Dan Rosen of NHL.com answers questions from the fans,

What non-playoff team is going to be a Stanley Cup contender in 2-3 years? Which player(s) on that team will become superstars in the NHL?

The New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings have the pieces in place to realistically believe they can be a playoff contender as soon as next season if a few things get figured out. Give them a few more years and maybe they're in the mix as Cup contenders....

New Jersey and Detroit must improve defensively. That might require patience because of the pending emergence of defenseman prospects Luke Hughes for the Devils and Simon Edvinsson for the Red Wings. Hughes was the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and Edvinsson was the No. 6 pick. Each could be an immediate impact player when he reaches the NHL, but when is the question. Hughes is playing for the University of Michigan. Edvinsson is playing for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. When they're ready, the Devils could have a top defense pair of Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, and the Red Wings could have Edvinsson and Moritz Seider, who should be among the favorites to win the Calder Trophy voted as the NHL rookie of the year.