Things I'd like to see happen during the new season

Saku Koivu's Canadiens and Mats Sundin's Maple Leafs missed the playoffs by two points or less last season. Charles Laberge/Getty Images

MAILBAG Darren Eliot will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

I'm not sure why, but I'm always drawn to the offensive storylines each season presents -- contrary thinking for a former goalie, I know -- and to looking at the state of the Original Six franchises. Maybe if you replace "former" with "old" goalie, you'll get to the root here, but anyway, here are some of the things I hope happen during the 2007-08 season:

Original Six Prominence: With the Rangers making the bold offseason signings of Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, they should be in the mix atop the Eastern Conference all season long. And the Red Wings remain a perennial power by deftly adding veterans -- like signing Brian Rafalski after Mathieu Schneider went to Anaheim -- to a core of young players like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

Beyond those two teams, though, success for the other four founding franchises is up for grabs. The Blackhawks will play exciting, up-tempo, offensive-minded hockey that's fueled by a young group of forwards -- perfect if they were in the Southeast Division. Alas, they compete in the Western Conference, where experience and tough hockey reigns supreme. These better Blackhawks should be fun to watch, but reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2002 might be far-fetched.

The other three founding franchises compete in the Northeast Division -- meaning success may be relative. The Bruins, Canadiens and Maple Leafs missed the playoffs last spring. Their challenge is not only to surpass each other, but also to supplant one of last season's top-eight Eastern qualifiers. To that end, the Bruins are still trying to re-establish an identity that proves successful. After major free-agent signings a year ago, plus integrating a new GM (Peter Chiarelli) and coach (Dave Lewis), the Bruins find themselves with Lewis' reign already over and Claude Julien taking over behind the bench. The B's also have a new number one netminder in Manny Fernandez. His play will prove pivotal to the Bruins' ascent, as they surrendered 70 more goals than they scored last season.

The Maple Leafs also addressed goaltending, acquiring Vesa Toskala from San Jose, and they added Jason Blake up front to aid the attack. A season ago, the Leafs battled debilitating injuries to stalwart Darcy Tucker and Captain Mats Sundin and missed the playoffs by a single point. It would be nice to see Sundin have a healthy and productive campaign, given his consistent excellence over the course of his 16-year career. If that happens and the Leafs replicate their offensive pop from the blueline, they might just make the postseason for the first time since the lockout.

The Canadiens know how the Leafs feel. The Habs missed the playoffs by a mere two points last season. They may not advance this season either. They don't have consistency on offense or in goal -- contributing factors in their home/road disparity. Despite winning 26 home games -- tied for second-most in the East, the Canadiens still finished 10th in the conference. They have several top prospects in waiting -- all-purpose forward Kyle Chipchura and goaltender Carey Price among them -- and given that the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Hamilton won the Calder Cup, watching the big team redefine itself with youth will be rewarding.

Yes, GM Bob Gainey's astute drafting has put the Habs on the right track. It just might mean waiting a year or so before the venerable franchise progresses from viable to vaunted once more.

Dany Heatley has twice reached, but not exceeded, 50 goals in a season. AP

Offensive Buzz: Never mind the 50-goal plateau. Let's see somebody put up 60-65 tallies -- really create some offensive excitement, something that hasn't happened since Mario Lemieux lit the lamp 69 times in 1995-96.

Vinny Lecavalier won the Rocket Richard Trophy last season with 52 goals, and Dany Heatley was next with 50 -- the only 50-goal men in the NHL. Heatley will try to reach that mark for the third consecutive season, but what about Alex Ovechkin in Washington? Certainly he is capable of challenging for 60 on an improved Capitals squad. Or maybe Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta. Given a consistent campaign without lengthy droughts, Kovalchuk certainly has the shot at 60. But after seeing his totals rise in each of his first four seasons, including 52 in 2005-06, Kovalchuk potted 42 in 2006-07. The Thrashers could use that production and then some, as well as the publicity such a run would create.