Team Capsules

EASTERN CONFERENCE				WESTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Devils Flyers Penguins Rangers Islanders	Northeast Senators Maple Leafs Bruins Sabres Canadiens	Southeast Hurricanes Panthers Capitals Lightning Thrashers		Central Red Wings Blues Blackhawks Predators	Northwest Avalanche Oilers Flames Canucks	Pacific Stars Coyotes Mighty Ducks Sharks Kings

News & features Pacific Division: Stars stud of the group The Stars are reloaded and ready to defend their Cup title. Northwest Division: Canadian teams full of unknowns It's difficult to tell what will happen with the Canucks, Flames and Oilers. Will any of them challenge the Avs? Northeast Division: Depth is a strength The Northeast Division has a lot of good teams. But are any of them great? Southeast Division: Fighting for respect Many say the Southeast Division is weak. If Pavel Bure gets hurt and Keith Primeau keeps holding out, it may be true. Central Division: Wings unflappable Detroit will once again headline the Central, but St. Louis may close the gap. Atlantic Division: Rangers up the ante The spend-happy New York Rangers have a new Theo-ry to get back to the NHL playoffs. Can Colorado ever get back to Cup finals? The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup three years ago. Can they ever get back? Dallas primed to defend Stanley Cup title The Dallas Stars made some offseason moves to make sure another Cup run was possible. Senators GM Johnston steps into fire Marshall Johnston got a quick lesson in the modern economics of the NHL as soon as he took over as Senators GM. New-look Rangers looking better but not best ESPN's Al Morganti takes a closer look at the new-look Rangers and how they'll play this year. Morganti: Playing by new set of rules As the NHL heads toward the next century, the product on the ice will have more of commissioner Gary Bettman's influence. Life without Gretzky is a whole new NHL era ESPN.com's Nancy Marrapese-Burrell looks at what NHL life will be without the Great One. Lindros' mind is willing, but is his body able to carry Flyers? Eric Lindros, recovering from a collapsed lung and a bad back, has plenty of pressure to win in Philadelphia. Aging Red Wings face long odds at another Cup run ESPN.com's George Johnson takes a look at Detroit's chances at another Stanley Cup championship.