NHL Predictions: Each Team's Biggest Question Heading Into Training Camp

As training camps begin and NHL teams ready for the new season, each franchise has a number of questions surrounding it.

Whether those are questions about how the team will perform, or how individuals will play, each team is filled with some level of uncertainty going into the new year.

Let's take a look at each team's biggest question heading into camp.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for NHL/Bruins news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35

Anaheim Ducks

The question for the Anaheim Ducks is, will Jonas Hiller be fully healthy this season? Because with him, the Ducks are a Stanley Cup contender.

Without him, not so much.

Anaheim has plenty of offensive firepower with Ryan Getzlaf and 2011 Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry, but Hiller is the key to the team's playoff success.

Boston Bruins

For the Bruins, the obvious question is, will they repeat as Stanley Cup champions? But a more important question is, will Tim Thomas play at a historic level in net for another season?

The last two years in which Thomas was fully healthy, he's won the Vezina Trophy.

There are little signs of Thomas slowing down, and he will be a Vezina candidate again this season.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres made a number of new additions to their team this year through free agency, and how all of them are going to gel as one team is the biggest uncertainty for them.

It will be interesting to see if defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and forward Ville Leino can transform Buffalo into a real Stanley Cup contender.

Calgary Flames

Will this be the year the Calgary Flames finally trade Jarome Iginla?

If he wants to win a Stanley Cup, the Flames will have to trade him.

Sooner or later the Flames will have to rebuild, and trading Iginla is when that process will commence.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes struck gold with forward Jeff Skinner in the draft last year, and he won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year last season.

Will he have a sophomore slump this season?

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks were forced to change much of their team after winning the 2010 Stanley Cup because of salary cap restrictions, and thus didn't have the depth to get back to the Finals.

The question for Chicago this season is, do they have enough depth to get back there, or do they need to make some more moves?

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are a good young team with a lot of salary cap space, and will be an improved team from a year ago.

The question for them is, how will their young talent develop? How many future All-Stars do they have?

Columbus Blue Jackets

The additions of forward Jeff Carter and defenseman James Wisniewski have made the Columbus Blue Jackets contenders in the Western Conference.

But the question surrounding the team is, will Steve Mason ever fulfill his potential?

After winning the Calder Trophy a few years ago, Mason's progress in net has regressed. Will he ever become a dependable No. 1 goalie?

Dallas Stars

The loss of center Brad Richards in free agency was a major blow to the Dallas Stars offense, but the more important question surrounding their franchise is, how is their ownership and financial troubles going to be sorted out?

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings will once again be a Stanley Cup contender, and as always they'll be led by captain and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who won his seventh Norris Trophy last season despite being 41 years old.

Will Lidstrom show his age this season?

Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall had a nice rookie season for the Edmonton Oilers after being selected first overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The question for him this season is, will he take his talents to the next level and become a real star?

Florida Panthers

Will the Florida Panthers ever be competitive and make a strong push for the playoffs?

It's a pretty simple question that surrounds the team every year.

Los Angeles Kings

Will Drew Doughty sign with the Kings or be traded?

Restricted free agent defenseman Drew Doughty is one of hockey's best young players, but he's rejected multiple offers from the Kings, including a nine-year deal recently.

His days in Los Angeles could be numbered.

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild traded young, talented defenseman Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks this summer and didn't replace him with anyone that good.

Do the Wild have enough talent and depth on defense to compete this season?

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens need to find enough room under the salary cap to have enough money to sign young goaltender Carey Price and star defenseman PK Subban to new contracts next summer.

Will anyone take Scott Gomez's contract?

Nashville Predators

Will Shea Weber be a Nashville Predators player next season?

After a summer in which the Predators couldn't extend the contract of their star defenseman and captain beyond this season, Weber's days in  Nashville could be numbered.

He's a restricted free agent next summer.

New Jersey Devils

Martin Brodeur showed last season he cannot be an elite goalie forever, and the Devils need to find a replacement for him very soon.

Will they need to go into free agency next season to get one?

New York Islanders

The question for the New York Islanders is, with all their young talent, can they contend for a playoff spot?

John Tavares' new contract extension was a step in the right direction.

New York Rangers

With Brad Richards at center for the New York Rangers after being acquired through free agency this summer, Marian Gaborik finally has an elite center on his line.

But will Gaborik stay healthy this season to reap the rewards of having Richards on the ice with him?

Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza is a very talented offensive player, but his talents are wasted on a Senators team that is going nowhere.

Should the Senators trade their star center and start the rebuilding process?

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers could have won the Stanley Cup the last two seasons if they had a legitimate No. 1 goaltender.

Now that they've signed former Phoenix Coyotes star goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, is he the missing piece to the Flyers' Stanley Cup puzzle?

Phoenix Coyotes

The question around the Phoenix Coyotes involves relocation.

Can the franchise make it work in Arizona, or will they need to relocate to a better hockey town to thrive financially?

Pittsburgh Penguins

Will Sidney Crosby return this season from battling concussion symptoms? Will he ever play again?

Two scary but real questions for the Penguins and the NHL this season.

San Jose Sharks

After numerous playoff failures, the San Jose Sharks made some great moves to improve the team this summer, adding forward Martin Havlat and defenseman Brent Burns among others.

Is this the year the Sharks finally get to the Stanley Cup Finals and win?

St. Louis Blues

The question for the St. Louis Blues this season is, will their stars, such as TJ Oshie, and the team as a whole be healthy this year?

If they are, the Blues will make the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Dwayne Roloson had a great 2011 playoffs for the Tampa Bay lightning last season, leading them to within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals, but do the Lightning have enough goaltending to get back there?

Should they find a younger goalie for the future?

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have built a nice roster for the upcoming season, and what every fan wants to know is, is this the year the Leafs finally return to the playoffs?

If Phil Kessel becomes the goal scorer he can be, they will get to the playoffs this season.

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo was dreadful in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins, choking again in the playoffs.

Will he be able to rebound this season and put last year's disaster behind him?

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals have a ton of talent, and arguably the best player in the NHL in Alexander Ovechkin, but their numerous playoff failures are a real concern.

Is head coach Bruce Boudreau the right man for the job in Washington?

Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets will bring excitement and life to Winnipeg as NHL hockey has finally returned to the city.

On an individual level, will Evander Kane rise to his potential and become a star this season?