NHL Eastern Conference: Why your favorite team won't win the Stanley Cup

No matter how you finished last season, a new campaign offers renewed hope for all 30 teams in the NHL. While there is still an abundance of quality free agents on the market, for the most part the main framework for each team is set. And with about three weeks remaining until training camps open, it's not too early to start handicapping the new season.

The following will outline the Eastern Conference teams' biggest potential roadblock to winning the Stanley Cup in 2015-16. This is not to say that each issue is created equal, or that each one is the only problem facing the respective team. The likelihood of the Buffalo Sabres winning the Stanley Cup still is much lower than the Tampa Bay Lightning's, for instance. Further, this list does not account for the ability teams have to patch holes (minor-league depth, money) during the season.

(Check back next week for reasons to be optimistic.) 

Boston Bruins: Weaker roster. The Bruins didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season and then traded Milan Lucic. Riley Smith and Dougie Hamilton. They allowed Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell leave through free agency. They added Matt Beleskey, Jimmy Hayes, Zac Rinaldo and Matt Irwin. Obviously, the Bruins hope that younger players such as David Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner will step up.  It’s hard to make a case that this Bruins team has a better shot at winning the Stanley Cup than last season’s Bruins. (Kevin Allen)

Buffalo Sabres: From worst to best? Even with the arrival of super prospect Jack Eichel and the acquisition of Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane’s first season as a Buffalo player, the Sabres won’t be able to improve enough to make the playoffs. Remember, this team has only won 44 of their last 162 games over the past two season. Many bad habits need to be corrected. (KA)

Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward. His time has come and gone as a goalie deserving of a majority of starts but his $6.8 million salary may dictate otherwise. Ward has recorded a well-below average .914 save percentage at even strength over the past two seasons. If the Hurricanes want the best chance win this year, Eddie Lack needs to be allowed to play -- and then be given a long leash. (Jimmy Hascup)

Columbus Blue Jackets: No. 1 defenseman. Jack Johnson is not top-pair defenseman. Ryan Murray could become one, but he's 21 with 78 games of experience and coming off an injury-plagued season. Without a standout workhorse on the blue line, it's hard to make a deep run. (JH)

Detroit Red Wings: Early question marks. The Red Wings are a legitimate contender if everything went their way, but Pavel Datsyuk will start the season on the injured list and there’s uncertainty about Johan Franzen’s future.  Can Brad Richards carry the load early for Detroit? Is Petr Mrazek or Jimmy Howard the No. 1 goalie? Can the defense be elite level? Too many questions for Detroit to win it all. ​(KA)

Florida Panthers: Still learning the way. The Panthers have only qualified for the playoffs once in the past 14 seasons. They have to qualify for the playoffs before they can learn how to win the playoffs. The mission this season is to make the playoffs. That will be a big enough challenge. ​(KA)

Montreal Canadiens: Price needs more support. It’s said that goaltending and defense win Stanley Cup championships, but you still have to be able to score crucial goals. The Canadiens simply don’t score enough to be a primary contender. The addition of Alexander Semin is a good roll of the dice, but he’s not the answer. The Canadians ranked 20th in scoring last season, and no team ranked below them in offense made the playoffs. ​(KA)

New Jersey Devils: Offense. They finished 28th in scoring last season, and it's hard to see that improving much more now. There's just very little high-end talent in the forward group. (JH)

New York Islanders: Team defense. The Islanders ranked seventh-worst in scoring chances against per 60 minutes last season -- a slight improvement from 2013-14 -- so it's not just on the six defenseman. Outside of Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk, the Islanders' remaining defensemen had a down year when it comes to defensive impact, per War-on-Ice.com. Tighten up the defensive zone and it could be a special season in Brooklyn. (JH)

New York Rangers: Misuse of assets. (See Martin St. Louis last season as a top-six forward.) This is a Cup-caliber roster. Using Dan Girardi as the second defenseman and Tanner Glass regularly on the fourth line, with other better options at coach Alain Vigneault's disposal, will ensure another one of Henrik Lundqvist's prime years is wasted. (JH)

Ottawa Senators: No offseason improvements. The Senators were a solid, efficient team last season. They were not to be taken lightly, but they were not a team to be feared. They didn’t make any offseason moves to improve themselves. Andrew “Hamburglar” Hammond’s presence isn’t enough to make them a true Stanley Cup contender. ​(KA)

Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier. The 22-year-old has developed into a solid defensive center, but he creates a lineup disadvantage as a second-line center because his offensive production is mediocre; he has topped out at 15 goals and 39 points. Couturier at least has the potential to become much more. (JH)

Pittsburgh Penguins: Blue line. Kris Letang has not played a full season since 2010-11. Gone are veterans Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff, though Olli Maata will be back and Derrick Pouliot is highly regarded. GM Jim Rutherford knows the defense is the team's biggest question mark. (JH)

Tampa Bay Lightning: Defense depth inconsistency. The Lightning clearly have the personnel required to win a Stanley Cup, but it’s challenging to duplicate the sustained run they made last season to reach the Final. They will probably lead the NHL in goals scored. Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman are difference-makers on defense, but Tampa Bay has shown some vulnerability in their second- and third-pairings. ​(KA)

Toronto Maple Leafs: Full rebuild. The Maple Leafs traded their most dangerous offense player (Phil Kessel) and have fully committed to a rebuilding strategy. The expectation is that they will move more veterans, perhaps Tyler Bozak and/or Dion Phaneuf, as the season wears on. That’s not the behavior a team that expects to make a run at the Stanley Cup. ​(KA)

Washington Capitals: Center depth. Evgeny Kuznetsov packs a world of offensive talent and appears to be primed for a great career. He's likely being counted on as the second-line center in his second full season. If he's not ready, the Capitals are in trouble because there isn't a sure 2C on the roster. (JH)

PHOTOS: Players on new teams in 2015-16