How will Jonathan Toews look in his return to the NHL for his hometown team? How will Kirill Kaprizov and Connor McDavid’s contract situations impact the Wild and Oilers?

This week, The Athletic asked its staff for one burning question facing each NHL team heading into training camp, and those were just a few of the enticing storylines we heard about in response.

With camps right around the corner and the preseason set to open in one week, here’s what we have our eyes on.

Anaheim DucksIs Mason McTavish going to be at camp?

The specter of McTavish’s potential absence looms as Joel Quenneville returns to the NHL head coaching fraternity. The 22-year-old McTavish is the most notable unsigned restricted free agent outside of New Jersey’s Luke Hughes. GM Pat Verbeek had sticky contract dealings with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in 2023. Both are now gone. Can he avoid going down the same road with McTavish? — Eric Stephens

Boston BruinsHow will the Bruins score goals?

David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie proved to be a good goal-scoring combination. But beyond that, the Bruins could be in a bind offensively. Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson may not be top-six threats. Offseason signings Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont are bottom-six bangers. — Fluto Shinzawa

Buffalo SabresCan they play better defense?

Goaltending and team defense let the Sabres down last season. That was Kevyn Adams’ main focus in the offseason, adding Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins on the blue line and defensively sound forwards Josh Doan and Justin Danforth. Will that be enough to get this team to play more structured in Lindy Ruff’s second season back? — Matthew Fairburn

Calgary FlamesWhere is Rasmus Andersson going?

It’s a matter of when, and not if, Andersson gets traded from the Flames. Will it still be the Vegas Golden Knights, the team Pierre LeBrun said was the only one Andersson wanted to sign long-term with? Or will he end up elsewhere? There are other questions like whether or not the Flames’ youngsters can take a step forward, or which direction they’ll commit to when it comes to a rebuild or a retool. But the Andersson domino is the largest one yet to fall. — Julian McKenzie

Carolina HurricanesHow will the defense be paired up?

The addition of K’Andre Miller, the long-awaited arrival of Alexander Nikishin and the departures of Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov mean that, for the second straight season, Carolina’s defense faces major changes. With four left-handed D, one of the Hurricanes will have to play his off side. It could be Jaccob Slavin, perhaps alongside Miller, on the top pair, or maybe Shayne Gostisbehere on the third pairing. How that shakes out will determine how the other dominoes fall on the back end. — Cory Lavalette

Chicago BlackhawksWhat impact will new coach Jeff Blashill have on the Blackhawks’ young players?

Blashill is the Blackhawks’ first head coach with NHL head coaching experience since Joel Quenneville. From Jeremy Colliton to interim coach Derek King to Luke Richardson to interim coach Anders Sorensen, the Blackhawks have had only first-time NHL head coaches in that position since Quenneville’s firing in 2018. Whether the Blackhawks would have fared any better since then with experienced coaches is debatable, but general manager Kyle Davidson is banking on Blashill to take a promising young group of players to the next level and eventually turn the corner in the organization’s rebuild phase. — Scott Powers

Colorado AvalancheCan Jack Drury be the 3C the Avs have been looking for?

Colorado’s top six should match up with any team in the league. If the bottom six takes a step forward, the Avalanche could be among the favorites to win it all, and that might start with Drury. Entering his third full NHL season, hopes are high for Drury. Ross Colton could be another name to watch for this role. — Jesse Granger

Columbus Blue JacketsWho is the starting goaltender?

Elvis Merzlikins is the incumbent, but he’s coming off three consecutive substandard seasons. The way Jet Greaves played at the end of last season — he nearly dragged the Blue Jackets into the playoffs with a furious finish — is still fresh in the coaching staff’s memory. It’s earned Greaves a full-time job in the NHL this season, but he hasn’t locked down the No. 1 job just yet. That’ll be up for grabs in training camp. — Aaron Portzline

Stars forward Jason Robertson will be a restricted free agent next summer. (Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)Dallas StarsWhat is Jason Robertson’s future?

Robertson is entering the last year of his contract, and while he’ll only be an RFA next summer, he is due a massive raise from his current $7.75 million cap hit. It’s hard to imagine the Stars parting with such a great young talent, and he could theoretically be extended any day now, but with Mikko Rantanen on the books, Thomas Harley due a new deal next summer and the Stars’ well-documented playoff scoring issues, Robertson could be one of the only playable pieces Jim Nill has, should he feel compelled to shake things up. — Mark Lazerus

Detroit Red WingsWill the blue line hold up?

The Red Wings made a couple of additions around the edges of their defense corps, bringing in veteran Travis Hamonic and young blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker. Still, it remains to be seen if those players will actually amount to an upgrade on a unit the Red Wings really needed to improve. If they aren’t, Detroit will be counting on internal improvements from young defenders Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson — who really came on in the second half last season — as they try to snap a nine-year playoff drought. — Max Bultman

Edmonton OilersHow will Connor McDavid’s contract status affect the Oilers?

McDavid was clear last week that being in a contract year without an extension shouldn’t be a distraction to his teammates. But the Oilers haven’t exactly been known for their good starts in recent seasons. Some poor play out of the gate and McDavid’s future only becomes a bigger talking point. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

Florida PanthersCan they make history with a three-peat?

Given the Panthers are essentially running back the same elite team that just won a second straight Stanley Cup, there really aren’t many pressing roster questions here. Matthew Tkachuk’s absence for the first half will open a top-six opportunity for someone like Mackie Samoskevich, and new backup Daniil Tarasov has plenty to prove. Still, there really isn’t much else to work out in camp. In fact, for this team, the regular season is basically an extended preseason until they start playing the games that matter. At some point, it feels like they should run out of gas after playing this much hockey, but they remain the favorites, with good reason. — James Mirtle

Los Angeles KingsAre the Kings equipped to be any better than shown?

There is an ominous feeling that this group is just running in place. Four straight first-round losses to the same team will do that to you. To top it off, this last defeat to the Oilers felt like a series they truly blew, considering how the Kings finally gained home-ice advantage and went up 2-0. And new GM Ken Holland didn’t win any support with the roster changes he made. It’s a good club littered with effective players. Not a great one led by a superstar or two in his prime. How will this year be any different? That’s the conundrum to break in what is likely Anže Kopitar’s final season. — Eric Stephens

Minnesota WildWill Kirill Kaprizov extend his contract?

Kaprizov reportedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million contract with the Wild on Tuesday, so now the question is whether he wants out or simply wants to sign a shorter-term contract. As of now, there is no indication it’s the latter. So how do the Wild react? As if losing the only superstar in franchise history wouldn’t be enough of a disaster, it’d be even more devastating to lose him for nothing as a free agent. So does Bill Guerin keep grinding on Kaprizov or try to trade him? Either way, this is an unwelcome distraction that will linger. — Michael Russo

Montreal CanadiensCan Kirby Dach fill their biggest hole?

The Canadiens’ need for a No. 2 center went unaddressed in the offseason, leaving Dach as the incumbent and the most likely player to get another shot in that role. Coming off back-to-back surgeries on the same knee and entering the final year of his contract, this could be a big season for Dach and his place in what the Canadiens are building. He has the talent to do it, but can he maximize it and stay healthy long enough to be considered a long-term solution? — Arpon Basu

Nashville PredatorsIs this going to hurt again?

Unbridled excitement a year ago. Unshakable skepticism now. The Preds are running it back after the most disappointing season in franchise history, which was hard to avoid from a roster standpoint, but also means Andrew Brunette is back as coach. He’s got magic to work with this aging, fading group. — Joe Rexrode

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)New Jersey DevilsWhen will Luke Hughes sign, and for how long?

Luke Hughes remains a restricted free agent. He and the Devils have yet to land on a deal. It will get done at some point, but will Hughes have to miss any of the opening camp practices? And when he signs his deal, how long will it be for and at what average annual value? Both will have ramifications on the Devils’ cap situation going forward. — Peter Baugh

New York IslandersHow will the team respond to its new retooling direction?

Mathieu Darche shook things up on Long Island this summer, and training camp will be the first time to start seeing it come to fruition. Between 2025 No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer’s arrival, Noah Dobson’s departure, Mathew Barzal shifting back to center, some offseason adds such as Jonathan Drouin, and new assistant coaches to coordinate special teams alongside Patrick Roy, the 2025-26 Islanders are building a new identity. This is going to be the first test of that, which will give management an idea of how to build from here. — Shayna Goldman

New York RangersHow much of an impact does a new coach make?

After a decorated tenure leading the Penguins, Mike Sullivan is entering his first year as Rangers head coach. The team is counting on him to bring a stabilizing presence after a tumultuous 2024-25 season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021. One of his biggest tasks will be fixing the team’s defense, which was porous throughout last season. — Peter Baugh

Ottawa SenatorsHow much of a step forward can the Senators’ core take?

The Senators made minimal changes to their roster this offseason. So, it’s all on Brady Tkachuk and Co. to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. Tkachuk says this is the best he’s ever felt entering a new season. Pending restricted free agent Shane Pinto is in a prove-it year with a new contract on the horizon. Tim Stützle is knocking on the door of superstardom, and more people are aware of Jake Sanderson after his 4 Nations Face-Off performance. It’s on the Senators to make the most of their potential, and GM Steve Staios is doubling down on his core. — Julian McKenzie

Philadelphia FlyersCan Trevor Zegras find his way as a center again?

After two seasons mostly on the wing, Zegras wants to play center again. The Flyers acquired him with the hope that he could play there, too. If Zegras can recapture the offensive success he had as a center early in his career, while maintaining his defensive responsibilities, it would be a tremendous tool for new coach Rick Tocchet. — Kevin Kurz

Pittsburgh PenguinsWho is the No. 1 goalie?

The Penguins have many questions to answer, but goaltending is high on the list. Tristan Jarry, Arturs Silovs, Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov are all contenders to start on opening night. The smart money is on Jarry or Silovs. Murashov, a much-hyped prospect, is likely one year away from being NHL-ready. Blomqvist is the dark horse. Jarry and Silovs figure to battle for playing time in the early portions of the season. — Josh Yohe

San Jose SharksWill Michael Misa or Sam Dickinson make the team?

Misa and Dickinson were two of the best players in Canadian junior hockey last season. Both are part of the Sharks’ young core that’s still under construction. Is Misa their future second-line center? Can Dickinson crack a rebuilt blue line? A lot of eyes will be on these two major pieces of San Jose’s intriguing puzzle. — Eric Stephens

Seattle KrakenWhat happens if the Kraken are mid (or worse) again?

The Kraken shuffled their front office, but didn’t change direction. They brought in a couple of veteran players this summer in Mason Marchment and Ryan Lindgren, both useful role players with experience contributing in winning environments, but not exactly needle movers. Meanwhile, Seattle returns Philipp Grubauer, who struggled to a devastating extent as a backup last season. They haven’t addressed their goaltending depth, which was their biggest on-ice issue last season. And they still don’t have an elite gamebreaker. Seattle’s direction is becoming more difficult to discern, a question that increasingly hangs over the team. — Thomas Drance

St. Louis BluesCan Pavel Buchnevich return to being an offensive threat?

Buchnevich starts a new eight-year, $48 million contract this season, and when he’s playing his best, he’s worth every bit of that. But after netting 30 goals and 76 points in 73 games in 2021-22, Buchnevich had just 20 goals and 57 points in 76 games in 2024-25. That could be chalked up, in part, to the team moving him to center at the start of the season, but he’s now back on the wing under coach Jim Montgomery. Armed with a new contract, the club is hoping that Buchnevich can become an offensive threat again. — Jeremy Rutherford

Tampa Bay LightningCan the Lightning build on last year’s success?

The Lightning’s last season may have ended in a disappointing Round 1 exit, but it did prove one thing: this core still has the chops to be a contender. So can this group run it back, with depth additions, to get past the Panthers? A full season of Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand should bolster the supporting cast, along with some low-key offseason signings. — Shayna Goldman

Toronto Maple LeafsIs Auston Matthews at full health, and who is his right winger?

There’s no more important subplot this season than Matthews’ health. The Leafs are a different team, to say the least, if he’s healthy again and back to Hart Trophy-level form. Camp will offer the first glimpses. We’ll also see the beginnings of what may be a season-long audition for the opening (left by Mitch Marner) on his right wing. Craig Berube is going to try some different candidates, Max Domi and Matias Maccelli likely among them. — Jonas Siegel

Utah MammothWho will win the backup goalie spot?

Karel Vejmelka re-established himself as Utah’s No. 1 goalie last season, but after that, there’s stiff competition for the backup spot. Connor Ingram broke out and performed like an above-average starter during Arizona’s final season (.907 save percentage in 50 games), but he regressed and had a down year in 2024-25. Ingram’s status for this season was uncertain because he was in the NHL/NHLPA assistance program, which prompted the Mammoth to sign Vitek Vanecek in free agency. Ingram was cleared from the program in late August, however, setting the stage for an intriguing battle between him and Vanecek. — Harman Dayal

Vancouver CanucksWill Elias Pettersson bounce back?

This is an unsettled team that enters this season with a ton of questions surrounding their top players (can Thatcher Demko stay healthy? What does Quinn Hughes’ future look like?) and their first-year head coach. Ultimately, however, Vancouver’s ability to hit its ceiling as a team will require this club to score enough goals for its sturdy goaltending and high-quality defensive personnel to make the difference. And that game-breaking responsibility is going to fall primarily on Elias Pettersson, the once dominant top-line center who has struggled to produce like an elite player since signing his eight-year megadeal in March 2024. — Thomas Drance

Vegas Golden KnightsWho will fill Alex Pietrangelo’s spot on the top defensive pair?

This summer, Pietrangelo stepped away from hockey due to hip injuries, and the team believes the likelihood of him playing again is low. He led all Vegas skaters in ice time in each of the last five seasons, and leaves massive shoes to fill on the blue line. Will Bruce Cassidy put both Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin (who rarely play together) on the top pair, or will Brayden McNabb or Zach Whitecloud be elevated? — Jesse Granger

Washington CapitalsDoes Connor McMichael stick at 3C?

The biggest offseason Caps question was how they’d fill the hole behind Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois — and specifically whether they’d shift McMichael into that role, since he broke out last season as a winger, scoring 26 goals. For now, that’s how they’re leaning. McMichael is a natural center and will be an upgrade over the departed Lars Eller, but it’s fair to wonder who will take his place. Prospects Ryan Leonard, Ivan Miroshnichenko and Andrew Cristall will be options. — Sean Gentille

Winnipeg JetsCan Jonathan Toews help his hometown team win?

Toews’ NHL comeback might be the biggest early story in all of hockey. The 37-year-old center hasn’t played an NHL game since April 13, 2023, when he scored a goal for Chicago in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 OT loss to Philadelphia. Now he’s a Winnipeg Jet, dressing for his hometown team in a bid to prove to himself — and to the world — that he’s still a quality NHL player. His bonus-laden contract is tied to games played, implying that the only question is about Toews’ health. But the range of possibilities for his impact is huge, even if he plays all 82 games. He’s an all-time NHL legend. Can he be an impact player in 2025-26? — Murat Ates

(Top photos of Jonathan Toews, Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov: Matt Krohn / Associated Press and John Woods / The Canadian Press via Associated Press)