Western Conference - Preview

Los Angeles - With most teams trying to improve their roster's Kings GM Dean Lombardi was trying to keep what he had. If it ain't broke why fix it? Less than two weeks after claiming their second Stanley Cup in three seasons, LA announced they had tied down Marian Gaborik to a seven-year $34.125 million contract. With his arrival the Kings offense improved massively going from 2.42 goals per game to 3.38. His 14 playoff goals was one short of Wayne Gretzky's franchise record from 1993 and his deceptive speed down the left wing and instant chemistry with Anze Kopitar was another factor. It also allowed the Kings to move Justin Williams and Mike Richards to the third and fourth lines respectively. With the way Gaborik's contract is structured means Dwight King and Matt Greene were able to re-sign with the team. However with the salary cap almost at the limit, it meant there was no room to retain veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell who moved to Florida. Dont expect the Kings to claim a President's trophy, they have finished 8^th, 5^th and 6^th the last three regular seasons, but no team has played as many playoff games during that period either at 64. Dustin Brown needs to have a bounce back season, while Jeff Carter looked awesome once he centered a line flanked by Pearson and Toffoli as they terrorized opponents. Darryl Sutter often used Kopitar's and Stoll's line to shut down opponents leaving Carter's unit to run amok against weaker depth. Mike Richards will be hoping for a better season too, but one thing is for sure, he must be the best fourth-line center in the league. Adam Cracknell arrived from St Louis as rugged depth forward who fits the 'sneaky-strong at puck-possession' profile well. Drew Doughty is one of the best D-men in the league and alongside him, Jake Muzzin is almost as good. Along with Slava Voynov and the Kings have possible the best defensive-trio in the league. Alec Martinez popped up with some important OT winners against the Hawks and Rangers and his offense from the blue-line could be valuable once again. Robyn Regehr and Matt Greene are great leaders on the ice and work hard on the pemalty kill, but possibly not the best when it comes to puck-possession. Although Jonathan Quick didn't hit the heights that he achieved in 2012, he will be hoping to find as bit more consistancy than he has delivered over the last two seasons.

Gaborik – Kopitar – Brown

Pearson – Carter – Toffoli

King – Stoll – Williams

Clifford – Richards – Lewis

Cracknell – Nolan

Muzzin – Doughty

Regehr – Voynov

Martinez – Greene

Schultz

Anaheim - Despite finishing last season with 116 points, the Ducks came unstuck in the Playoffs. Their power play let them down, a lack of depth at center was cruelly exposed against the heavily-stacked Kings and what once looked like an unpenetrable defense and goaltending cracked. GM Bob Murray addressed part of that problem by trading big for Ryan Kesler from Vancouver, giving the Ducks a 1-2 punch down the middle. Fellow center, Nick Bonino departed as part of the deal, while veterans Saku Koivu and Mathieu Perreault were surprisingly not re-signed. Nate Thomspon did arrive from Tampa Bay to fill the third center spot. Both Kesler and Thompson arrive to boost the Ducks poor perforances at Faceoffs. Kelser along with another new signing, Dany Heatley should help the mis-firing powerplay that was ranked 22^nd last season and went 0 for 11 against the Stars during the playoffs. The Kings destroyed Anaheim's defense in game 7. Justin Williams backhanded the puck in from the slot and Jeff Carter flew passed Hampus Lindholm, who along with Sami Vatanen were great during the regular season, but the Ducks need bigger, physical shut-down types for play-off hockey. Clayton Stoner's arrival from Minnesota should help to address that. John Gibson and fellow rookie Frederik Andersen helped bring about the end of Jonas Hiller but both lack playoff experience. Jason LaBarbera's arrival should help down the stretch. With Teemu Selanne retiring it brings about the end of an era and he will be missed for sure. Also the dismantlement of what was a very productive third line for the Ducks remains a mystery.

Smith-Pelly – Getzlaf – Perry

Maroon – Kelser – Palmieri

Cogliano – Rakell – Silfverberg

Beleskey – Thompson – Heatley

Fowler – Lovejoy

Beauchemin – Vatanen

Lindholm – Stoner

Allen – Fistric

Vancouver - The Canucks were the busiest team over the summer, with Ryan Kesler leaving for Anaheim, Nick Bonino arrived in his place. Luca Sbisa also arrived on defense. Jason Garrison joined him on the blue line from Tampa Bay while Linden Vey helps the forward depth from Los Angeles. Ryan Miller is a strong addition at goaltending while Radim Vrbata is a perfect foil for the Sedins while also weakening a major opponent in Phoenix. A lot depends on Henrik and Daniel Sedin re-finding their form from 3 years ago while an improvement on the power play is needed too. A return to puck-possession style hockey should be achieved with Tortarella's departure. Alexandre Burrows needs to improve his offensive output, while Bonino and Matthias will line up at second and third line center respectively.

D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Vrbata

Higgins – Bonino – Kassian
Burrows – Matthias – Hansen
Dorsett – Richardson - Vey

Edler – Bieksa

Hamhuis – Tanev
Sbisa – Stantan
Weber

Edmonton - Craig Mactavish was busy over the summer bringing in more physical Wings Benoit Pouliot and Teddy Purcell, while also improving his defense with Keith Aulie, Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin. Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth were added to help improve goaltending too. For so long now, the Oilers have had a lot of young talent but the problem has been in trying to find a good supporting cats for the likes of Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz. In what is now the fourth year of the re-build the Oilers still seem to be miles away from competing for a playoff spot. Leon Draisaitl was the latest arrival via the draft this summer, while trading away Sam Gagner has left a large hole to fill at second line center.

Hall – Nugent-Hopkins – Eberle

Perron – Draisaitl – Yakupov
Pouliot – Arcobello – Purcell
Joensuu – Gordon – Hendricks

Marincin – Petry

Nikitin – Fayne
Ference - Schultz

Calgary - Sean Monahan was an integral piece in the Calgary puzzle last season. Selected 6^th at the 2013 draft the 18 year old hit 22 goals and 34 points. A lot more will be expected of him this season with Mike Cammalleri, TJ Galiardi and Chris Butler all gone. However he will be helped by the arrivals of Mason Raymond, Deryk Engelland and Jonas Hiller who all came in via free agency. Brandon Bollig arrived via a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks and will add a lot more toughness to the bottom six. Mark Giordano had a career year in his first season as captain. Mikael Backlund and Joe Colborne are also available and need to step up this year.

Glencross – Backlund – Hudler

Gaudreau – Monahan – Setoguchi
Raymond – Stajan – Jones
Bollig – Colborne – Bouma

Brodie – Giordano

Smid – Wideman
Russell - Engelland

Nashville - With Barry Trotz gone a scoach, a new philosophy has arrived, that will generate more offense. Mike Fisher will be out injured for anytime between November and January, while new signings Volchenkov, Ribeiro, Jokinen and Roy are all the wrong side of 30. Ribeiro was a disgrace to himself and his teammates in Glendale last season and any repeat of those same issues and the Predators will have major problems. This biggest trade saw Patrick Hornqvist and Nick Spaling leave for Pittsburgh with James Neal going the other way. Neal has scored 88 goals in 179 games over the last three seasons and will be paired with his former Dallas line-mate Ribeiro this season. Craig Smith is an option to join them on the top line. Defense will be lead by Roman Josi and Shea Weber who is coming off a career year. A fully fit Pekka Rinne will be like signing a new player too.

Wilson – Ribeiro – Neal

Cullen – Jokinen – Forsberg
Bourque – Jarnkrok – Smith
Stalberg – Gaustad – Nystrom
Roy – Clune

Josi – Weber

Ekholm – Jones
Volchenkov - Ellis