The NHL season is two days away.  We have already shared our predictions for the Eastern Conference and for the Western Conference.  Which teams will be better this season and which teams will be heading in the opposite direction?  Which teams will be in the play-offs an which teams will be also rans?  Which teams will be the dark-horse or cinderella teams?  We look at some key categories for the NHL teams for the 2015-2016 NHL season.

Top Puck Possession Teams

Here is a look at who we think will be the top puck possession teams this year.

1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
4. Nashville Predators
5. Washington Capitals
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Winnipeg Jets
8. St. Louis Blues
9. New York Islanders
10. Dallas Stars

8 Teams that will Make the Playoffs in the West

1. Anaheim Ducks
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Los Angeles Kings
5. Dallas Stars
6. Winnipeg Jets
7. Calgary Flames
8. Nashville Predators

8 Teams that will Make the Playoffs in the West

1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Washington Capitals
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. New York Islanders
5. New York Rangers
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Columbus Blue Jackets

7 Dark-Horse Teams to Make the Playoffs

Here is a look at eight NHL teams that are longshots to sneak into the playoffs.

1. San Jose Sharks
2. Vancouver Canucks
3. Colorado Avalanche
4. Florida Panthers
5. Minnesota Wild
6. Ottawa Senators
7. Edmonton Oilers

8 Teams that will See Improved Performance

These teams will see some great performance improvements although not all of these teams will be playoff teams.

1. Buffalo Sabres
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. Anaheim Ducks
5. Washington Capitals
6. Dallas Stars
7. Florida Panthers
8. Los Angeles Kings

8 Teams that will See Declined Performance

There are question marks with these teams as we expect these teams to be in tough all season long.

1. San Jose Sharks
2. Detroit Red Wings
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. New York Rangers
5. Carolina Hurricanes
6. New Jersey Devils
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
8. Boston Bruins

Top 10 Offensive Teams

Here are the ten teams that should have no problem filling the net this season.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Washington Capitals
3. St. Louis Blues
4. Anaheim Ducks
5. Chicago Blackhawks
6. Dallas Stars
7. New York Islanders
8. Montreal Canadiens
9. San Jose Sharks
10. Calgary Flames

Top 10 Defensive Teams

Here’s a look at the teams that should have the lowest goals against.

1. Los Angeles Kings
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Nashville Predators
4. Montreal Canadiens
5. Minnesota Wild
6. New York Rangers
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
8. St. Louis Blues
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Florida Panthers