NHL Training Camp Preview: Burning Questions for All 32 Teams
Every NHL training camp brings with it a burning question that captures the attention of fans and analysts alike. This year, two of the most talked about storylines revolves around Jonathan Tove’s much anticipated return to the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets and the contract situations of Kuril Capriovv and Connor McDavid which could significantly influence the futures of the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers. The Athletic recently gathered insights from its staff, asking them to pinpoint the most pressing question each NHL team faces as training camps approach. With preseason games just a week away, here’s a detailed look at the key storylines to watch. Anaheim Ducks. Will Mason McTavish be present at training camp? This question hangs heavily over the Ducks as Joel Quenville makes his return to NHL head coaching. McTavish, just 22, stands out as one of the most prominent unsigned restricted free agents, second only to New Jersey’s Luke Hughes. Last year, GN Pat Verbique faced tough negotiations with Trevor Ziggress and Jaime Dell, both of whom have since left the team. The big question, can Verbique avoid a similar contract stalemate with McTavish? This situation could have major implications for the Ducks roster stability and development. Boston Bruins. How will the Bruins generate offense this season? While David Pastnac and Morgan Geeki formed a promising goalcoring duo, the Bruins may struggle beyond that pair. Players like Casey Middlestat, Pavl Zaka, and Victor Arvittson might not be reliable top six scorers. and offseason additions. Tanner Janeo, Sha Carali, and Mikey Isament are more suited to bottom six roles focused on physicality rather than scoring. This raises concerns about the Bruins depth in goal production. Buffalo Sabres. Can the Sabres improve their defensive play? Last season, goalending and team defense were significant weaknesses. GM Kevin Adams prioritized shoring up the blue line by adding Michael Kessler and Connor Timonss along with defensively responsible forwards Josh Durn and Justin Danforth. The big question is whether these moves will help the Sabres play a more structured disciplined game under coach Lindy Ruff in his second year back. Kelky slames where will Rasmus Anderson end up? It’s widely expected that Anderson will be traded, but the timing and destination remain uncertain. Pierre Lebrun has reported that the Vegas Golden Knights are the only team Anderson wants to sign with long-term, but could other suitors emerge. Beyond this, the Flames face questions about whether their young players can develop further and whether the team will commit to a rebuild or a retool. Still, the Anderson trade is the most significant domino yet to fall. Carolina Hurricanes. How will the Hurricanes configure their defense pairs? With the addition of Keandre Miller, the arrival of Alexander Nikishan, and the departures of veterans Brent Burns and Dmitri Orlov, Carolina’s defense is undergoing major changes for the second consecutive season. Since they have four left-handed defensemen, one will have to play on the off side. This could be Jacob Slavven possibly paired with Miller on the top line or Shane Gostas Beer on the third pairing. How these decisions unfold will influence the entire defensive structure. Chicago Blackhawks. What influence will new head coach Jeff Blash have on Chicago’s young roster? Blash is the first Blackhawks coach with prior NHL head coaching experience since Joel Quenville’s departure in 2018. Since then, the team has cycled through coaches with no NHL head coaching background. While it’s debatable whether experienced coaches would have changed the team’s fortunes, GM Kyle Davidson is betting on Blash to elevate this promising young group and help the franchise progress through its rebuild. Colorado Avalanche. Can Jack Drury become the third line center the Avalanche have been seeking? Colorado’s top six forwards are among the league’s best, but the team’s success hinges on improvement from the bottom six. Drury entering his third full NHL season carries high expectations to fill this role. Ross Coloulton is another player to watch for this position. Is the bottom six steps up? The Avalanche could be serious Stanley Cup contenders. Columbus Blue Jackets who will claim the starting goalie spot. Elvis Mlekins currently holds the position but has struggled over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Jack Greavves impressed late last season, nearly leading the Blue Jackets into the playoffs with a strong finish. Greavves has earned a full-time NHL role this year, but the number one job remains open and will be decided during training camp. Dallas stars what lies ahead for Jason Robertson. Robertson enters the final year of his contract and is set for a significant raise from his current $7.75 million cap hit. While it’s unlikely the Stars would trade such a valuable young player, contract negotiations could happen at any time. With Miko Rantin already signed and Thomas Harley’s deal expiring next summer, plus the team’s ongoing playoff scoring struggles, Robertson could become a key in any potential roster shakeup. Detroit Red Wings. Will the defense hold up? The Red Wings added veteran Travis Hmonic and young defenseman Jacob Bernard Docker to bolster their blue line. However, it’s uncertain if these additions will improve a unit that desperately needed help. If not, Detroit will rely on the development of young defenders Simon Edmonson and Albert Johansson, who showed promise in the latter half of last season as the team aims to end a 9-year playoff drought. Edmonton Oilers. How will Conor McDavid’s contract situation impact the team? McDavid recently emphasized that his contract year shouldn’t distract his teammates. However, the Oilers have struggled with slow starts in recent seasons. If early season performance falters, McDavid’s future could become an even bigger talking point, adding pressure to the team. Florida Panthers. Can the Panthers make history with a three pete? Running back nearly the same elite roster that won back-to- back Stanley Cups, the Panthers face few roster questions. Matthew Teach’s absence for the first half of the season opens a top six spot for players like Macki Samoskovic and new backup goalie Denil Terasov has much to prove. While the regular season may feel like an extended warm-up for this team, they remain the favorites to win it all. Though some wonder if fatigue will eventually catch up with them. Los Angeles Kings. Are the Kings truly improving? After four consecutive firstround playoff exits to the same opponent, there’s a sense the team is stuck in place. Their latest loss to the Oilers was especially painful given they had home ice advantage and a two nothing series lead. New GM Ken Holland’s roster moves have not been universally praised. The Kings have a solid roster but lack a superstar in his prime to lead them with Anj Kopitar likely in his final season. The question remains how will this year be different? Minnesota Wild. Will Kibl Capriov sign a contract extension? Capri off reportedly declined an 8-year $128 million offer from the Wild, sparking speculation about whether he wants out or prefers a shorter deal. Currently, there’s no sign he’s interested in a shorter contract. This leaves the Wild in a difficult position. Losing their franchise’s only superstar would be devastating, especially if it happens without compensation. GM Bill Garin faces a tough choice. continue negotiations or consider trading Capri off. This issue is an unwelcome distraction heading into the season. Montreal Canadians can Kirby Dak fill the team’s biggest need. The Canadians did not address their need for a number two center in the offseason, leading Dak as the leading candidate. Coming off two knee surgeries and entering the final year of his contract, this season is crucial for Dak’s future with the team. He has the talent, but must stay healthy and maximize his potential to be a long-term solution. Nashville Predators. Will the Predators face another disappointing season? After high hopes last year, skepticism has set in following the franchise’s most disappointing season ever. The team is returning largely intact with Andrew Brunette back as coach. He faces the challenge of working magic with an aging roster that appears to be fading. New Jersey Devils. When will Luke Hughes sign and what will the terms be? Hughes remains an unsigned restricted free agent. And while a deal is expected, questions remain about whether he will miss any camp time. The length and value of his contract will also impact the Devil’s salary cap moving forward. New York Islanders. How will the Islanders respond to their new retooling strategy? GM mate. The team hopes he can bring stability after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2021. One of his biggest challenges will be shoring up a defense that was porous throughout the previous campaign. Ottawa Senators, how much progress can the Senators core make with minimal roster changes? The onus is on Brady Takuk and his teammates to prove last season’s success wasn’t a fluke. Takuk feels better than ever entering the season. Restricted free agent Shane Pinto is in a contract year. Tim Stutzle is nearing superstardom and Jake Sanderson has gained recognition. GM Steve Styios is doubling down on this core, expecting them to maximize their potential. Philadelphia Flyers. Can Trevor Ziggress rediscover his form as a center? After two seasons primarily playing wing, Ziggress wants to return to center. the position the Flyers hoped he could fill when they acquired him. If he can regain his early career offensive success while maintaining defensive responsibilities, he could be a valuable asset for new coach Rick Tet. Pittsburgh Penguins. Who will be the starting goalie? The Penguins face several questions with goalending near the top. Tristan Jarry, Arturus Silovs, Joel Blonquist, and Sergey Morishoff are all contenders. Jari and Silovs are the favorites to start, while Morishoff, a highly touted prospect, is likely a year away from NHL readiness. Blumquist is a dark horse. Expect a competition for playing time early in the season. San Jose Sharks, will Michael Misa or Sam Dickinson make the roster? Both were standout players in Canadian junior hockey last season and are key parts of the Sharks young core. Misa could be the future second line center while Dickinson aims to break into the revamped blue line. Many eyes will be on these two as the Sharks continue their rebuild. Seattle Kraken. What if the Kraken finish in the middle of the pack or worse again? Despite front office changes, the Kraken have maintained their direction. They added veterans Mason Marchment and Ryan Lindren. Both solid role players, but not game changers. Goalending remains a concern with Philip Grubau returning after a difficult season and no depth added. Without an elite gamebreaker, the team’s path forward is unclear, raising questions about their long-term strategy. St. Louis Blues, can Pavl Buknavic return to his offensive peak? Bnavic begins a new six-year, $48 million contract this season. At his best, he’s worth every penny, but his production dipped last season, partly due to a position change to center. Now back on the wing under coach Jim Montgomery, the Blues hope book can regain his status as a top offensive threat. Tampa Bay Lightning. Can the Lightning on last year’s achievements? Although their season ended in a disappointing firstround exit, the core group proved it can still compete. With depth editions and a full season from Yanni Dord and Oliver Bjorkstrand, the Lightning aimed to improve their supporting cast and make a deeper playoff run. Toronto Maple Leafs is Austin Matthews fully healthy and who will be his right-winger? Matthews health is the most critical subplot for the Leafs. A healthy Matthews at his best transforms the team. Training camp will offer early clues. Additionally, the team will begin evaluating candidates to fill the right-wing spot left vacant by Mitch Ma with players like Max Dhoni and Matias Machelli likely contenders. Utah Mammoth who will secure the backup goalie position. Carol Velka solidified himself as Utah’s number one goalie last season, but the backup spot is highly contested. Connor Ingram showed promise but regressed last year and was in the NHL NHLPA assistance program leading Utah to sign VTEC Vanichek. Ingram’s recent clearance from the program sets up an intriguing competition between him and Vanichek. Vancouver Conucks will Elias Pettison bounce back. The Canucks face many uncertainties including the health of goalie Thatcher Demco and the future of defenseman Quinn Hughes as well as adjustments under a firstear head coach. Ultimately the team’s success depends on scoring enough goals to complement solid goalending and defense. Pettison once a dominant topline center has struggled since slightly a massive 8-year cont Washington Capitals. Will Conor Mcichael remain at third center? The Capitals biggest offseason question was how to fill the gap behind Dylan Stro and Pierre Luke Dubois. Mcichael, who broke out last season as a winger with 26 goals, is the leading candidate to move to center. While this is a natural fit and an upgrade over the departed Lars Ella, it raises the question of who will fill Mcichel’s previous role. Prospects like Ryan Leonard, Ivan Mirageenko, and Andrew Crystal are in the mix. Winnipeg Jets. Can Jonathan Taves make a meaningful impact for his hometown team? Taves’s NHL comeback is one of the most compelling stories in hockey. The 37year-old center hasn’t played since April 13th, 2023 when he scored in a Blackps overtime loss. Now with the Jets, he aims to prove he can still perform at a high level. His contract includes bonuses tied to games played, so health is the main question, even if he plays all 82 games. The range of his potential impact is vast. As an NHL legend, can Taves still be a difference maker in 202526? But here’s where it gets controversial. With so many teams facing pivotal questions, which franchises are truly poised for success and which are merely treading water? Are contract holdouts like Capriovves a sign of deeper organizational issues or just part of the modern NHL landscape? And what about veterans like Taves? Can they still influence a fast-paced league? Or are they relics of a bygone era? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with these assessments or do you see things differently?
The NHL training camp is just around the corner, and each team has its own set of questions to answer.
From the Anaheim Ducks to the Winnipeg Jets, we’ve got you covered with the most pressing issues facing every team.
Will Jonathan Toews make a successful return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets?
How will Kirill Kaprizov’s contract situation impact the Minnesota Wild?
Find out the answers to these questions and more as we dive into the biggest storylines heading into training camp.
