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The new season opened with some notable players representing hope and promise for their new teams. After four seasons in Ottawa, Chara -- the towering (6-foot-9, 260-pound) blueliner -- signed on in Boston as the cornerstone of the struggling Bruins, who are seeking a fresh start. The intimidating workhorse and special-teams ace has already been named the 18th captain in the team's history.
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Luongo's five playoff-less seasons in Florida were maddeningly frustrating, but his trade to Vancouver has given him the chance to prove that he's worthy of the tag "franchise goaltender." The Canucks are counting on him to plug the hole in their net that kept them out of the playoffs last season.
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After nine years and three Stanley Cups in Detroit, Shanahan opened on Broadway, just across the Hudson River from the Meadowlands, where he began his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils in 1987. He celebrated by scoring his 600th goal; he's only the 15th player to attain that mark.
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Plagued by a series of concussions and a wrist injury during his years in Philadelphia, New York and his hometown of Toronto, the hulking six-time All-Star and 1995 Hart Trophy winner signed on in Dallas to seek his first Stanley Cup.
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Valued for his two-way grit and leadership, Peca went home to Toronto after helping the Oilers come within one win of the Stanley Cup. Now in his 12th season, the two-time Selke Trophy winner will team with Darcy Tucker, the man who wrecked Peca's knee with an infamous hip check while Peca was playing for the Islanders in the 2002 playoffs. All has been forgiven.
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A controversial figure since his infamous assault on Colorado's Steve Moore in 2004, Bertuzzi is seeking a fresh start and renewed focus in Florida as well as the chance to reclaim his place as one of the league's most feared power forwards. The Panthers feel the old Bertuzzi will propel them into the postseason for the first time since 2000.
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At age 41, the creaky, cantankerous netminder finds himself in Miami on the verge of retirement. He will split time with youngster Alex Auld while seeking his last hurrah after 16 seasons, two Vezina Trophies and a Stanley Cup.
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A mainstay in Colorado since 2001, Blake has returned to L.A., where he spent the first 11 seasons of his NHL career, winning the 1998 Norris Trophy and staking his reputation as a bruising workhorse. The rebuilding Kings will rally around his leadership and presence.
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The pillar of Edmonton's run to last season's Stanley Cup finals migrated to Southern California, where he'll team with Scott Niedermayer to give the Ducks two Norris Trophy-worthy backliners and make Anaheim a Cup favorite.
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After nearly seven seasons in frosty Vancouver, the three-time All-Star signed on for five years in the desert heat of Phoenix. The Coyotes, who have been wandering in the wilderness since 2002, are counting on Jovanovski to rejuvenate their defense with his toughness and leadership.
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The 13-year veteran and six-time Vezina winner is hoping that his third time in Detroit -- the scene of his 2002 Stanley Cup triumph -- will be a charm after an injury-plagued 2005-06 in Ottawa. He and Chris Osgood give the Wings two seasoned veterans in net with Cups on their resumes.
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Unable to establish himself as a Cup-worthy netminder during five seasons in Detroit, Legace was allowed to leave despite his 37-8-0, 2.19 GAA regular-season mark in 2005-06. He'll have a hard time duplicating those digits with the rebuilding Blues, who had the NHL's worst record last season, but he's a definite upgrade.
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The swift, versatile 24-year-old spent six seasons in Colorado, where he helped the Avs capture the Cup in 2001. His arrival in Calgary adds some needed firepower to a rock-ribbed defensive team that has a strong shot to come out of the West and challenge for the championship.
