A reason for optimism for all 32 teams

For the last time until April, we will be conducting a power ranking that does not include team records.

The puck drops for real in the Czech Republic today, and by this time next week every NHL team will have played its first game of the 2024-25 regular season after the Buffalo Sabers and New Jersey Devils break the ice in Europe.

The time has come, my friends.

To help everyone prepare for the regular season, we're removing any negativity and highlighting at least one reason for optimism in all 32 NHL Citizens. It doesn't matter if your ambitions are focused on winning the championship, making the playoffs, or having the lottery balls come your way; This time of year, everyone is entitled to some hockey hope.

So, without further delay, here's a warm thought to every roster in the NHL.

1. Edmonton Oilers Technically, this is the first full year under coach Kris Knoblauch and he had a .703 points percentage after taking over the Edmonton bench in November 2023. Things are never as easy as they seem, but the Oilers could rise to the top in the Pacific.

2. Dallas Stars This team has made it to the final four each of the last two springs and – from really young players like Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven and Thomas Harley to quality players like Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson – it still feels like it so much room to grow.

3. New York Rangers Grade 5 Alexis Lafreniere.

4. Florida Panthers If anyone can motivate a team that has reached two finals in a row, it is Paul Maurice.

5. New Jersey Devils Even though Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen are one of the top 12 duos in the league, the potential of this team is outstanding.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews has scored 169 goals since the start of the 2021-22 season, 21 more than anyone else in the league.

7. Colorado Avalanche If – at some point – both Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog can return to the Avs this season, Colorado could look as good as it has since winning the title two years ago.

8. Vegas Golden Knights Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin are playing full seasons in the desert and Shea Theodore – after playing 47 games last season and 55 the year before – is primed for a healthy rebound.

9. Carolina Hurricanes Pyotr Kochetkov will be a true No. 1 this season and will help offset the loss of Bret Pesce and Brady Skjei.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning The more you think about it, the more it feels like the Bolts need a jolt, and – as difficult as it is to see Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev go – you wonder if a youngster (Jake Guentzel, JJ Moser) isn't exactly what's needed to squeeze the last few drops out of this modern dynasty.

11. Boston Bruins You have to have faith in the Bruins' winning infrastructure, which is strong enough to handle the absence of Jeremy Swayman. At least for a while.

12. Vancouver Canucks Despite everything they've already been through, Elias Pettersson will be just 25 on opening night, while captain Quinn Hughes – who is coming off a Norris Trophy season – is just 24.

13. Nashville Predators Just knowing how uncompromising the hockey operations department led by Barry Despite is must excite Preds fans.

14. Washington Capitals The defensive corps looks much healthier with Jakob Chychrun taking a spot on the left side of the top four and Matt Roy doing the same on the starboard side.

15. Winnipeg Jets Two scorers – Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi – missed significant time last season. Let's give both of them healthy years and hope they score 75 points together.

16. Detroit Red Wings Ultimately, the Red Wings took care of business and brought back both Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider in time for the start of the season. Now Motor City fans can focus on following the rise of defender Simon Edvinsson.

17. Ottawa Senators Perhaps the two things that can cause a hockey fan to feel completely hopeless are poor possession and poor goaltending. The Sens now have strong ownership and good goaltending skills.

18. New York Islanders Noah Dobson opted out last season and the talented – and tall – 24-year-old may still need to find another gear.

19. Los Angeles Kings Since Drew Doughty entered the league 15 years ago, the Kings have had an important right-shot D-man on the roster. Come February it will be easy to believe that young right-back Brandt Clarke can look after the next 15.

20. Buffalo saber Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could feel the Vezina chase this season.

21. St Louis Blues Newcomers Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway will shine in larger roles.

22. Philadelphia Flyers Matvei Michkov has more skill than any other rookie coming into the league, and apparently that's what coach John Tortorella is for, “Michigans” and all.

23. Utah Hockey Club Clayton Keller's first year as captain will coincide with his first 40-goal, 90-point season.

24. Minnesota Wild When Matt Boldy gets in the lineup, he will reach a new level.

25. Seattle Kraken A new coach with a Cup (Dan Bylsma), a new top 4 D-man who just won the Cup (Brandon Montour) and a new top 6 forward who won the 2023 title (Chandler Stephenson) . That's a lot of successful pedigree landings in Seattle.

26. Montreal Canadiens Was there a single list of breakout candidates before the season that didn't include 20-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky?

27. Anaheim Ducks Choose a young man's name from the hat, from sophomores Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov to freshman Cutter Gauthier to goalkeeper Lukas Dostal (24 years old) and forwards Mason McTavish (21) and, yes, Trevor Zegras (23).

28.Chicago Blackhawks Watching Connor Bedard's second season would be enough, but with all the experienced summer additions, Chicago can absolutely be a competitive team on a nightly basis.

29. Pittsburgh Penguins When 87 skates on the ice, hope automatically overwhelms his body.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets Adam Fantilli seems ready for that.

31. Calgary Flames Who knows, by December it could be abundantly clear that Dustin Wolf is the goalkeeper of the future.

32. San Jose Sharks Whatever the results this year, watching Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith take their first steps in the NHL should be more than enough to get Sharks fans excited.