Season points projections for the NHL are always difficult because of unexpected occurrences.

Last season, the Boston Bruins leaped from a 2021-22 wild card spot to the best record in league history. The New Jersey Devils and second-year Seattle Kraken made the playoffs with improvements of 40 points or more. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets cratered after a ridiculous run of injuries.

This season is also tough to predict because seven of the eight teams in the Atlantic Division have the potential to make the playoffs. Three division teams made major acquisitions, one had major losses and two open the season with key players out.

Other wild cards: Patrick Kane plans to sign with a contender once he recovers from his hip surgery, and the bottom teams won't be as keen to shed talent because there isn't a generational draft pick available – as with Connor Bedard last season.

Here is our prediction on how NHL teams will finish this season (explainers are below the graphic):

PACIFIC DIVISION

  • Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead a dangerous offense and power play and the Oilers will have defenseman Mattias Ekholm for a full season. Edmonton wins the division if goalie Jack Campbell improves on a disappointing 2022-23 season.
  • The defending champion Vegas Golden Knights bring back nearly all of their team, except Reilly Smith.
  • The acquisition of Pierre-Luc Dubois makes the Los Angeles Kings strong at center with Anze Kopitar and Philip Danault. Can new goalie Cam Talbot rebound?
  • The third-year Seattle Kraken won't surprise opponents this season, but they have the talent to return to the playoffs.
  • The Calgary Flames had everything go wrong last season. New coach Ryan Huska must get more from Jonathan Huberdeau and replace the offense of traded Tyler Toffoli. Also, what happens to their pending unrestricted free agents, including Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin?
  • A full season of coach Rick Tocchet gets the Vancouver Canucks more points, but new defenseman Carson Soucy is injured.
  • The Anaheim Ducks made good offseason moves, but newcomer Alex Killorn might miss a month with a broken finger. New coach Greg Cronin must get the team to improve on the league's worst defensive numbers.
  • The San Jose Sharks will be without traded Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson's 101 points and are in a rebuilding phase. They'll slip to the NHL's basement.

CENTRAL DIVISION

  • The Dallas Stars went to the conference final and added Matt Duchene to a deep group of forwards. Goalie Jake Oettinger and defenseman Miro Heiskanen could be in the awards mix.
  • The Colorado Avalanche changed up their secondary scoring after their first-round exit. This team could be better than last year but needs to avoid another run of injuries.
  • The Minnesota Wild, missing injured Jared Spurgeon, have established themselves as a top three team in the division. The next step: Get past the first round of the playoffs.
  • The Winnipeg Jets signed goalie Connor Hellebuyck and forward Mark Scheifele to seven-year extensions on the eve of the season. That eliminates a potential distraction, but coach Rick Bowness must figure out how to replace Dubois.
  • The Nashville Predators' playoff streak ended because of injuries to Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. They're back, goalie Juuse Saros is top-notch and new coach Andrew Brunette is known for his high-scoring teams. If they can put that all together, they'll push for a playoff spot.
  • The Arizona Coyotes will continue improving after last season's 13-point jump, but they're not a playoff team yet.
  • The St. Louis Blues have a dangerous first line are are counting on some players to rebound.
  • Bedard will make the Chicago Blackhawks fun to watch, but the team doesn't have enough depth to escape the cellar.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs got grittier by adding Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves and the first two can put up goals.
  • The Boston Bruins had too many departures, including retired Patrice Bergeron, to avoid a major drop-off from last season's 135-point team. The league's best goaltending tandem, a strong defense and David Pastrnak's scoring keeps them a playoff team.
  • If young goalie Devon Levi is as good as advertised, the Buffalo Sabres will end their 12-year playoff drought, the NHL's longest active one.
  • The next four slots are easily interchangeable. The Florida Panthers will be without defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad at the start of the season, but they have Matthew Tkachuk and the confidence from last season's playoff run.
  • If anyone can help the Tampa Bay Lightning survive the first two months without injured superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, it's coach Jon Cooper. But they'll probably drop from last season's 98 points, considering Killorn, Ross Colton, Corey Perry and Pat Maroon are no longer there.
  • The Detroit Red Wings were aggressive again this offseason, as were the Ottawa Senators, and both will get more points. But the division is ultracompetitive and someone has to finish in sixth and seventh. Detroit gets the edge because it acquired the Senators' Alex DeBrincat and Ottawa is missing injured Josh Norris and unsigned Shane Pinto.
  • The Montreal Canadiens made some good moves, such as trading for Alex Newhook. But they're still rebuilding.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

  • As with last season, the race for the division title will go to the end. The New Jersey Devils have a scary offense and Jack Hughes could have a monster season. The Carolina Hurricanes added Dmitry Orlov and brought back Tony DeAngelo to give them the deepest blue line in the league.
  • Kaapo Kakko has earned a spot on the top line, but new New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette needs to find a way to Alexis Lafreniere going.
  • New GM Kyle Dubas remade the Pittsburgh Penguins after the end of their playoff streak. Erik Karlsson is the major acquisition but the bottom six has the potential for more production than last year's group. Sidney Crosby and company should get back to the playoffs.
  • The New York Islanders re-signed their goaltending tandem but didn't do anything to improve the offense. Perhaps a full season of Bo Horvat will help.
  • Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin continues his chase of Wayne Gretzky's goal record. The team has an aging core and new coach Spencer Carbery will work in more youngsters.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets will be better because they boosted their defense, drafted Adam Fantilli and aren't likely to repeat their rash of injuries.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson back and looked good in preseason. But their second-leading scorer and top two defensemen from last season are gone.

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