The Montreal Canadiens celebrate 100 years of hockey: Consider this hockey's version of the goodbye to Yankee Stadium. There is no more storied franchise in the sport, and no better history to revel in. Expect plenty of great media moments, as well as a great team chasing a Stanley Cup. It would be poetic if former Habs captains Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau could push this team to a championship.

The return of the mullet: Barry Melrose has become more famous as an ESPN analyst than he ever was as a coach, but his move behind the Tampa Bay bench after a 14-year coaching hiatus has many people excited about Lightning hockey. The fact that the new owners have turned over the roster and appear ready to do even more shuffling adds to the enthusiasm.

Winds of change blow in Chicago: Let's face it, the Blackhawks organization turned its back on the fans. It traded away Ed Belfour, Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios and made the playoffs once in nine years. Now, a new management group has brought in young players, high-priced free agents and has quadrupled the season ticket base (from just over 3,000 to 13,000). What's more, they've convinced the league to play the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. Hockey in Chicago, now that is a novel thought.

Detroit dynasty? It could happen. The Red Wings, on paper, are the best team in the NHL. They won the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup last season and then added free-agent winger Marian Hossa. How Detroit does it in a salary cap era is a miracle, but the smart money is on another Stanley Cup in Hockeytown.

Penguin shuffle: All Sidney Crosby has done in his three NHL seasons is win a scoring title, an MVP and help the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals. And yet there are some who still question whether the Penguins have enough to win a championship or whether they're about to flame out. With Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, they will definitely be worth watching.

Nov. 8: Hockey Hall of Fame Game, Montreal at Toronto.

Nov. 10: Hockey Hall of Fame induction, Toronto.

Jan. 1: Winter Classic, Detroit vs. Chicago, Wrigley Field.

Jan. 25: All-Star Game, Montreal.

March 3: Trade deadline.

April 15: Stanley Cup playoffs begin

Western Conference: Detroit (Central champ), Anaheim (Pacific champ), Calgary (Northwest champ), Dallas, San Jose, Chicago, Colorado, Edmonton

Eastern Conference: Pittsburgh (Atlantic champ), Montreal (Northeast champ), Washington (Southeast champ), New Jersey, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Boston, Tampa Bay

Western Conference finals: Detroit over Dallas

Eastern Conference finals: Montreal over Pittsburgh

Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit over Montreal

Hart Trophy (MVP): Alexander Ovechkin, Washington

Art Ross Trophy (top scorer): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh, 121 points

Vezina Trophy (top goaltender): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey

Norris Trophy (top defenseman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit

Calder Trophy (top rookie): Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay