As the National Hockey League's offseason enters its final stretch, hockey fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season. With the marquee free agents largely off the market and the NHL Draft now complete, attention is shifting to the upcoming schedule. The league has just released the highly anticipated 2023-2024 regular season schedule, and fans are buzzing with excitement. From rivalries rekindled to new matchups born from realignment, the schedule promises to bring a fresh mix of challenges and opportunities for teams vying for a championship. But which teams will emerge as early contenders, and which ones will face tough road ahead?

The NHL offseason is near its sunset, with many of the marquee free agents already picked up and the NHL Draft finished up. However, with the schedule released, there’s a…