Before the puck drops on Tuesday to start the season, this is where we see the 32 clubs from worst to first. (Spoiler alert: the Canucks are near the middle.)
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The 2021-22 NHL season features a team looking to accomplish a feat not accomplished in a couple of generations, a new franchise, and clubs wanting to bounce back from a disappointing campaign or step up.
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As the league returns a bit to normal after two condensed seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can look forward to the twists and turns that make being a hockey fan so exciting.
Before the puck drops on Tuesday to start the season, this is where we see the 32 clubs from worst to first.
32. Buffalo Sabers
No resolution regarding Jack Eichel’s surgery and business lawsuit is another bloody chapter in the franchise’s history.
31. Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes did a teardown to rebuild once again, with another year of “where will they move” as well.
30. Anaheim Ducks
Speaking of rebuilds, the Ducks are still on their way to the baseline phase as they recruit more youngsters.
29. Detroit Red Wings
The Hockeytown, USA club is not ready to take a big step forward, if there is one.
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28. Sharks of San José
Not having Evander Kane, last year’s top points producer, is probably a blessing for a club that is getting to the bottom.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Since they beat Tampa Bay in the first round in 2019, it has been a massive brain drain.
26. Nashville Predators
The late-season hot streak that put the Predators in the playoffs last season is about to become a distant memory.
25. Los Angeles Kings
Adding free agent Phillip Danault was positive, but the holes in this team are huge. Losing rookie Quinton Byfield to a broken ankle is a brutal start.
24. Montreal Canadiens
Her Cinderella run towards the Stanley Cup final will be a great memory for a team that will be without goalkeeper Carey Price for the first month.
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23. Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are not a discarded team, but they temper expectations of doubling the success of the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural season.
22. Devils of New Jersey
The Devils are a young team ready to move on to the next phase of their rebuilding, but they are not ready for prime time yet.
21. Ottawa Senators
The Senators are better than the start of last season, but not as good as their last push. Brady Tkachuk’s difficult renewal created an unnecessary distraction.
20. Dallas Stars
Almost everything that could have gone wrong last season went wrong for the 2020 Cup finalists, who have an aging core.
19. Chicago Blackhawks
The acquisition of defender Seth Jones, forward Tyler Johnson and goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury were bold steps.
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18. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks aren’t as bad as their disastrous finale last season, but they aren’t a definitive playoff team despite their young talent.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins
A new chapter is coming soon with Evgeni Malkin who will miss the start of the season, Sidney Crosby is recovering from injury and from holes in the roster.
16. Philadelphia Flyers
Massive changes were needed after a disappointing season, but the most important key will be whether goalkeeper Carter Hart regains his form.
15. Calgary Flames
Contract extensions or trades involving Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk will be front and center for a middleweight team.
14. New York Rangers
The talent nearly pushed the Rangers to the playoffs last season, and the toughness they added will make all the difference.
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13. St. Louis Blues
Having a disgruntled star in Vladimir Tarasenko could further derail things for the 2019 champions.
12. Minnesota Wild
The Wild finished surprisingly ninth overall last season thanks to their young talent, but be prepared for a step back before a leap forward.
11. Boston Bruins
The changing of the guard is about to be in full swing for a team that reached the 2019 Cup final before living through two disappointing years.
10. Edmonton Oilers
Zach Hyman adds depth of attack for a club that relies so much on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but question marks abound.
9. Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin’s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s goal record will become a spotlight as Father Time hits the 2018 champions.
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8. Winnipeg Jets
Being swept by the Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs ultimately resulted in a much-needed revamped defense corps.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
The time has come for a real playoff run, not a first-round surprise, although attention to goal will be a big focus throughout the season.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
Despite knocking on the door, the Hurricanes made big changes, including a questionable new goalkeeping tandem of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta.
5. Florida Panthers
Without top defender Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a lot to handle on the road to the title. Truly a team to follow.
4. Vegas Golden Knights
Potential Presidents’ Trophy winners did not address the goal-scoring issues that sank them into the playoffs.
3. New York Islanders
Losing to the Lightning in the playoff semifinals in each of the past two seasons shows exactly what task is at hand.
2. Colorado Avalanche
Like the Islands, Avalanche must knock down the door this season and make a long playoff run to dispel the underperforming tag.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
The last team to win three consecutive titles were the Islanders during their four-year career in the early 1980s. Tampa Bay lost its entire third line in the offseason, but added a pair of veterans in Corey Perry and Pierre-Edouard. Bellemare to make history.
Reference-theprovince.com