(The 2014-15 NHL season is nearly upon us, and attempting to handicap the winners and losers can sometimes leave us speechless. So we decided to break down all 30 teams with the next best thing to words: Emojis!)

Last Season In Emojis

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Last Season, In Summary

As had been the case for the past several seasons, the 2013-14 campaign for the Pittsburgh Penguins was another “Stanley Cup or bust” year. It ended with another bust. After having a scare put into them by the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1, the Penguins blew a 3-1 series lead on the New York Rangers and fell in seven games.

The disappointing ending led to a sea of change on and off the ice for the Penguins. First, just when we thought both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero were getting canned, it turned out that Shero was the one who would be losing his job … at least first. The Penguins let Bylsma twist in the wind for three weeks before announcing Jim Rutherford as the new GM. His first move was relieving the head coach of his duties.

After missing out on a couple of prime candidates (like Willie Desjardins) Rutherford found his man in Portland Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston. Days later, the new GM dealt away 27-goal scorer James Neal to the Nashville Predators as the start of a bit of a face-lift for the defending Metropolitan Division champions.

Last Season’s Definitive Highlight

Sidney Crosby being Sidney Crosby doing Sidney Crosby-type things.

Off-Season Transactions

Neal being traded to the Predators was the first of many decisions by Rutherford to reshape the Penguins’ locker room. Brooks Orpik,a long-time stalwart on the blue line, wasn’t brought back, and along with Matt Niskanen, signed a rich contract with the Washington Capitals. Also cashing in: Deryk Engelland, who signed a three-year, $8.7 million deal with the Flames, and Jussi Jokinen, who will make $16 million over the next four year with the Florida Panthers.

Other departures included Tanner Glass and Lee Stempniak (Rangers), Joe Vitale (Coyotes),

Christian Ehrhoff was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres in June and quickly snapped up by the Penguins on a one-year, $4 million deal. Hoping to protect the team’s stars, Steve Downie was reunited with his head coach in Tampa Bay, Rick Tocchet. Evgeni Malkin saw both of his linemates sign elsewhere and will try and form some chemistry with Patric Hornqvist.

In an effort to repair the bottom six, Rutherford acquired Nick Spaling in the Neal trade, signed Blake Comeau, and brought back Marcel Goc, Jason Megna and Brandon Sutter.

Adding to their goaltending depth, Thomas Greiss was brought in after spending last season in Phoenix.

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