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Who Will Lift The Cup? Hartnett’s 2015-16 Fearless NHL Predictions

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Lightning in a bottle? The Bolts return an almost identical roster after being bested by the Blackhawks in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, but the window might be closing as quickly as it opened. On paper, the Lightning are as deep and talented as any team in the East. The possibility of captain Steven Stamkos bolting in the summer is a looming distraction. Locking the all-world forward down to a long-term extension guarantees future cracks at Lord Stanley. Losing him would be devastating.

There’s plenty of reason for optimism in Motown. First-year head coach Jeff Blashill inherits an upward-trending Red Wings team.