Buffalo’s drop-off in the Sydney Crosby era Penguins sets the stage for a volatile season, where Sabres fans chase a return to contention after last year’s near-miss. The burn-rate across Buffalo’s roster is scrutinized, with questions about how the core—Dahlin, Luukkonen and Levi in net, plus Quinn—can rebound from a 79-point finish. Anaheim’s youth movement, led by Carlsson, McTavish and Zegras, is dissected against veteran depth and goaltending questions, while Pittsburgh leans into a tank-and-build strategy led by Crosby’s era winding down. Ducks’ coaching hire, Quinnville, and a young blue line—Olausson, Lome, Carlson—are evaluated for playoff upside in a weak Pacific, where the Ducks aim to squeeze points and accelerate growth. The show also teases a Crosby-centric retirement handoff, the Canucks’ Silovs, and a potential Crosby-to-Colorado discussion as the league pivots into a fresh era.