Sizing up the NHL's Pacific Division

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen sizes up the Pacific Division:

No. 1 Los Angeles Kings

2012-13 results: 27-16-5, lost in conference final

Story line: Kings looking for replay of 2012 playoffs

Goaltending: Jonathan Quick (18-13-4, 2.45, .902). The Kings have incredible comfort playing low-scoring games because they know Quick's history of being stingy in big games.

Analysis: This team hasn't changed much since it won the Stanley Cup in 2012. If you factor in Slava Voynov's rise, Jeff Carter's improvement, added experience and improved depth, it might be better. The Kings are a big, strong, physically skilled team with an understanding of what it takes to win. General manager Dean Lombardi has built a team that seems better suited to play in April, May and June than in the regular season. As long as Anze Kopitar is scoring, Dustin Brown is hitting and Quick is knocking away pucks, this team is difficult to beat.

Breakthrough candidate: C Trevor Lewis is beginning to draw more attention around the NHL for his value as an energy guy. He is a candidate to make the U.S. Olympic team in that role.

Key question: Is D Willie Mitchell fit for duty? After missing all of last season with a major knee injury, Mitchell, 36, said he was ready to play this season. The Kings lost Rob Scuderi to free agency, but Mitchell's return creates a crowd on the blue line.

Forecast: This team has won 25 playoff games over the last 15 months. The Kings know how to win. Take Los Angeles to win its division.

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks

2012-13 results: 30-12-6, lost in first round

Story line: Ducks are married for life to Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry

Goaltending: Jonas Hiller (15-6-4, 2.36, .913), Viktor Fasth (15-6-2, 2.18, .921). The net probably will belong to Hiller to start the season, but there will be periods when Fasth looks like No. 1.

Analysis: The Ducks were able to sign Getzlaf and Perry to eight-year extensions when the prevailing wisdom was they probably could keep only one. Those signings caused salary-cap woes, and Bobby Ryan was a casualty. The Ducks are locked into the Getzlaf-Perry combo as the centerpiece of their offense for years to come. Secondary scoring also allowed Anaheim to rise last season. Andrew Cogliano, Daniel Winnik, Nick Bonino, Kyle Palmieri and Matt Beleskey combined for 42 goals. Anaheim thinks Jakob Silfverberg can replace Ryan's goals. One issue: Key defenseman Sheldon Souray tore a wrist ligament this summer and won't be ready until late December or beyond.

Breakthrough candidate: Speedy winger Emerson Etem, 21, has the potential to blossom into a 20-goal scorer. That's one reason the Ducks were comfortable trading Ryan.

Key question: Is Cam Fowler ready to be a premium defenseman? He topped 22 minutes a game last season at 21. He's a superior skater with an offensive flair. He could tally 50 points someday, possibly this season.

Forecast: The Ducks won't fly south in the standings. They will be in the hunt for a conference crown.

No. 3 San Jose Sharks

2012-13 results: 25-16-7, lost in second round

Story line: Sharks are swimming under radar

Goaltending: Antti Niemi (24-12-6, 2.16, .924). HeThe man didn't get enough credit for being the best goalie in the Western Conference last season. After winning the Stanley Cup as a no-name with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, he has proved he is not a one-hit wonder.

Analysis: The Sharks might not seem as menacing as a few years ago, but they still have the ability to bare their teeth. Most players say the Shark Tank is one of the more challenging road venues. The Sharks were 17-2-5 there last season. San Jose might seem the same because Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle remain on the roster, but the rise of Logan Couture has changed the team's look. The defense, while not spectacular, is sound.

Breakthrough candidate: D Brent Burns spent a couple of months at forward last season, and the Sharks are excited about having him there a full season. He's still expected to play the point on the power play. He is 6-5 and boasts a booming shot. He could have a heavy impact as a power forward.

Key question: Will the Sharks play better on the road? No NHL playoff team had a worse road record than their 8-14-2 mark. They'd help their cause if they were better 5-on-5.

Forecast: Beware, the Sharks will still be in the playoff pool. But it might take late-season heroics to secure a higher seed.

No. 4 Phoenix Coyotes

2012-13 results: 21-18-9, 10th in West

Story line: New owners keep Coyotes in desert

Goaltending: Mike Smith (15-12-5, 2.58, .910). With size, aggressiveness and puck-handling ability, he's the perfect fit for coach Dave Tippett's defensive system.

Analysis: GM Don Maloney has done a masterful job of keeping this team competitive amid the turmoil of the last four seasons. Having respected Shane Doan as captain helps. This summer, Maloney addressed the team's primary need by signing Mike Ribeiro. He will charge up an offense that scores by committee. Martin Hanzal, 26, seems ready to register a 50-point season. The Coyotes could use 20 goals from Mikkel Boedker this season. If the Coyotes score, they'll succeed, because Tippett will make sure the goals-against average is low.

Breakthrough candidate: D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 22, has quickly earned the reputation as one of the league's most complete young defensemen. Feel free to include him on your Norris Trophy watch list. He's a good dark-horse candidate.

Key question: Are the Coyotes in Arizona for good? The new owners have an out clause that would kick in after five years or $50 million in losses. But they have been adamant about their desire to stay in the desert. They are moving to Arizona.

Forecast: Get your white shirts ready, Coyotes fans. This team will make the playoffs.

No. 5 Edmonton Oilers

2012-13 results: 19-22-7, 12th in West

Story line: Oilers look to make playoffs for first time since 2006

Goaltending: Devan Dubnyk (14-16-6, 2.57, .920). Although the Oilers looked at goalies on the trade market, they seem content with Dubnyk as their primary puck stopper. The big worry: Will the backup goaltending be strong enough in a league in which every point matters?

Analysis: Even with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins possibly missing the first few weeks, the Oilers will be among the NHL's most dangerous offensive teams. Younger forwards Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov and Nugent-Hopkins are coveted performers. Add Sam Gagner to that list when he recovers from his broken jaw. The addition of David Perron and the decision not to trade Ales Hemsky bolster the offense. With Justin Schultz in his second season as the quarterback, the power play should be the best in the league. They'll score more than enough. The key is whether they have learned how to win games 2-1 and 3-2. Have they developed the mental toughness? Can they roll into a defensive posture if needed?

Breakthrough candidate: Yakupov could be a 30-goal scorer in his second season in the league. He's a dynamic presence who scored 17 goals in 48 games last season as a rookie.

Key question: Is Andrew Ference the missing piece on the defense? The Oilers are counting on his experience, grit and locker room presence being major factors in turning them into a playoff team.

Forecast: Edmonton will get up one day and be one of the league's best teams. It could be this season, but more likely it will be next season. Take the Oilers to finish a point or three out of the playoffs this season.

No. 6 Vancouver Canucks

2012-13 results: 26-15-7, lost in first round

Story line: Torts law rules in Vancouver

Goaltending: Roberto Luongo (9-6-3, 2.56, .907). With all of the attention paid to the Cory Schneider vs. Luongo soap opera, it was lost that Luongo has been a consistently effective goalie for a very long time. He has won an Olympic gold medal and two world championships and has a .919 career save percentage.

Analysis: New coach John Tortorella's demand for intensive play is far different from Alain Vigneault's approach. Tortorella vowed to change his approach, but grizzly bears don't suddenly become pussy cats. It will be interesting to watch how Henrik and Daniel Sedin get along with their new coach. The Canucks still possess a skilled scoring team with high-quality defenders. But Tortorella will insist they play differently. No doubt about that.

Breakthrough candidate: RW Zack Kassian is 22, and this could be the season when he finds the proper blend of grit and goals. Tortorella will demand much from him, and even if missing five games because of a suspension, he could net 20 goals.

Key question: Does Tortorella have a shorter shelf life with his teams? It depends on their level of success. Tortorella tries to get his team to play with firestorm intensity every night. No one on the New York Rangers was complaining in 2011-12 when they were the East's best team. The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't complain when they were winning the Stanley Cup in 2003-04. But when a team is struggling, his approach grinds on players.

Forecast: Can you imagine the uproar in Vancouver if the Canucks miss the playoffs in Tortorella's first season? It could happen, because they're in a challenging division.

No. 7 Calgary Flames

2012-13 results: 19-25-4, 13th in West

Story line: Rebuilding Flames bring in Brian Burke

Goaltending: Joey MacDonald (8-9-1, 2.87, .902), Karri Ramo (Kontinental Hockey League), Reto Berra. With Miikka Kiprusoff hanging up his skates, the Flames' goaltending is dangerously unsettled. MacDonald is a backup, and neither Ramo nor Berra is proven. The Flames picked up 6-4 Berra in the Jay Bouwmeester deal last season. He played last season in the Swiss League.

Analysis: Burke's arrival should give the organization a shot of enthusiasm. He says he will supervise rather than run the team on a day-to-day basis. But Burke comes with an aura of confidence. When he is in charge, you know there are short- and long-term plans. You know there will be accountability. And you know the team will be tough. With Jarome Iginla and Kiprusoff gone, the Flames don't have much star power. They were a mediocre offensive team last season, and only one team gave up more goals than Calgary. General manager Jay Feaster has drafted desirable prospects, but much work remains to be done. There are positives, namely the presence of veteran defensemen Dennis Wideman and Mark Giordano. The Flames didn't trade Mike Cammalleri. Jiri Hudler might be capable of 55 to 60 points. Curtis Glencross has proved he knows where the net is. But fans will need patience with this team.

Breakthrough candidate: Sven Baertschi will turn 21 shortly after opening day, and the Flames need him to play among their top six forwards. The Swiss standout was a 30-goal scorer as a junior player.

Key question: Who will score? Glencross should get 25 to 30 goals, but this team will need to score by committee to stay competitive.

Forecast: In a salary-cap world, it is as tough to project the worst team as it is to project the champion. But the Flames seem like contenders for the No. 1 pick.