Optimism reigns as a new year begins, and three teams in particular are set to take bigger steps forward in 2017 than the rest.

Here, then, are three teams on the rise:

Edmonton Oilers

Will the NHL's longest postseason drought come to an end in 2017?

After a surprise appearance in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers descent was rapid and their stay at the bottom prolonged, resulting in a full decade outside the playoff picture. The next longest drought belongs to the Carolina Hurricanes, who at least have the final series win over Edmonton to hang their hats on.

Finally, almost mercifully, there's light at the end of the tunnel, and it emanates mostly from Connor McDavid. Playing in only his second season, and after the first was cut short due to injury, the new captain is leading the league in scoring and has helped put the club in a playoff spot as the calendar gets set to turn to January.

He's not alone, with the likes of Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic, Jordan Eberle, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins helping out up front, with a revamped but still lacking blue line giving Cam Talbot enough support to get the job done in net more often than not.

Yes, we've become conditioned to expect the bottom to drop out at any time, but these Oilers appear to have a more determined look and, more importantly, a more balanced roster.

It all revolves around McDavid, though, and as long as he's on the ice, the Oilers are a must-watch club finally on the verge of taking the next step.

Nashville Predators

David Poile is about to reap the rewards from his roster shake up.

In 2016, the Predators general manager pulled off a pair of one-for-one trades that's positioned his club to legitimately - and finally - contend for the Stanley Cup as early as 2017.

Last January, Poile sent defenseman Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen, and then followed that up with a June deal that saw captain Shea Weber shipped off to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for P.K. Subban.

In so doing, he acquired a young, first-line center long coveted by the Predators, and assembled the kind of mobile defense corps that is the envy of the league.

Whether the Predators can get it done in 2017 remains to be seen, but Music City is primed for at least a couple playoff rounds. And even with Johansen set to become a restricted free agent, the cap space will be there to surround Filip Forsberg and Co. with the talent needed to put together a winning product.

One question remains in regards to the up and down play of Pekka Rinne in net, but look for highly touted Juuse Saros to take over as the team's starting goalie sooner rather than later, and don't be surprised if be becomes the next Matt Murray.

Vegas Golden Knights

The NHL's 31st franchise will literally be on the rise in 2017, moving from a team with a name yet to be officially trademarked to a 23-man roster set to take to the ice in October.

Yes, we know team owner Bill Foley and Black Knight Sports and Entertainment aren't concerned about the Golden Knights trademark issue, which NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has called a "routine matter."

Still, the rather embarrassing denial of the trademark application by the USPTO because of an apparent conflict with the The College of Saint Rose Golden Knights will need to be resolved, and the club has until June 7, 2017 to form an official response as to how the two can co-exist within the wider sports landscape.

But that's the boring stuff.

What's more of interest to the average hockey fan is the expansion draft, which will take place June 18-20, with the selections announced June 21.

The Golden Knights must select one player from each existing club for a total of 30 players, including 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. The 30 teams will have two options for players they wish to protect in the expansion draft:

a) Seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender

b) Eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goaltender

Add it all up, and every team will be affected by the ascent of the Golden Knights in 2017.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

'Tis the season to ask and hopefully receive.

As NHL teams arose Sunday morning, here's what each hoped to find under its figurative tree. Merry Christmas!

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Montreal Canadiens: While the Habs could use some help down the middle, the club can't be greedy, and Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais will be back for the playoffs. It's Carey Price's continued good health Montreal is hoping for most.

Ottawa Senators: The best Christmas gift of all would be for Nicholle Anderson's cancer to enter remission.

Boston Bruins: A backup goalie, please.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Some sort of remedy to reverse the club's injury curse.

Florida Panthers: Some puck luck. Jaromir Jagr is shooting 6.8 percent, Vincent Trochek 8.5 percent, Keith Yandle 2.4 percent, and Jussi Jokinen and Nick Bjugstad 4.5 percent.

Toronto Maple Leafs: A top-four defenseman and the kids could actually have Toronto in playoff contention come spring.

Detroit Red Wings: The Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar of 2014-15.

Buffalo Sabres: Goals. Buffalo is one of only three teams without a 10-goal scorer.

Metropolitan Division

Columbus Blue Jackets: For Sam Gagner's dream season - and the club's, really - to continue.

Pittsburgh Penguins: A home for Marc-Andre Fleury.

New York Rangers: Some help on the blue line for Henrik Lundqvist. He's earned it.

Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin is averaging 0.75 points per game, the fewest in his remarkable career, but Evgeny Kuznetsov's startling drop in production is more concerning. He has to get it going.

Philadelphia Flyers: For Steve Mason to keep doing what he's doing, especially after his nightmare October.

Carolina Hurricanes: A winger to play with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner.

New Jersey Devils: Another team without a 10-goal scorer, but the Devils never fill the net, so what New Jersey needs most is for Cory Schneider's .905 save percentage to rise - and fast.

New York Islanders: A time machine to go back and re-sign Kyle Okposo and not sign Andrew Ladd.

Western Conference

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks: Another team that can't be greedy, especially after the contributions of Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa through a quarter of the season - massive considering Jonathan Toews' struggles. But another defenseman wouldn't hurt.

Minnesota Wild: Devan Dubnyk is something else, and it's hard not to ask for his out-of-this-world play to continue, but a healthy Zach Parise, if that's possible, would be very nice.

St. Louis Blues: Perennial road warriors, the Blues desperately need better efforts away from home, where they've won only five of 16 games.

Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg's scoring touch. Please.

Dallas Stars: For the love of everything holy, some goaltending.

Winnipeg Jets: Less of a gap between the top six and bottom six forwards.

Colorado Avalanche: The first overall pick in 2017.

Pacific Division

San Jose Sharks: Offense from someone not named Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, or Logan Couture.

Edmonton Oilers: Anything at all from Benoit Pouliot.

Anaheim Ducks: Last season's John Gibson.

Los Angeles Kings: Some help from the hockey gods for Anze Kopitar, a career 12.2 percent shooter who's somehow at 4.9 through 29 games.

Calgary Flames: The Brian Elliott the Flames thought they traded for.

Vancouver Canucks: A rebuild.

Arizona Coyotes: A mulligan.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Has Al Montoya lost his confidence?

The Montreal Canadiens' backup goaltender is winless since his team's 10-0 blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 4, in which coach Michel Therrien left Montoya in net for all 10 goals against.

Those same Blue Jackets bested Montoya again Friday, although by a more modest 2-1 margin.

The Blue Jackets are hot, winners of 12 straight, while the Canadiens have grabbed just two wins in their last five outings.

In between the two matches versus Columbus, Montoya has dropped decisions to the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues.

Of the 47 goalies with as many starts as Montoya this season, only three have posted a worse showing than his post-Columbus .898 percentage.

For a team that relies on strong goaltending, and a healthy and rested Carey Price, a trustworthy backup is critical, and the state of Montoya's game is troubling.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks. It happened. Friday night.

It was a 2-1 overtime final, Nathan MacKinnon scoring the winner, giving Colorado - last in the NHL with 25 points - its first win in six games and only 12th of the season. But first-year head coach Jared Bednar is hoping it's the turning point of his team's fortunes.

"That was a great team effort from every guy," Bednar said after the game, according to the Denver Post's Mike Chambers. And it came one night after the club was embarrassed 6-0 on home ice by the Toronto Maple Leafs. "To a man, I thought we played the way we need to play. It's time to start building something. What better way to do it than against (Chicago), against (Cory Crawford), in (the United Center) and under the circumstances."

Crawford made his first start since Dec. 1, after undergoing an appendectomy. He stopped 32 shots, but was bettered by Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard, who stopped 38 of 39 shots with starter Semyon Varlamov out with a groin injury.

"It says a lot about our team," Bednar added. "Now we have to find a way to duplicate that performance and repeat it over and over again. That, to me, is the standard for our team and we have not met it enough."

The outlook remains bleak in Denver, however. Colorado has a league-low 67 goals for, while it's allowed 106. That minus-39 goal differential is worst in the league. A 4-11-1 record at home is also contributing to the team's struggles.

MacKinnon, who's clearly having a hard time with all the losing, still believes in his team.

"It just shows that when we want to play, when we're ready to play, we're a very good team and can play with anybody," the club's leading scorer said.

MacKinnon has nine goals and 14 assists this season.

The club is off for a few days thanks to the holiday break, but much work remains to be done. And the reality may be that this season is already lost.

Colorado ranks 30th in goals for (2) and goals against (3.2), and 25th on the power play (14.7 percent) and penalty kill (79 percent).

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shane Doan now has 400 goals, which is about the same number of teammates he's had over his 20-year career.

On Friday, the Arizona Coyotes captain scored his 400th NHL goal, beating Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen.

Teammates old and new got in on the well wishes:

Fellow Arizona athlete Larry Fitzgerald also chimed in on the accolades:

Friday's game also marked the 1,500th of Doan's career, in which he has amassed 555 assists alongside those 400 goals. The Alberta native ranks first all-time in games played, goals, assists, and points for the franchise.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It will be the United States versus Canada once again on New Years Eve at the World Junior Hockey Championship, as the rivalry renewed on Boxing Day at the 2016 tournament in Helsinki has returned to its rightful slot on the sports calendar.

Both teams will have appeared in three games before their head-to-head clash, which will decide seeding, if not the winner of Group B.

So, to help you contribute to the conversation sure to be held around shrimp rings and various finger foods while wearing party hats, we've broken down the rosters.

Forwards

In many respects, the level of talent eligible, but not at Canada's disposal is as interesting than the team in Toronto to start the tournament. Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, and Travis Konecny are among qualified skaters, while projected No. 1 overall draft selection Nolan Patrick is unavailable due to injury.

Regardless, this allows us to become familiar with the incoming wave of talent.

Lottery selections Dylan Strome and Mathew Barzal form a potentially dominant one-two accompaniment down the middle, while Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tyson Jost, and Michael McLeod are prized first-round talents on the roster. Taylor Raddysh, Mathieu Joseph, Dillon Dube, and Anthony Cirelli seem poised to break out in their first opportunities on the big stage, while Mitchell Stephens and Julien Gauthier are among two of the five returnees on a team with no draft-eligible players.

Even without Brock Boeser and surprise omissions Alex DeBrincat and Logan Brown, the U.S. possesses a group of forward prospects that can stand up to any - including Canada. The Americans have as many first-round futures as its rivals, led by a lottery pick from last summer in Clayton Keller. Returnee Colin White will be at the forefront of a group of mid-to-late first-round picks out of the development program, including Kieffer Bellows, Jack Roslovic, and Tage Thompson.

Running rampant this season in the Ontario Hockey League, Jeremy Bracco will be depended on to score. There's also a talented group, who by virtue of playing at the collegiate level, don't have eye-popping numbers, including Joey Anderson and Erik Foley, rising prospects Patrick Harper and Tanner Laczynski, as well as 16th overall selection Luke Kunin.

Edge: Canada.

Its high-end talent is superior, and the depth of scoring through the pre-tournament indicates that the top prospects will be protected, not relied on exclusively.

Defense

In most cases, reliance on an undrafted defenseman would cause a little angst for a hockey-mad nation like Canada. But Philippe Myers isn't your average player passed over seven times by all 30 teams.

The tall, mobile, workhorse from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is expected to log major minutes on a blue-line full of blue-chip prospects. It's expected that he'll slot in the top four with Thomas Chabot, Noah Juulsen, and Jake Bean - each first-round prospects. Mid-first round selection Dante Fabbro and second-round picks Kale Clague and Jeremy Lauzon round out the group.

It's another relatively thin back line for the United States, which will carry three defensemen chosen within the top-50 selections of their respective drafts. The returning Charlie McAvoy is expected to assume the workhorse role of Zach Werenski from the last tournament as the only high-end prospect in the group.

The U.S. group hails almost exclusively from the NCAA ranks, with Edmonton Oilers fourth round selection Caleb Jones the lone defender plying his trade in the CHL.

Edge: Canada.

The Americans were patterned similarly when they won bronze in Helsinki, but prospect to prospect, it's not particularly close.

Goaltending

Carter Hart and Connor Ingram - the top statistical goaltenders in the Western Hockey League - will look to solidify the often-tenuous position for Canada. Hart's expected to have the edge, but both have essentially been perfect in pre-competition contests.

Tyler Parsons is expected to be lead netminder for the United States. What the Memorial Cup winner may lack in experience, is made up for with his immense success in junior.

Edge: Unclear.

There's little separating two goaltenders chosen six slots apart last summer. Hart has the sparkling numbers, and Parsons the shiny trophies.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Christmas is a lifestyle to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The club was in the holiday mood after Friday night's win over the New Jersey Devils:

It's also selfie season:

Yep, the Pens clean up alright.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tradition is everything this time of year, and P.K. Subban continues his of giving back.

The former Canadiens defenseman famously donated $10 million to Montreal Children's Hospital last year, and treated kids to a "Winter Wonderland" during the holidays. And even though he's now a member of the Predators, Subban enlisted the help of his former friends in Montreal to help spread some goodwill in his new home, Nashville.

Yep, P.K. is still the best. Happy holidays.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States has its team.

USA Hockey announced Saturday morning its final 23-man roster for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship, which begins next week in Toronto.

Defenseman Chad Krys, a Chicago Blackhawks second-round pick in 2016, was the final cut.

Here's the team:

"We're excited about this group of players and the way in which they will maximize the style of hockey that head coach Bob Kotzko wants the team to play," general manager Jim Johannson said in a statement. "The talent level in the United States is among the best in the world and the difficulty we had identifying this year's roster speaks to that. These players earned their way on to this roster and we're looking forward to the tournament getting underway."

The U.S. - last year's bronze-medal winner - opens against Latvia at the Air Canada Centre on Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NHL Network.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Knowledge is power, especially in today's NHL.

The game is about more than strength and skill, and players and management alike are using that to their advantage off the ice.

It's all about being one step ahead of your opposition, separating yourself from traditionalists, and thinking outside the box, and these three men are doing all three.

Connor McDavid

There isn't a player in the league with a mind for the game as sharp as Connor McDavid's.

His hands are out of this world, and even more fascinating is that they're able to keep up with his legs, but what puts him above the rest is his ability to think two steps ahead.

At no point was this more clear than when McDavid scored arguably the goal of the year last season, gathering speed before splitting nearly the entire Columbus Blue Jackets team and beating Joonas Korpisalo.

Factor in that he was named the youngest captain in NHL history, and it's pretty obvious that he's as strong between the ears as he is on the puck.

Stan Bowman

No general manager has mastered the salary cap since its inception quite like Stan Bowman.

The Chicago Blackhawks GM has treated the cap as a bomb that he continually defuses, keeping his key players intact without ever being forced to blow the roster up.

He has been able to sign those players to massive contracts, while somehow dealing seemingly significant players, only to acquire cap-friendly replacements to lead them to further success. It's amazing to consider the Blackhawks' track record given they've dealt away Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Brandon Saad, and Patrick Sharp, among others, to deal with cap restraints.

In his seven seasons as general manager, Bowman has captured three Stanley Cups and reached the playoffs in each year, hitting the 100-point plateau in five of those seasons (he hit 97 in 2011, and was limited to just 48 games during the lockout in 2013).

The Blackhawks have become the model organization in the NHL, and Bowman is a large reason for that.

John Chayka

It was revolutionary thinking that got John Chayka his job last May.

Chayka was hired as the Arizona Coyotes' general manager as a 26-year-old, becoming the youngest GM in major-league sports history, largely due to his knowledge of advanced stats and unconventional thinking.

Early in his tenure with the team, he has proven he's not afraid to make big moves and pull the trigger to make his club better. The clearest example was when he flipped the 20th overall pick for the 16th to select Jakob Chychrun in the draft at the price of taking on Pavel Datsyuk's contract from Detroit.

Chychrun could pan out to be a solid defender down the line, while the club also needed to add money to hit the cap floor, which Datsyuk's $7.5-million contract helped with.

He has since made other smaller but crafty moves, and while his club sits among the worst in the league, they're built for future success.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.