Five NHL teams that could surprise the league this season

Before every NHL season starts, many people believe that the same playoff teams as the year prior will likely be in the race again. With this being said, there is also a plethora of surprise teams each year that change everything. Take the Montreal Canadiens last season for example. There have been a bunch of big moves this offseason, and here are five teams that could do some surprising things this season.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings already have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, their future looks bright as can be. Their short-term window also improved a lot this offseason. Acquiring Victor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault could vault them up the standings, especially being in a weak Pacific division. Anze Kopitar is still an elite center in this league, and Danault can anchor the second line with rookie Quinton Byfield potentially grabbing the third line spot.

New York Rangers

The Rangers have high end talent at every point in their roster. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanajed can take over any game and on defense they have the reigning Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox, along with Igor Shesterkin in net. When everything comes together in New York, other teams will need to watch out.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers went out and acquired two big name defensemen in Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis, along with picking up Cam Atkinson from the Blue Jackets. If these additions can fit in nicely, and Carter Hart has a bounce back season, it would not be surprising for the Flyers to make a deep playoff run.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks made the most gutsy move of the offseason in trading for Seth Jones and signing him to a huge contract, but if he fits in well this could change people's outlook on the trade. Captain Jonathan Toews is expected to return along with obtaining Jake McCabe, Tyler Johnson, and Marc-Andre Fleury making the Hawks a potential contender this year.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils have a goaltending tandem in Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier that could lead them to contention. They also signed the biggest UFA on the market in Dougie Hamilton, along with adding Tomas Tatar and Ryan Graves to a lineup that has some good young talent in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Yegor Sharangovich.

sports.yahoo.com

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