The NHL season is about to start, and fans are getting ready to watch their favorite teams and players battle it out in the rink. Some teams have invested in new players to bolster their squads with new recruits. There have also been significant changes in the coaching department at some clubs.
Players to Watch
Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid is an exciting player and is arguably one of the best players in the world. Having finished last season with 64 goals and 89 assists, the Oilers’ captain hopes to repeat his heroics and take his troops into the finals this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be excited to watch their star man and new captain, Auston Matthews, this season. The forward is a formidable goal scorer, and if he stays in form, he will boost the Leaf’s chances of securing a playoff spot and challenging for the cup come the end of the season.
Ovi, aka Alex Ovechkin, continues to defy age and is still an excellent player at 38. A prolific scorer who can be counted on when needed, the legend is chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.
Metropolitan Division
The lines are drawn and fans are excited to see who will become the Metropolitan Division champions this season. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov hope to lead the Hurricanes into this year’s playoffs. However, they will face stiff competition from the Washington Capitals and the Rangers, who have bolstered their teams with new recruits.
The Penguins hope that their transition as they seek to build a winning team around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin won’t dampen their chances of fighting for the division honors this season.
Atlantic Division
We expect stiff competition in the Atlantic division this season. Last season division champions, the Panthers, went all the way, winning the Stanley Cup in exhilarating fashion. However, they face tight competition from the Bruins and Maple Leafs.
As per the pundits from The Sports Prophets, the Maple Leafs have added new players to their team and there is hope that the new players will inject more firepower into their game. Despite losing some key players, the Tampa Bay Lightning are a force to be reckoned with in the division.
Pacific Division
Last season’s Western Conference champs, the Edmonton Oilers, lost the Stanley Cup finals despite staging what would have been an impressive comeback against the Panthers. Their attack has some decent firepower, but their defensive woes could be their undoing this season.
The Canucks and Kings hope that they can do better than last season in the playoffs. The Knights are a threat and will not be a surprise division champion if things go well this season.
Central Division
The Stars lost to the Oilers in the Western Conference finals. They will be hoping to do better than last season and get to the Stanley Cup finals. However, competition in this division is tough, with the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets also vying for the top spot.
Summing Up
It is a new season, and fans will be excited to see their favorite teams battle for the top spot. The Stanley Cup final is the target, and fans are hoping that their team gets to battle it out with the best for this prized trophy.