Overview

• Anaheim is cast as a bubble riser after hiring Joel Quenneville and adding Chris Kreider and Ryan Poehling, with the outlook tempered by a possible Mason McTavish holdout and questions about Lukas Dostal as the new No. 1.
• Utah’s case leans on fresh help from JJ Peterka, Brandon Tanev and Nate Schmidt, while playoff hopes hinge on which version of Karel Vejmelka shows up in net.
• Vancouver resets under new coach Adam Foote with Brock Boeser re-signed and Thatcher Demko extended, yet the club needs healthy goaltending and could face renewed noise around Quinn Hughes and Evander Kane.
• Columbus seeks a step forward after adding Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood but remains heavily dependent on Jet Greaves in goal, and Detroit shores up depth and brings in John Gibson yet still lacks proven scoring punch.
• The Rangers turn to Mike Sullivan and a full season from J.T. Miller with Vladislav Gavrikov added on defense, though thinner depth puts added burden on Alexis Lafreniere, Vincent Trocheck, Will Cuylle and Braden Schneider.