Despite losing in the Western Conference Finals last season, Anaheim tops the list of best teams according to ESPN. The Ducks didn’t make any major changes over the off season, but with the talent on board and some added depth, this is the team to watch in 2015-16.
Tampa Bay won the Cup last season and have all of last year’s star players returning. The Eastern Conference is going to be tough, but the Lightning have all the tools necessary to have another fantastic year.
Bleacher Report lead writer Dave Lozo has the squad tops in the league, but they need to improve their consistency in the regular season to get top billing at some point during the year.
Most NHL experts have these two franchises as the teams to beat this season, but finding a consensus third-ranked club is difficult. Many consider Chicago as a team to watch, but the loss of five key players could create some chemistry issues early in the first half of the season.
Detroit is also getting a strong look from NHL experts, but the health of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will play a big role in how this team performs. The Red Wings have solid play between the pipes, but depth could be their downfall.
Calgary was the surprise team in the league last year and many expect the Flames to challenge for a spot in the playoffs again this season. For those looking for a sleeper team in 2015, Edmonton seems to have the pieces in place to make a major move up the rankings.
The Oilers have some tremendous young talent and have added a couple key defenders and if this squad can find some chemistry, the playoffs are within reach for this franchise.
