In this week's edition: This time of the year, everybody is undefeated, and optimism flows like wine in the Napa Valley; Fisching Around -- A quick look around the Hockey Universe; and a Good Luck note to Brian Burke, who is a huge asset to women's hockey.

This is the best time of the year. Everybody is undefeated, and optimism flows like wine in the Napa Valley. Hope springs eternal, especially in Elmont, New York, where the New York Islanders may be the sleeper of the East.

Seriously.

But for starters, we must open this East-tilted forecast with a maxim -- Never Bet Against The Champs even if they are west of East St. Louis.

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That -- never bet against bit -- looks good in print, and, hey, the Golden Knights are a superior team. Still, I wouldn't call them scary. They are interesting, and I say that in the best sense of the word.

They proved that they've got the goods, but I have to wonder whether Adin Hill can duplicate over a whole season his amazing goalkeeping work of the Cup Final. (I emphatically doubt it since Godzilla, he is not.)

I'm convinced that Stanley will return to the East, where a few clubs arrest attention because -- in one way or another -- they could go the route. And one is Toronto.

The most fascinating of the 32 tribes-- as always -- are the Maple Leafs. If nothing else, the Law of Averages must catch up to them sooner or later. Why not this semester? I ask you that, WHY NOT?

It's now going on 57 Champagne-less years. The Matthew-Marner-plus firepower should -- once and for all -- put them over the top. Should or will? That is the question. If John Tavares has a career year, they will. (No snide remarks from the cheap seats, if you please.)

Meanwhile, in the New York Metro area, the New York Rangers fortified the right wing with Blake Wheeler, which was a huge, yet underrated, move. Coaching is in good hands with Peter Laviolette behind the bench.

If Igor Shesterkin regains his Vezina form, the Blueshirts will be more than interesting. This will especially be so - -as I now predict -- with Alexis Lafreniere finally living up to his insanely optimistic first-overall pick notices.

Still, the Manhattanites have to worry about Lindy Ruff's Kiddie Korps across the wide Hudson. That spanking they gave the Blueshirts last Spring was no accident. Paced by extraordinarily gifted Jack Hughes and indomitable captain Nico Hischier -- the Devils are looking even stronger this time around. How could they not, with yet another Hughes -- as in Luke -- better than his bros?

There is, however, a no-kidding around issue in Newark and that's stopping the puck from going over the goal line. Defense and netminding could be Lindy's biggest challenges, although The Maven knows there'll be an argument over my outrageous claim.

Rounding out this collection of "Interestings" are the Islanders. Perhaps it's because every Lou Lamoriello club captures my imagination (It's called "The Lou Effect." Or, if you prefer one word -- mesmerizing.)

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But this term, I'm intrigued by the possibilities of the Bo Horvat-Matt Barzal combo up front, balance all around, and arguably the best NHL goaltender, Ilya Sorokin. Doubt me if you will -- I dare you -- but the Isles are more "family" than any of the 31 other clubs, and that's good.

Call them what you will, but I call Lou's skaters the sleepers of the East. Lou likes his vets the way Punch Imlach did during the mid-1960s when the Leafs' boss rejected young Gerry Cheevers as his goalie and went with ancient Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk.

"I've always rated players who have played in the NHL," explained Imlach, "over those who have not!"

Punch then orchestrated his Leafs to their fourth Stanley Cup!

FISCHING AROUND

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THE BIG BRIAN BURKE CHALLENGE: 

The time is now for the big, bust out for women's pro hockey.

At last, the two-circuit war is over, and we have a brand new Professional Women's Hockey League.

Play begins in January with a six-team circuit with franchises in Ottawa, Minnesota, Boston, New York, Montreal, and Toronto.

What matters most is that the PWHL will be orchestrated by a pro's pro, Brian Burke. This most ubiquitous man-about-hockey has held just about every key position in The Game short of penalty timekeeper.

But his key gig -- as far as the new job is concerned -- was that Brian was one of Gary Bettman's early aides not long after Bettman took NHL command 30 years ago.

Burke has all the key connections, experience, and savvy.