from TSN,

They lost in the Western Conference Final to the Los Angeles Kings last season, but the Chicago Blackhawks open the season on top of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of three others from the Western Conference, including the defending-champion Kings, St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks.

There's not a lot to choose between the Blackhawks and Kings, the two premier franchises in the league over the past five seasons, but the Blackhawks' addition of Brad Richards is enough of an upgrade in their second-line centre spot to give Chicago the slight edge.

The top-ranked team from the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins, come in at five, one ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins. While those are familiar contenders, the East does appear wide open for challengers to bring down those perennial top teams.

The Dallas Stars are a team on the rise, opening this season at seven, after adding Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky in the offseason.

continued