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1. ANAHEIM DUCKS
2013-14: 54-20-8, 1st (116 pts.)
Tops in the NHL with 263 goals, this Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf-led juggernaut responded to being dispatched by their Los Angeles rivals in the playoffs by acquiring Ryan Kesler.
2. ST. LOUIS BLUES
2013-14: 52-23-7, 3rd (111 pts.)
Top-nine forwards (including David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, Alex Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko) and top four D (including Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester and Kevin Shattenkirk) is daunting.
3. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
2013-14: 46-21-15, 5th (107 pts.)
Some have predicted a step back. Why? Their entire core, led by Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith, returns; Brandon Saad's on the rise; and they sneaked in under the salary cap.
4. LOS ANGELES KINGS
2013-14: 46-28-8, 6th (100 pts.)
2012 and 2014 Cup champs are big, fast, stacked and have Jonathan Quick in net. It'll be interesting to see how bored they get in the regular season, but they're built for playoff success.
5. SAN JOSE SHARKS
2013-14: 51-22-9, 4th (111 pts.)
Gone is aged Dan Boyle, and San Jose might not depend so much on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau with a new guard of Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl. But still scary, especially at home.
6. MINNESOTA WILD
2013-14: 43-27-12, 7th (98 pts.)
Great veteran core led by Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu and Jason Pominville, but potential rests on the shoulders of Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter and the other kids.
7. COLORADO AVALANCHE
2013-14: 52-22-8, 2nd (112 pts.)
Up front, terrifying with Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly. But coach Patrick Roy's luster should wear off, as should goalie Semyon Varlamov's brilliance behind that erratic defense.
8. DALLAS STARS
2013-14: 40-31-11, 8th (91 pts.)
Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn will be a dynamic duo, and Jason Spezza certainly will help. But they might have to win 6-5 every night with their questionable blue line.
9. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
2013-14: 38-32-12, 10th (88 pts.)
With Pekka Rinne, maybe the best goalie in the Central Division, healthy and a blue line of Shea Weber, Seth Jones and Roman Josi, the Peter Laviolette factor should lead to a significant rise.
10. ARIZONA COYOTES
2013-14: 37-30-15, 9th (89 pts.)
Dave Tippett-coached teams always overachieve, so they'll be there in the end thanks to the addition of Sam Gagner and star blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
11. WINNIPEG JETS
2013-14: 37-35-10, 11th (84 pts.)
Four years after relocating from Atlanta, the Jets found themselves in a loaded division (9-15-5 against the Central last year). Deep up front, but must get better goaltending.
12. CALGARY FLAMES
2013-14: 35-40-7, 13th (77 pts.)
Completely rebuilt through hard work and Brian Burke's "truculence," look for an exciting rise behind youngsters Sean Monohan, Johnny Gaudreau and Sven Baertschi.
13. EDMONTON OILERS
2013-14: 29-44-9, 14th (67 pts.)
It's the same thing every year. Loads of potential with Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Justin Schultz, yet ends season near the bottom.
14. VANCOUVER CANUCKS
2013-14: 36-35-11, 12th (83 pts.)
Turbulent coach John Tortorella's departure can only help, but this is an underwhelming roster led by the aging Sedin twins. Vancouver is in rebuild mode with a punchless attack.