Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

Though the Penguins captured the hardware that matters last season, it's the Capitals returning a roster deeper than the one that racked up 120 regular-season points, and who are best equipped to separate themselves over the course of an 82-game campaign. ... Philadelphia sees a marginal increase in total points, but upgrades from wild-card position with the two New York teams taking a step back. ...The Hurricanes and Devils don't have the horses yet.

Atlantic Division

The two Floridian outfits that combined for a plus-62 goal differential remain the class of the division. ... With Carey Price back, the Canadiens (not the Red Wings) challenge the Bruins for the final playoff spot, but settle for the wild card. ... Detroit misses the postseason for the first time in more than a quarter-century, finishing tightly bunched at the bottom with the other three non-playoff teams. There, success and failure is all relative.

First-round matchups

Capitals vs. Canadiens (w)
Lightning vs. Rangers (w)
Penguins vs. Flyers
Panthers vs. Bruins

Western Conference

Central Division

Finishing at the top of the NHL's premier division are three Stanley Cup contenders in the Stars, Predators, and Blackhawks, while the slightly diminished Blues slip into the wild-card slot, but remain formidable. ... The Avalanche and Jets are two of the most improved teams, which is illustrated by their points increases, but only one can fit into the postseason bracket. ... Aging and under new direction, the Wild become victims of the Central this time around.

Pacific Division

As most teams inside the division trend toward the mean, San Jose maintains its distance and takes the Pacific crown from Anaheim. ... The Kings perhaps take the biggest step back, but the Flames, Coyotes, and Oilers, who make huge strides developmentally, take enough from one another for them to survive. ... It might not show, but the Canucks are better than the team that was outscored by a 52-goal margin last season, albeit marginally.

First-round matchups

Stars vs. Avalanche (w)
Sharks vs. Blues (w)
Predators vs. Blackhawks
Ducks vs. Kings

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The Ottawa Senators are content with the defensemen still in training camp and will not be pursuing a deal with unrestricted free agent Kris Russell.

So says general manager Pierre Dorion, who added the eight defensemen on the roster - including rookie Thomas Chabot - will stick with the club to begin the regular season.

The rest of the group includes Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, Marc Methot, Cody Ceci, Mark Borowiecki, Chris Wideman, and Fredrik Claesson.

It begs the question as to who is actually in on Russell at this point, with the regular season less than a week away. The veteran defenseman was believed to be in talks with as many as eight teams in early September, while also reportedly waiting for prospective suitors to clear cap space before signing.

The Senators, at least, have reduced the list of potentially interested parties.

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Martin St. Louis will become the first player in Tampa Bay Lightning history to have his number retired, the team announced Thursday.

The ceremony will take place on Jan 13, 2017, prior to a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Former Lightning head coach John Tortorella, under whom St. Louis won a Stanley Cup in 2004 with Tampa Bay, now coaches Columbus.

"To have my number retired by the Lightning is a tremendous honor and I'd like to thank (team owner) Jeff Vinik and everyone in the organization for recognizing me this way," said St. Louis. "I have many great memories in Tampa Bay, including our great Stanley Cup win, and this night will be extremely special and emotional for my family and me.

"I am happy I will get to share the evening with all the Lightning fans who have always supported me throughout my career - Tampa Bay will always feel like home to me."

The winger retired prior to the 2015-16 NHL season after a stint with the New York Rangers. He ended his playing days in the Big Apple after requesting a trade from the Lightning in 2014.

St. Louis, who briefly served as team captain, played 972 games over 13 seasons with the Lightning, recording 365 goals and 588 assists for 953 points, the most in team history.

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theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.

These are interesting times for the Vancouver Canucks, a team that doesn't appear to know exactly in which direction it's heading.

Seemingly on the downswing after a 28th-place finish in 2015-16, president Trevor Linden and general manager Jim Benning continue to talk playoffs, and made a significant investment in an unrestricted free agent in order to help reach that goal.

Here are three players to watch as the season unfolds:

Loui Eriksson

Vancouver's biggest move of the offseason was the signing of winger Loui Eriksson to a six-year, $36-million contract.

Eriksson, 31, recorded 30 goals and 33 assists in his best and last season with the Boston Bruins prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and is expected to fit seamlessly onto a line with Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin - a trio that already played together for Sweden at the World Cup of Hockey.

This top line could be one of the NHL's most effective this season, and will have to be in order for Vancouver to have any hope of sniffing the playoffs. If that ends up being the case, Eriksson's contract will be seen as money very well spent in the eyes of the club.

Bo Horvat

Forever to be linked to Cory Schneider as the player drafted with the pick acquired in a trade with New Jersey, Bo Horvat is entering 2016-17 as a pending restricted free agent, and with a big opportunity to prove his worth to the Canucks.

Horvat scored 16 goals and added 24 assists while averaging over 17 minutes a game and playing in a variety of situations as a sophomore last season, and will be counted on to provide secondary scoring and defensive responsibility as a second- or third-line centre.

A productive year could put him in line for a nice second contract, giving Vancouver reason to believe he is indeed a player to build around in the soon-to-be post-Sedin era.

Jacob Markstrom

Jacob Markstrom also put pen to paper on a new deal with the Canucks during the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $11-million extension that will keep him with the club through to the end of 2019-20.

What's significant here is that Ryan Miller - who carries a $6-million cap hit - is set to come off the books next summer, meaning the club has put a measure of faith in Markstrom to carry at least part of the load moving forward, or at least until top goalie prospect Thatcher Demko is ready to make the leap to the NHL.

Miller will undoubtedly begin the season as the starter, but Markstrom will get his fair share of action as well, with an eye on finally setting himself apart as a bona fide No. 1 goalie.

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It was a no-brainer. But for an organization that doesn't seem to get much of anything right, even the most obvious decision makes Edmonton supporters hold their breath.

Exhale. Connor McDavid is captain of the Oilers. And brighter days are ahead - without a doubt.

While the 19-year-old becomes the youngest captain in NHL history, we’ll take it a step further: He’s the youngest oldest captain the league’s known. He may be a teenager, but there’s very little young, it seems, about McDavid, on the ice and off. He’s ready. He’s always been ready.

A banner offseason

The shock of the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade has worn off. It's actually beginning to make sense. Since the deal, the club drafted another offensive wizard in Jesse Puljujarvi, Milan Lucic signed a mammoth contract in free agency, and McDavid shined at the World Cup of Hockey.

McDavid’s the superstar teams dream about and he’s surrounded by speed, skill, and toughness. Leon Draisaitl, Jordan Eberle, Puljujarvi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Lucic, Benoit Pouliot, Patrick Maroon - the Oilers are deep up front. And in Larsson, Edmonton has the right-handed defenseman it has long coveted.

More importantly, though, is the Oilers have their man in goal. Cam Talbot struggled in the first half last season, but established himself as a true No. 1 in the second half. He’s legit.

Ask yourself: What are the Oilers missing?

Dream big

It’s time. Yes, the “P” word. Playoffs.

Admit it, you’re thinking about it. You’ve been thinking about it all summer. And why not? Sure, the back end is thin - one injury away from disaster - but this is undoubtedly McDavid’s team now, as the Oilers move into Rogers Place, their new arena.

New captain. New barn. New beginning.

The sky’s the limit for McDavid, which means the sky’s the limit for the Oilers.

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Jonathan Bernier is in familiar territory.

Dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in an offseason trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bernier returns to Southern California, where he began his career with the rival Los Angeles Kings.

The 28-year-old, who tallied just 59 wins over three seasons in Toronto, sees it as a clean slate.

"I'm here to prove everyone wrong. I know I can be a good goalie in this league," he told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "I'm not putting any extra pressure, but I know at the end of the day that I've just got to do my thing every day."

Bernier isn't short on motivation, as he looks to rebound from a disastrous 2015-16 in which his team finished dead last and he was exiled to the minors.

As the netminder re-adjusts to his new old lifestyle, there will be at least one familiar face in Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who was the Maple Leafs' bench boss during Bernier's first two years in Toronto, and believes he's still got plenty left in the tank.

"We think that he's a higher-level goaltender than what he's played in his previous experience in Toronto," Carlyle said. "He's a talented goaltender. We think that he can provide us with NHL-level goaltending and we think that the fit for him is right, right now, with the young goalie in Gibby."

Bernier is expected to play second fiddle to youngster John Gibson, but looks forward to the opportunity to re-establish himself as the high-profile goaltender who was drafted 11th overall in 2006.

"It doesn't matter how many games I'll play," he said. "I've just got to make sure I'm ready whenever I get the nod."

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The Vancouver Canucks named their latest cuts from camp Wednesday, which included 2016 first-round pick Olli Juolevi.

Juolevi will be sent back to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. The Canucks plucked him with the fifth overall selection in June after he recorded nine goals and 42 points in 57 games in his rookie OHL season.

The club also sent forward Dmitry Zhukenov back to junior, assigned Joseph LaBate and Borna Rendulic to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, and released forward James Sheppard from his professional tryout contract.

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Phil Kessel will draw into the lineup when the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

The Penguins winger had been sidelined earlier in the preseason as he recovered from offseason hand surgery.

"Our hope is that Phil has an opportunity to get some of his timing back," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told NHL.com. "He hasn't played in a competitive exhibition game to this point. We want to make sure we're ready for Game 1."

Kessel, 29, was a key cog in the Penguins' Stanley Cup win last spring, scoring 22 points in 24 playoff games.

The Wisconsin native, who did not participate in the World Cup, made headlines last month following Team USA's disappointing finish.

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