Photo: ESPN
With the 2024-25 NHL regular-season getting underway this week, NoVa Caps looks at every team in their annual division previews. We will continue with the Pacific Division, which saw the Seattle Kraken fall to the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, on Tuesday in the first game in North America this season and will feature the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Colorado Avalanche (10 PM ET, TNT) and reigning Western Conference-champion Edmonton Oilers hosting the Winnipeg Jets (10 PM ET, ESPN+) on Wednesday:
San Jose Sharks
2023-24 season result: 19-54-9 (.287 points percentage), last in NHL
2023-24 leaders: RW Tyler Toffoli (33 goals, 55 points – with New Jersey Devils/Winnipeg Jets), LW Fabian Zetterlund (24 goals), C Mikael Granlund (48 assists, 39 assists, 60 points), D Mario Ferraro (22:52 TOI/game), G Vitek Vanecek (17 wins – with New Jersey)
Acquired: Toffoli, RW Carl Grundstrom, D Jake Walman, LW Egor Afanasyev, C Ty Dellandrea, RW Barclay Goodrow, C Andrew Poturalski, D Lucas Carlsson, C Alexander Wennberg, G Yaroslav Askarov, C Macklin Celebrini, D Cody Ceci, Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky
Lost: D Nikolai Knyzhov, D Kyle Burroughs, RW Ozzy Weisblatt, D Jacob MacDonald, C Jack Studnicka, G Kaapo Kahkonen, G Devin Cooley, D Calen Addison, C Jacob Peterson, C Filip Zadina, D Ty Emberson, G Eetu Makiniemi, RW Mike Hoffman, RW Kevin Labanc, Head Coach David Quinn
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
After finishing at least five points behind the next team in the NHL standings, San Jose’s lengthy rebuild seems to be turning a corner. The biggest storyline will be how Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in this summer’s draft (32 goals and 64 points in 38 games for Boston College), and Will Smith, the fourth overall pick in 2023 (25 goals and 71 points at Boston College), transition to the NHL full-time. Left-winger William Eklund, the seventh overall pick in 2021 (16 goals and 45 points in 80 games), will aim to build on his productive rookie season.
San Jose currently has three goaltenders on its NHL roster. They acquired Vanecek (.890 save percentage, 3.18 goals-against average in 32 games) at last season’s trade deadline and Askarov from the Nashville Predators in August. Askarov, 22, requested a trade after posting a .911 save percentage and 2.39 goals-against average in the AHL last season, in which he made just one NHL start but will start this campaign in the minors. Once regarded as the top goalie in a deep 2020 draft, Askarov sought a team where he could earn more NHL playing time. MacKenzie Blackwood (.899 save percentage, 3.45 goals-against average in 45 games) was also once seen as a promising goaltender.
The potential return of captain Logan Couture, who was limited to six games last season due to a groin injury, could provide an additional boost, especially with Celebrini, Smith, Askarov, and more young talent expected to come along this season. The 35-year-old scored 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games the previous year and is just 67 games away from reaching the 1,000-game milestone.
Along with Celebrini and Smith, San Jose’s offense should benefit from the additions of Tyler Toffoli, a three-time 30-goal scorer, and Alexander Wennberg, who has hit double-digit goals for four consecutive seasons and surpassed 30 points in each of the past three. If Couture returns, the Sharks will have four potential top-nine centers, which may lead to Celebrini and Smith starting on the wing. While the Sharks are arguably one of the most improved teams, with plenty of young talent debuting, they still have a long way to go before reaching their goals.
Anaheim Ducks
2023-24 season result: 27-50-5 (.360 points percentage), seventh in Pacific Division, 14th in Western Conference
2023-24 leaders: RW Frank Vatrano (37 goals, 60 points), RW Troy Terry (34 assists), D Cam Fowler (34 assists, 24:25 TOI/game), C Ryan Strome (30 assists), G Lukas Dostal (14 wins)
Acquired: C Carson Meyer, LW Robby Fabbri, RW Jansen Harkins, D Brian Dumoulin, RW Beckett Sennecke, G Oskar Dansk
Lost: C Max Jones, C Bo Groulx, D Urho Vaakanainen, D Gustav Lindstrom, LW Blake McLaughlin, C Brayden Tracey, C Andrew Agozzino, G Gage Alexander, D Robert Hagg, C Glenn Gawdin, C Ben Meyers, LW Nikolas Brouillard, LW Jakob Silfverberg
Injuries To Start Season: G John Gibson (appendectomy, out 3-6 weeks from 9/26)
Anaheim, which has missed the playoffs for six consecutive years, remains in the midst of a long rebuild and could soon see significant changes. Trade rumors surrounding Trevor Zegras, John Gibson, and recently Cam Fowler have persisted since last season. Zegras is coming off a rocky year, where he signed late as a restricted free agent and saw his production drop to just six goals and 15 points in 31 games after consecutive seasons with 23 goals and 60 points. Gibson lost the starting job last season, finishing 13-27-2 with an .888 save percentage and a 3.54 goals-against average.
Anaheim struggled offensively last season, averaging just 2.48 goals per game (29th in the NHL) and converting at .179 on the power play (25th). Without any significant offseason upgrades, the Ducks will rely on Zegras (if he stays), Mason McTavish (19-23-42 in 64 games), Leo Carlsson (12-17-29 in 55), and rookie Cutter Gauthier (38-27-65 in 41 at Boston College) to step up. Vatrano led the team with 17 more goals than any other Duck, while Terry was the only other player to hit the 20-goal mark.
Regardless of whether Gibson remains in Anaheim, the team needs better goaltending. Lukas Dostal, 24, posted a 14-23-3 record with a .902 save percentage, 3.33 goals-against average, and a shutout in his first full season, taking over down the stretch. In addition to offensive struggles, Anaheim ranked 30th in goals-against per game (3.57) and 31st in penalty killing (.724).
Anaheim’s defense will feature young talent, including Pavel Mintyukov (4-24-28, -20, .4635 five-on-five Corsi-for, .4594 expected goals-for, .4652 scoring chances-for in 63 games), the 10th overall pick in 2022; Jackson LaCombe (2-15-17, -24, .444 Corsi-for, .4623 expected goals-for, .4338 scoring chances-for in 71 games), the 39th overall pick in 2019; and Olen Zellweger (2-7-9, -6, .4644 Corsi-for, .4302 expected goals-for, .4355 scoring chances-for in 26 games), the 34th overall pick in 2021. Progression across the lineup is Anaheim’s key objective this season.
Seattle Kraken
2023-24 season result: 34-35-13 (.494 points percentage), tied for fifth in Pacific Division, 11th in Western Conference; dropped 2024-25 season opener in regulation
2023-24 leaders: C Jared McCann (29 goals, 62 points), RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (39 assists, 59 points), D Vince Dunn (35 assists, 23:05 TOI/game), D Brandon Montour (23:26 TOI/game – with Florida Panthers), C Chandler Stephenson (35 assists – with Vegas Golden Knights), G Joey Daccord (19 wins)
Acquired: Stephenson, Montour, Meyers, D Josh Mahura, C Mitchell Stephens, D Maxime Lajoie, Head Coach Dan Bylsma
Lost: Poturalski, Dumoulin, D Justin Schultz, D Jaycob Megna, RW Tomas Tatar, C Devin Shore, RW Kailer Yamamoto, C Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare, Head Coach Dave Hakstol, G Chris Driedger
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
The key for Seattle this season is center Matty Beniers bouncing back after a dip in production, tallying just 15 goals and 37 points in 77 games—nine fewer goals and 20 fewer points than his rookie season, where he won the Calder Trophy. The 21-year-old is expected to be the Kraken’s top-line center, but the addition of Stephenson could offer more lineup flexibility, potentially easing Beniers’ ice time, role, or even moving him to the wing if needed.
Seattle also needs consistent goaltending. Philipp Grubauer (14-16-2, .899 save percentage, 2.85 goals-against average) lost the starting job to Joey Daccord (19-18-11, .916 save percentage, 2.46 goals-against average). While Daccord had a breakout year, he entered the season with just 19 NHL games and still only has 69. Seattle needs him to build on that success or risk facing serious issues in net.
After making a coaching change to Dan Bylsma, who led AHL affiliate Coachella Valley to consecutive Calder Cup Finals, the Kraken must find their identity. In their three seasons, their points percentage has fluctuated: .366 (30th in the NHL) in 2021-22, .610 (12th) in 2022-23 when they upset the Colorado Avalanche in the first round and took the Dallas Stars to Game 7 in the second, and .494 (tied for 23rd) last season. Beyond Beniers and Grubauer, the Kraken need more from Yanni Gourde (11-22-33 in 80 games), Jaden Schwartz (13-17-30 in 62), Andre Burakovsky (7-9-16 in 49), and Tomas Tatar (8-7-15 in 43)—all players who have hit the 50-60 point mark in previous seasons but have underperformed in Seattle.
Shane Wright, the fourth overall pick in 2022, is expected to make the full-time jump to the NHL. The 20-year-old ended last season with four goals and five points in five games at the NHL level and thrived in his first AHL campaign with 22 goals and 47 points in 59 regular-season games, adding 13 points in 12 postseason contests. With no high-end forwards currently in Seattle’s lineup, Wright has a chance to provide a big boost with a productive season.
Calgary Flames
2023-24 season result: 38-39-5 (.494 points percentage), tied for fifth in Pacific Division, 11th in Western Conference
2023-24 leaders: C Nazem Kadri (29 goals, 46 assists, 75 points), C Yegor Sharangovich (31 goals, 59 points), C Blake Coleman (30 goals), D Rasmus Andersson (23:49 TOI/game), G Dan Vladar (eight wins)
Acquired: LW Anthony Mantha, D Jake Bean, D Kevin Bahl, RW Martin Frk, LW Ryan Lomberg, D Jarred Tinordi, D Tyson Barrie
Lost: Dansk, C Dillon Dube, C Riley Damiani, LW Andrew Mangiapane, G Jacob Markstrom, C Ben Jones, D Jordan Oesterle, RW A.J. Greer, D Dennis Gilbert, D Oliver Kylington, D Mark Pysyk, C Cole Schwindt
Injuries To Start Season: Sharangovich (lower-body, week-to-week from 10/7)
After two years of major turnover since winning the Pacific Division, Calgary is beginning a rebuild. As with last season, the main focus will be on who stays and goes before the season ends. Markstrom and Mangiapane were already moved this summer, and more could follow, with Kadri, Andersson, Huberdeau, and Weegar all involved in trade rumors. Additionally, Mantha, Vladar, and Kuzmenko are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Calgary’s projected goalie tandem of Vladar and Dustin Wolf has limited experience, with just 37 NHL games combined last season and 93 in total after trading Markstrom. Given that Calgary is not expected to contend for the playoffs, it is understandable that they will start the season with this duo. Wolf posted a 7-7-1 record with an .893 save percentage and 3.16 goals-against average in 17 NHL games, while going 20-13-3 with a .922 save percentage, 2.45 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 36 AHL games. Vladar went 8-9-2 with an .882 save percentage and 3.62 goals-against average in 20 games.
Since being traded from Florida in the Matthew Tkachuk deal, Huberdeau’s production has dropped significantly. After scoring 30 goals in his final season with the Panthers, he managed just 15 in 79 games during his first season in Calgary and 12 in 81 games last season, the first of his eight-year contract that counts $10.5 million against the NHL salary cap. His point total has also plummeted from 115 in 2021-22 (tied with Johnny Gaudreau for second in the NHL) to 55 the following year and 52 last season. A turnaround from Huberdeau would be a huge boost for the Flames.
During this rebuilding season, Calgary will look to players like 26-year-old Sharangovich (31-28-59 in 82 games after being acquired from New Jersey for Tyler Toffoli in June 2023), Kuzmenko (14-11-25 in 29 games after coming over in the Elias Lindholm trade to Vancouver), 21-year-old Matthew Coronato (3-6-9 in 34 games), Connor Zary (14-20-34 in 63 games), 27-year-old Daniil Miromanov (3-4-7, even rating, .5806 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage in 20 games after the Noah Hanifin trade), and 26-year-old Jake Bean (4-9-13, -10 rating, .4719 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage in 20 games with Columbus) to take further steps in their development.
Vegas Golden Knights
2023-24 season result: 45-29-8 (.598 points percentage), fourth in Pacific Division, eighth in Western Conference; lost in first round to Dallas
2023-24 leaders: C Jack Eichel (31 goals, 37 assists, 68 points), D Shea Theodore (37 assists), C William Karlsson (30 goals), RW Mark Stone (37 assists), D Alex Pietrangelo (23:33 TOI/game), G Adin Hill (19 wins)
Acquired: Hagg, Schwindt, LW Victor Olofsson, G Ilya Samsonov, C Tanner Lacynski, G Akira Schmid, C Alexander Holtz, LW Tanner Pearson
Lost: Stephenson, Mantha, RW Jonathan Marchessault, LW Paul Cotter, G Logan Thompson, G Jiri Patera, D Alec Martinez, C Michael Amadio, RW William Carrier, C Byron Froese, RW Sheldon Rempal
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
After losing last season’s leading goal-scorer, Marchessault, and a top-six center, Stephenson, Vegas’ offense looks thinner heading into their season opener. Holtz (16-12-28 in 82 games with New Jersey in his first full season) and Olofsson (a three-time 20-goal, 40-point scorer) should help maintain a solid forward group after the team averaged 3.21 goals per game (tied for 13th). However, expecting them to replace Marchessault is a big ask. Vegas will need Tomas Hertl (2-2-4 in six games after being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline) to step up, while 2020 first-round pick Brenden Brisson (2-6-8 in 15 games) and Pavel Dorofeyev (13-11-24 in 47 games) must take further steps.
Health will be crucial for the Golden Knights this season more than previous years, especially after losing key contributors this past summer. Stone (limited to 56 games due to injury), Karlsson (70), Hertl (54 with Vegas and San Jose), Eichel (63), Pietrangelo (64), and Shea Theodore (47) all missed significant time last season. Despite this, Vegas still qualified for the postseason by just six points a year after winning their first Stanley Cup. Stone, the team captain, has missed 110 (.447) of the team’s 246 regular-season games over the past three seasons.
Thompson’s departure gives Hill (.909 save percentage, 2.71 goals-against average in 35 games) a bigger role after he struggled down the stretch and sat for the first four games of Vegas’ first-round series. Hill, who played in a tandem situation before Thompson was traded to the Washington Capitals, posted a .931 save percentage in Games 5-7 against Dallas and needs to build on his strong postseason performance. The Golden Knights acquired Samsonov (23-7-8, .890 save percentage, 3.13 goals-against average, three shutouts in 40 games with Toronto) and Schmid (5-9-1, .895 save percentage, 3.15 goals-against average in 19 games with New Jersey), but both were sent to the AHL, with Samsonov clearing waivers. In addition to Hill rediscovering his 2023 postseason form (.932 save percentage, 2.17 goals-against average in 16 games during Vegas’ Cup run), the team will need Samsonov to rebound.
Vegas must address their special teams after finishing last season tied for 20th with San Jose in power-play efficiency (.202) and posting a league-average penalty-kill rate of .793. A healthier lineup would help, but the departures of Marchessault (3:32 power-play time, third among forwards), Stephenson (2:53 power-play, fourth; 1:35 shorthanded, tied with Stone for third), Martinez (1:14 on the penalty kill, seventh among defensemen), and defenseman Brayden Pachal (1:21 shorthanded, sixth), who was traded to Calgary in the deal for Hanifin, leave gaps in their special teams that need to be filled.
Los Angeles Kings
2023-24 season result: 44-27-11 (.604 points percentage), third in Pacific Division, tied for sixth in Western Conference; lost in first round to Edmonton Oilers
2023-24 leaders: LW Trevor Moore (31 goals), LW Kevin Fiala (29 goals, 44 assists, 73 points), RW Adrian Kempe (28 goals, 47 assists, 75 points), C Anze Kopitar (44 assists, 70 points), D Drew Doughty (20:53 TOI/game), G Darcy Kuemper/David Rittich (13 wins – Kuemper with Washington)
Acquired: Kuemper, Burroughs, Studnicka, RW Tanner Jeannot, D Caleb Jones, D Joel Edmundson, RW Warren Foegele
Lost: Grundstrom, Frk, G Cam Talbot, RW Viktor Arvidsson, D Matt Roy, C Blake Lizotte, C Pierre-Luc Dubois, C Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Injuries To Start Season: Doughty (fractured ankle, month-t0-month from 9/27), LW Arthur Kaliyev (fractured clavicle, indefinite)
Now on their fifth starting goaltender in three seasons, Los Angeles needs Kuemper, who went 13-14-3 with an .890 save percentage, 3.31 goals-against average, and one shutout in Washington, where he lost the starting job, to rebound after the team let Talbot leave in free agency. The Kings posted a .8581 team save percentage during their five-game playoff series, the third-worst among the 16 qualifying teams, and relying on Kuemper to solve this issue leaves questions unanswered.
After Roy signed with Washington, Los Angeles’ defense took a hit, especially with Doughty out long-term. However, this could finally create an opportunity for Brandt Clarke, the eighth overall pick in 2021. Clarke has two goals, eight points, a -7 rating, and strong underlying metrics (.5479 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5951 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, .5729 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage) in 25 career games over two seasons, but he still lacks experience. The Kings also signed Edmundson (one goal, six points, -2 rating, .4763 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4703 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, .4874 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 53 games with Washington and Toronto last season) to bolster their third pairing. Last season, Los Angeles ranked third in goals-against per game (2.56), second in penalty-kill percentage (.846), and fourth in shots-against per game (28).
With Grundstrom and Dubois out, Alex Turcotte (fifth overall in 2019) and Akil Thomas (51st overall in 2018) are expected to take on bigger roles. Turcotte has played just 32 NHL games but tallied 10 goals and 29 points in 35 AHL games last season. Thomas ended 2023-24 with three goals and four points in seven NHL games and posted 22 goals and 46 points in 64 AHL contests. Los Angeles averaged 3.10 goals per game last season and will also look to Quinton Byfield (20-35-55 in 80) to build on his breakout campaign.
After three consecutive opening-round losses to Edmonton (seven games in 2022, six in 2023, and five last season), the pressure is on the Kings to break through. Acquiring Dubois last summer to counter Edmonton’s duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl backfired, and Dubois is already gone. The Kings, who have not won a playoff series since capturing their second Stanley Cup in 2014, have also had a different starting goalie in each recent series (Quick in 2022, Korpisalo in 2023, Talbot last season). In addition to Kuemper bouncing back and Byfield’s continued progress, Los Angeles will look to 2019 Stanley Cup Champion Edmundson to bring added grit and help push for postseason success, though whether or not the Kings qualify is up in the air after the team lost a lot of depth over the past two summers.
Edmonton Oilers
2023-24 season result: 49-27-6 (.634 points percentage), second in Pacific Division, fifth in Western Conference; lost in Stanley Cup Final to Florida
2023-24 leaders: Draisaitl (41 goals, 106 points), McDavid (100 assists, 132 points), LW Zach Hyman (54 goals), D Evan Bouchard (23:00 TOI/game), G Stuart Skinner (36 wins)
Acquired: Arvidsson, C Matt Savoie, LW Jeff Skinner, D Connor Carrick, G Collin Delia, D Josh Brown, RW Vasily Podkolzin, D Ty Emberson, D Travis Dermott, GM Stan Bowman
Lost: Foegele, D Cody Ceci, D Philip Broberg, RW Dylan Holloway, G Jack Campbell, C Ryan McLeod, D Vincent Desharnais, C Sam Carrick, C Sam Gagner, LW Adam Erne, GM Ken Holland, C Xavier Bourgault
Injuries To Start Season: LW Evander Kane (two torn hip adductor muscles/two hernias/two torn lower abdominal muscles, indefinite)
After losing Broberg to an offer sheet, Edmonton now has a hole in their top-four defensive corps. The Oilers, who allowed an average of 2.60 goals per game (seventh in the NHL) during their run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, added Dermott (50 games with Arizona) and Brown (51 games with Arizona), and re-signed Troy Stecher (54 games with Arizona and Edmonton) for the right side of their blueline behind Bouchard. However, none were everyday NHL defensemen last season. Edmonton also posted a league-best .943 penalty-killing rate during the postseason but lost three of their top-five defensemen in shorthanded ice time (Desharnais and Ceci, both averaging over 2:00 per game, and Broberg at 1:32).
The Oilers also need to assess whether Skinner is reliable enough to lead them. After starting the second round against Vancouver with an .833 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average, he was benched for Games 5 and 6. However, he shined in Games 4-7 of the Stanley Cup Final, posting a .935 save percentage, though he finished the regular season with a .905 in 59 games and a .901 in 23 postseason games. Backup Calvin Pickard played just 23 games last season, so Edmonton needs Skinner to maintain his playoff form. It would not be surprising if the Oilers pursued another goaltender to form a tandem with Skinner before the NHL Trade Deadline.
While Edmonton’s defense has weakened, their top-six forward group could be the best in the NHL after signing Jeff Skinner and Arvidsson. Skinner, a six-time 30-goal scorer with five seasons over 63 points, and Arvidsson, a five-time 20-goal, three-time 50-point player, strengthen the lineup. Arvidsson was limited to 18 games in Los Angeles due to injury, but still managed six goals and 15 points. Both players could see a boost in production playing alongside McDavid and/or Draisaitl. Savoie, the ninth overall pick from 2022 (28 goals and 71 points in 34 WHL games), and Podkolzin, the 10th overall pick from 2019 (15 goals and 28 points in 44 AHL games), could also get opportunities after the team declined to match St. Louis’ offer sheet to Holloway. The Oilers finished the postseason third in goals per game (3.44) and second in power-play efficiency (.293).
After a career-high in goals last season (when he scored 15 more than his previous career-best), Hyman’s follow-up will be closely watched. His goal totals have risen in each of his three years in Edmonton (27, 36, 54), with 83 points in 79 games in 2022-23 and 77 in 80 last year. While this may not seem sustainable, Hyman’s role alongside McDavid and Draisaitl, combined with his elite net-front presence, should set continue to set him up to be successful.
Vancouver Canucks
2023-24 season result: 50-23-9 (.634 points percentage), first in Pacific Division, third in Western Conference; lost in second round to Edmonton
2023-24 leaders: RW Brock Boeser (40 goals), C J.T. Miller (37 goals, 66 assists, 103 points), C Elias Pettersson (34 goals, 55 assists, 89 points), D Quinn Hughes (75 assists, 92 points, 24:41 TOI/game), G Thatcher Demko (35 wins)
Acquired: Desharnais, Patera, LW Jake DeBrusk, C Nate Smith, D Derek Forbort, LW Danton Heinen, RW Kiefer Sherwood, RW Daniel Sprong, D Erik Brannstrom, G Kevin Lankinen
Lost: Podkolzin, RW Ilya Mikheyev, C Sam Lafferty, G Zachary Sawchenko, C Sheldon Dries, G Casey DeSmith, D Ian Cole, D Nikita Zadorov, C Elias Lindholm, D Tucker Poolman
Injuries To Start Season: C Dakota Joshua (testicular cancer, indefinite)
Demko, whose 35 wins tied for sixth league-wide, ranked fourth with a .918 save percentage, fifth with a 2.45 goals-against average, and fifth with five shutouts, is not expected to be ready for the season due to a knee injury. While Arturs Silovs led Vancouver to Game 7 of the second round, the 23-year-old posted an .898 save percentage in 10 postseason games, more than the nine career regular-season outings on his resume. Last season, Silovs went 16-11-6 with a .907 save percentage, 2.74 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 34 AHL games for Abbotsford. The team also signed Lankinen (11-6-0, .908 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average in 24 with Nashville), who has 112 games of NHL experience, to support Silovs.
Vancouver must decide whether to play Miller, usually a first-line right wing, at center to spread their scoring after losing Lindholm in free agency. If not, Dakota Joshua (18-14-32 in 63) or Pius Suter (14-15-29 in 67), neither of whom produced consistent top-six numbers, would likely fill the role, forcing the Canucks to look for a second-line center before the trade deadline. Joshua missed all of training camp.
Vancouver’s defense has a potential top-four vacancy after losing Zadorov (third among Canucks defensemen with 20:09 postseason ice time) and Cole. Their 2.70 goals-against per game tied for sixth in the NHL last season. They signed Desharnais, who averaged 17:15 in the postseason (fifth on Edmonton), Forbort (17:49, fifth among Boston defensemen), and re-signed Tyler Myers, who averaged 19:30 (fourth on Vancouver, 2:32 more than the bottom pair). Hughes also averaged at least 3:23 more than any other Canucks defenseman, illustrating the blueline’s top-heaviness.
A key focus for Vancouver will be Pettersson’s performance. Though he finished 24th in assists and tied for 18th in points, his scoring dipped to six goals and 17 points over his final 27 games. His decline continued in the postseason, with one goal and six points in 13 games. With uncertainty surrounding Vancouver’s second-line center, the team needs Pettersson to return to his early-season form.
Breakout Candidates
The seventh overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft had a solid rookie season and could get a look to play high up in Vegas’ lineup after the team lost Marchessault and Stephenson in free agency. Holtz will have to earn his opportunity, though, with Karlsson and Hertl ahead of him for the Golden Knights’ second-line center role.
The eighth overall selection from the 2021 NHL Draft, who notched 10 goals, 46 points, and a -3 rating in 50 games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign last season, will finally get an opportunity at the NHL with one of the league’s best defenses, especially with Doughty out.
The new face of the Sharks will have plenty of opportunity on a team that was the worst last season but also have a lot of help thanks to a lot of new upgrades in the Bay Area. However, nothing will be given to Celebrini and he must earn it.
Standings Predictions
1. x – Edmonton
2. x – Vegas
3. x – Vancouver
4. Los Angeles
5. Seattle
6. Anaheim
7. Calgary
8. San Jose
* x – denotes postseason teams
Other Division Previews
By Harrison Brown
