NHL point projections: How we see 2017-18 season unfolding

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption USA TODAY's NHL insiders predict how season will unfold SportsPulse: USA TODAY's NHL insiders Peter Barzilai, Jimmy Hascup and Kevin Allen discuss some of their picks.

The last time the Edmonton Oilers claimed a division championship Wayne Gretzky won the NHL scoring championship with 183 points and Kevin McClelland and Steve Smith combined for 403 penalty minutes.

It was 1987. Ronald Reagan was president, gas cost 89 cents a gallon and a new Ford Escort could be purchased for $6,895.

Last season, Connor McDavid, 20, was the only NHL player to reach 100 points, and he’s the primary reason the Oilers could win their first division crown in 30 years.

USA TODAY Sports is projecting that all four divisions will have new champions this season. The Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Metropolitan, the Tampa Bay Lightning will finish first in the Atlantic and the Nashville Predators will capture the Central.

The Lightning are one of last season's non-playoff teams that we believe will qualify this season. The others: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings. We also have the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes on the periphery of the postseason.

Here is a quick overview of the division races:

Atlantic Division

It's still a mystery that the Tampa Bay Lightning missed the playoffs last season, but they have the look of a contender this season. They added Dan Girardi and prospect Mikhail Sergachev to a defense that includes stars Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman. They also picked up Chris Kunitz. ... The Ottawa Senators, meanwhile, are a team built for the playoff grind. They are a plucky bunch who believe they can will their way to victory. Defenseman Erik Karlsson’s recovery from surgery could hamper their start, but this is an impressive group. ... You have to go back to the 1960s to find a Toronto Maple Leafs team that generated this much excitement. Auston Matthews can do as much for the Leafs as McDavid is doing for the Oilers. ... GM Don Sweeney hasn't received enough credit for the job he’s done keeping the Boston Bruins competitive. Keep an eye on young defenseman Charlie McAvoy. Zdeno Chara is still a factor at 40. ... The Montreal Canadiens are the X factor in the Atlantic. Goalie Carey Price always gives them a shot to contend, but their defense doesn’t seem strong enough. ... The Buffalo Sabres will take a step forward, although it still might leave them short of the playoffs. New GM Jason Botterill has upgraded their defense. ... The Florida Panthers lost their way last season, and it might take them another season to get back where they were. ... The Detroit Red Wings have talented youngsters such as Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin, but not enough to re-energize the roster.

Metropolitan Division

The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals might take a half-step backward, and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets will play at the same level as last season. ... The Capitals’ depth was eroded by salary cap issues. ... Can free agent signee Kevin Shattenkirk put a charge into the Rangers? ... ... Artemi Panarin gives the Blue Jackets the dynamic scorer they were lacking. I guess we will find out how much he was helped by Patrick Kane in Chicago. ... There’s a buzz about the Carolina Hurricanes’ improvement. They added Scott Darling in goal and Justin Williams and Marcus Kruger up front. ... How much will John Tavares’ pending free agency distract the New York Islanders? Players will say not at all, but history has taught us otherwise. ... The Philadelphia Flyers seem similar to last season, and their hope for improvement rests on the play of new goalie Brian Elliott and the continued improvement of younger, talented defensemen. ... GM Ray Shero is making an impact with the New Jersey Devils, but he still needs time.

Central Division

The Nashville Predators are a trendy pick to win the Stanley Cup. They have one of the NHL’s top defenses, and goalie Pekka Rinne showed in last spring’s playoffs that he can carry a team for two months. ... The Minnesota Wild have the talent to be a postseason force. The question is whether they have the mental toughness to get the job done. ... The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a 109-point season, but they might not reach 100 points this season. Their defense is more suspect than it has been in years. ... No team did more to improve in the offseason than the Dallas Stars. They added goalie Ben Bishop, defenseman Marc Methot, center Martin Hanzal and winger Alexander Radulov. ... The St. Louis Blues have already suffered multiple injuries, including to Robby Fabbri, Jay Bouwmeester and Alexander Steen. ... If the Winnipeg Jets’ goaltending is sharp, they will be in the playoff hunt. ... They have plenty of scoring. The Colorado Avalanche will be 20 points better and still not be close to the playoffs.

Pacific Division

The key for the Edmonton Oilers will be the play of their defense. Can Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse take another step in their development? ... Injuries to Ryan Kesler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm could slow the Anaheim Ducks early, but they will be a contender in the end. ... The Calgary Flames defense, led by Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton, is among the league’s best. If Mike Smith excels in net, the Flames have a shot at 100 points. ... With Jonathan Quick in net, the Los Angeles Kings are always a threat to be a playoff factor. ... With the additions of Niklas Hjalmarsson, Derek Stepan, Jason Demers and rookies Dylan Strome and Clayton Keller, the Arizona Coyotes are much improved. ... The San Jose Sharks are a talented squad, led by Brent Burns, but they have a hint of staleness. ... There could be modest improvement from the Vancouver Canucks. Keep an eye on rookie Brock Boeser. ... The Vegas Golden Knights could be better than we think, but they will make trades that will help their future and hurt their point total this season.