NHL prospects begin reporting this week and training camps open later this month.
So, what questions linger now about each team ahead of the regular season, which begins Oct. 8?
Here is the biggest facing each team in the Western Conference (teams listed in alphabetical order with last season’s record in parentheses):
Anaheim Ducks (27-50-5, 59 points) | What will Trevor Zegras become?
It wasn’t all that long ago that Zegras was wowing the hockey world with his flash and skill — he even found himself on the “NHL 23” video game cover. Now, he’s the subject of trade rumors. If Anaheim doesn’t think Zegras is part of the solution, a trade seems likely for the American star.
Calgary Flames (38-39-5, 81 points) | Is a Calgary fire sale coming?
On a recent “32 Thoughts” podcast, veteran NHL reporter Elliott Friedman suggested the Flames haven’t fully committed to rebuilding. They’ve already traded defenseman Noah Hanifin, top center Elias Lindholm, winger Andrew Mangiapane and goalie Jacob Markstrom. According to Friedman, there are other players who may want out of Calgary if the Flames acknowledge a full rebuild.
Chicago Blackhawks (23-53-6, 51 points) | What’s the next step for Connor Bedard?
The Blackhawks spent money trying to improve on and off this ice this summer with the hope of building a better supporting cast for their generational center prospect. The former Regina star turned 19 in July and is coming off one of the better NHL seasons for an 18-year-old (61 points in 68 games). Whatever the next step looks like for Bedard will ultimately be the most important thing to happen in Chicago this season.
Colorado Avalanche (50-25-7, 107 points) | What’s their path to improving?
Colorado has been aggressive in trying to support its elite core, adding players at multiple trade deadlines. That could be more complicated this season with questions tied up in the contracts of wingers Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.
Landeskog, their captain, is trying to return to action despite not having played since June 26, 2022 — Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He has been dealing with a right knee injury that required cartilage replacement surgery.
Nichushkin is suspended for a Stage 2 violation of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He could return as early as November. To make a run, Colorado needs either the players or the cap space.
Dallas Stars (52-21-9, 113 points) | Will the Dallas pipeline hit another home run?
The questions mostly fall on the upside of forwards Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven. They’re all at varying stages of their development, but all still have a lot of runway to get better. How brightly those three shine this season will have an enormous impact on Dallas’s Stanley Cup chances.
Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6, 104 points) | Is Edmonton’s goaltending enough?
The roster is deep, but also among the oldest in the league. The Oilers need goaltender Stuart Skinner to take at least a small step forward. His respectable .905 save percentage was 19th among all goalies who played in at least 41 regular-season games last season. In the playoffs, that figure dropped to .901. Edmonton lost two games in the finals by one goal.
Los Angeles Kings (44-27-11, 99 points) | Did they really address their actual problems?
Los Angeles got a little meaner with the additions of winger Tanner Jeannot and defenseman Joel Edmunson, but it’s not likely those players will have a significant impact on a five-on-five offense that finished 19th in goals per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Minnesota Wild (39-34-9, 87 points) | Do the Wild have enough offensively?
Minnesota still finished with the lowest expected goals against per 60 minutes of any team in the NHL at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. Making the playoffs might hinge on more scoring. Undersized centers Marco Rossi and Marat Khusnutdinov will need to take big steps this season to power the Minnesota attack when star winger Kirill Kaprizov isn’t on the ice.
Nashville Predators (47-30-5, 99 points) | Can their talent delay the inevitable?
The Predators, already one of the older teams in the NHL, only got older in signing forwards Steven Stamkos (34), forward Jonathan Marchessault (33) and defenseman Brady Skjei (30) to big contracts in the summer. It’s a bit of a time bomb for a team that probably could use another center to play in its top six.
San Jose Sharks (19-54-9, 47 points) | Did the Sharks do enough for their new franchise centers?
The Sharks of 2023-24 were one of the worst teams in NHL history. Since the addition of the loser point, only one team had a worse points percentage than last season’s Sharks — the 1999-2000 expansion Atlanta Thrashers. It might all be worth it with the arrival of young centers Macklin Celebrini (18) and Will Smith (19). San Jose added five NHL forwards and two NHL defensemen with the intention of insulating these two young franchise cornerstones.
Seattle Kraken (34-35-13, 81 points) | Is there enough offense?
Seattle finished 28th in goals for per 60 minutes and 24th in high-danger chances for per 60 minutes last season, according to Natural Stat Trick. Chandler Stephenson is coming off a rough season, but adds speed to the lineup. Defenseman Brandon Montour’s puck-moving should help improve a middling power play. At five-on-five, the Kraken are counting on improvement from young star Matty Beniers, defenseman Ryker Evans and top forward prospect Shane Wright.
St. Louis Blues (43-33-6, 92 points) | Is Jordan Binnington back?
Only three regular starting goalies had a save percentage worse than Binnington’s .897 combined across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Last season, Binnington played better. His .913 save percentage was eighth in the league among goalies who appeared in at least 41 games. The Blues played at a 99-point pace after firing HC Craig Berube. A functional Binnington could mask some of their defensive issues.
Utah Hockey Club (36-41-5, 77 points) | Can Utah still add more talent?
Utah has promising young players throughout the roster after years of rebuilding during the twilight of the Arizona Coyotes. With an embarrassment of riches in its farm system, plenty of draft picks and lots of cap space, Utah could leverage those assets should a big-time player hit the trade market. What a way to start in a new market, eh?
Vancouver Canucks (50-23-9, 109 points) | How good is Vancouver without Thatcher Demko?
Among last season’s regular starters, only Connor Hellebuyck had a better save percentage than Demko. He was good on a team that was buttoned up defensively — fourth in shots against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and sixth in Natural Stat Trick’s expected goals against per 60 at 5-on-5. Elliott Friedman of the “32 Thoughts” podcast reported Demko’s injury, believed to be a knee issue, can’t be fixed through surgery, so he’ll have to play through it.
Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8, 98 points) | How much does Mark Stone have left in the tank?
The winger Stone is 32 and has missed 110 regular-season games over the past three seasons due to ongoing back problems. His defensive metrics took a wrong turn last season even as he scored 53 points in 56 games. Vegas was only 13-11-2 without Stone last season. That’s an 88-point pace, which would have put them outside the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets (52-24-6, 110 points) | Did Colorado expose Winnipeg?
The Jets were among the best regular-season teams in the NHL in 2023-24. In basically every important defensive metric, they landed in the upper half of the league. Winnipeg did this while also leading the way in five-on-five save percentage, driven by Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets play a structured game, have reasonably good scorers and do not have a ton of holes anywhere in the lineup. Yet, when matched up in a playoff series head-to-head against the best players of other good teams, it doesn’t seem like Winnipeg has a ton of answers. In the Western Conference first round last season, Colorado exposed the Jets and won in five games.
