Burning questions for all 32 NHL teams: John Gibson's impact in Detroit, a Sidney Crosby trade?

The Florida Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season backmost connected June 17. The 2025 NHL draft was decentralized, but determination was nary shortage of memorable moments and personage cameos. Finally, free agency was not rather arsenic frenetic arsenic successful years past, but hundreds of players signed caller deals.

And then, the hockey satellite went into its hibernation play for the remainder of July and August.

But arsenic a chill enters the air, the leaves commencement to alteration colour and galore pumpkin-themed items look connected nutrient and portion menus, it's clip to get acceptable for different NHL season.

To assistance you get afloat prepared for the coming weeks of the preseason -- arsenic teams marque last decisions connected rosters, lineups and goaltending tandems -- let's instrumentality a look astatine the biggest lingering question for each 32 clubs, acknowledgment to ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark (Western Conference) and Kristen Shilton (Eastern Conference).

How to ticker the 2025-26 NHL play connected ESPN networks -- including 100 exclusive games and the out-of-market bundle (over 1,050 games).

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins
Can Jeremy Swayman beryllium a existent No. 1 netminder again?

No 1 could responsibility Swayman for chasing a big-time declaration hold aft the mode helium carried Boston astatine the extremity of the 2024-25 campaign. But aft the netminder secured the container -- with a protracted declaration dialog past summertime culminating successful a seven-year woody worthy $8.25 cardinal per play -- helium was meant to execute similar 1 of the league's highest paid goalies.

That didn't happen. Swayman posted career-worst numbers successful 2024-25 with an .892 SV% and 3.11 GAA. Without a genuine tandemmate to backmost him up -- arsenic helium had with Linus Ullmark earlier the second departed to Ottawa -- Swayman carried a hefty 58-game docket and didn't deterioration it well.

Boston requires amended this season, particularly considering the Bruins inactive don't person a bona fide backup for Swayman (that would beryllium Boston's Burning Question, Part II). Regardless of who is 2nd though, Swayman indispensable beryllium helium tin beryllium a existent No. 1 -- and what volition it mean for the Bruins' chances this play if helium can't?

Buffalo Sabres
Will Buffalo yet extremity its postseason drought?

It's the overarching taxable for Buffalo seemingly each year: Can the Sabres really drawback their historically agelong skid arsenic non-playoff contenders? Or successful different words: Is Buffalo's rebuild implicit yet?

It's lone been ...15 years present since Sabres fans saw their squad successful postseason action. And the amended portion of this decennary has been an workout successful dilatory progress. For each measurement guardant Buffalo has taken -- astir notably gathering its enviable young halfway -- the Sabres person repeatedly stalled abbreviated of reclaiming a spot arsenic playoff contenders.<...