A new wrinkle to the power rankings will see the 13 NHL.com and LNH.com staff members who decide where each team is ranked offer their thoughts on why they voted the way they did.
Each of the 13 members submitted their version of the Super 16, with the team that is selected first given 16 points, second gets 15, third 14, and so on down to No. 16.
With little surprise, the Colorado Avalanche are first and the Tampa Bay Lightning are second in the preseason Super 16. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season and return as a favorite to repeat this season.
Colorado defeated the Lightning in six games in the Stanley Cup Final, ending Tampa Bay's dream of a third straight Stanley Cup title.
Four of the top five teams and five of the top eight are from the Eastern Conference. There is some trepidation about where to put the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, perennial contenders who have key players dealing with injuries and age to start the season.
Here is the preseason edition of the Super 16, with thoughts from the staff members whose individual rankings are below: