Puck drop on the season is hours away, so all there's left to do is throw darts at the board and call them predictions, hoping at least one finds the bullseye. Or triple-20.

Here goes: five bold predictions for the upcoming NHL season:

Bishop trade bites Bolts

For his executive master class (sorry, Nikita Kucherov signed for what!?), Steve Yzerman's Tampa Bay Lightning have the look of a Stanley Cup champion. But there's still one piece of business left in Tampa: the imminent departure of netminder Ben Bishop. Yzerman will find a trade partner, because he's not the type to simply relinquish an asset, but he'll wish he hung on when Andrei Vasilevskiy can't match Bishop's standard and the Lightning crash out in the Eastern Conference Final for a second straight season.

McDavid, and no one else, hits triple digits

Let's revisit what it took to hit the 100-point threshold. Patrick Kane used the longest point-scoring streak in more than two decades, scoring 16 goals and 40 points in 26 games, just to get on pace. From there on, the longest he went without registering a point was three games, and yet he still needed six points over his final five contests (he would register 12) to hit the century mark. Connor McDavid will need to produce far beyond the 1.07 points per game he scored as a rookie, but he'll do it, becoming the only player to hit triple digits this season.

Preds produce 2 Norris finalists

A little trivia: What was the last pair of teammates to earn nominations for the Norris Trophy in the same season? Answer: Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, who were tabbed back in 2007 while anchoring the Anaheim Ducks' championship run. This season, Roman Josi and P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators will each be acknowledged, though we're not willing to promise the title those Ducks delivered.

Friction in Ottawa

On the topic of Norris candidates, let's check in on Erik Karlsson. We're not suggesting a Subban-sized rift will manifest itself in Ottawa, but there oughta be some sort of adjustment period between the world-class defender and Guy Boucher. The new Ottawa Senators coach was hired specifically to overhaul a system that allowed the most shots per game and the fifth-most goals. Problem is, this fix means Karlsson - the team's best, most dangerous offensive weapon - might have to change his style the most to accommodate Boucher.

Neuvirth challenges for Vezina

On the strength of an impressive preseason, it appears the Philadelphia Flyers will roll with Steve Mason out of the gates. But Michal Neuvirth, who enjoyed a fabulous first season with Philadelphia last year, has been on the pine for too long. Last spring, he stopped 103-of-105 postseason shots. With a contract to compete for, as well as opportunities in Las Vegas and other free-agent markets, it's Neuvirth who'll lead the Flyers back into the playoffs with Vezina-like numbers.

Extras

• The Red Wings miss the postseason for the first time since 1990, joining the Wild and Panthers (who suffered a major, major blow with Jonathan Huberdeau now out) as the three postseason teams that fail to return.
• They're replaced by Colorado, Boston, and Montreal - Canada's lone representation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• The Kings, Ducks, Blues, Rangers, and Islanders are among other teams that take a step back, but do cling to their playoff lives.
• Nothing bold here: Carey Price wins the Vezina, Auston Matthews the Calder, and Alex Ovechkin his fifth straight Rocket Richard.
• Washington defeats Nashville in the Stanley Cup Final after advancing past the Lightning and Sharks, respectively.
• Oh, and an investigation into Robidas Island reveals no wrongdoing.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a scary sight at Buffalo Sabres practice on Wednesday.

Forward Jack Eichel had to be helped off the ice after he fell awkwardly during a drill, appearing to suffer a lower-body injury.

Eichel was helped to his feet by teammates, and was unable to put weight on his leg.

After being plucked second overall in the 2015 draft - behind Connor McDavid - Eichel enjoyed a strong rookie campaign last season, finishing second in team scoring.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins will open the season without their No. 1 center.

Patrice Bergeron is day to day with a lower-body injury and will not make the trip to Columbus for the team's season opener against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, the team announced Wednesday.

Defenseman Adam McQuaid is also currently day to day with an upper-body injury and - like Bergeron - will remain in Boston.

In addition, defenseman Kevan Miller underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to miss six weeks as he recovers.

Following Thursday's contest, the Bruins head to Toronto, where they will tangle with the Maple Leafs.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens may begin their season without Carey Price in net.

The goalie has come down with the flu and will not practice Wednesday nor travel with the team to Buffalo in advance of Thursday's season opener against the Sabres, the club has announced.

Price, of course, is looking to rebound from an injury-plagued 2015-16 and build off a solid showing at the World Cup of Hockey in order to regain his place as the NHL's best at his position.

At present, he has not officially been ruled out of the opener, and could conceivably make the trip on his own in time for puck drop.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks are set to begin a new season with two of the NHL's remaining three unsigned restricted free agents, and representation for Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell have indicated nothing is imminent in terms of contract agreements.

From Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register:

A divide continues to exist between their agents and Ducks general manager Bob Murray. The gap didn’t close any Tuesday and now it’s certain they’ll remain away from the team when it starts its season Thursday night against the Stars.

Lindholm’s agent, Claude Lemieux, said he’s had some communication with the Ducks "but have not made any progress." Rakell’s agent, Peter Wallen, also said "we are not any closer yet."

Stephen adds the gap between the Ducks and Rakell is not as big as it is with Lindholm, and that Lemieux wants his client to be paid like a star defenseman.

As a point of comparison, Buffalo signed Rasmus Ristolainen to a six-year deal worth $32.4 million on Tuesday, but Lemieux is believed to have been seeking something closer to the eight-year, $60-million contract given to Aaron Ekblad in Florida.

According to Cap Friendly, the Ducks have $7,545,833 in available funds to work with, and Stephens reports the team would like to sign both players without having to shed salary first.

At this point in the process, it may come down to whichever party quacks first.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Toffoli is setting high expectations for himself as he gears up for his fourth season.

The Los Angeles Kings forward is just 24 years of age, but he's not afraid to admit that he would like to one day pace the league in goals.

"I'm pretty competitive so I want to do better," Toffoli said, according to NHL.com's Nicholas Cotsonika. "I want to score more goals. At the end of the day, if you can lead the NHL in goals, that's a really huge accomplishment. So there's definitely strides to take."

While the benchmark might seem a little steep, especially for someone his age, Toffoli is not shy about dreaming big.

"I think that'd be anybody's goal," Toffoli said. "Obviously it would be a really huge season, but that's why you play the game."

In fact, teammate Jeff Carter feels he is just as capable as anyone to do so.

"That's probably pretty accurate, what he's saying," Carter said. "He has the potential to do that. He knows that. We all know that.

"He's a smart kid. He understands that people always expect more. He pushes himself too. He has a couple tough games, he gets on himself. He's out there working. He's not a kid that has a big year and thinks he's got it made."

Toffoli has seen his goal totals rise every season since he joined the league full time during the 2013-14 season, going from 12 to 23 to a career-high 31 last season.

In fact his 31 goals tied him for 16th among all players last season. Another jump in his production could put him among the league's best. It will just be whether it will be enough to catch the likes of Alex Ovechkin who led the NHL with 19 more goals that Toffoli in 2016.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With buzz from the World Cup of Hockey having long worn off and the preseason mercifully well in the rearview mirror, the 2016-17 NHL regular season is finally upon us, and there's no shortage of matchups to get excited about right out of the gate.

Here are five games to watch during the first week:

Maple Leafs vs. Senators (Wednesday, Oct. 12)

It's generally difficult to endorse a meeting between two non-playoff teams, one of which finished dead last in the league standings last season.

But this is opening night and all eyes will be on the debut of 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews, not to mention a host of other first-year Toronto Maple Leafs players - notably William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Nikita Zaitsev, and Frederik Andersen - looking to lift the team out of the basement and back into relevance sooner than later.

At the other end of the ice will stand the Ottawa Senators, who'll be looking to keep Toronto down as the Battle of Ontario heats back up. Look for hometown boy Derick Brassard to make a good impression in the first game with his new club.

Capitals vs. Penguins (Thursday, Oct. 13)

This one will lack some luster due to a Sidney Crosby's unfortunate injury situation, but there's no doubt the Washington Capitals will be looking to exact some revenge on the Pittsburgh Penguins after an early exit from the postseason.

To make things worse, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners will have to watch their division rivals raise a Stanley Cup banner before the puck drops.

Blackhawks vs. Predators (Friday, Oct. 14-Saturday, Oct. 15)

The Music City will be absolutely bumping Friday as the Nashville Predators kick off their season on home ice against the Chicago Blackhawks.

This, of course, will mark the regular-season debut for P.K. Subban, who might just be the piece of the puzzle the Predators have been missing after years of failing to take the next step in the Western Conference.

The schedule makers did hockey fans a solid by adding a rematch in Chicago on Saturday.

Sabres vs. Oilers (Sunday, Oct. 16)

Let's call this one McDavid versus Eichel, Round Two.

The top two picks from the 2015 NHL Draft - namely Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel - will go head-to-head for the second time in their young careers, with the latter out to prove he remains in the same conversation as the NHL's next great one, and both the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres looking to confirm their respective rebuilds are nearing completion.

Panthers vs. Lightning (Tuesday, Oct. 18)

Welcome to the NHL's next great rivalry.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers appear to have distanced themselves from the rest of the Atlantic Division, and both teams enter the season with legitimate hopes of contending for the Stanley Cup.

Rivalries are cemented in the playoffs, but begin to take shape in the regular season.

Hockey is hot in the Sunshine State. Get used to it.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Experts Series is a multi-part project which delves into the mindset of athletes who've reached the pinnacle of their profession, offering insight on the philosophy and fundamentals that led to their most memorable moments.​

The Moment

Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak is the Buds' go-to guy in the faceoff circle. Over the past six seasons he ranks ninth in the league with 7,935 faceoffs taken.

That makes singling out a signature faceoff difficult, but one stands apart from the rest because of the situation, the result, and the teaching moment that comes from it.

On a January night in 2014 against the Boston Bruins, Bozak was called upon to take a faceoff in the offensive zone to the right of goaltender Tuukka Rask. Bozak won a tie-up faceoff against Gregory Campbell by pushing the puck to Phil Kessel along the left wall. Kessel worked the puck to Carl Gunnarsson at the point, and Gunnarsson one-timed it on goal.

While that was going on, Bozak snuck in behind the defense to the front of the goal mouth and was left uncovered and free to hammer home the rebound from Gunnarsson's one-timer.

"There are different plays we run on every faceoff," Bozak told theScore. "A lot of them I'll just go to the net. The odd one I'll come in the slot or go to the wall. But as soon as that puck's dropped you've got to think: If you lose it, you're playing defense. If you win it, where do you go?"

The Philosophy

Puck possession has become a higher priority in the NHL in recent years. As Bozak notes, controlling the puck starts in the faceoff circle.

"If you start with the puck you're not playing defense," he said. "I was always taught that if you have the puck you can try and score and get to play offense. A big part of that, I believe, is winning the faceoff and starting with the puck and being on offense right from the start."

For Bozak, prioritizing faceoffs is something he's done long before arriving in the NHL.

"When I was growing up, my dad was actually pretty big on it," he said. "I didn't really think it was a big part of the game, but it was something that he always told me to work on and learn at an early age and I think that gave me an advantage. I don't think while I was growing up many kids were working on that part of the game, and it was something that gave me a little advantage over some people that I didn't have in other areas."

Having dedicated as much time as he has, and with so many years of experience in the faceoff circle, Bozak knows there are many different ways to win a draw.

"Some nights you can be half-a-second off and you're going to have a bad night," he said. "But the nights that I am half-a-second off I'm not really trying to win them clean. I'll start trying to tie guys up, and have my wingers come in and help me, or win it back with my feet.

"It all depends on who I'm going against, what hand they are, and what side of the ice it's on. I try to have a few different techniques for every area so if one's not working I can switch to something else."

Previous editions of The Experts Series

Mike Weir on putting under pressure
Mike Weir on winning on golf's biggest stage
Kelly Gruber on what it takes to hit for the cycle

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.