St. Louis: The emergence of d-man Colton Parayko gives the blue line much needed top-heavy depth but the question remains whether Jake Allen can carry the sole burden of manning the crease with Brian Elliott now in Calgary. The balanced offensive attack should continue to provide enough firepower, but it should be time for Vladimir Tarasenko to enter elite territory as a sniping forward. What will the Nail Yakupov addition do for the team? If he can finally fulfill his potential, look out. Playoffs: Another deep run Tampa Bay: Absolutely our odds-on favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the Cup Finals. The Bolts are stacked on offense with Steven Stamkos back healthy and Nikita Kucherov on the verge of being signed. Look for new coaching assistant Todd Richards to bolster the power-play by heavily riding the top guns. A surplus of riches in goal can yield huge dividends if Ben Bishop is traded during the season. Playoffs: Cup bound Toronto: Auston Matthews will be a legit superstar before you know it, but the rebuilding Leafs are far from playoff contention. Federik Andersen will bring some skill and stability to the goal while Morgan Rielly will be the defensive cornerstone for years to come. Pre-Mike Babcock holdovers JVR and Nazem Kadri need to take the next step in their offensive development while the youngsters continue to gel. Easier said than done. Playoffs: No chance Washington: A disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Penguins should not take away from what a tremendous team coach Trotz leads into the season. Elite in all areas from forwards(Ovechkin, Backstrom, Kuznetsov), defense (John Carlson) to goaltending(Brayden Holtby). The addition of Lars Eller helps the bottom-six depth while Justin Williams' intangibles bodes well for playoff success. Playoffs: Deep run but will Lightning strike? Winnipeg: The young Jets will be exciting to watch with the rookie Laine and 2nd-year Ehlers wowing their fans with their sublime offensive ability. Add Mark Scheifele breaking out and you have the looks of a massively improved scoring attack. Dustin Byfuglien will lead the D while a goaltending competition lessened a bit with the waiving of Ondrej Pavelec. Adios to the most overrated goaltender around. Many bright spots but a postseason berth not a lock. Playoffs: maybe