ATLANTIC DIVISION
BOSTON BRUINS
Last season: 42-31-9; missed playoffs
What’s new: The Bruins added centres David Backes and Riley Nash, as well as backup goaltender Anton Khudobin, but did nothing to address a defence anchored by 39-year-old Zdeno Chara. Backes is coming off a 21-goal season in St. Louis and must fill the hole left by the departure of Loui Eriksson, who was Boston’s No. 2 scorer with 63 points.
Expectations: The Bruins didn’t do enough in the off-season to avoid missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
BUFFALO SABRES
Last season: 35-36-11; missed playoffs
What’s new: Just a year after adding second-overall pick Jack Eichel and Team Canada World Cup add-on Ryan O’Reilly, the Sabres further augmented their forward ranks this summer by landing former Islanders sniper Kyle Okposo, who has averaged 61 points per season over the past three campaigns.