans should be prepared for some shocking trades, as the deadline may offer opportunities to get high value for players not projected to be held back from the expansion draft. Some NHL teams are going to be leaving terrific talent available to the Vegas Golden Knights, so fetching something in trade is preferable to getting nothing for these players in the expansion draft.

Entry Draft 2017

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This year's draft of amateur talent doesn't have a marquee name like Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, and the overall depth of the 2017 edition is not strong. In a recent article in USA Today, Kyle Woodlief of Red Line Report called it an unexciting draft.

For the Vegas Golden Knights, getting a foundation player in the first round is vital. NHL expansion teams that have enjoyed long-term success were early adopters of the importance of procuring amateur talent via the draft.

Part of the issue this season is injury. The two highest-ranked prospects on Craig Button's list this year have been injured for much of 2016-17. The TSN draft analyst has Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Timothy Liljegren of Sweden's Rogle club as the top options, and both have had a miserable time with injuries.

No matter the specifics, every NHL draft has major importance for all 31 teams, and hundreds of scouts are watching closely in North America and Europe. Identifying the impact players in every draft is vital to an organization's future, but it is very difficult to project teenagers. Scouts will earn their money this season, as prospects have not separated from each other.

Is This the Year for the State of Hockey?

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No one disputes Minnesota as the state of hockey, with high school championships making front page news across the state. The NHL fans in Minnesota have had a rocky road, beginning with the North Stars in 1967 and continuing with the Minnesota Wild in 2000. 

This year's team has some outstanding elements and the kind of depth championship teams need to win over the long playoff season. Devan Dubnyk has been on fire all season, and the veteran defense in front of him is mobile and effective in coverage.

A veteran group of forwards built to win in the rugged Western Conference can also compete against the fast Eastern Conference in 2016-17. The best thing about this team is no one player, Dubnyk aside, is posting a career season.

For Minnesota hockey fans who remember Lou Nanne and Bill Goldsworthy, the thought of winning a Stanley Cup for the state seems impossible. The quality and balance contained on this year's Minnesota Wild roster may finally make that dream come true.

Is This the Year of Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Wins?

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There was a time in NHL history when winning back-to-back titles was commonplace. In the mid-70s through mid-80s, dynasty teams included the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.

Since then, winning two in three years has been common, but back-to-back championships are extremely rare. The last team to win twice in a row came last century, as the Detroit Red Wings won in 1997 and 1998.

Part of the issue is the draft and good management. Teams are drafting well across the board, and managers are better at making trades that don't harm their teams. The league is fairly even at this time, and there are probably 10 teams who have a real chance to win the Stanley Cup during these years.

Luck, injury and goaltending are major factors, and of course elite talents like Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins can make a major difference. The Penguins won two in a row in 1991 and 1992; the club could repeat that trick this season.

Coach of the Year

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It has been an amazing calendar year for John Tortorella, and 2017 may be even more incredible. After the Team USA stumble at the World Cup of Hockey, Tortorella immersed himself into his regular job, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Many preseason experts had Tortorella as a candidate for first coach fired, but that's why they play the games. The Blue Jackets are on top of the hockey world at this time, and Tortorella is a strong candidate for the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach.

Other candidates include Bruce Boudreau of the Minnesota Wild and Dave Hakstol of the Philadelphia Flyers, as the wild times at the top of the NHL standings has been anything but predictable this year.

The story of Tortorella is so compelling it is difficult seeing anyone else winning the award from here, although there is much of the season still to be written. This is the most interesting race for the Adams award in many years.

Is the NHL Going to the Olympics?

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There is an interesting story building around the NHL and its involvement at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. Players are very interested in playing in 2018, but the NHL is moving slowly on things. Recent stories have agents expressing frustration over how things are progressing, as this TSN article from Darren Dreger indicates.

NHL owners, represented by Gary Bettman, attempted to tie NHL involvement in the Olympics to an extension of the current CBA. In late November, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on NBC television that the players are perplexed by the NHL's stance tying the Olympics to the CBA.

Negotiations on all manner of things continue between the NHL, the union and the IOC over NHL players playing in South Korea. Fans may not get to see the world's best at the 2018 Olympics, and that would be a shame. The business of negotiations is destined to last well into 2017.