Dallas Stars begin training camp in Frisco under Glen Gulutzan, welcoming a veteran roster that aims to finally push past the Western Conference finals. Roster decisions loom for a seventh defenseman and a potential 23rd forward as the new staff tries to mesh with a group built to win a Stanley Cup.

Defense battles center on Alexander Petrovic, Kyle Capobianco and Vladislav Kolyachonok, while Wyatt Johnston, Oskar Bäck and Arttu Hyry push for NHL roles. Health is in focus after last season's injuries, with updates on Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger guiding expectations for opening night.

Vancouver Canucks' season hinges on on-ice performance: Demko's health, center depth, and cohesion take center stage as the noise stays down. Boeser is settled; Hughes' extension is off the table until next summer, and the trade market remains thin with cap pressures looming from double retention. Kaprizov's contract chatter adds league-wide context while Vancouver must prove it can compete on the ice to quiet outside chatter.

With limited trade options and a tough cap landscape, Vancouver's success hinges on Demko's health, timely development from the middle, and steady scoring from their top forwards to deliver real improvement on the ice.