Their top end is still stacked, McDavid, Dreisitel, Bouchard among others. Their problems though haven't really been addressed: goaltending still seems like a problem (unless Devon Levi turns out better than expected) and depth. They definitely haven't been looking good defensively so far I would say. How Babcock turns out is anyones guess. I would never count them out, but in my book they are not the favorites.

Depending on mid-season moves, injuries and how form develops many of the same teams as last year were good probably continue so + Florida. Montreal will be very interesting if they take another step forward.