from John Kreiser of NHL.com,

Here's a look at a player from each of the 16 teams in the Eastern Conference who'll be under pressure to perform as soon as the puck drops:

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins -- The 38-year-old defenseman began to look his age last season, finishing with eight goals and 20 points, his poorest full-season offensive totals in more than a decade. He also missed 19 games because of injury and looked slow for much of the season when he did play. With rising star Dougie Hamilton traded during the offseason, the Bruins need Chara to be a dominant force at each end of the ice, as he's been for much of his career, if they hope to return to the playoffs.

Ryan O'Reilly, Buffalo Sabres -- The Sabres, the NHL's worst offensive team in each of the past two seasons, hope O'Reilly can be the No. 1 center they've lacked for years. He didn't come cheaply; the Sabres traded three young players and the No. 31 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to the Colorado Avalanche to get O'Reilly, then signed him to a seven-year contract. He's being counted on to spark the offense and take some of the pressure off rookie center Jack Eichel, the second pick in the 2015 draft.

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