With John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs squaring off against his former team, the New York Islanders, for the first time this season on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+), we ponder the big questions.
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: There are few hockey things I'd like to witness more than the resurgence of the New York Islanders as a Stanley Cup contender, whom I've long said are poised to have a Chicago Blackhawks-level national nostalgic love-fest. Conversely, there are few hockey things I'd like to witness more than the continued Chicago Cubs-level drought of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as divergent forces of entitlement and futility bring balance to the center of the hockey universe.