2020-21 NHL Season Preview: North Division

As pucks drop in five NHL cities today and another 10 arenas Thursday, let's keep rolling through division previews for the unique season ahead. One of the most different parts of the 56-game regular season will be divisional play that groups eight or seven teams to only travel and play each other.

The playoffs will be intra-divisional for two rounds before reaching a final four NHL squads to decide the Stanley Cup come early July. The North division has certainly amped up the excitement for Canada-based fans since it features the seven teams based in that country, formed to adhere to Canada's travel and quarantine protocols to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a closer look at the division and its teams.

NORTH DIVISIONTeams: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadians, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets
Number of teams from Pacific Division and future Seattle Kraken rivals: Three. Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, even though many Canadians wish the all-country division could be permanent.
Top quote: "This Canadian division is going to be a blast," said Dave Tippett, Edmonton head coach and former Kraken senior advisor for hockey operations. "I told my wife the other day that this could be the most fun we've ever had and I've been around the league a long time."
Division outlook: There will be at least one and maybe two playoff-caliber teams that won't make the final four within the North, aka Canada, division. But the country's loyal and passionate followers of the sport are guaranteed one representative in the Cup semifinals. Ottawa will be improved but is the only team with low probability of getting into the postseason group, but the six others all qualified for the postseason in 2020.
Calgary Flames2019-20 finish: Lost 4-2 in games to the eventual Cup finalist Dallas Stars in the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New faces: Goalie Jacob Markstrom arrives via a sizeable free agency contract to be the No. 1 that fans (and apparently the front office) project as the missing piece for the Flames to make a serious Cup run. Bonus: Taking Markstrom away from Vancouver may negatively affect its divisional rival whether this special year or 2021-22 and beyond.
What to know: Forward Matthew Tkachuk is a legit NHL scoring star who can fuel a top-six forwards that soared in 2018-19 and might well do the same this season with Markstrom proving reliable and allowing the offense to take some risks. Tkachuk will see his brother and Ottawa rising star Brady Tkachuk quite a bit this season.

Outlook: Expect stellar play from this squad with coach Geoff Ward in sync with his players. The team was in charge of the Dallas playoff series before blowing a late lead and losing three games straight. They will come with chips on shoulders and, the hope is, a true elite goaltender in net.
Edmonton Oilers2019-20 finish: No. 5 seed Oilers lost to No. 12 seed Chicago 3-1 in games in Qualifying Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New faces: This is a sneaky-good set of additions to add depth and two-way play: Defenseman Tyson Barrie and forwards Kyle Turris, Jesse Puljujarvi and Dominik Kahun.
What to know: Edmonton coach and former Kraken senior advisor decided to play his tandem of scoring superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, on separate lines. It worked out, boosting Spokane-born Kailer Yamamoto to take a huge step forward as a point producer. Adding Barrie means a defender who can be a powerplay "quarterback" for McDavid and Draisaitl (or should that be the Draisaitl and McDavid since Draisaitl won last season's Hart trophy as NHL MVP.)

Outlook: Losing to Chicago-a team now in full rebuild-was a huge disappointment. It seemed unfair that the Oilers had to even play in the Qualifying Round with its stellar regular-season record. But new season, no excuses, but the new debate will no doubt focus on whether EDM has the goaltending (Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith) to advance out of the division.
Montreal Canadiens2019-20 finish: As a No. 12 seed, beat No. 5 Pittsburgh in the Qualifying Round before losing 4-2 in games to Philly in the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New faces: Lots of moves by Habs GM Marc Bergevin: G Jake Allen, F Josh Anderson, F Tyler Toffoli, F Michael Frolik, F Corey Perry, D Joel Edmundson, D Alexander Romanov
What to know: Allen was signed as a free agent to provide a dependable option for allowing future Hall of Fame goalie Corey Price to get regular-season rest, especially during the upcoming condensed schedule. Anderson arrives in a trade with Columbus for the popular Max Domi and third-round pick going to CBJ.

Outlook: This team looks ready to contend for a division title and maybe ride Price (and possibly Allen) during a Cup run. Adding Edmundson and Romanov will provide a significant upgrade to the defensemen group. Pressing question: Who will form the top line of forwards and will be capable of consistently causing matchup headaches for other North coaches?
Ottawa Senators2019-20 finish: Did not make the postseason round of 24.
New faces: No. 3 overall 2020 draft pick Tim Stuetzle arrives fresh from highly impressive World Juniors Championship performance for Team Germany. Same for No. 5 2020 pick and gold-medal-winning defenseman Jake Sanderson. Matt Murray, Cup-winning goalie for Pittsburgh, signed a huge deal to be the Senators' starter.
What to know: The new faces list needs a Part 2. Evgenii Dadonov, Alex Galchenyuk, Austin Watson, Erik Gudbranson, Cedric Paquette, Derek Stepan will all help on the offensive attack and, in many cases, tighten Ottawa's forward play as forecheckers to win puck possession.

Outlook: This group will be improved with a high-potential through-line of Stuetzle upfront, Sanderson on D and Murray in goal. And don't forget leading scorer Brady Tkachuk and stellar young defenseman Thomas Chabot. Coach D.J. Smith has a lot more to work with this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs2019-20 finish: Lost 3-2 in games to Columbus in the Qualifying Round.
New faces: T.J. Brodie and Zach Bogosian will strengthen the defense (much needed). Forwards Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmons will bring locker room presence.
What to know: Young star scorer Auston Matthews worked with a new trainer during the offseason and is psyched to show the difference. For now, he looks to be playing on the top line with fellow young star Mitch Marner and Thornton, suiting for his 23rd season still looking for a first Stanley Cup.

Outlook: The Leafs have the goaltending, scoring punch and, it appears, solid defensive to make it out of the division and, be still the beating hearts of Toronto, hoisting the Cup in July. It would end a drought of droughts-and everyone one in hockey would be thrilled for Thornton. Wait, was that a prediction or a fever dream?
Vancouver Canucks 2019-20 finish: Beat defending Cup champ St. Louis in the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs, then losing a tight series with Vegas in the second round.
New faces: 2018 Cup-winning goalie Braden Holtby joins as a free to help fill the void of Jacob Markstrom signing with Calgary. New arrival Nate Schmidt will help too.
What to know: This future Kraken rival is bound to be good for a number of seasons. Young goalie Thatcher Demko was nothing short of amazing in the playoffs. Quinn Hughes will be a top-three defenseman in the league for the next decade and Elias Pettersson figure to be a top-five forward for 10 seasons.

Outlook: Demko and Holtby will make a solid pair in net and likely get Kraken fans thinking about whether Holtby will be unprotected in July's expansion draft. Some core veteran forwards who can score boost the potential to advance out of the division.
Winnipeg Jets2019-20 finish: Lost 3-1 in games to Calgary in the Qualifying Round.
New faces: Elite center Paul Stastny joins to solidify the Jets' second line. He is back for his second tour with Winnipeg.
What to know: Goalie Connor Hellebuyck has quietly become a top-5 goalie in the league. Patrik Laine is looking for a bounce-back year, getting back to the 40-goal pace he set in his first two NHL seasons.

Outlook: Despite scoring power in Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Laine if he returns to form, Winnipeg probably suffers the most from the realignment of divisions up in the North. Too many good teams are likely to get in the way unless Hellebuyck goes to yet another level in his development.