2013-2014 NHL Teams To Watch

            With the NHL season just around the corner, it is time to discuss which teams that you should keep an eye on this coming season. Many mediocre and good teams this off season made some great acquisitions. In my opinion, there are 6 teams that should have an eye kept on them this NHL season. Starting with the number 6 team, the Montreal Canadians. Despite not making many transactions this off season, they still made a pretty big one. The Canadians signed all star forward Danny Briere to a  2 year, 8 million dollar contract. Briere adds even more talent to the already highly skilled Canadians. This acquisition may finally give the Canadians a good chance to end their Stanley Cup drought of 20 years. They may finally have a really good chance to be really big contenders for the Stanley Cup this year, so keep an eye on them, for they are a team to watch.

             The next team that should have an eye closely kept on them are the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite losing their star forward, Danny Briere, the Flyers managed to grab one of the best centers in the NHL: Vinny Lecavalier. They ended up signing him to a 5 year, 22.5 million dollar contract. Not only did the Flyers add Lecavalier, but they also went out and added a top defensemen, that will surely raise the level of play for the Flyers. They signed all star defensmen, Mark Streit, to a 4 year, 21.5 million dollar contract. With so much talent added to their team, the flyers are looking to bounce back from last season, after disappointingly not making the playoffs. Now they may be considered a threat in the Eastern Conference as a Stanley Cup contender; however, it will be interesting to see if their talented players will be able to gel together for their first season.

              Now this next team is truly underrated. After just missing out on a playoff spot last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets are now looking to finally get a playoff spot this season for only the second time of their career. Despite being only around since 2000, and having been only 4 years since they made the playoffs, the Blue Jackets would love to add to their scarce playoff resume'. After their star goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina trophy last season, the Blue Jackets came out this off season, hungry for a big acquisition. Well, the Blue Jackets did just that. They went out and signed the Boston Bruins first line right winger, Nathan Horton, to a 7 year, 37.1 million dollar deal. This transaction may finally be what the Blue Jackets need. Horton adds playoff experience, as well as a lot of offensive talent. It now seems like the Blue Jackets have all the tools needed to make the playoffs. I definitely recommend keeping an eye on this team, who are incredibly hungry for making the playoffs.

              The Dallas Stars now complete the 4th of the 6 teams to watch for. After a poor .500 season last year, the Stars had no chance of making the playoff at all. This off season, the stars went big on acquiring some talent on the offense. The ended completing a 7  player trade with the Boston Bruins. They sent one of their best fowards, Loui Eriksson, and 3 other prospects to the Bruins, for the Bruin's youngster Tyler Seguin, and other forward Rich Peverley, as well as another prospect.  With two new faces of their offense, the Stars now may have a shot to make the playoffs this year. Don't get me wrong, they may need to rebuild, and add a little more talent the next couple of years in order to have a playoff worthy team, but they still may have a chance to squeak in the playoffs with one of the lower seeds this season. Regardless, they Stars are still worthy of having an eye kept on them

              The second to last team worth  mentioning are the Boston Bruins. After suffering a disappointing game six loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Bruins came out this off season looking to replace some departed players. Well, the bruins did just that. After trading away their youngster Tyler Seguin and other Forward Rich Peverley, the Bruins acquired former Dallas Star left winger, Loui Eriksson, whom in my opinion has the potential to be a first line starter for the Bruins. Not only did they add a left winger, but they also went out and signed veteran all star forward Jarome Iginla to a one year, six million dollar contract. Despite losing what some thought some key players to the Bruins (Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton), the Bruins may actually be better than the year before. The only way to find out is to see what happens this season, but the Bruins, now with their new and improved offense,  have the potential to be a huge threat for Stanley Cup champions, meaning they are worth to keep an eye on.

             The Final team worth mentioning is the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a heartbreaking game 7 loss to the Bruins in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, the Leafs ended up setting a tee times on the golf courses a little earlier then they expected. Their only big transaction this off season was signing forward David Clarkson to a franchise contract for 7 years, worth 36.75 million dollars. They may not seem like a team that should be watched; however, they are one of the most underrated teams in the NHL. With strong goal tending from James Reimer, and solid forward lines, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the potential to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. They also have one thing that most teams don't have: Hunger. The desire to bring back a Stanley Cup to Toronto. They were very disappointed by an early departure from the playoffs last season, and now look to wreak havoc among the Eastern Conference. Fueled by their anger from last season, the Maple Leafs may be considered a contender for the Stanley Cup. They should be the number one team watched this season, because they may surprise many people.