The Major Question for all NHL Teams as They Head into Training Camp | Sports & Recreation

When and for how a lot will restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman signal with the Bruins? Can Rangers captain Jacob Trouba put the commerce rumors behind him? Will Linus Ullmark be the reply in purpose the Senators have been ready for?

This week, The Athletic requested its employees for the most important query dealing with every crew heading into camp, and people have been just a few of the engaging storylines we heard about in response.

With coaching camps opening throughout the league and preseason video games proper across the nook, right here’s what we've our eyes on.

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Will Cam Fowler (or another person) be traded? Could the Ducks as we all know them be the identical by the point they open the season in San Jose? Trade winds have blown round them for a while and the current entry of Fowler into the regular breeze solely provides to a persistent storyline across the membership. A separation with longtime No. 1 goalie John Gibson has felt inevitable however Gibson’s contract and tough statistics in current seasons have hindered a possible deal. Trade proposals for Trevor Zegras have taken on a lifetime of their very own within the hockey sphere. Now it’s Fowler, who’s coming into his fifteenth season however seems open to a brand new NHL dwelling. Major trades don’t usually happen throughout coaching camp and it’s very doable all three begin the season in Anaheim. Perhaps all three will finish there. But it looks like change could possibly be within the air. — Eric Stephens

Boston Bruins

When and for how a lot will Jeremy Swayman signal? Swayman is with out a contract. A summer time of negotiating has not gotten the perimeters near an settlement. Swayman believes he is likely one of the league’s finest goalies. The Bruins share that opinion, however they'll level to an proven fact: Swayman has by no means been a No. 1 goalie within the common season. This may result in Swayman lacking camp time. — Fluto Shinzawa

Can the scoring bounce again? The Sabres didn’t add a top-six ahead this summer time, as an alternative banking on bounce-back seasons from Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens together with continued progress from gamers like JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn. General supervisor Kevyn Adams is betting an improved fourth line and Lindy Ruff’s teaching might be sufficient to get the Sabres again nearer to the offensive crew they have been in 2022-23. — Matthew Fairburn

How good is the Flames’ youth motion? The Flames enter the season as underdogs, however their veterans shouldn’t be the only focus. Can Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil take a step ahead? Dustin Wolf will get his likelihood to compete for NHL time: how will he fare? Can Matthew Coronato carve out a spot for himself? Does Jakob Pelletier nonetheless have a future with the Flames? Which different Flames kids will see time with the massive membership this season? If the Flames are within the enterprise of promoting hope, this season will play a job in how excited followers ought to be for their future. — Julian McKenzie

Who is the No. 1 goalie? Plenty thought Frederik Andersen wouldn’t be again with the Hurricanes after he unraveled within the Game 6 loss to the Rangers that ended the Hurricanes’ season in May. But Carolina — led by new GM Eric Tulsky — determined to face pat with its goaltenders, preserving Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov and Spencer Martin as the crew’s three goalies. Kochetkov made a team-high 40 begins final season with Andersen on injured reserve, however it was Andersen who took the online within the postseason. Can Andersen, 35 at the beginning of the common season, carry the load this 12 months, or is it lastly time to provide Kochetkov the reins for good? — Cory Lavalette

Other than Connor Bedard, what number of younger gamers will truly make the Blackhawks roster out of camp? The Blackhawks drastically modified the look of their NHL roster by including eight veterans this offseason. Those additions possible imply a lot of the Blackhawks’ youthful gamers are a minimum of beginning their season within the AHL. From Artyom Levshunov to Kevin Korchinski to Frank Nazar, the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, may have a packed roster of promising prospects. — Scott Powers

How wholesome will they be up entrance? The greatest query dealing with the Avalanche coming into coaching camp is the well being of their proficient ahead group. Colorado coach Jared Bednar mentioned he hopes Gabriel Landeskog, who hasn’t performed since 2022, might be able to play someday close to the beginning of the season, and Artturi Lehkonen gained’t be a full participant to begin camp following offseason shoulder surgical procedure. That may open alternatives for different forwards to push their approach up the lineup with spectacular performances. Wingers Miles Wood, Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta have lots to realize from an important camp. — Jesse Granger

How can they reside with the grief of Johnny Gaudreau’s dying? The sudden, mindless tragedy that took the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau has solid a pall on the group, and it’s not one which might be lifted quickly. Forget about hockey and the way inconceivable it is going to be to exchange Johnny Gaudreau on the ice. The Blue Jackets might be challenged to focus and put together for the season with out their beloved teammate. Every participant will deal with grief in their very own approach, however this is not going to be straightforward. — Aaron Portzline

Will the true Jake Oettinger please arise? Dallas addressed its most urgent concern on Tuesday by signing RFA defenseman Thomas Harley to a two-year bridge deal. The Stars have loads of veterans — Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene — to ease the blow of Joe Pavelski’s retirement, they usually have dynamic younger stars able to tackle bigger roles in Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque and Harley. But as deep and as proficient as Dallas is, none of it would matter if Oettinger doesn’t return to kind in purpose. Oettinger’s save proportion plummeted from .919 to .905 final season, his objectives saved above anticipated dropped from 21.65 to 1.46 (51st within the league), and he was fairly pedestrian by his lofty requirements within the Western Conference remaining in opposition to Edmonton. Given his pedigree and his monitor report, it’s possible extra a blip than a development. But Oettinger enters the 2024-25 marketing campaign with one thing to show. — Mark Lazerus

Is the crew’s protection improved? The Red Wings misplaced a variety of manufacturing this offseason, and whereas they’ll hope to exchange that scoring with contributions from Vladimir Tarasenko and through inner enhancements, their greater short-term precedence might be defending higher as a crew. Detroit gave up the league’s ninth most objectives per sport final season (3.33), and too usually gave away straightforward scoring possibilities through turnovers and defensive breakdowns. They’ll actually hope the full-time arrival of Simon Edvinsson will help on the blue line due to his size and mobility, however a giant a part of the equation might want to come from their forwards, who final season tended to be extra offensively tilted. Tyler Motte will assist there as a matchup ahead who can kill penalties, and Christian Fischer will return in an analogous function. From there, it’s about getting a little bit extra duty out of a number of the extra expert forwards, a job which can fall to Derek Lalonde and his employees to execute. — Max Bultman

Edmonton Oilers

Can the Oilers get by at proper protection? There are choices aplenty on the starboard aspect of the blue line after Evan Bouchard, however there’s additionally tons of uncertainty. The Oilers misplaced Vincent Desharnais to free company, Philip Broberg to a suggestion sheet and traded Cody Ceci, so turnover is excessive. Josh Brown was signed, depth contributor Troy Stecher was retained and Ty Emberson was the return for Ceci — however none of those guys are surefire top-four defensemen. Neither is lefty Travis Dermott, who’s at camp on a tryout and may play the fitting aspect. This is definitely the most important concern with the roster. It might need to be addressed shortly if points are obvious early within the season. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

Who’s up subsequent on protection? We’re making an attempt to not use the time period “Cup hangover” right here, and it’s tough. The Panthers — like almost all champions — skilled attrition over the summer time, notably on the blue line, the place key contributors Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each signed for more cash and years than Florida may supply. Paul Maurice has confronted uncertainty on the place earlier than, together with at the beginning of final season. His job this time is determining how a lot he can depend on additions Nate Schmidt and Adam Boqvist. — Sean Gentille

Can they change Matt Roy on the blue line? The Kings noticed Roy, their homegrown defenseman from the seventh spherical in 2015, money in with Washington to the tune of six years and $34.5 million whereas opting to not instantly change him both by way of commerce or free company. They signed Joel Edmundson and dealt for Kyle Burroughs however neither fills that gap on the fitting aspect in L.A.’s second pairing. But additionally they know 21-year-old Brandt Clarke is about to make the soar to the NHL for good. Clarke figures to get loads of alternatives to stay and Jordan Spence may be bumped up within the lineup, however the Kings could have an issue if they'll’t change Roy’s sound protection, penalty killing and talent to eat a variety of five-on-five minutes in opposition to different groups’ higher forwards. — Eric Stephens

Will the Wild carry three goalies? After re-signing Marc-André Fleury for what he says might be his twenty first and remaining season, the Wild tried all offseason to commerce Filip Gustavsson — together with making him a part of their current try for Patrik Laine. No commerce transpired but, however the Wild nonetheless need to get 2021 first-round decide Jesper Wallstedt extra NHL video games than the three he obtained final 12 months. So as basic supervisor Bill Guerin has mentioned, this could possibly be a “hybrid” season the place the Wild carry three goalies usually. For a crew that may’t at the moment afford two league-minimum additional gamers, Wallstedt’s $925,000 cap hit will demand roster and cap gymnastics. — Michael Russo

Can Kirby Dach decide up the place he left off? Coming out of coaching camp final 12 months, Kirby Dach regarded just like the Canadiens’ finest ahead. Then his season was over after two video games. In two years in Montreal, Dach has performed a complete of 60 video games. Over the second half of 2022-23 and in final 12 months’s coaching camp, he regarded like a difference-maker with the potential to kind an excellent 1-2 punch down the center with Nick Suzuki. There is just not a lot depth at heart behind these two within the group. The Canadiens want Dach to be that affect participant; it's essential to their rebuild. — Arpon Basu

How will the Preds deploy their new stars? That’s extra of a subject with the forwards as a result of it appears apparent Brady Skjei might be paired with Roman Josi. But the questions for Andrew Brunette are the extent to which he needs to maintain final 12 months’s very good high line — Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist — collectively, and the middle of selection for Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault if that want is excessive. Tommy Novak is the logical selection, however that may imply separating him from Luke Evangelista. Regardless, there are new stars, and Nashville is happy. — Joe Rexrode

How do the brand new items slot in? Tom Fitzgerald had as energetic an offseason as any basic supervisor. The roster seems able to contending for the playoffs, assuming the brand new gamers gel below new coach Sheldon Keefe. Jacob Markström, Brenden Dillon, Brett Pesce, Stefan Noesen and Tomáš Tatar will all assist the crew, however there might be an adjustment interval. That’s price watching throughout coaching camp. — Peter Baugh

Did they do sufficient to be aggressive? Lou Lamoriello didn’t do something drastic to a roster that sneaked into the playoffs for a second straight 12 months and slunk away after a first-round loss. Anthony Duclair was the lone NHL free-agent addition. Lamoriello is banking on a full season of Patrick Roy behind the bench to provide the Isles sufficient juice early within the season, however the continuity on this roster may simply be carrying too skinny. — Arthur Staple

New York Rangers

Where does the Jacob Trouba state of affairs stand? After being in commerce talks throughout the offseason, Trouba will naturally be a storyline heading into camp. He is aware of the drill, although, and already confirmed in his early feedback that he’ll deal with all the pieces professionally. His match on the ice may also be fascinating. Assuming Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren are a pair, will Peter Laviolette begin Okay’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider collectively and put Trouba on the third pair? He tried that out within the playoffs, and it’ll be an choice in camp. — Peter Baugh

Ottawa Senators

Is Linus Ullmark the reply in purpose? A 12 months in the past, the Senators thought Joonas Korpisalo may reply their goaltending questions after they signed him as a free agent however unhappily, it didn’t work out. Korpisalo’s numbers (a 3.27 GAA and an .890 save proportion) have been the worst within the league among the many 15 goalies who performed 3,000 minutes or extra final season. But Ullmark, acquired from Boston, gained the Vezina Trophy as the league’s high goalie as lately as 2023 and thrived in a regular-season timeshare with Jeremy Swayman. If the Senators tighten up defensively below new coach Travis Green, see continued progress amongst their younger gamers and get the form of dependable netminding Ullmark offered in his three years with the Bruins, then the Senators ought to lastly contend for a playoff spot after lacking the postseason for the final seven years. — Eric Duhatschek

Who will skate with Matvei Michkov? The surprising, early arrival of the proficient rookie winger provides coach John Tortorella a much-needed weapon within the high six, notably after the Flyers’ greatest challenge final season was an absence of elite-level expertise. Does Tortorella stick Michkov with captain Sean Couturier, a former Selke Trophy winner who pale down the stretch final season? Or may it's Morgan Frost, a artistic participant in his personal proper when he’s on his sport? Surely there might be some experimentation over the subsequent few weeks, however it is going to be intriguing to watch. — Kevin Kurz

Can David Quinn repair the ability play? All these Hall of Famers, and all that futility. An influence play that included Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel (for a lot of the season) completed thirty first out of 32 groups and led the league in most short-handed objectives allowed. New assistant coach David Quinn is in command of the ability play shifting ahead. Can he repair it? The season will possible rely upon it for the Penguins, who would have simply certified for the postseason had their energy play been even common. — Josh Yohe

How significantly better will the Sharks be? Last 12 months was a nightmare considerably by design. Macklin Celebrini was going to be the no-doubt No. 1 decide of the NHL Draft, and the Sharks plowed by way of a dreadful NHL-worst season the place that they had solely 47 factors. But that they had the perfect draft lottery odds, and a win there netted them Celebrini. Mission completed. General supervisor Mike Grier then had a busy summer time making an attempt to improve the expertise degree round their new franchise heart. Veteran additions such as Tyler Toffoli, Jake Walman, Barclay Goodrow and Alex Wennberg ought to make them extra aggressive. Toffoli, specifically, is a confirmed sniper who could possibly be on Celebrini’s wing. The protection may nonetheless be leaky, although Cody Ceci provides them an improve. The gorgeous late summer time commerce for high goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov and 2023 No. 4 decide Will Smith present additional hope for the long run. The Sharks gained’t make the playoffs, however they shouldn’t be as huge of a tire hearth in 2024-25. — Eric Stephens

Will Matty Beniers bounce again? Matty Beniers’ rookie season was electrical. The Kraken heart regarded like a burgeoning famous person, performed with unimaginable swagger and led the crew to a shocking run by way of to the second spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Beniers’ sophomore marketing campaign, nevertheless, was a reminder that growth isn’t all the time linear. Even for probably elite younger gamers. Last season Beniers’ capturing luck ran chilly and the joyful assertiveness in his sport appeared to vanish. After racking up 24 objectives and 57 factors as a first-year pivot, Beniers’ manufacturing sagged to fifteen objectives and 37 factors in 77 video games final season. The Kraken don’t have sufficient offense or sufficient elite gamers to beat one other good however not nice season from Beniers. If he can bounce again, nevertheless, the Kraken may get again into the playoff combine within the Pacific Division. — Thomas Drance

Who would be the No. 2 heart? The Blues count on Robert Thomas, who's signed by way of 2030-31, to be their No. 1 heart for the long-term future. But who’s their No. 2? Brayden Schenn has crammed the function previously, and the Blues have experimented with Pavel Buchnevich there for the previous two seasons. Dalibor Dvorský, the No. 10 decide within the 2023 draft, will possible have the job sooner or later. But for the 2024-25 season, the massive query: Will it's previous dependable (Schenn), the choice (Buchnevich) or the prospect (Dvorský)? — Jeremy Rutherford

Can the Lightning lengthen their window? We have fairly just a few questions for Tampa Bay. Can Ryan McDonagh stabilize the blue line? Will the crew miss Mikhail Sergachev? What will life appear like with out Steven Stamkos? How will Jake Guentzel match? Is there sufficient depth scoring? And will Andrei Vasilevskiy bounce again? But there may be one overarching theme that runs by way of every of these questions, and that revolves across the Lightning’s window of rivalry. The huge query is whether or not a busy offseason might be sufficient to provide this core one other championship run after two consecutive Round 1 exits. — Shayna Goldman

Can Easton Cowan power his approach into the Leafs? You may go in just a few totally different instructions right here — what’s life like with Craig Berube as coach, for occasion? Why Cowan? He’s the crew’s high prospect, he’s 19, he’s coming off an enormous 12 months in junior, and he’s obtained an opportunity to truly make the crew. The Leafs do have quite a few forwards competing for jobs — together with Nick Robertson, Ryan Reaves and Connor Dewar — so there are obstacles in Cowan’s approach. But if he seems like he may simply be prepared for the NHL, along with his distinctive talent set, Leafs administration have a propensity to provide him a glance within the common season — if solely as a result of Cowan should return to juniors if he’s not taking part in within the NHL. — Jonas Siegel

Will aggressive new possession translate into a playoff spot? No crew underwent a higher offseason makeover than Utah HC. They relocated to Salt Lake City from Arizona, are again taking part in in an NHL-size constructing and made three vital offseason acquisitions — Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay, John Marino from New Jersey and Ian Cole as a UFA — to bolster the again finish of a younger however bettering squad. More than the rest, nevertheless, there's a new perspective and degree of pleasure below the possession of Ryan Smith. Instead of simply making an attempt to outlive below flailing possession, taking part in in an undersized faculty area, there’s a collective feeling amongst gamers and employees that they're again within the huge leagues. That growth — plus higher general expertise — ought to present the surroundings for a bump in on-ice efficiency. — Eric Duhatschek

What’s the standing of Thatcher Demko? The Vancouver Canucks gained the one playoff sport Thatcher Demko began final season. The Vezina nominee goaltender, a core piece for this crew, sustained a knee damage late within the 2023-24 common season. He labored his approach again and returned for two common season video games and Game 1 of the postseason, solely to endure one other knee damage late in that fateful postseason contest. By all indications, Demko was near returning earlier than the Canucks have been eradicated by the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the second spherical, however there’s uncertainty round his standing and timeline for coaching camp — and even maybe the beginning of the common season. The membership is hopeful Demko might be again within the blue paint for opening evening and Canucks followers might be too. — Thomas Drance

Who will change the scoring misplaced to free company this summer time? The Golden Knights misplaced 35.7 p.c of the objectives scored final season by way of trades or free company this summer time. The franchise’s all-time purpose chief Jonathan Marchessault makes up the vast majority of that, however they’ll even be seeking to change Chandler Stephenson, William Carrier, Michael Amadio and Paul Cotter up entrance. Vegas introduced in former first-round decide Alexander Holtz, and three-time 20-goal scorer Victor Olofsson to complement the scoring, and hope 2020 first-round decide Brendan Brisson takes a step in his growth. The greatest storyline for Vegas’ camp might be which forwards can seize ahold of huge top-six alternatives. — Jesse Granger

Washington Capitals

What’s the plan for the brand new guys? Over the summer time, the Caps added (amongst others) top-six forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane, top-pair defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goaltender Logan Thompson. That’s nothing to sneeze at for any crew, not to mention one which made the playoffs final season. They have been additionally completely needed strikes, given Washington’s underlying numbers in 2023-24. It’ll be notably fascinating to see whether or not Dubois (a middle) and Mangiapane (a right-winger) play on a line collectively and the way a lot of a glance every will get with Alex Ovechkin. — Sean Gentille

If 110 factors is an excessive amount of to ask for, how a couple of playoff spherical? Training camp does current Winnipeg with vital questions. Can Brad Lambert make the crew? What does Cole Perfetti’s subsequent step appear like? Who performs second-line heart, how does the brand new Jets teaching employees revamp Winnipeg’s particular groups, is that this Nikolaj Ehlers’ final season as a Jet, and what can Gabriel Vilardi accomplish in 12 months two? The solutions are vital and the main points will form Winnipeg’s future. No particular aspect issues greater than the Jets’ playoff aspirations — qualify, win a sport, after which comply with by way of by profitable a spherical for the primary time since there was a North Division. — Murat Ates

(Top photographs of Jacob Trouba and Jeremy Swayman: Derek Cain and Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)