National Hockey

PITTSBURGH — The chance to make history doesn't come up in the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room. It doesn't have to.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS LAST SEASON: 55-19-8, 118 points. Won Metropolitan Division. Lost to Pittsburgh Penguins in second round. COACH: Barry Trotz (fifth season, 16th NHL season).

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes figure they look like a playoff team on paper. They're eager to find out if that translates to the ice.

CAROLINA HURRICANES LAST SEASON: 36-31-15, 87 points. Seventh place in Metropolitan Division. COACH: Bill Peters (fourth season, fourth NHL season). ADDED: G Scott Darling, RW Justin Williams, D Trevor van Riemsdyk, C Marcus Kruger.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The resurgence of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season was every bit as surprising as the previous year's collapse.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS LAST SEASON: 50-24-8, third in Metropolitan Division. Eliminated by Pittsburgh in first round of playoffs. COACH: John Tortorella, third year, 84-57-16. ADDED: LW Artemi Panarin.

NEW YORK — After missing the playoffs by a point last season, the New York Islanders will be looking to get off to a better start as they begin their first full season under Doug Weight.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LAST SEASON: 41-29-12, 94 points. Fifth in Metropolitan Division. COACH: Doug Weight (second season, second NHL season). ADDED: F Jordan Eberle. LOST: F Ryan Strome, D Travis Hamonic, G Jean-Francois Berube.

HALIFAX — A year after Halifax decided to consider naming a street after Sidney Crosby, the hockey superstar suddenly finds himself embroiled in an ugly political mess that has some residents openly musing about rescinding the offer.

BUFFALO SABRES LAST SEASON: 33-37-12, 78 points. Finished last in Atlantic Division and 15th in Eastern Conference, extending playoff drought to sixth consecutive season. COACH: Phil Housley (first season, first NHL season).