NHL Preview: Pacific Division

The only three good things about fall are as follows: Football, hockey, and basketball all returning. It isn't about pumpkin spice barf or cider mills. It's all about those three things returning that makes fall enjoyable, at least in my opinion. Anyways, the NHL season is around the bend and I have to give a preview out. Let's start off with the Pacific Division, where we had a surprise Western Conference champion!

• Can Vegas Win It All This Time? No doubt was the run of the Vegas Golden Knights last year special. Never has there been an expansion team that had the amount of success that Vegas had in their first season. However, they will be without Nate Schmidt for some time due to a suspension for PEDs, leaving the blue line a bit hampered. Another question is whether players like William Karlsson (43 goals, 35 assists, +49) and Reilly Smith (22 goals, 38 assists, +31) can duplicate their amazing seasons from last year. Adding Max Pacioretty from Montreal will help the team more and bolster the center position even further.
• How Much Better Does Erik Karlsson Make San Jose? On an aging team with a closing window, Erik Karlsson adds more physicality to San Jose's defense. Already featuring Brent Burns and Justin Braun, Karlsson and crew are expected to give Martin Jones an easier time in net.
• Can Edmonton Rebound? Last year, the Oilers were a popular pick to reach the Stanley Cup Final and rightfully so. They had wunderkind Connor McDavid (108 points, 41 goals, 15% shooting) and added Milan Lucic to boost their scoring. It turns out that Lucic underachieved, as did many other Oilers. As a result, the Oilers missed the playoffs and finished near the bottom of the Pacific Division. Players like Lucic and Ryan Strome need to play better and the power play needs to improve this season if Edmonton is to have a chance.
  
• Can Arizona Finally Break Through? The Coyotes got rid of underachieving young talent such as Anthony Duclair and Max Domi, adding Alex Galchenyuk in the process. Arizona is also hoping that Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun will be the young stars that Duclair and Domi weren't in the desert.