As we are just about one month away from the start of preseason hockey, teams are finishing their offseason moves, and fans are starting to see how their favorite teams will look on opening night. This next season, the NHL promises to be more exciting than ever before, so get ready for a thrilling season as we preview and rank the four NHL divisions based on the intrigue surrounding them this season.
#4: Pacific Division
This is not to say that this division doesn't have big stories or that fans shouldn't be hopeful about what the teams in the Pacific have to offer, but this is easily the most predictable group. Last season, the Canucks unexpectedly finished at the top with the Oilers, Kings, and Golden Knights taking the remaining playoff spots. It is difficult to hope for major differences in the standings after the lack of off-season additions from any of these teams. The Canucks likely won't have as dominant of a season, but they should still be good enough to make the playoffs. The Oilers just made the Stanley Cup Final and despite losing some pieces, they are still expected to be a playoff team. The Kings made some minor additions (most notably Darcy Kuemper) but the roster is still extremely similar to the one they had last year. The Golden Knights are perhaps the biggest wildcard in the entire league considering they were Stanley Cup Champions two seasons ago, yet they lost a tremendous amount of talent in Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson. It is very possible that Vegas slips out of a playoff spot and a team like the Seattle Kraken take their spot considering the risky signings they made this summer. The Flames, Ducks, and Sharks were non-playoff teams last year and their rosters are still far from being competitive with the top teams. With that being said, it is pretty apparent which teams in this division are good and which ones aren't which will likely result in a predictable wild card race, especially compared to the other divisions in the league.
#3: Central Division
The Central is normally not seen as an exciting division (relative to the others) considering the lack of rivalries and constant season-to-season changes in the playoff teams. However, there is still some intrigue surrounding the teams in this division heading into next season. The Nashville Predators are undoubtedly the most improved team in the league because of their massive free-agency signings which makes it interesting to see if they can compete for the top spot in the division this season. Dallas and Colorado are playoff teams in this division year in and year out, but neither of these teams seem as impressive as last season. The Jets performed very well, but they are never consistent which makes it a possibility that they fall out of the playoff race, especially if Connor Hellebuyck cannot replicate his magnificent play from last season. The Blues can improve and potentially take that spot, but they are by no means an elite team. Minnesota, Utah, and Chicago should be better as well but they are still a few years away from being competitive. The Central is by no means a terrible division, but it just lacks that intrigue factor that fans are looking for.
#2: Atlantic Division
The playoff race in the Atlantic is never a boring one, and this one promises to be no different. There is plenty of intrigue surrounding teams like the Red Wings, Sabres, Senators, and Canadiens as these teams emerge from their rebuilds in hopes of taking major strides forward. Other squads such as the Bruins and Lightning are seemingly bound to regress each year, and yet they never do. To complete the division we have the defending Stanley Cup Champions Florida Panthers and the always newsworthy Toronto Maple Leafs. Many players, coaches, and managers are playing out this season with their jobs on the line depending on the success of their respective teams, and stakes of such magnitude always bring fans the excitement they hope for. This division seemingly has everything a fan would look for; except there's one that's even better.
#1: Metropolitan Division
Without a doubt, this is the division to watch next season. Only the Rangers and Hurricanes seem like guaranteed playoff teams and only the Blue Jackets have no real chance of making it. So with that, it’s five teams competing for two playoff spots. The Islanders and Capitals have consistently been good teams but their aging cores can very well result in regressions. The Penguins and Flyers were not far from making the playoffs so it is still possible for them to have success next season. Finally, the Devils are looking to get back to being a top team after a disappointing last season that was filled with injuries and underperforming players. Overall, there are plenty of competitive teams with not that many playoff spots which should make for an exciting season full of close, high-stakes games.
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