The 2020-21 NHL season begins on Wednesday. While you've certainly read a great many team previews, brushed up on on-ice and roster rule changes, gotten angry at our top 100 players ranking, checked out the fantasy hockey draft kit, and perused the best futures bets for this season, there are a few questions remaining.
So, we've gathered a panel to tackle those questions. Specifically:
Consider this your final bit of preparation ahead of opening night.
What is your bold prediction for the 2020-21 NHL season?
Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: Auston Matthews edges out Alex Ovechkin for the goal-scoring crown (and it's decided on the last day of the season). The situation is set up perfectly in Matthews' age-23 season: His team is the overwhelming favorite to win the North Division, and he's coming off a season in which he scored 47 in just 70 games. He also looks like he's going to start on a line with Mitch Marner and Joe Thornton, which overindexes on my watchability rankings and enhances his goal-scoring chances.
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: The Dallas Stars miss the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup Final last summer. The Stars could be without center Tyler Seguin and goalie Ben Bishop until April. Those aren't insurmountable losses given the team's depth at forward and in goal, with playoff star Anton Khudobin and young Jake Oettinger. But Dallas had a rough start last season; another early stumble in a 56-game sprint, with a few teams nipping at the Stars' heels in the reconstituted Central Division, and that could be the margin between making and missing the playoffs. Or, in this case, it will be that margin: Nashville and Columbus take the final two spots in the Central behind Tampa Bay and Carolina.
Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects analyst: Since Emily saved me from my annual prediction that Auston Matthews is going to win a scoring title, I'm going to go back to the rookie race. Perhaps this is not too bold of a prediction, but I believe Igor Shesterkin will be the Rangers' most valuable rookie this year and will win the Calder Trophy. He has enough NHL experience not to be surprised by the competition, and he was excellent during his 12 games last season. I think No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere will have an impact, but Shesterkin will be the player who makes the Rangers more competitive this season.
Arda Ocal, ESPN staff writer: I'll go macro: This will be one of the most fun NHL seasons to watch in a very long time. Of course this assumes that COVID-19 won't become the main storyline of the season (which it certainly can be), but that aside, looking purely at the game play and the structure of the season, this is going to be a blast. Old rivalries will be kicked into hyperdrive, new rivalries will emerge, and who knows what will happen going into the final four of the Stanley Cup Final. Sign. Me. Up!
Sachin Chandan, fantasy hockey editor: The Pittsburgh Penguins miss the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Someone is going to get burned by the new division, and the Penguins are sitting there with the last year's Presidents' Trophy winner in the Bruins, last year's No. 1 seed in the Flyers, last year's conference finalist in the Islanders and a hated rival in the Capitals. With the Rangers and Sabres likely improved this season, those clubs will siphon away some points from the Pens. Pittsburgh's results depend on Tristan Jarry living up to the expectations of his role as full-time starter, as well as that its aging core remaining healthy.
Ben Arledge, NHL editor: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones will score 15-plus goals, average 26 minutes per game and win his first Norris Trophy. Injuries haven't been kind to Jones, who fractured his ankle last season. But he's two seasons removed from averaging 25:49 per game and three seasons removed from a 16-goal campaign. I think this is the season he, at 26 years old, makes that final step into the elite tier and takes home the league's award for best defenseman.
Of the seven teams that missed the 2020 NHL postseason, which one has the best chance of making the 16-team 2021 playoffs?
Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: The Sabres are the obvious answer. Call me crazy, but I think the Ottawa Senators actually have a shot in the Canadian Division. That team competes hard for D.J. Smith, and there's a lot of talent level on the roster, it's just raw. I also like what GM Pierre Dorion did with bringing in a pair of veterans -- Evgenii Dadonov and Derek Stepan -- to play with the young guys like Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Tim Stuetzle in the top six. If Matt Murray reverts to the 2016-17 version of Matt Murray, Ottawa could surprise.
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: The Sabres are going to be a sexy pick, and I'd be down for that choice were it not for the six teams that are demonstrably deeper than Buffalo in the East. Instead, I'll head to the West, with an eye on the San Jose Sharks. Their undoing last season was injuries, from the nagging ones to star defenseman Erik Karlsson to the ones that decimated their forward group. A healthy Karlsson, a better Brent Burns and more production from their forwards could have the Sharks swimming around the bubble again. That said, no one should have faith in their goaltending, which might have actually gotten worse since last season. And it was pretty, pretty bad last season.
Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects analyst: I'll go with the San Jose Sharks. New additions to the West like St. Louis and Colorado strengthen the former Pacific, but outside of the Golden Knights, there aren't a lot of sure things to make the postseason. The Kings are still rebuilding, the Ducks are kind of in the same spot and the Coyotes don't look as formidable as they did last season. This might be more a commentary on the bottom half of the division than it is on the Sharks. I think the veteran group they have -- particularly Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson -- have the ability to get this team over the hump and sneak into the playoffs. The big wild card is whether Devan Dubnyk offers a significant enough upgrade or stabilization to a goaltending position that was not nearly good enough a season ago.
Arda Ocal, ESPN staff writer: This definitely feels like a process of elimination-type question. The Red Wings, Devils, Kings and Ducks are all in rebuild mode, and it feels like they will be on the outside looking in. That leaves the Sharks, Senators and Sabres. All of them could really be a pick, but the Sabres will be the ones to grab headlines because of Taylor Hall. If Hall can find some of that 2017-18 Hart Trophy-winning magic, where he literally carried the Devils on his back and willed them to the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12, the Sabres instantly become the strongest pick on paper.
Sachin Chandan, fantasy hockey editor: Somebody needs to win that fourth seed in the West, and the Anaheim Ducks could steal it if the pieces come together. This is a flawed roster, but goalie John Gibson is capable of superhuman stretches if he can get some help from the defense in front of him. Rickard Rakell and Adam Henrique have been efficient scorers on a per-shot basis, and the team adds defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and world juniors standout Trevor Zegras. The Ducks will need a Vezina Trophy-level performance from Gibson and just enough improvement from the rest of the squad to drag it to the fourth spot.
Ben Arledge, NHL editor: Yeah, as many suggested, the Sabres are the obvious answer here. I'm looking for a big season from Rasmus Dahlin, and a bounce-back from newly signed Taylor Hall on Jack Eichel's wing. In the new East Division, Buffalo won't have to navigate the stacked Tampa Bay and Toronto rosters, either.
Name one player who will be dealt by the trade deadline.
Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: First prediction: We're going to see fewer trades this season, thanks to travel and quarantine restrictions. That's already a buzz in the league. That said, there's something definitely true to the Patrik Laine rumblings. The Winnipeg Jets would be willing to deal the winger for the right price -- especially if they can get a center in return.
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: Taylor Hall. Look, it would absolutely warm my hockey heart to see the Sabres thrive with Hall playing on Jack Eichel's wing, to the point where they're in a playoff race when the trade deadline arrives. But there's a better chance that they aren't, and there will be a market for Hall as a final puzzle piece for Cup contenders. Even at a prorated discount, his $8.5 million cap hit will be tough to move. He also controls his fate with a full no-movement clause. But if the Sabres are out of it and Hall has decided he's not coming back to Buffalo, away he goes to his fourth team in two seasons.
Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects analyst: Put me down for Patrik Laine as well. I don't want to predict where he'll go, but one destination that I think could be particularly intriguing is Carolina. The Hurricanes have some pieces they could ship off, and I personally would love to see Sebastian Aho and Laine reunite from one of the best lines in World Junior Championship history. If the Jets can make it work, they should pursue Martin Necas and Jake Bean as potential options for part of the return.
Arda Ocal, ESPN staff writer: If the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a situation where they are either out of the playoff race entirely (which seems highly unlikely on paper with this roster), or they are battling and goaltending is a concern, I could definitely see a change between the pipes. Back in August, Frederik Andersen was one of the Leafs players who were being floated around in the trade market, but in October, Leafs Gm Kyle Dubas said Andersen will start the season as a Leaf. That doesn't guarantee he will end the season as a Leaf (even if a logical play is to ride a hot Jack Campbell with Andersen as backup). One thing is certain: The pressure is high for Toronto to make a long playoff run now, with the roster it has, and goaltending has been a concern. Andersen is also in a contract year. It will be very interesting to see where this all goes.
Sachin Chandan, fantasy hockey editor: Out in the desert, the Coyotes have a few players entering contract years, and if the team is out of contention, it could look to move backup goalie Antti Raanta to a team unsure of its goalie situation. Durability is usually the concern with Raanta, but he's shown flashes of brilliance when he's stepped up, sporting a .930 save percentage in 2018-19 and .921 in 2019-20.
Ben Arledge, NHL editor: Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski will be a free agent after the season and has a modified no-trade clause that gives Arizona some room with which to work on a potential move. The 35-year-old still puts up good minutes and can play on the power play or penalty kill. It'd be an opportunity for a Cup contender to land capable blue-line help, and for the Coyotes -- who might have a tougher go at the playoffs now that Colorado and St. Louis join their division -- to recoup some draft capital that was lost after combine testing violations.
Who is a surefire breakout player for 2020-21?
Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: Kirill Kaprizov, the rookie winger for the Minnesota Wild. When I went to Moscow last year for the KHL All-Star Game, I asked around about who would be the next big Russian star to make it in the NHL. To a tee, nearly everyone picked Kaprizov.
"I think everyone sees it, it's kind of a no-brainer," former NHL winger Nigel Dawes said. "He's a great player, he's done a lot already in his young career. I'm sure he'll face some challenges going over to North America, but the way he plays the game and the type of guy he is, and his character, I think he'll have a lot of success in the NHL."
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: Igor Shesterkin is the real deal, and nearly had me elevating the Rangers to a playoff spot this season. He went 10-2-0 in 12 games with a .932 save percentage. The Rangers were comfortable enough to bid adieu to Henrik Lundqvist knowing what they had in the 25-year-old Russian. He won't disappoint.
Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects analyst: Nick Suzuki, the young center for the Montreal Canadiens. He had a great rookie season with 41 points, and looked even better during the playoffs, when he had seven points in 10 games. However, I think the rest of the league will be better introduced to Suzuki as he plays a big role for the Habs in the all-Canadian division. Suzuki is so committed to his play on and off the puck that he's going to find a way to make an impact in a lot more games now that he has a season of experience under his belt and added some physical strength.
Arda Ocal, ESPN staff writer: Both of my picks come from the Rangers. The obvious one is Alexis Lafreniere; if his potential is realized in the NHL, he is a Calder Trophy candidate, a bright star in the Big Apple and for the NHL at large. Having Lafreniere, Mathew Barzal, Kaapo Kakko, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier within miles of one another is fun for New York hockey fans. I'll echo Greg's comments on Shesterkin, who is the real deal and will finally get a chance to truly break out for an entire season. With the Lundqvist era over in New York, it's Igor's time to shine.
Sachin Chandan, fantasy hockey editor: Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk of the Boston Bruins has hopefully bought extra socks, because he will have to fill some huge shoes after the B's lost Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara in free agency. Grzelcyk has drawn strong reviews in training camp alongside Brandon Carlo on the second pair, and is no stranger to the Bruins' perennially elite power play. Grzelcyk has raised his shots and points per game each of his three seasons, and should see a significant bump in minutes -- along with career highs across the board.
Ben Arledge, NHL editor: New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin is going to have a huge rookie season. Here are his last four seasons in the KHL:
2019-20: .935 save percentage, 1.50 goals-against average (.966 and 0.73 in the playoffs)
2018-19: .940 save percentage, 1.16 goals-against average (.947 and 1.19 in the playoffs)
2017-18: .931 save percentage, 1.59 goals-against average (.930 and 1.52 in the playoffs)
2016-17: .929 save percentage, 1.61 goals-against average (.916 and 2.03 in the playoffs)
That is consistent dominance at a high level. And now he gets to work with goalie guru Mitch Korn with the Isles. Yes, Semyon Varlamov is the guy, but don't be surprised if Sorokin gets hot and makes this a true even time-share -- or becomes the preferred option. Additionally, 2019 top picks Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko should start to produce offensively this season with the Devils and Rangers, respectively, in a bigger way.