from Adam Kimelman of NHL.com,

Can Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning regain the form he displayed before his injury last season?

Yes. Stamkos was on his way to a Hart Trophy-caliber season, scoring 14 goals in his first 16 games and carrying Tampa Bay to first place in the Atlantic Division. His season came to a sudden halt Nov. 11 when he fell into a goal post during a game against the Boston Bruins and sustained a broken right tibia. He missed almost four months, but his scoring touch was there when he returned. He finished with 25 goals in 37 games; had he scored at that pace for 82 games he would have had 55. Last month Stamkos told the Lightning website that his right leg is stronger now than before he was injured. So can he score 50 this season? What about 60 goals? There really are no limits for Stamkos, who enters the season as a favorite to win the Rocket Richard Trophy for the third time, and maybe collect even more hardware.

Are the Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler the best 1-2 center punch in the League?

No, but they're real close. With Jeff Carter again playing center on a full-time basis, it's hard to argue with the results Carter and Anze Kopitar have had the past three seasons with the Kings. Getzlaf and Kesler could be just as productive this season, though. Getzlaf was a Hart Trophy nominee last season after scoring a career-best 31 goals and finishing second in the League with 87 points. Kesler could be rejuvenated following a trade away from the Vancouver Canucks. He had 25 goals last season and his ability defensively -- he won the Selke Trophy in 2011 -- will take some of that burden from Getzlaf. A number of teams tried to get better down the middle: The Dallas Stars added Jason Spezza behind Tyler Seguin, the Chicago Blackhawks signed Brad Richards to play behind Jonathan Toews, and the St. Louis Blues signed Paul Stastny to go with David Backes. The Kings' Kopitar and Carter are the standard entering the season, but the Ducks' duo is not far behind.

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