Which NHL teams bring the most intrigue to 2026-27?

You can never really know what’s in store for a team until they hit the ice and the season gets underway, but some clubs feel more easily assessed than others at this point in the off-season. For example, it’s not a stretch to suggest the Colorado Avalanche are once again expected to set the pace (led by the NHL’s first-ever $20-million man!); or that the Vegas Golden Knights are all-in to return to the Stanley Cup Final. It’s safe to say the Carolina Hurricanes are built to run it back, and that the Montreal Canadiens continue to be a team…