3. Which NHL team will be the biggest surprise? Biggest disappointment? (Not including Devils)
Villano: The biggest surprise is going to be the Washington Capitals. I think they are in the top three in the Metropolitan Division by a pretty clear margin. The biggest disappointment will be the Los Angeles Kings. With the Drew Doughty injury and just a strange offseason, we see them falling out of the playoffs.
Parise: The biggest surprise this season is going to be the Utah Hockey Club. They are no longer under Arizona Coyotes leadership and have resources to become a better franchise. The talent there is undeniable. The biggest disappointment is going to be the Ottawa Senators. There are expectations that they would take a big step but they haven’t made the moves needed for that to be the case.
DeLuca: Biggest surprise is going to the Buffalo Sabres. This team is in the exact same position that the Devils were in when Ruff came along and while that may have only led to one playoff appearance, they won a series. It can be argued the Sabres are in a slightly better spot than the 2021 Devils were so that justifies the hire even further. Biggest disappointment will be the Vegas Golden Knights. Between losing Jonathan Marchessault and the questions in goal after trading away Logan Thompson, there is a lot left to be desired.
Borges: The biggest surprise team in the NHL will be the Utah Hockey Club. With a new move and a youth movement out there, don’t be surprised if they make the playoffs. Biggest disappointment will inevitably be the Vancouver Canucks. With their run last year, it sets up an unrealistic expectation for this season. Especially without Thatcher Demko fully healthy.
Chauvancy: The biggest surprise team will be Utah HC, and the biggest disappointment will be the Boston Bruins, though that depends on how long Jeremy Swayman remains unsigned.
Matthews: Surprise: I'm excited to see what the Detroit Red Wings can do with Stanley Cup veterans Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. Disappointment: Ottawa Senators. Brady Tkachuk will miss the playoffs yet again despite adding Linus Ullmark.
Patrick: I think the Canadiens will be a surprising contender for one of the last WC spots in the East. Martin St. Louis has buy-in from their young core, and this is the year the true Cole Caulfield superstar turn begins. Meanwhile, Vegas is due for steep regression. I don't like their depth at forward at all, they don't have enough to withstand another inevitable Mark Stone injury. And I still don't believe in that Adin Hill/Ilya Samsonov tandem.
Stanislau: Biggest disappointment would be for the Rangers if Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick have good seasons, but fail to dominate the playoffs. If the Russian netminder has more average games and loses more games then that can alter the standings in the Metropolitan in favor of NJ.
Holliday: The biggest disappointment this season will be the Islanders who despite the middle of the Metro division looking open will finally fall off and miss the playoffs with 15 points less than last season.
Barrett: Anaheim should be contending for a playoff spot for a majority of the year and could even get in with the young talent developing. Los Angeles is throwing out the same lineup they have the past 3 seasons. I could see them falling out and Anaheim bumping into their position.
Schiller: Lots of potential surprises in the eastern conference this season. These include Ottawa, Washington, Detroit, and Buffalo. Out of these, I expect Washington to make a bigger push than the rest. They will be a big surprise if they can put it all together. The biggest disappointment will be those perennial contenders who seemingly find new ways to lose in the biggest moments year after year. Those include Boston, Toronto and the Rangers of New York. Wherever they finish, as long as it is short of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, it will be disappointing for their fans and everyone involved in the organization.
Garrison: I believe the Nashville Predators will be the surprise team with a great season, especially with their off-season. The biggest disappointment will be the Ottawa Senators. They didn’t upgrade in the offseason team-wise, and they have Travis Green as head coach, who couldn’t make a system work with the Devils' talent.
Rubin: The biggest surprise will be Utah Hockey Club. The biggest disappointment will be the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Annaluru: I think the Caps might surprise some people again and go on a playoff run, while the Bruins may be in for a transition year.
Villapiano: The Utah Hockey Club will be the biggest surprise. Recent history has shown that new teams have early success and Utah has talent that can make them sneaky competitive.