Team Preview: Edmonton Oilers

2010-2011: 62 points, 15th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Ryan Smyth, W Eric Belanger, LW Ben Eager, D Cam Barker, D Andy Sutton
Key departures: D Kurtis Foster, D Jim Vandermeer, C Colin Fraser

Eberle (above) is helping leading a youth movement in EDM.

Why they'll contend: The Oilers have finished last in the NHL in consecutive seasons, but there's finally reason for optimism. The team has an excellent mix of young superstars, including forwards Taylor Hall, Linus Omark, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and newly-minted first rounder Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The team will be exciting, fast-paced, and fun to watch and have solidified things defensively. The additions of Cam Barker and Andy Sutton on the back end will help cut down the shots against (21st in the NHL) and improve the penalty kill (29th in the NHL) from last season. Ryan Smyth's return will go a long way in the locker room. Smyth is a great leader at 35 and spent 12 seasons in Edmonton before being traded in 2007. Smyth's return will help guide the wealth of young talent. If Nikolai Khabibulin can stay healthy, the Oilers will be in good position to climb out of the basement for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.

Why they'll falter: Youth is a wonderful thing, but the Oilers are relying too heavily on it too soon. The majority of the team still can't drink in the United States, and the guys that are old enough to are too old. Smyth & Khabibulin can just as easily be on the IR all year as they could be on the ice, and while Hall, Eberle, and the rest of the group project to be fantastic players and part of what could be a dynasty in the making, they are still a year or two away. Ben Eager was a waste of money to fill their third line and as much as Smyth will make positive contributions in the locker room, Eager will detract. The Oilers will contend some day, and that day will be soon. But 2012 looks to be another year on the outside looking in.

2012 prediction: 14th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Taylor Hall, 27 goals & 57 points
Bold prediction: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will win the 2012 Calder Trophy.

NEXT PREVIEW: FLORIDA PANTHERS

Team Preview: Detroit Red Wings

2010-2011: 104 points, 3rd in Western Conference, Central Division champions
Key additions: D Mike Commodore, D Ian White, G Ty Conklin
Key departures: D Brian Rafalski, D Ruslan Salei, C Mike Modano, G Chris Osgood

Why they'll contend: Let's face it: they're the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings are mighty every year and 2011-2012 figures to be no different. Nicklas Lidstrom is back for one more season, solidifying a back end that is slightly thinned with the loss of Brian Rafalski. Mike Commodore and Ian White are nice pieces, but Rafalski is a top-four defenseman whose skill set is a little more difficult to replace. The Wings are still loaded from top-to-bottom and even as they age there's no reason to think they won't be there at the end of the season. With Pavel Datsyk, Henrik Zetterburg, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom--you get the picture--leading the way, there's no reason to doubt Detroit yet again. While they may not be the odds-on favorite to take home Lord Stanley's chalice next June, they will certainly be hanging around when the weather turns warm again next spring.

Why they'll falter: Jimmy Howard was fantastic last year between the pipes, but he has to be even more so to push the team to the next level in 2012. Wings management does not appear sold on the University of Maine alum and Howard will need to prove the job is his for the taking or else Ty Conklin may find himself starting more frequently. Age is a concern in Detroit as well. Their core is not getting any younger and may find itself slowing as the season wears on. It hasn't been too much of an issue in seasons past, but it can't go on that way forever. Chicago and Nashville will be tough to play against within their own division, as well as Columbus, meaning it may not be the cake walk it has been traditionally for Detroit in the Central. Losing Rafalski will be a step backwards on the power play, but all-in-all the Wings should secure home ice for the first round in the 2012 playoffs.

2012 prediction: 4th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Pavel Datsyuk, 33 goals & 84 points
Bold prediction: No Red Wing will win an individual award (Norris Trophy, Selke, etc.) in 2012.

NEXT PREVIEW: EDMONTON OILERS

Team Preview: Dallas Stars

2010-2011: 95 points, 9th in Western Conference
Key additions: RW Michael Ryder, C Vernon Fiddler, D Sheldon Souray, RW Radek Dvorak, C Jake Dowell
Key departures: C Brad Richards, D Karlis Skrastins, RW Jamie Langenbrunner

Why they'll contend: The Stars added a lot of depth in the off-season after finishing just two points out of the playoffs in 2011. The Stars will look to improve on their near miss last season by plugging the gaps. Vernon Fiddler is an excellent face-off guy, Radek Dvorak and Jake Dowell will be boosts to the penalty killing unit, and Michael Ryder and Sheldon Souray, if effective, could help the power play. If Kari Lehtenon is healthy he is a top goaltender at the NHL level, but the question is whether or not he can be on the ice enough to make a substantial impact. Since being drafted in 2002 he has played just two full NHL seasons. The Stars lack just that--stars--but looking at their roster top-to-bottom its easy to see why they could be hanging around at the end of the year. They have a nice mix of guys throughout their line-up that can do the little things, like block shots or kill penalties, that could catapult Dallas over the top.

Why they'll falter: Realistically speaking, a team in Dallas' position will not be able to overcome the loss of Brad Richards. They do not have the financial strength or the depth in the farm system to overcome the loss of a player such as Richards. The Stars took a lot of gambles in the off-season, namely that of the inconsistent Michael Ryder, the oft-injured and now minor league defenseman in Sheldon Souray, and the declining Radek Dvorak. If these pieces work out, Dallas can contend. But the reality is that they all won't work out and they are low-risk, high-reward signings. Even if the risk is low, the reality is that Dallas did not do a ton to improve its roster. The Western Conference will tight as always, and the odds of Dallas keeping pace are slim in 2012.

2012 prediction: 11th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Loui Eriksson, 23 G & 64 points
Bold prediction: Loui Eriksson will eclipse 10 penalty minutes. Not many bold things in Dallas this year.

NEXT PREVIEW: DETROIT RED WINGS

Team Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

2010-2011: 81 points, 13th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Jeff Carter, D James Wisniewski, LW Vinny Prospal, D Radek Martinek
Key departures: RW Jakub Voracek, G Mathieu Garon, D Jan Hejda, LW Scottie Upshall

With a talented C to play with, Nash (above) could post huge numbers.

Why they'll contend: The only NHL team without a playoff win, save the Winnipeg Jets franchise, the Jackets were in desperate need of relevance entering the summer. They added Jeff Carter in a blockbuster trade with Philadelphia, finally getting Rick Nash someone to play with. Nash & Carter could form a lethal combination and the possibilities are exciting for Columbus; so exciting that James Wisniewski committed to Columbus over the summer as a free agent. The Jackets immediately made themselves relevant again by making a splash in the trade market, something they've never really done. The Jackets have improved defensively through free agency, but losing Jan Hejda to Colorado could be a bigger hole than anticipated. Columbus will benefit from an improved power play that finished 29th in the NHL last year at 14%. The Jackets are deeper than last season and will make a move up the standings. While they may not be Cup contenders, the additions of Carter and Wisniewski are a step in the right direction and the Jackets should find themselves in the mix in a very tight Western Conference.

Why they'll falter: Despite making headlines over the summer, the Jackets are only so deep. There is too little secondary scoring and while they may have had one of the better summers in the Western Conference they are still a step behind. Goaltending is still an issue with Steve Mason being inconsistent, and the penalty kill was only slightly improved after finishing 22nd in the NHL last year. They'll score more than last season, but will they score enough? After Nash and Carter the talent pool drops off considerably and secondary scoring will be tough to come by. The Western Conference is simply too good, even with the improvements. While the Jackets definitely plugged some holes, there are still many more to be plugged before the team will win it's first playoff game in franchise history.

2012 prediction: 10th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Rick Nash, 42 goals & 71 points
Bold prediction: Under the right circumstances, Rick Nash will eclipse 50 goals.

NEXT PREVIEW: DALLAS STARS

Team Preview: Colorado Avalanche

2010-2011: 68 points, 14th in Western Conference
Key additions: G Semyon Varlamov, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere, D Jan Hejda, D Sean O'Brien, LW Chuck Kobasew
Key departures: D Adam Foote, D Jean-Michael Liles, RW Tomas Fleischmann

The Avs expected big things from Landeskog (above) in 2012.

Why they'll contend: The big story in Colorado over the summer was their improved goaltending and the team will look to ride it back into the post-season in 2012. Varlamov will benefit from a fresh beginning as a number one, after the 23-year-old was acquired from Washington early in the summer. Giguere will be a reliable back-up and the two will likely come closer to splitting time than one carrying the bulk over the other. Matt Duchene is poised for a breakout season and the addition of Chuck Kobasew will give the Avalanche some much-needed penalty killing help. The Avs penalty kill finished last in the NHL last year at 76.1%, something that will undoubtedly be improved with better goaltending and the addition of Hejda, who averaged 2:50 in shorthanded ice time last year in Columbus. The Avs will be exciting and young to watch and if, in an absolute best-case scenario, the pieces fall into place they could be looking at snagging the 8th seed. Gabriel Landeskog, the team's 2nd overall draft choice in 2011, could crack the roster and add dynamic play-making abilities as well as a committed two-way game. The Avs may be a step away, but they are certainly taking the right steps forward.

Why they'll falter: The Avs are still a young team, perhaps a year or two from competing. There were a lot of probems in Colorado last year that saw them finish 29 points out of the playoffs; problems that cannot be rectified over night or through free agency. The goaltending was addressed, as were parts of the defense, but losing Liles and Foote will be difficult to overcome regardless of how well O'Brien and Hejda play. But for a team with defensive woes that Colorado had last season, including the worst penalty kill and allowing the most goals in the NHL--25 more than the next closest team in Atlanta--the Avalanche will have their work cut out for them in 2012. While there are enough individual pieces to make Colorado an intriguing team to watch in 2012, they are still a few steps away from being the contender they envision.

2012 prediction: 12th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Paul Stastny, 25 G & 70 points
Bold prediction: Gabriel Landeskog wins the Calder Memorial Trophy.

NEXT PREVIEW: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Team Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

2010-2011: 97 points, 8th in Western Conference
Key additions: LW Andrew Brunette, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Steve Montador, D Sean O'Donnell, F Rostislav Olsez, G Ray Emery
Key departures: D Brian Campbell, RW Troy Brouwer, G Marty Turco, D Chris Campoli, C Jake Dowell, RW Fernando Pisani, RW Tomas Kopecky

Corey Crawford's success is key in Chicago.

Why they'll contend: The Hawks are still, at the core, the same team that won the 2010 Stanley Cup minus a few spare parts. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marian Hossa still form an elite trio of forwards that are lethal on the power play that was 4th in the NHL last season. Andrew Brunette is a brilliant addition, adding some secondary scoring and solid two-way forward. Defensively the Hawks got tougher, trading softy Brian Campbell and his not-so-soft contract to Florida and opting to go with Steve Montador and Sean O'Donnell instead. This should bode well for the Hawks who at times were pushed around too easily. In goal the Hawks get an upgrade in Ray Emery over the aging Marty Turco which should be an upgrade behind Corey Crawford, who's ready to take another step forward in carrying the reigns. The Hawks had an evident Stanley Cup hangover in 2011, but in 2012 the Hawks should be more focused and ready to return to Cup-contender status. The Hawks have one of the best leaders in the game in Toews, the ability to score goals in bunches, an improved D corps and reliable goaltending; a lethal mix in a tight division which should lead the Hawks back to the top of the Western Conference.

Why they'll falter: After losing Kopecky, Brouwer, and Pisani, the Hawks lost a lot of secondary scoring. By relying on Toews, Kane, and Hossa too heavily, even being the dynamic players that they are, could be costly if the Hawks put all their eggs in one basket. The Hawks can definitely play a run-and-gun style but need to tighten up defensively if they want to compete in the West. Despite getting tougher on D and shedding his massive contract, Brian Campbell did put up 117 points over 3 seasons in Chicago which is not easily replaced from the back end. Corey Crawford excelled in 2011, but will he be able to continue to put up stellar numbers (33-18-6, 2.30 GAA, .917 SVP) in his sophomore campaign? The Hawks definitely have questions, as do most teams in the West, but are more fit to overcome them than many others. There is a lot of turnover in the locker room, some of which makes sense; but how much will Danny Carcillo cost them? How many extra penalties will the Hawks have to kill? Carcillo could be more of a clubhouse cancer than the Hawks needed, even if they want to get gritty; and frankly, the signing makes no sense. The Hawks are deep enough to make the run, the question is whether or not they'll be hungry and cohesive enough.

2012 prediction: 3rd in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Jonathan Toews, 33 G & 80 points
Bold prediction: Jeremy Morin will lead all Hawks in rookie scoring.

NEXT PREVIEW: COLORADO AVALANCHE

Team Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

2010-2011: 91 points, 9th in Eastern Conference
Key additions: D Tomas Kaberle, G Brian Boucher, C Tim Brent, W Anthony Stewart, LW Alexei Ponikarovsky
Key departures: F Erik Cole, D Joe Corvo

Why they'll contend: The Hurricanes slightly upgraded their roster in the off-season, adding defenseman Tomas Kaberle to replace Joe Corvo who had asked for a trade over the summer. Goaltender Cam Ward is one of the game's elite and the Hurricanes have a dynamic mix of young forwards in Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, and Brandon Sutter. The Canes made slight tweaks to their bottom two lines, adding Anthony Stewart from Winnipeg who was coming off a career-high 14 goal season and Tim Brent from Toronto who adds penalty killing depth. The addition of Kaberle could provide a huge boost to the back end. Despite sub-par play in Boston after the trade deadline, Kaberle is still a dynamic defenseman who could fit into Carolina's power play nicely. The Canes missed the playoffs by the equivalent of one win last season, losing in their final game. With a successful summer for the ever-shrewd GM Jim Rutherford, which included re-signing Jussi Jokinken and Joni Pitkanen and bringing in back-up goaltending help in Brian Boucher, minor adjustments may pay off big. If Alexei Ponikarovsky can contribute in Carolina the way he did in Toronto two years ago, the Canes will be in excellent shape to return to the playoffs.

Skinner will need to avoid a sophomore slump in 2012.

Why they'll falter: While the Canes made some nice acquisitions over the summer, most of them are anything from a sure bet. Ponikarovsky has struggled since leaving Toronto, as has Tomas Kaberle, and Anthony Stewart didn't even play in the NHL in 2009-2010 after being demoted in Florida. Calder Trophy winner Jeff Skinner will enjoy a more expanded role, but will he be a victim of a sophomore slump? Skinner was dynamic as a rookie but leaning to much on a 19-year-old kid is never Plan A, regardless of his skill and maturity levels. The Canes could use a stay-at-home defenseman and may struggle keeping pucks out of their own net and their penalty kill needs work, finishing in the bottom third in 2010-2011. Having Brian Boucher as a reliable back-up to Cam Ward will take the workload off of the netminder who lead the NHL in minutes last year with 4,318. But if Boucher falters the load will be back on Ward which may not be something the Canes can handle. Playing in a loaded Southeast Division, Carolina may not be deep enough for a playoff run in 2012.

2012 prediction: 10th in Eastern Conference
Leading scorer: Eric Staal, 32 & 65
Bold prediction: Coach Paul Maurice is fired before Christmas.

NEXT PREVIEW: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS