TEAM BY TEAM

1. DALLAS STARS

Coach: Ken Hitchcock, fifth season.

1998-99: 51-19-12, 114 points.

Who’s new: Defenseman Jamie Pushor (trade with Atlanta).

Outlook: Complacency may be the Stanley Cup champions’ biggest foe. They have the talent to repeat but may be less willing to push hard for Hitchcock, whose prodding irked some players. They want to infuse youth and speed into the lineup and didn’t re-sign veterans Dave Reid, Craig Ludwig and Pat Verbeek. Jamie Langenbrunner is ready to become an offensive force, and Mike Modano (34 goals, 81 points in 77 games) is in his prime. Joe Nieuwendyk and 39-year-old Guy Carbonneau give Dallas strength up the middle, and the core defense of Darryl Sydor, Sergei Zubov and Derian Hatcher is formidable. They can repeat if restricted free agent Richard Matvichuk signs and if they stay motivated.

2. COLORADO AVALANCHE

Coach: Bob Hartley, second season.

1998-99: 44-28-10, 98 points.

Who’s new: Goalie Marc Denis (rookie), owner Donald Sturm. What’s new: Pepsi Center.

Outlook: Losing free agents Theo Fleury and Valeri Kamensky weakens them on the wings, but losing defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre may hurt more. Colorado overcame a slow start to finish second in the West and fourth overall, but that will be tough to duplicate because Peter Forsberg--probably the NHL’s top two-way player--may be out until December because of shoulder surgery. There’s still depth up front with Joe Sakic (41 goals, 96 points), Adam Deadmarsh (22 goals, 49 points) and wingers Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury. The defense is unreliable after Adam Foote, Aaron Miller and erratic Sandis Ozolinsh. Patrick Roy (2.29 goals-against, .917 save percentage) is a fierce competitor but will see a lot of shots.

3. DETROIT REDWINGS

Coach: Scotty Bowman, seventh season.

1998-99: 43-32-7, 93 points.

Who’s new: Defenseman Steve Duchesne (free agent), goalie Ken Wregget (free agent), goalie Manny Legace (free agent), defenseman Jiri Fischer (rookie).

Outlook: Age, fatigue and a lack of speed ended the Red Wings’ quest for a third straight Cup in the West semifinals. Re-signing Norris Trophy runner-up Nick Lidstrom was vital, but kids such as Fischer and Aaron Ward must take some minutes from Chris Chelios, 37, and Larry Murphy, 38. Steve Yzerman scored nine goals in 10 playoff games but got little help; the Red Wings need scoring and consistency from Sergei Fedorov (26 goals, 63 points) and Vyacheslav Kozlov (29 goals, 58 points). They will miss character players Darren McCarty (unsigned) and Joe Kocur (abdominal surgery). Chris Osgood (2.42 goals-against, .910 save percentage) is steady, not spectacular. This could be their last gasp before they need a major overhaul.

4. MIGHTY DUCKS

Coach: Craig Hartsburg, second season.

1998-99: 35-34-13, 83 points.

Who’s new: Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky (trade with Phoenix), left wing Ted Donato (trade with Ottawa).

Outlook: Their success--as always--hinges on developing second and third lines to support NHL goal-scoring champion Teemu Selanne (47 goals, 107 points) and Paul Kariya (39 goals, 101 points). Steve Rucchin (23 goals, 62 points), Marty McInnis, Matt Cullen and Antti Aalto should help--and they will have to step up if Kariya’s hip injury lingers. They also must spend less time in their own end: Opponents took 2,596 shots on Duck goalies last season, third most in the NHL. Tverdovsky is expected to add zip to the transition game, but he’s shaky defensively. So is Fredrik Olausson, whose 16 goals and 56 points boosted the league-leading power play (22%).

5. ST. LOUIS BLUES

Coach: Joel Quenneville, third season.

1998-99: 37-32-13, 87 points.

Who’s new: Goalie Roman Turek (trade with Dallas), right wing Terry Yake (waiver draft), owners Bill and Nancy Laurie.

Outlook: Giving Dallas a second-round draft pick for Turek may be the Blues’ best trade in years. Turek, 29, was stuck behind Ed Belfour in Dallas but was impressive in spot duty. The Blues expect a lot from him after using five goalies who compiled a league-low .888 save percentage last season. Norris Trophy winner Al MacInnis and future winner Chris Pronger seem tireless, but the defense is otherwise so-so. The Blues are solid up front after a breakthrough season by Slovakian center Pavol Demitra (37 goals, 89 points), 31 goals from Pierre Turgeon, 24 from Scott Young and 20 from Scott Pellerin. Geoff Courtnall has recovered from the concussion that cut short his season; if he’s his old, feisty self, the Blues will thrive.

6. SAN JOSE SHARKS

Coach: Darryl Sutter, third season.

1998-99: 31-33-18, 80 points.

Who’s new: Right wing Niklas Sundstrom (trade with Tampa Bay), rookie Brad Stuart.

Outlook: The Sharks may have the NHL’s best collection of young talent. By re-signing late addition Vincent Damphousse, they took pressure off their kids and kept a savvy playmaker. Left wings Jeff Friesen (22 goals, 57 points) and Marco Sturm (16 goals, 38 points) and center Patrick Marleau (21 goals, 45 points) have vast potential; Sundstrom is a fine two-way player who can fortify what was a pop-gun offense. The defense isn’t great, and the Sharks are counting on Gary Suter rebounding after missing a year because of arm surgery. Bryan Marchment returns to terrorize foes. Steve Shields (2.22 goals-against, .921 save percentage) will push Mike Vernon.

7. PHOENIX COYOTES

Coach: Bobby Francis, first season.

1998-99: 39-31-12, 90 points.

Who’s new: Francis, center Travis Green (trade with Ducks), defenseman Todd Gill (free agent).

Outlook: Their annual playoff choke ended Jim Schoenfeld’s coaching tenure. Francis, son of former NHL goalie and executive Emile Francis, inherits a host of problems. Restricted free agent Nikolai Khabibulin (2.13 goals-against, .913 save percentage) hasn’t re-signed, leaving Mikhail Shtalenkov and journeyman Bob Essensa in net. Robert Reichel, their second-leading scorer with 26 goals and 69 points, is also unsigned. The Coyotes have a ton of talent but fail every year because of bad chemistry created by Jeremy Roenick (24 goals, 72 points) and Keith Tkachuk (36 goals, 58 points). Sheer ability and the weakness of second-tier teams in the West will keep them in the playoff picture.

8. KINGS

Coach: Andy Murray, first season.

1998-99: 32-45-5, 69 points.

Who’s new: Murray, right wing Ziggy Palffy and center Bryan Smolinski (trade with New York Islanders), defenseman Frantisek Kaberle (signed from Europe), and right wing Marko Tuomainen (rookie). What’s new: Staples Center.

Outlook: Palffy brings speed and creativity to a feeble offense and is likely to revive Slovakian compatriot Jozef Stumpel. If Palffy approaches his old 40-goal form and Stumpel and Glen Murray are the offensive forces they were two seasons ago, the Kings’ 25th-ranked offense will improve. They were wise to bring hulking defenseman Aki Berg back from Finland, but that’s negated by their impasse with Mattias Norstrom, a hard hitter who complements Rob Blake. Donald Audette (18 goals in 49 games) was a great find, but it may be unrealistic to ask 33-year-old Luc Robitaille to score 39 goals again. Kaberle, a veteran of the Swedish league, may be a real find. They can squeeze into the playoffs if their goalies don’t get hurt, their power play improves and their defense holds up.

9. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Coach: Lorne Molleken, first full season.

1998-99: 29-41-12, 70 points.

Who’s new: Defenseman Bryan McCabe (trade with Vancouver), left wing Wendel Clark (free agent).

Outlook: The Blackhawks were 13-6-4 after Molleken replaced Dirk Graham and gave them offensive freedom. Right wing Tony Amonte (career-best 44 goals) was their lone threat, but they have high hopes for right wing Jean-Pierre Dumont, who had nine goals and 15 points in 25 games. Goalie Jocelyn Thibault (2.71 goals-against, .905 save percentage) did well behind a lackluster defense and will be tested again. Winger Eric Daze and center Alexei Zhamnov are erratic and center Doug Gilmour (16 goals, 56 points) has too many miles on his odometer to dominate.

10. EDMONTON OILERS

Coach: Kevin Lowe, first season.

1998-99: 33-37-12, 78 points.

Who’s new: Lowe, goalie Bill Ranford (free agent).

Outlook: Contract disputes left them without top scorer Bill Guerin (30 goals, 64 points) and 20-goal winger Mike Grier. Defenseman Roman Hamerlik signed Wednesday. All-rookie team defenseman Tom Poti and Finn Janne Niinimaa give them energy, and having Doug Weight for a full season (he missed 39 games because of knee surgery) will be a plus. Ranford, who played on the Oilers’ last Cup-winning team, returns to challenge Tommy Salo (2.31 goals-against. ,903 save percentage).

11. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Coach: Barry Trotz, second season.

1998-99: 28-47-7, 63 points.

Who’s new: Center David Legwand (rookie), defenseman Craig Millar (trade with Edmonton), goalie Corey Hirsch (free agent).

Outlook: Small but spunky, the Predators made a respectable showing and were a box-office success in their first season. However, they might have problems staying competitive and keeping fans. Their 190 goals ranked 24th, their power play was 25th and their penalty killing was last, and none will improve much. Right wing Sergei Krivokrasov scored a career-high 25 goals and Cliff Ronning had a team-high 60 points, but they need more scoring from everyone.

12. CALGARY FLAMES

Coach: Brian Sutter, third season.

1998-99: 30-40-12, 72 points.

Who’s new: Goalie Grant Fuhr (trade with St. Louis), center Marc Savard (trade with New York Rangers), center Daniel Tkaczuk, rookie.

Outlook: Onetime enemy Fuhr may have to play more than he should at age 37. The Flames are rugged and never give opponents an easy night, but 27-goal scorer Cory Stillman doesn’t scare anyone. Jarome Iginla’s career-high 28 goals were commendable, but he must prove he can stay at that level. The defense mixes veterans Phil Housley, Tommy Albelin and Steve Smith--all over 35--with 20-somethings Derek Morris, Cale Hulse and Todd Simpson. Tkaczuk, their 1997 first-round draft pick, has the potential to make a big impact.

13: VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Coach: Marc Crawford, first full season.

1998-99: 23-47-12, 58 points.

Who’s new: Center Andrew Cassels (free agent), defensemen Doug Bodger (free agent), Chris Joseph (waiver draft) and John Namestnikov (waiver draft).

Outlook: Contract disputes with defensemen Adrian Aucoin and Ed Jovanovski left them scrambling for bodies. Defenseman Mattias Ohlund was a revelation last season and will be asked to do even more. The Canucks have little to boast about up front since twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin--whom they drafted second and third overall--stayed in Sweden. Mark Messier, nearly 39, is too injury prone to be a steady contributor. Winger Markus Naslund (36 goals, 66 points) and mercurial Alexander Mogilny (14 goals, 45 points) can carry the offense, and right wing Bill Muckalt (16 goals as a rookie) must learn to pace himself. Goalie Garth Snow is wildly inconsistent, recording six shutouts but only a .900 save percentage. A playoff berth is a distant dream.