Anaheim Ducks
Key acquisitions: D John Klingberg, F Ryan Strome, F Frank Vatrano.
VGK 2022-2023
- Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy has aken a long hockey journey to Las Vegas
- Misunderstanding Jack Eichel: the Vegas Golden Knights’ star center doesn’t deserve the constant criticism he receives—and he’s going to prove it
- The Vegas Golden Knights aim to ‘go to the next level’ with their production value at T-Mobile Arena
- The Vegas Golden Knights will look to two (or three) goalies to stand in for the injured Robin Lehner
- Meet Phil Kessel, ironman, champion and Vegas Golden Knights top-liner
- Scoping out the Vegas Golden Knights’ strengthened Pacific Division
It’s a new era in Anaheim after the retirement of captain Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks now run through Trevor Zegras, an electric rookie a year ago who could make the leap to superstar this season. Klingberg, signed to a one-year deal after an eight-year stint with Dallas, could also be a difference maker.
Calgary Flames
Key acquisitions: F Jonathan Huberdeau, F Nazem Kadri, D MacKenzie Weegar.
Very rarely can a team lose superstar talent like Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk and still be considered a contender. But Calgary, fresh off a division title, retooled in a major way with Huberdeau and Weegar, acquired from Florida in exchange for Tkachuk, and Kadri, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado last year.
Edmonton Oilers
Key acquisition: G Jack Campbell.
The Oilers’ 2022 playoff run ended in the conference final, where they were swept by Colorado. Do they have enough to go one round further? Edmonton re-signed Evander Kane and brought in Campbell, an all-star goalie with Toronto last year. Connor McDavid might have enough talent around him for another deep run.
Los Angeles Kings
Key acquisition: F Kevin Fiala.
Not many anticipated the young Kings reaching the playoffs last season, and the franchise signed Fiala to try to ensure it wasn’t a one-off appearance. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high 85-point season with Minnesota and should be a good fit on the Kings’ top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
San Jose Sharks
Key acquisitions: G Aaron Dell, F Luke Kunin, F Steven Lorentz.
The Sharks’ most notable move of the summer was actually the shipping out of popular defenseman Brent Burns, sent to Carolina for a package built around Lorentz. San Jose is the one team in the Pacific considered a near-lock to miss the playoffs, but veteran pieces are in place to stay competitive under new coach David Quinn.
Seattle Kraken
Key acquisitions: F Andre Burakovsky, D Justin Schultz, F Shane Wright.
The Kraken likely won’t make the playoffs either, but the second-year franchise should improve on last year’s last-place finish. Seattle pried Cup-winning sniper Burakovsky from Colorado to fortify its top six, and somehow nabbed Wright with the No. 4 pick despite him being the consensus No. 1 draft prospect for most of the season. He’s expected to play immediately and could form a lethal duo with Matty Beniers for years to come.
Vancouver Canucks
Key acquisitions: F Andrei Kuzmenko, F Curtis Lazar, F Ilya Mikheyev.
The Canucks are looking to build off the success they found once coach Bruce Boudreau took over midway through last season. Vancouver wasn’t eliminated from playoff contention until the final week, and with Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller re-signed, they have their core fully in place.
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