The NHL saw an uptick in scoring last season for a variety of reasons. Sure, goaltenders were forced to wear smaller equipment, but the overall speed and skill of the game are at an all-time high - and it's arguably never been more fun to watch.

With a new season just around the corner, we rank the top five offenses in the league. If you're a fan of high-scoring hockey, the following teams make for can't-miss TV.

GF = Goals For
PP% = Power Play percentage
SCF = Scoring Chances For
HDCF = High-Danger Chances For

5. Colorado Avalanche

Led by arguably the most dominant line in hockey, the Avalanche enter the 2019-20 campaign boasting their deepest forward core in recent memory.

The additions of Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, and Joonas Donskoi give the club a collection of capable producers further down the lineup, and 2016 first-round pick Tyson Jost looks to build on his career-best 2018-19 season. Kadri, in particular, adds another dangerous option on the man advantage after tallying 28 power-play goals over the past three seasons.

Cale Makar showed what he can do during his playoff stint with the Avs this past spring. The rookie rearguard should be able to contribute at a high level right away and replace some of the offense lost in the departure of Tyson Barrie. Fellow defenseman Samuel Girard ranked first league-wide in defensive zone exits last season, and his elite puck-moving ability should yield increasingly positive results with additional forward talent in the fold.

4. Calgary Flames

The Flames still need to negotiate a new contract with restricted free-agent forward Matthew Tkachuk, but once that's settled, they'll return the same offense that took the Western Conference by storm last season.

Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan fully showcased their abilities as elite point producers, while the offensive emergences of Tkachuk and Swedish winger Elias Lindholm elevated the Flames to a whole new level; Calgary was the only team with five 70-point scorers in 2018-19, and all five will be with the club in 2019-20.

Headed by Norris Trophy-winner Mark Giordano, the Flames received 198 points last season from a blue line that remains intact. With proven scoring options all over the lineup, expect head coach Bill Peters' club to dazzle offensively once again.

3. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks may have lost perennial goal-scorer Joe Pavelski, but the club still enters the 2019-20 campaign with a ton of firepower.

Led by new captain Logan Couture, the Sharks' forward group offers a bounty of speed and skill. Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, and Kevin Labanc look to take more leaps after breakout campaigns, and the ageless Joe Thornton is back to anchor the third line. San Jose rostered three 30-goal-scorers besides Pavelski in 2018-19 and has 10 returning players who notched double-digit tallies.

On the blue line, the Sharks boast a pair of Norris Trophy talents in Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, who also happen to be the two best offensive defensemen in the NHL. No team enjoyed more production from its back end last season as Sharks defenders combined for 221 points.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs were without Auston Matthews for 14 games last season, and play-making winger William Nylander never rounded into form after his prolonged contract dispute. Despite those setbacks, Toronto was still among the top offenses in hockey and its young nucleus has plenty of room to grow.

With Matthews and John Tavares leading the charge up the middle, the Leafs possess one of league's the top duos at center ice and can find scoring options up and down the lineup. Each of their seven 20-goal scorers - a league-high last year - remain in the fold, and newcomer Alex Kerfoot has back-to-back 40-plus-point campaigns to start his career.

The addition of 59-point rearguard Tyson Barrie gives the club another blue-line weapon to compliment an already-potent power play. The Leafs also rounded out their depth by signing Jason Spezza, who will assume fourth-line duties centering a variety of viable wing options.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL's juggernaut is back with a vengeance after being swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Lightning owned a historic offense in 2018-19 as their 319 goals were the most in a single season since 1995-96.

The Bolts scored five or more goals in 37 games and were held to one or no tallies just 11 times. Tampa Bay was the only team in the league to roster three 40-goal-scorers (two other clubs had two) and also saw nine players eclipse the 40-point mark.

Out to prove he can still contribute at a high level after a down season with the New York Rangers, Kevin Shattenkirk will be a welcome depth addition to the league's deadliest power play behind Victor Hedman. As soon as the Lightning get restricted free agent Brayden Point signed to a new deal, they'll be unanimous Stanley Cup favorites once again.

Advanced stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick

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The Calgary Flames have inked restricted free-agent forward Andrew Mangiapane to a one-year, two-way contract worth $715,000, the club announced Sunday.

After a lengthy impasse, the 23-year-old settled for the original qualifying offer the Flames submitted in June. He will remain a restricted free agent when his deal expires.

Mangiapane, a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2015, tallied eight goals and 13 points in 44 games in 2018-19.

Calgary now holds $6.34 million in projected cap space with restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk the only remaining player in need of a new deal, according to CapFriendly.

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Among all the positions in hockey, there's no question goaltenders take the longest to realize their potential. With so much uncertainty in the crease, it can be tricky to land two proven netminders come fantasy draft day.

Sometimes an increase in opportunity or a change of scenery is all a goalie needs. The following talents could be ready to take the next step in 2019-20 and deliver their best seasons yet.

Philipp Grubauer, Avalanche

Grubauer looks to ride the momentum from last season's incredible playoff run into 2019-20. The 27-year-old proved he's capable of handling the starting role after stifling the top-seeded Calgary Flames in Round 1 and helping the Avalanche come one win shy of the Western Conference Final.

Sporting a 61-40-16 record, a 2.39 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage for his career thus far, Grubauer has always posted quality numbers. But playing backup to star netminder Braden Holtby with the Washington Capitals denied the German netminder the opportunity to showcase his talent on a nightly basis.

Colorado looks poised to take a step forward in 2019-20, which should translate to a steady dose of wins as Grubauer projects for his largest workload yet.

Juuse Saros, Predators

Saros enters the season after notching a career-high 17 wins in 27 starts for the Predators in 2018-19. His early-career numbers (38-24-12 record, 2.49 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and seven shutouts in 79 NHL appearances) suggest the 24-year-old could be a starting goaltender at the NHL level - he's just been stuck playing behind 2018 Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne.

The 5-foot-11 Saros should continue to carry more weight this year with Rinne turning 37 in November. The young Finn has seen his starts increase in each of the last three campaigns, while Rinne has seen a decrease over four straight. Expect that trend to continue as more teams adopt a platoon-style system between the pipes - especially after Nashville's disappointing first-round playoff exit last season.

Semyon Varlamov, Islanders

The Islanders were one of the league's biggest surprises last season. Head coach Barry Trotz implemented a defensive system that allowed netminders Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss to flourish, and Varlamov looks to follow suit after a subpar 2018-19 campaign in Colorado.

Trotz's club allowed the fewest goals in the league and ranked first in shutouts last year. The Islanders' strong defense core remains intact for 2019-20 and should provide Varlamov with plenty of support.

Greiss and Lehner split time between the pipes last season, and though it's likely the Islanders will run a platoon system once again, the four-year, $20-million contract Varlamov inked with the team this summer suggests he'll receive a majority of the starts.

Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets

Merzlikins is a high-risk pick who could yield a big reward. The 25-year-old doesn't have a minute of NHL experience, but he's been projected as the Blue Jackets' goalie of the future ever since the club selected him in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

The 6-foot-3 netminder posted a 2.78 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in five games for Latvia at the World Championships in May. Considering his limited experience competing against NHL talent, Merzlikins held his own playing behind a relatively weak roster.

Columbus head coach John Tortorella has made it clear that Joonas Korpisalo will assume starting duties to begin the season. But, as we're reminded every year, things can change quickly in the NHL. Any number of factors can combine to create opportunity for a young netminder, and we saw two rookie goalies burst onto the scene just last season in Carter Hart and Jordan Binnington.

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The NHLPA plans to use a provision in the league's collective bargaining agreement to extend the deadline for its decision on reopening the current CBA until Monday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The provision allows the deadline, originally set for Sept. 15, to be moved to the next business day because that date lands on a Sunday.

On Aug. 30, the NHL announced its decision not to reopen the CBA, which is set to run through the 2020-21 season. The current CBA will be terminated if the players opt to reopen discussions, potentially resulting in a work stoppage in September 2020.

The NHL and NHLPA reached a deal for the current CBA in January 2013 following a prolonged dispute that shortened the 2012-13 campaign to 48 games. The league lost the entire 2004-05 season after the sides failed to come to terms on an agreement prior to that campaign.

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The Philadelphia Flyers and restricted free-agent forward Travis Konecny remain at a standoff.

While the Flyers are reportedly working hard Thursday to reach an agreement with fellow RFA Ivan Provorov, they are not close to a new deal with Konecny, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The Flyers are apparently basing their offer on the fact that Konecny has averaged under 15 minutes of ice time during his first three seasons. However, the 22-year-old argues that he's been one of the most productive goal-scorers at even strength for his age, McKenzie adds.

Konecny ranks ninth among players age 23-and-under with 43 even-strength goals during the past two seasons. He sits 21st in total goals and 28th in points within that same group.

The Ontario native finished 2018-19 with a career-high 49 points and matched his goal total of 24 from the prior campaign.

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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore revealed Thursday in an article on The Players' Tribune that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer during the offseason.

In an entry titled "To My Golden Knights Family," the 24-year-old revealed he had surgery to remove the affected area and has made a full recovery. He will, however, continue to be monitored closely.

Theodore's cancer was discovered when he took a drug test while playing for Canada at the World Championship in May.

Before the quarterfinal game, the British Columbia native was informed that he failed his test due to the discovery of a hormone called hCG, which is typically found in pregnant women. Doctors told him, though, that it can also be a sign of testicular cancer.

Theodore returned home following the tournament to see his doctor and officially received the diagnosis.

After sharing the news privately, Theodore received support from family and friends, including fellow NHLer Phil Kessel, who faced his own battle with testicular cancer in 2006.

Theodore is entering his fifth NHL season and third with the Golden Knights. He didn't reveal whether he will have to miss any time but is currently included on Vegas' training camp roster.

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The Winnipeg Jets have inked defenseman Josh Morrissey to an eight-year, $50-million contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Morrissey is entering the final year of his current deal and was set to become a restricted free agent after this season.

More to come.

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Divisions:
Metropolitan | Central
Pacific (Sept. 11) | Atlantic (Sept. 12)

Five teams from the ultra-competitive Central reached the playoffs in 2018-19, and the division became stronger over the summer.

The St. Louis Blues remain in good form to defend their Stanley Cup championship, and several other teams are in a better position to contend. After an offseason of transactions, we've graded each club's efforts.

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value does not include bonuses.

Chicago Blackhawks

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman acquired Olli Maatta and Calvin de Haan in an attempt to tackle the team's blue-line weakness. Neither are necessarily stand-out talents, but they'll upgrade a team that allowed the second-most goals last season.

Bringing in 2018-19 Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner was also a smart move considering Corey Crawford's uncertain conditioning heading into his age-34 season. Lehner signed a low-risk one-year deal, but with neither goalie under contract for the 2020-21 campaign, Bowman will need to revisit the club's situation between the pipes sooner rather than later.

Trading Henri Jokiharju, a young and highly touted rearguard, for forward Alex Nylander was perhaps the only real head-scratcher, though some may also ponder the reacquisition of Andrew Shaw for multiple future draft picks.

The Blackhawks didn't make any major splashes, but they improved where necessary and still have some cap space to work with heading into the season.

Grade: B

Colorado Avalanche

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The 2019-20 version of the Avalanche will look slightly different, but mostly for the better after Joe Sakic made an assertive effort to improve the club's forward depth.

Acquiring Nazem Kadri in a deal centered around Tyson Barrie was prudent. As productive as Barrie has been, the 28-year-old needs a new contract after this season, and the Avalanche likely won't be able to meet his price. There's also a surplus of highly skilled defensemen on the team. That includes Bowen Byram, who was wisely selected with the fourth overall pick this year.

Sakic also showed the foresight to lock up Samuel Girard, who was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

It's tough to dock points for not signing RFAs yet considering how that market has operated all summer. Mikko Rantanen still not being under contract with training camp set to begin this week is the only real blemish after Colorado's otherwise successful offseason.

Grade: B+

Dallas Stars

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Stars were rock solid in front of Vezina Trophy candidate Ben Bishop in 2018-19, but their 29th-ranked offense cost them in the end.

General manager Jim Nill responded to that deficiency this offseason by signing perennial goal-scorer Joe Pavelski and inking two-time All-Star Corey Perry to a one-year deal with little risk. Though their best hockey is behind them, the two veterans should still serve as offensive upgrades relative to who they're replacing.

Keeping trade deadline addition Mats Zuccarello around would have been a bonus, but the 32-year-old wanted a long-term deal and Nill understandably opted to focus on retaining younger homegrown talents in Esa Lindell, Jason Dickinson, and Mattias Janmark.

Veteran Andrej Sekera is also a nice addition to a young Stars defensive core.

Grade: B+

Minnesota Wild

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Firing the general manager in the middle of the offseason is rather disruptive, but Paul Fenton was running the organization into the ground fast. Bill Guerin seems like a good fit for the position, though it's far too early to tell.

The Wild didn't lose any significant pieces this offseason, but a team trying to stay competitive in a cutthroat Central Division didn't add much, either. Zuccarello is a nice playmaker who should help an offense in need, but Minnesota still lacks scoring ability.

The Wild hold just under $8 million in projected cap space heading into the season, and restricted free agent Kevin Fiala remains unsigned, with the GM shuffle possibly to blame. But Guerin needs to get the young Swiss talent on board, and then focus on re-signing defenseman Jared Spurgeon, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Grade: D

Nashville Predators

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Could the Predators have fetched more for All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban? Sure, but Subban's $9-million cap hit over each of the next three seasons hindered general manager David Poile's ability to improve the club in other areas.

The Predators used that money to sign Matt Duchene to a long-term deal, and they'll now head into the 2019-20 campaign with their strongest top-six forward group in recent memory. Poile also understands the importance of maintaining cap space with Roman Josi, the team's defensive anchor and captain, slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Parting with slower, aging players in Brian Boyle and Wayne Simmonds was a no-brainer, and locking up depth forward Colton Sissons long term on a contract with a relatively low average annual value ($3.85 million) was a swift move. Promising rookie Dante Fabbro will likely fill Subban's spot on the blue line, with the Predators deploying a more well-rounded team this season.

Grade: A

St. Louis Blues

Key arrivals

N/A

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

General manager Doug Armstrong made his best effort to keep the Blues' Stanley Cup-winning core intact for a title defense in 2019-20. The team didn't make any significant additions, and it parted with only Pat Maroon. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

The Blues locked up Jordan Binnington for two more seasons at a reasonable price ($4.4 million AAV), and they rewarded other pending free agents with new deals. However, Armstrong will face major decisions next summer. Four key players - including captain Alex Pietrangelo - are set to become unrestricted free agents, and three will be RFAs.

St. Louis did a good job of keeping key players for one more run while still managing the future.

Grade: B+

Winnipeg Jets

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The summer was a bit of a trainwreck for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets. The club lost half of its defensive core, including two valuable right-shooting blue-liners, and replaced them with inferior talents. Feisty winger Brandon Tanev, who figured prominently in one of the league's best checking lines, also departed in free agency.

The departures were somewhat involuntary, however, as Cheveldayoff has to prioritize re-signing restricted free-agent forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor. But those two young stars remain without new deals, and training camp starts this week.

The RFA market has been stagnant league-wide, but with $15.45 million in projected cap space, the Jets failing to sign either top talent could create a nightmare situation.

Even if the Connor and Laine standoffs get resolved, it feels like the Jets took a step back in a division that's only getting stronger.

Grade: D-

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Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin may have influenced the club's decision to ship former linemate Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes.

The Russian sniper asked to be traded if the Penguins kept Kessel, multiple team sources told The Athletic's Rob Rossi, though Malkin denied it when asked and said his friendship with Kessel is real.

Malkin was tired of feeling caught in the ongoing conflict between his linemate and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan, multiple team and league sources told Rossi. "By the end of last season, everybody from ownership to management to coaches believed Kessel had to go for Malkin to stay," Rossi wrote.

Kessel joined the club ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, and his incredible on-ice chemistry with Malkin played a pivotal role in the Penguins capturing back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Malkin believed Kessel was content with two titles and mostly interested in his statistics, and the 33-year-old worried he'd be seen in the same light if the American remained his winger, according to Rossi's team and league sources.

The Penguins traded Kessel to the Coyotes on June 30 in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defense prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

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The New Jersey Devils have come to terms with restricted free-agent forward Pavel Zacha on a three-year, $6.75-million deal, the team announced on Tuesday.

More to come.

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