From the Press Box: Pacific Division Booms & Busts

We are now a week away from the beginning of another NHL season. Today, I finish up the Boom & Bust series. We have gone through each division in an attempt to point out players who will better their point totals and those who will regress. Additionally, I will give a brief team capsule and a predicted order of finish in the regular season. Last up: the Pacific Division.

Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks can take solace in knowing that they have been eliminated from the last two playoff runs by the eventual Stanley Cup champs. They expect to be in the conversation again this season, after tinkering around the edges of a very solid roster. In fact, they feel like they are one of a very few teams that can ice three credible scoring lines.

Patrick Maroon – He emerged as the winner among the candidates to play regularly beside team leaders Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry after beating out competitors at various times last season. His combination of size and skill is more of what this line is all about; perhaps the biggest and most talented forward line in the NHL. Maroon should establish career0highs as he gets this assignment from the beginning this season. BOOM

Chris Stewart – He was a nice addition in the offseason by signing a one-year contract. He needs to rediscover the form that saw him reach the 28-goal mark five years ago, but he has rarely played top-six minutes since then. Don't overpay to get him because he will not beat out Perry and Jakob Silfverberg on the starboard side of the top two lines. BUST

Carl Hagelin – This speedster was acquired in a trade with the Rangers, where his role varied from a first to third line player. His quickness will be a nice complement to the second line alongside fellow Swede Silfverberg, a natural goal scorer, and Ryan Kesler, a rugged playmaker. He will open up the ice and looks like a cinch to crack the 20-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career. BOOM

Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes may still be plagued by a host of relocation rumors off the ice, but they are accumulating a number of high-end young talents who are on the verge of their NHL debuts and could change the on-ice fortunes of this perennial bottom-feeder. Patience and nurturing of the young talent is the order of the day, with a bright future that is getting closer.

Max Domi – This is a confident and highly skilled player who has also benefitted from the knowledge he has acquired following his famous father, Tie, around the pro hockey scene for several years. He knows much of what some young players have yet to understand and that will help his learning curve. BOOM

Anthony Duclair – Like Domi, Duclair is a big part of the future in Arizona and is a long-term keeper in fantasy pools based on his elite scoring skills. He is also in position to get top-six minutes right out of the gate this season. BOOM

Shane Doan – The long-time team captain is still expected to provide leadership and guidance, which will be particularly important this season with the infusion of the younger teammates mentioned above. However, at 38 years old, he has lots of hard miles on his body and needs to accept a lesser role on the depth chart. BUST

Calgary Flames
The Flames have built their team on an unequaled group of highly skilled defensemen who have been central to generating much of the club's offensive push. That was very helpful last year in the development of some young forwards who were cutting their teeth in scoring line roles and allowed the club to make some noise in the postseason. They are looking to build on that foundation this year.

Sam Bennett – He was drafted fourth overall in the 2014 NHL Amateur Draft as a young player with a very high hockey IQ. He should get the assignment as the second line center, pushing the dependable checker, Mikael Backlund, into a more appropriate third line role. Bennett will see playing time on the Flames' potent power play and will produce instant offense. BOOM

T.J. Brodie – With the arrival of Dougie Hamilton, the Flames now boast four very good scoring options on their blue line. Brodie will not start his season until late October after suffering a broken hand during training camp. By the time he returns, Hamilton may be entrenched on the top power-play unit with captain Mark Giordano. Expect some regression here due to the company he is competing against for high-end minutes. BUST

Jonas Hiller – Hiller had a very good season in his Calgary debut, but backup Karri Ramo challenged the veteran the whole way. In fact, Ramo took the reins in the playoffs. With both goalies in the final year of their respective contracts, expect this battle to continue this season. Ramo is four years younger and might well be the ultimate choice.

Edmonton Oilers
After using the top pick in four of the last six amateur drafts, it's time for this team to start climbing the standings in the Pacific Division. This year's pick, Connor McDavid, may immediately become their best player, as he has been anointed as "The Next One." The talent needs to gel up front, but how far this team can go will be determined by their defense and goaltending, and both remain areas of concern.

Teddy Purcell – He is going to get every opportunity at a plum assignment, likely starting on the top line with McDavid to start the season because Jordan Eberle will miss at least 4-to-6 weeks with a right shoulder injury. At the very least, he is reasonably assured of a scoring line and should produce in that company. BOOM

Nail Yakupov – The 2012 first overall pick has never lived up to that billing and has been a disaster in his one-way approach to playing in the NHL. He's a minus-68 over the last two seasons, while tallying a total of 42 goals in his first three years as a pro. BUST

Cam Talbot – The Oilers traded for the Rangers' former backup goalie, who played so well during Henrik Lundqvist's injury stint last season. Talbot is on an expiring contract and could hit the jackpot if this team finally turns the corner. I am betting on him to do his part. BOOM

Los Angeles Kings
Winners of two of the last four Stanley Cups, the Kings will be aiming to tie the Blackhawks and their three Cup wins in the last decade. While they have seen a few of their veteran teammates fall away from the roster due to legal troubles, the are still loaded with talent and experience at all positions. They will continue to play their prototypical playoff style from opening night.

Milan Lucic – The Kings traded for the league's prototypical power forward, who will be surrounded by a group of teammates that like to play it that way. He is a lock to play first line minutes with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik in what should be an explosive trio. That should translate into his best scoring totals in many years. BOOM

Dustin Brown – While he is acknowledged as the team's captain, he is not ticketed for a top six role once again. He remains a hard-nosed honest hockey player who loves to play a grinding game. Do not miscast him as more than a third line player on a deep roster. BUST

Jake Muzzin – He is firmly entrenched as Drew Doughty's regular defensive partner, which means first pairing minutes are guaranteed, and now that we know Slava Voynov won't be returning, that allows for more power play time for Muzzin. He's vastly underrated. BOOM

San Jose Sharks
The Sharks made almost as much noise off the ice as they did on it with some turmoil between players and management last season. While they made a coaching change, bringing in Peter de Boer as the new headmaster, they don't expect to ice to many new faces. They will also feature an inexperienced goalie tandem following the trade that sent former starter Antti Niemi to Dallas.

Joe Thornton – Jumbo Joe has been a staple among the annual assists leaders in the NHL for much of his career. However, last season he found himself at odds with GM Doug Wilson for much of the campaign and he produced only 65 points, his lowest total with San Jose. He's now 36 and the decline will continue. BUST

Tomas Hertl – After a nice rookie season, Hertl was a victim of the sophomore jinx, producing only 31 points last year. He will definitely be part of a scoring line from the get go and that has to translate into much better totals this season. He is expected to be a team centerpiece for the foreseeable future. BOOM

Martin Jones – This netminder cut his teeth with the Kings but has long been considered capable of a larger role. He will get that chance, and the expectation is for him to play upwards of 55 games for the Sharks. He will be behind a pretty talented defensive corps and could pile up a surprising win total. BOOM

Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks' most important players are all at least 34 years old. That cannot bode well for the long-range plan of this team. While they have added a couple of young players in the last year, they need to find more and hope they can squeeze another quality year or two from the Sedins and starting goalie Ryan Miller.

Brandon Sutter – The Canucks acquired Sutter to be the second line center and bring grittiness to the role vacated by Ryan Kesler a year ago. At 26, he is about to enter his prime years as a pro and will be given every chance to be a cornerstone for the next evolution of the Canucks. I wouldn't bet against any NHL player with that surname and believe that he has an untapped offensive upside. BOOM

Alexander Edler – For a number of years, Edler was surrounded by a number of defensemen who had an abundance of offensive skills. Now he finds himself at the head of that class and without the quality depth or offensive acumen. That means he is assured of the role as the unchallenged power-play quarterback. Playing with the wizardry of the Sedins should boost his scoring totals. BOOM

Ryan Miller – At first glance, his totals from last season aren't among the front running NHL goalies, but his season was derailed by a knee injury. The expectation is for him to be a workhorse and appear in 60+ games once again. That should put him back in the top echelon of NHL goalies. He's still that good. BOOM

Predicted Standings
1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. Calgary
4. Vancouver
5. Edmonton
6. San Jose
7. Arizona