Quest for the Cup

With the regular season set to face off Wednesday, it's time to take a look at each team in the league, broken down by division, and make some bold predictions on who will come out on top.

(* denotes wild-card team)

Western ConferenceCentral Division

1. Dallas - This team is loaded with its offense led by Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza. Adding Dan Hamhuis will bolster blue line, and Stars will repeat as division champs.

2. Nashville - Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban are the two biggest names on coach Peter Laviolette's super-talented squad. Team could go all the way if Pekka Rinne plays the way he's supposed to play.

3. BLACKHAWKS - They're deeper and stronger on the back end, but also can't afford a serious injury to any big-name forward. That lack of depth may hurt in regular season, but a healthy Toews, Kane and Co. will be team to beat in postseason.

* 4. St. Louis - Troy Brouwer and David Backes are gone, potentially creating a serious leadership void on coach Ken Hitchcock's team. Still, Vladimir Tarsenko is a stud, D-man Colton Parayko and forward Robbi Fabbri are up-and-coming stars, and Jake Allen has proven himself a more-than-capable goalie.

5. Minnesota - This aging group seems ripe for a fall, and bringing Bruce Boudreau aboard to lead the way won't be enough.

6. Winnipeg - Forwards Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, and D-man Dustin Byfuglien are the big names but there's not enough here for a playoff run.

7. Colorado - There's some talent up front, but D corps is weak and loss of coach Patrick Roy in August will be too much to overcome.

Pacific Division

1. San Jose - Addition of Mikkel Boedker, a potential 20-goal scorer, bolsters an already solid offense.

2. L.A. Kings - Slow, aging team is falling behind the times, but they have enough to make one more run.

3. Anaheim - Loss of coach Bruce Boudreau will hurt in regular season, but Ducks remain loaded and should be a force come playoff time.

* 4. Edmonton - Gutsy call here, but I think Connor McDavid leads Oilers to the playoffs.

5. Calgary - Troy Brouwer and goalie Brian Elliott will help stabilize squad that allowed NHL-high 260 goals last season.

6. Arizona - With talent like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Max Domi and new addition Alex Goligoski, don't be surprised if Coyotes surprise with 85-plus points.

7. Vancouver - Sedin brothers should get a chance to play with Loui Eriksson, but that's about all Canucks fans can look forward to.

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington - Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby just two big names on a team loaded from top to bottom.

2. Pittsburgh - Sidney Crosby (85 points last year) and Co. trying to become first repeat champs since 1998 Red Wings.

3. N.Y. Rangers - New York won the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes this summer and also added Brandon Pirri. There's enough here with Henrik Lundqvist in net to flirt with another 100-point season.

4. N.Y. Islanders - Aging team is headed in the wrong direction.

5. Philadelphia - Team led by Claude Giroux (75 goals last three), Wayne Simmons (89 goals last three) and up-and-comer Shayne Gostisbehere surprised with playoff berth last year, but repeat may be tough.

6. Columbus - Brandon Saad's Blue Jackets should climb out of basement but not enough here yet.

7. Carolina - This is Blackhawks East with Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell and Viktor Stalberg in tow.

8. New Jersey - Addition of Taylor Hall nice. Devils could surprise in division that is uncertain after Capitals and Penguins.

Atlantic Division

1. Montreal - Carey Price is healthy, plus Canadiens added Andrew Shaw and traded for Shea Weber. This is the team to beat in the East.

2. Tampa Bay - With Steven Stamkos deciding to stay for the long haul and the Jonathan Drouin saga over, Lightning remain a force.

3. Boston - David Backes comes over from St. Louis, but Bruins also lost Loui Eriksson. Bruins just missed playoffs last season but should bounce back.

* 4. Florida - Signing of D-man Keith Yandle to 7-year deal was highlight of busy off-season. Jaromir Jagr, 44, back for yet another season.

* 5. Detroit - Frans Nielsen (6-year deal) comes over from Isles, and Thomas Vanek arrives from Minnesota. Team still very solid defensively and will slip into second wild-card spot.

6. Buffalo - Sabres should move up behind Jack Eichel (24 goals as a rookie) and Kyle Okposo (avg. 22 goals last three).

7. Ottawa - There's some talent here, with Erik Karlsson (82 points) leading the way, but Sens don't have enough.

8. Toronto - Two things to watch: Progression of top overall pick Auston Matthews and how goalie Frederik Andersen (formerly with Ducks) fares facing a firing squad of pucks from opponents on a nightly basis.