7.) San Jose Sharks
Future Outlook: The San Jose Sharks have amassed plenty of young talent for next season and beyond. That started with drafting Macklin Celebrini first overall, followed by defenseman Sam Dickinson with the 11th overall pick. With these picks comes a budding power play that can rule the NHL.
As it stands, the Sharks will need a few more years to gel and become competitive. That's especially true with the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights as the resident Pacific Division giants. However, they have a good young core that can put up incredible numbers if they match their upside.
6.) Calgary Flames
Biggest Question: Is this the start of a rebuild?
In the past year, the Calgary Flames have traded away key pieces to interested teams. That includes Noah Hanifin going to Vegas and Jacob Markstrom heading to New Jersey. The team has gotten stuck in neutral, where they had no choice but to sell.
Now, they've ushered in a new era where they must press the reset button. With the team in a suddenly competitive Pacific Division, there must be new life added to the franchise. Looks like the "Burn Out for Hagens" campaign is a full-go for the 2024-25 season.