2018-19 season preview

The Jets were stopped short of the final by the upstart Golden Knights last season, but Winnipeg is primed to challenge for the Stanley Cup again this season.

The Lightning have the deepest stable of scorers in the NHL, the defending Norris Trophy winner on the blueline and a reigning Vezina Trophy finalist in goal. It's Stanley Cup or bust for Tampa Bay.

The offense has a few high-impact players. The crease has two great options. And the best defense corps has somehow improved. It should all add up to another battle for the Central crown.

The Bruins boast one of the most complete trios in the NHL, young offensive depth and a strong blueline that should ensure a third consecutive trip to the post-season.

The John Tavares signing has hopes higher than ever in Toronto, and the Maple Leafs look primed to make a deep run this season.

After their three-peat was derailed, the Penguins look to scale the post-season mountain once again with a slightly retooled blueline and the same talented top six.

The defending champions return largely the same roster to take a shot at capturing consecutive Stanley Cups.

This summer’s addition of Erik Karlsson and the acquisition of Evander Kane at last season’s deadline bring two exciting new pieces to the lineup. The Sharks are all-in.

Falling one point short of the post-season in 2017-18, the Blues have retooled and appear reinvigorated with a deep group down the middle and depth on defense. Goaltending is the only thing that looks like it can hold St. Louis back.

A roster refresh, a blockbuster trade and an off-season coaching change gives the Flames hope they can reignite the ‘C’ of Red.

The Golden Knights’ debut campaign was one for the ages. Now, as an encore, Vegas is going to try to do it all again but alter the result of the final series of the season.

An ill-timed losing streak is all that came between the Stars and the playoffs last season. Dallas has all the pieces necessary to ensure they’re not missing out again.

The Panthers have boatloads of potential, especially on the attack. There has been some lean years in Florida, but the tide appears set to turn for the franchise.

An injury to Corey Perry and uncertainty about Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves means the reins could be handed to the youth sooner rather than later, and goaltender John Gibson could act as the catalyst for all success the Ducks see this season.

The Blue Jackets are under pressure to perform with the future up in the air for pending UFAs Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, and Columbus has all the tools to seriously challenge for a division title.

The Flyers are eying up a return trip to the post-season, and with a top six that has big scoring potential and a few promising young defenders, Philadelphia should be able to earn another playoff berth in a weak Metropolitan Division.

The Avalanche’s single-season turnaround was remarkable — a 47-point improvement took them from league basement to the Western Conference wild card — but what will they do for an encore?

The Kings snuck into the playoffs last season before getting ousted by the upstart Vegas Golden Knights. Los Angeles will need to find a way to hang in an ever-improving Pacific Division.

If the Hurricanes are to snap the longest post-season drought in the NHL, they'll need to rely on some underrated offensive weapons, strong defense and a bounce back season from their tandem of masked men.

The Devils surprised last season on the strength of Taylor Hall’s MVP performance. He’ll need a similar performance this season, and more help from the rest of the cast, if New Jersey wants to start a mini playoff streak.

Connor McDavid will take aim at winning a third-straight scoring title, but will it be enough to drag the Oilers to the post-season?

The Wild hope they’ll get a full season out of veterans Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but the aging core doesn’t have the promise it once did.

With Jack Eichel leading the charge, Rasmus Dahlin’s arrival and plenty of off-season turnover, Buffalo appears to be on the way up. The Sabres aren’t there quite yet, though.

Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk are out and Max Domi and Tomas Tatar are in as the Canadiens enter a period of transition from one era to the next.