IN ORDER OF PLAYOFF PROSPECTS

* Coach: Ken Hitchcock, third season.

* 2003-04 record: 40-21-15-6, 101 points, first in Atlantic Division.

*--* 1. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

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* Player to watch: Peter Forsberg joined the Flyers as a free agent, 14 years after they drafted him and traded him to Quebec in the Eric Lindros deal. He has been plagued by injuries and sat out most of training camp because of ankle surgery, but he’s still a force.

* Outlook: Letting go of veterans Tony Amonte, Jeremy Roenick, Mark Recchi and John LeClair means youngsters Jeff Carter and Mike Richards will be counted on to score. Both appear capable of stepping up. Mike Rathje will boost the defense, but don’t expect a full season from aging Derian Hatcher. Goalie Antero Niittymaki, who helped the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate win a championship, will push Robert Esche for the starting job.

*--* 2. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

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* Coach: John Tortorella, fifth season.

* 2003-04 record: 46-22-8-6, 106 points, first in Southeast, Stanley Cup champion.

* Player to watch: John Grahame has the unenviable task of replacing goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who left for Chicago as a free agent. Grahame, 30, had a 2.06 goals-against average in 29 games as a backup, but he has never been a No. 1.

* Outlook: Martin St. Louis, the NHL scoring champion with 38 goals and 94 points, was signed long term, as was Vincent Lecavalier (32 goals, 66 points). With playoff MVP Brad Richards (26 goals, 79 points) and a defense that moves the puck well, the Lightning has ample scoring potential. Keeping the puck out of its own net might be a challenge. Sean Burke, 38, was signed to back up Grahame but probably can’t carry the team for the whole season.

*--* 3. OTTAWA SENATORS

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* Coach: Bryan Murray, first season.

* 2003-04 record: 43-23-10-6, 102 points, third in Northeast.

* Player to watch: Dany Heatley. Haunted in Atlanta by reminders that he was the driver in the car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder, Heatley requested a trade. He should fit in well with the offense-rich Senators.

* Outlook: They’ve got all the pieces for a long playoff run, especially if Heatley regains the form he had in 2002-03, when he had 41 goals and 89 points. They’re strong up the middle, productive on the wings, and well-balanced on defense. Also, many of their key players played somewhere during the lockout, which might give them a jump-start. Everything will hinge on whether Dominik Hasek will again be “The Dominator.” Now, 40, he played merely 14 games in 2003-04 after returning from a one-year retirement.

*--* 4. NEW JERSEY DEVILS

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* Coach: Larry Robinson, first season.

* 2003-04 record: 43-25-12-2, 100 points, second in Atlantic.

* Player to watch: Patrik Elias, their top scorer in 2003-04 with 38 goals and 81 points, contracted hepatitis during the lockout and probably will sit out the opener. When he returns, the Devils will have to make a move to get under the salary cap.

* Outlook: The Devils flourished in a defense-oriented NHL and have to make a big adjustment. Cap concerns led them to trade winger Jeff Friesen, and they lost offensive catalyst Scott Niedermayer when he went to join his brother, Rob, in Anaheim. Winger Alex Mogilny might contribute, but he’s fragile. They’ll miss the physicality of Scott Stevens, who retired. At least Robinson, replacing cancer-stricken Pat Burns, can rely on Martin Brodeur, the best goalie of his generation.

*--* 5. ATLANTA THRASHERS

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* Coach: Bob Hartley, third season.

* 2003-04 record: 33-37-8-4, 78 points, second in Southeast

* Players to watch: Right wing Peter Bondra, center Bobby Holik and right wing Marian Hossa. Bondra averaged nearly 35 goals over 14 seasons for some awful teams, Holik is a terrific two-way player, and Hossa is a workhorse who scored 144 goals the last four seasons. A tremendous nucleus.

* Outlook: With free agents Bondra and Holik in the fold and Hossa acquired for Dany Heatley, this is a fascinating mix. They should score in bunches and might give up goals in bunches too, even with a rugged defense. They still must re-sign left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, whose 41 goals tied for the NHL lead in 2003-04. Goalie Kari Lehtonen was impressive in the AHL during the lockout but was slowed by a groin injury during training camp.

*--* 6. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

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* Coach: Pat Quinn, seventh season.

* 2003-04 record: 45-24-10-3, 103 points, second in Northeast.

* Player to watch: Eric Lindros joins his hometown team, about a decade and half a dozen concussions too late to have the impact he might once have had. But if he avoids injuries he can still be a force.

* Outlook: Goalie Ed Belfour was 40 in April and has a history of back problems. Lindros is 32, Mats Sundin (31 goals and 75 points in 2003-04) is 34. They have few young prospects capable of stepping up besides Alex Steen, a 2002 first-round pick who probably will have limited time at center. Jason Allison, recovered from the whiplash he suffered while with the Kings, sat out much of training camp because of a hip problem. He must be productive for the Maple Leafs to get far. Their defense is decent and they have some muscle.

*--* 7. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

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* Coach: Ed Olczyk, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 23-47-8-4, 58 points, fifth in Atlantic.

* Player to watch: Let’s see ... oh, yeah, Sidney Crosby. The 18-year-old center is being touted as the future of the franchise and the NHL, and his every move will be scrutinized for clues to budding greatness. But here’s real pressure: he’s living in the home of owner/teammate Mario Lemieux.

* Outlook: What a difference a No. 1 draft pick makes. It helped the Penguins lure mobile defenseman Sergei Gonchar, dynamic winger Ziggy Palffy and aging power forward John LeClair, giving them scoring depth at even strength and on the power play. General Manager Craig Patrick was smart to acquire goalie Jocelyn Thibault to play until youngster Marc-Andre Fleury is ready. Lemieux turns 40 on Wednesday but if he can avoid injury, the Igloo will rock.

*--* 8. BOSTON BRUINS

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* Coach: Mike Sullivan, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 41-19-15-7, 104 points, first in Northeast.

* Player to watch: Brian Leetch. The two-time Norris Trophy winner, 37, brings experience and a good ability to read the game. He will be counted on to boost the power play, which needs it.

* Outlook: Goalie Andrew Raycroft, voted rookie of the year for 2003-04 for his 2.05 goals-against average and .926 save percentage, averted a squabble by signing a one-year deal. However, defenseman Nick Boynton didn’t report to camp, and his prolonged absence will hurt an already thin defense corps. Joe Thornton (23 goals, 73 points) is reaching his immense potential, and winger Glen Murray (32 goals, 60 points) complements him well. Center Alexei Zhamnov isn’t second-line caliber anymore, but center Dave Scatchard was a good free-agent addition.

*--* 9. MONTREAL CANADIENS

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* Coach: Claude Julien, third season.

* 2003-04 record: 41-30-7-4, 93 points, fourth in Northeast.

* Player to watch: Alexei Kovalev signed a four-year deal after arriving as a late pickup in 2003-04. He can be brilliant -- or disappear for stretches. Alongside center Saku Koivu and right wing Richard Zednik, Kovalev should thrive.

* Outlook: They rallied to upset the Bruins in the first round of the 2003-04 playoffs but lacked the depth to take the next step. That’s likely to be the case again. Goalie Jose Theodore (33 wins, 2.27 goals-against average in 67 games) established himself among the best in the league, but he probably will not get much help from a mediocre defense. What does it say for the team’s appeal that management instituted price cuts and discounts for kids and adopted the Expos’ old mascot, Youppi!?

*--* 10. NEW YORK ISLANDERS

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* Coach: Steve Stirling, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 38-29-11-4, 91 points, third in Atlantic.

* Player to watch: Alexei Yashin might be the NHL’s biggest enigma. He has rarely used his size, speed and skills to maximum effect, but the Islanders kept him and his payroll-maximum salary and dumped useful players Michael Peca, Dave Scatchard, Roman Hamrlik and Adrian Aucoin. It’s an unpromising gamble.

* Outlook: Their prize free-agent signing was right wing Miroslav Satan, who averaged nearly 30 goals a season with Edmonton and Buffalo. He’s durable, swift, and likely an ideal linemate for Yashin. Michael York, acquired from Edmonton in the Peca trade, brings speed to what could be a solid second line. But the defense will miss Kenny Jonsson, who went home to Sweden, and Aucoin, who signed with Chicago as a free agent.

*--* 11. FLORIDA PANTHERS

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* Coach: Jacques Martin, first season.

* 2003-04 record: 28-35-15-4, 75 points, fourth in Southeast.

* Player to watch: Roberto Luongo (2.43 goals-against average, .931 save percentage in 2003-04) is among the NHL’s most agile and unflappable goalies. He got plenty of practice, facing a league-high 2,475 shots. He gives the Panthers a chance to win every night, no small feat for a team that has never scored much and is likely to be outscored again.

* Outlook: Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk, signed as free agents from Toronto, bring experience and lots of mileage since both are 39. Jay Bouwmeester, 22, is a future all-star on defense but he won’t have much support. Right wing Anthony Stewart and center Stephen Weiss lead a promising corps of young forwards who will be asked to grow up fast in a tough conference.

*--* 12. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

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* Coach: Glen Hanlon, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 23-46-10-3, 59 points, fifth in Southeast.

* Player to watch: Alexander Ovechkin, the first overall draft pick in 2004, turned down big money in his native Russia to play in the NHL. A sturdy 6 feet 2 and 212 pounds, he’s smart and mature. The Capitals expect him to be the cornerstone of their franchise for years.

* Outlook: They spent big and got burned, leading them to dump a boatload of contracts and prepare for the new cap-based system. Goalie Olaf Kolzig is respectable, and center Dainius Zubrus brings skill. Five-time 20-goal scorer Jeff Friesen, obtained from the salary-slashing Devils for a conditional draft pick, will help offensively, but there’s little depth up front after Ovechkin, Friesen and Jeff Halpern, the 2003-04 team scoring leader with a paltry 46 points.

*--* 13. NEW YORK RANGERS

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* Coach: Tom Renney, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 27-40-7-8, 69 points, fourth in Atlantic.

* Player to watch: The promised obstruction crackdown should free Jaromir Jagr (31 goals, 74 points with the Capitals and the Rangers) to use his marvelous skills. He’s going to have to carry a huge share of the scoring burden -- probably 80%.

* Outlook: Bleak. And with a salary cap to limit their spending, they can’t throw money at their problems as in years past. Steve Rucchin was a good addition as a second-line center, behind Martin Straka, but they have a patchwork defense and iffy goaltending. Kevin Weekes is inconsistent and might be surpassed by Henrik Lundqvist. Defensemen Marek Malik and Fedor Tyutin are worth watching. It’s a wonder General Manager Glen Sather has kept his job.

*--* 14. BUFFALO SABRES

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* Coach: Lindy Ruff, eighth season.

* 2003-04 record: 37-34-7-4, 85 points, fifth in Northeast.

* Player to watch: Left wing Thomas Vanek excelled at the University of Minnesota and scored 42 goals for Rochester of the AHL last season. The next step, though, is the biggest.

* Outlook: They’re not awful anywhere, but neither are they exceptional. They must pick a goalie (or goalies) from the trio of Ryan Miller, Martin Biron and Mikka Noronen and trade one for size or scoring. No team that has Chris Drury will be easy to play against, and Daniel Briere (28 goals, 65 points) is a small, skillful player who should flourish under the obstruction crackdown. Defensemen Teppo Numinen and Toni Lydman were good additions and should help an anemic power play. Letting Miroslav Satan walk will cost them in goals and goodwill.

*--* 15. CAROLINA HURRICANES

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* Coach: Peter Laviolette, second season.

* 2003-04 record: 28-34-14-6, 76 points, third in Southeast.

* Player to watch: Center Eric Staal had 11 goals and 31 points as a rookie in 2003-04, but more will be asked of him. He might deliver, after having spent the lockout scoring 26 goals and 77 points in 77 AHL games.

* Outlook: Their top scorer, Josef Vasicek, had merely 19 goals and 45 points in 2003-04 and their offense was the NHL’s worst. Things are likely to be ugly again. They’re banking on production from their defensemen, including former Mighty Duck Oleg Tverdovsky, back in the NHL after two seasons in Russia. Another former Duck, goalie Martin Gerber, is penciled in for the starting job. He had a 2.26 goals-against average in 32 games in 2003-04 and kept active during the lockout by playing in Sweden.