With the NHL's Opening Night now just a week away, here is a preview and list of predictions for the upcoming season: Critical injuries to start season: 1. Shea Weber, Canadiens; 2. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins; 3. Jack Eichel, Sabres.
Most improved teams: 1. Flyers; 2. Blackhawks; 3. Kings. Need to step up their game: 1. Sabres ownership; 2. Anaheim Ducks management; 3. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. Who wins the Stanley Cup if the Tampa Bay Lightning don't: 1. Panthers; 2. Avalanche; 3. Islanders. Hockey people we don't understand: 1. Evander Kane, Sharks; 2. People who criticize Robin Lehner; 3. Pundit who picked the Kraken to finish with 97 points. Best chance to win the Art Ross Trophy: 1. Connor McDavid, Oilers; 2. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche; 3. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers.
What doesn't work for me: 1. Comparing the Kraken to the Golden Knights; 2. People who leave NHL games midway through the third period; 3. Oilers' goaltending. Hockey people you want to root for: 1. Coach Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes; 2. General manager David Poile, Predators; 3. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins.
Four Metropolitan Division teams that will miss the playoffs: 1. Blue Jackets; 2. Devils; 3. Penguins; 4. Capitals
Favorite offseason acquisitions: 1. Ryan Ellis to Flyers; 2. Sam Reinhart to Panthers; 3. Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago. Four teams that will miss the playoffs in Atlantic: 1. Sabres; 2. Senators; 3. Red Wings; 4. Canadiens. What's good about the NHL in 2021-22: 1. Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews is healthy and back on the ice. 2. Flyers' Oskar Lindblom healthy and back on the ice; 3. Releasing the Kraken. Don't you just like saying their name?
Who I'd hire to coach my team: 1. Barry Trotz, Islanders: 2. Jon Cooper, Lightning; 3. Mike Sullivan, Penguins
NHL Rookie of the Year in 2021-22: 1. Cole Caufield, Canadiens; 2. Trevor Zegras, Ducks; 3. Spencer Knight, Panthers. Story lines to follow: 1. Brady Tkachuk's contract talks in Ottawa; 2. Evander Kane's roster status in San Jose; 3. Jack Eichel trade talks in Buffalo. Vegas? Who could be traded before the trade deadline: 1. Mark Giordano, Kraken; 2. Patrik Laine, Blue Jackets; 3. Johnny Gaudreau, Flames. 2022 Olympic medals prediction: 1. Canada; 2. USA; 3. Sweden
My favorite venue for watching an NHL game: 1. Montreal; 2. Pittsburgh; 3. New York's Madison Square Garden.
Intriguing changes: 1. Ryan Suter in Dallas; 2. Gerard Gallant coaching the Rangers; 3. TNT and ESPN taking over NHL television rights from NBC. What's truly new in this NHL season: 1. Wayne Gretzky behind the mic for TNT; 2. A true Florida vs. Tampa Bay NHL rivalry; 3. An NHL crackdown on crosschecking.