This franchise, which hasn't qualified for the postseason since 1991-92, has missed the playoffs in 57.9% of its 19 seasons, the second-worst percentage among teams that entered the NHL before 1991-92.

Jeff Friesen, 22, is the franchise's career leader in goals (89), assists (107), points (196), game-winning goals (14) and shorthanded goals (9). He's the youngest active player to lead any club's lists in all those...

For 10 years the routine was as predictable as it was entertaining. Blues right wing Brett Hull would arrive in camp in September and spend the next eight months shooting the puck and shooting off his mouth with...

•With the addition of superb puck-moving defenseman Steve Duchesne, the Kings must improve on a power play that finished 17th in the league last year.

•The offensively challenged Sabres need consistent scoring from talented but underachieving forwards Geoff Sanderson and Michal Grosek.

•Somebody other than 50-goal man Peter Bondra must score on a regular basis. The best bet would be wing Richard Zednik, who shone in the postseason.

Since the day in March '91 when Ron Francis was traded from Hartford to Pittsburgh, the star-crossed franchise has moved from Connecticut to North Carolina. Changed its name from Whalers to Hurricanes. Altered its...

Last season Stephane Fiset led the league in a dubious category: He allowed five players (Erik Andersson, Shawn Bates, Daniel Briere, Mike Crowley and Alexei Morozov) to score their first NHL goals.

•With the return of ailing coach Scotty Bowman doubtful, assistants Barry Smith and Dave Lewis must assert their authority early and gain the players' respect.

The Capitals were successful on 89.2% of their penalty kills, the NHL's best percentage since the league began keeping that stat in 1967-88.