Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Departures: Teddy Purcell, Nate Thompson, Mike Kostka, B.J. Crombeen, Anders Lindback, Keith Aulie
Arrivals: Brenden Morrow, Brian Boyle, Jerome Samson, Mike Blunden, Jason Garrison, Anton Stralman, Evgeni Nabakov
The Atlantic Division will have a new king this season. In his first full season as captain of the Lightning, Steven Stamkos will lead Tampa Bay to a Division Title. Really? Who’s going to stop them?
The Lightning made the playoffs last season with Stamkos on the shelf for most of it. Now, barring any other freak injuries, he should be back for a full season. They added depth to the bottom-six with Morrow and Boyle.
The defense should be much better with the additions of Garrison and Stralman. Add to that a healthy Ben Bishop with a veteran backup in Nabokov and the Lightning look like a powerhouse.
Oh and did I mention they will also have sure-to-be Calder Trophy candidate Jonathan Drouin as well? Yeah, this will be a tough team to beat.