Posted October 3rd at 4:00pm.

The puck is almost ready to drop on the latest NHL season and EA SPORTS NHL is continuing its annual tradition of simulating the upcoming season. Will Connor McDavid lead the scoring race? Will Erik Karlsson win the Norris Trophy? Who will have the best odds to draft first overall in 2018? Can Sidney Crosby captain the Pittsburgh Penguins to a third straight Stanley Cup? How will the Vegas Golden Knights do in their first full season? And, most importantly, who will win the Stanley Cup?

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their dominance in the league, finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings and capturing the Presidents' Trophy. After sneaking into the playoffs last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs make another step forward and find themselves in the playoffs again. Key offseason transactions landed the Carolina Hurricanes in the final playoff spot. Only New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators failed to return to the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. 1. Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts

2. Washington Capitals – 109 pts

3. Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts

4. Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts

5. Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts

6. Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts

7. Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card

8. Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card

9. New York Rangers – 93 pts

10. Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts

11. Florida Panthers – 90 pts

12. New York Islanders – 89 pts

13. Ottawa Senators – 85 pts

14. Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts

15. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts

16. Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts METROPOLITAN DIVISION The Washington Capitals take a step back this season, but still find themselves amongst the top teams in the entire NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their strong play from last year into this season, once again emerging as a top team in the NHL. 1. Pittsburgh Penguins – 112 pts

2. Washington Capitals – 109 pts

3. Columbus Blue Jackets – 98 pts

4. Carolina Hurricanes – 95 pts – Wild Card

5. New York Rangers – 93 pts

6. New York Islanders – 89 pts

7. Philadelphia Flyers – 81 pts

8. New Jersey Devils – 79 pts ATLANTIC DIVISION The Tampa Bay Lightning return to form and win the Atlantic Division thanks to a healthy lineup. The Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins return to the playoffs once again. The Buffalo Sabres, led by Jack Eichel, came close to making the playoffs but fell just short. The Detroit Red Wings finish last place in the league, securing the best odds for picking first overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. 1. Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 pts

2. Montreal Canadiens – 101 pts

3. Toronto Maple Leafs – 97 pts

4. Boston Bruins – 95 pts – Wild Card

5. Buffalo Sabres – 92 pts

6. Florida Panthers – 90 pts

7. Ottawa Senators – 85 pts

8. Detroit Red Wings – 69 pts WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

The new-look Dallas Stars made some major splashes in the off-season and they proved to be worthwhile as the Stars led the Western Conference. In their first full season, the Vegas Golden Knights showed that they could compete at the NHL level, but ultimately fell short of the playoff picture. The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues were the only two Western Conference teams to not return to the playoffs. 1. Dallas Stars – 104 pts

2. Nashville Predators – 103 pts

3. Minnesota Wild – 100 pts

4. Edmonton Oilers – 99 pts

5. Winnipeg Jets – 98 pts – Wild Card

6. Calgary Flames – 95 pts

7. San Jose Sharks – 94 pts

8. Anaheim Ducks – 94 pts – Wild Card

9. St. Louis Blues – 93 pts

10. Arizona Coyotes – 89 pts

11. Los Angeles Kings– 88 pts

12. Chicago Blackhawks – 86 pts

13. Colorado Avalanche – 81 pts

14. Vegas Golden Knights - 78 pts

15. Vancouver Canucks – 75 pts CENTRAL DIVISION In the tough Central Division, big strides made by the Winnipeg Jets young stars propelled them back into the playoff picture. The Nashville Predators continued their success from their Stanley Cup Final run. For the first time since 2007-08, the Chicago Blackhawks failed to make the playoffs. 1. Dallas Stars – 104 pts

2. Nashville Predators – 103 pts

3. Minnesota Wild – 100 pts

4. Winnipeg Jets – 98 pts – Wild Card

5. St. Louis Blues – 93 pts

6. Chicago Blackhawks – 86 pts

7. Colorado Avalanche – 81 pts PACIFIC DIVISION Connor McDavid led the Edmonton Oilers to the Pacific Division banner for the first time in franchise history. 1. Edmonton Oilers – 99 pts

2. Calgary Flames – 95 pts

3. San Jose Sharks – 94 pts

4. Anaheim Ducks – 94 pts – Wild Card

5. Arizona Coyotes – 89 pts

6. Los Angeles Kings– 88 pts

7. Vegas Golden Knights - 78 pts

8. Vancouver Canucks – 75 pts STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS STANLEY CUP FINAL: Tampa Bay Lightning VS. Edmonton Oilers

After a grueling 82 game season, two teams chalked full of superstar talent faced off in the Stanley Cup Final. In Game 7, Steven Stamkos scored 12 minutes into the second period to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 lead and ended up capturing their second Stanley Cup in Franchise history. Nikita Kucherov took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP after registering 14 goals and 27 points in the postseason. STANLEY CUP WINNERS: Tampa Bay Lightning

END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS