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The salary cap is both a wonderful and a hideous thing in the NHL.

It has improved competition, brought hope to many a desolate hockey burg and created playoff races that are darn near impossible to pick. It also has brought down the level of play for the great teams.

No longer can you look at a team and marvel at the collection of talent on the power play. No longer can rich teams simply fill every hole through free agency.

Last summer's free-agent auction involved fewer key players but more teams willing to bid. Low supply and high demand forced some teams to make commitments that could define their rosters for the next five years and limit opportunities to sign free agents.

The Stars sought scoring help but elected not to clear salary-cap space or commit to long-term, high-dollar contracts.

"If this was five years ago, we would have added a player or two over the summer for sure," Stars center Mike Modano said of the team's inability to sign targeted free-agent forwards Paul Kariya, Jason Blake and Slava Kozlov. "But with the salary cap, you just have to find different ways to make things work."

The top has slipped, the bottom has pushed up, and now you have a lot of teams in the middle. That could make for some interesting hockey – and certainly will make for an unpredictable run for the Stanley Cup.

Will Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne really retire? And can the Ducks win without them? Is Ottawa's management shift, with Bryan Murray promoted to general manager and replaced as coach by John Paddock, going to push the Senators to the next level? Can Buffalo recover from losing Daniel Briere and Chris Drury in free agency? Are the Penguins ready to take the next step with the best young talent?

The first step for the Stars is getting through the Pacific Division, so let's look most closely at them and whom they must defeat:

50-25-7, 107 points

GFA: 2.65 (21st)

GAA: 2.31 (3rd)

Key losses: D Darryl Sydor, LW Ladislav Nagy, C Eric Lindros, D Jon Klemm.

Key additions: LW Brad Winchester, LW Todd Fedoruk.

Biggest issue: Can they score more with virtually the same lineup?

Biggest advantage: With a healthy lineup, maybe so. They lost 296 man-games to injury last season, fifth most in the league. With a healthy Mike Moano, they were 39-15-5.

48-20-14, 110 points

GFA: 3.10 (8th) GAA: 2.37 (6th)

Key losses: D Scott Niedermayer, RW Teemu Selanne, LW Dustin Penner

Key additions: RW Todd Bertuzzi, D Mathieu Schneider

Biggest issue: Can the Ducks overcome the loss of Niedermayer and deal with Stanley Cup hangover at the same time?

Biggest advantage: There's a chance that Niedermayer returns in January or February and leads this team to another Stanley Cup.

51-26-5, 107 points

GFA: 3.12 (6th) GAA: 2.86 (7th)

Key losses: D Scott Hannan, G Vesa Toskala, LW Mark Bell, RW Bill Guerin

Key addition: C Jeremy Roenick

Biggest issue: The Sharks have some wonderful forwards (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek), but they're thin on defense and inexperienced at backup goalie.

Biggest advantage: This team has less than $40 million committed to payroll and can swing a huge trade at any point.

27-41-14, 68 points

GFA: 2.72 (20th) GAA: 3.33 (27th)

Key loss: D Aaron Miller

Key additions: C Michal Handzus, LW Ladislav Nagy, D Brad Stuart, D Tom Preissing

Biggest issue: This team ran out a horrible group of goalies last season and never came close to competing. This season, Jason LaBarbera is expected to get the chance to be the man.

Biggest advantage: Adding Stuart and Preissing on defense should give the goalies a much better chance to survive.

31-46-5, 67 points

GFA: 2.57 (24th) GAA: 3.40 (28th)

Key losses: G Curtis Joseph, RW Owen Nolan, C Jeremy Roenick

Key addition: LW Mike York

Biggest issue: The Coyotes have bailed on trying to win now and must be patient with a team stocked with young players. Can coach Wayne Gretzky develop the kids?

Biggest advantage: Captain Shane Doan is one of the best all-around players and an impressive leader. He should drag younger players into battle.

(Division winners seeded 1-3)

1. Detroit

2. Dallas

3. Minnesota

4. Anaheim

5. Vancouver

6. San Jose

7. Colorado

8. Calgary

1. Ottawa

2. Pittsburgh

3. Atlanta

4. NY Rangers

5. New Jersey

6. Buffalo

7. Montreal

8. Carolina

West: 8. Calgary defeats 1. Detroit; 2. Dallas defeats 7. Colorado; 6. San Jose defeats 3. Minnesota; 4. Anaheim defeats 5. Vancouver

East: 8. Carolina defeats 1. Ottawa; 2. Pittsburgh defeats 7. Montreal; 6. Buffalo defeats 3. Atlanta; 4. NY Rangers defeats 5. New Jersey

West: 2. Dallas defeats 8. Calgary; 4. Anaheim defeats 6. San Jose

East: 2. Pittsburgh defeats 8. Carolina; 4. NY Rangers defeats 6. Buffalo

West: 4. Anaheim defeats 2. Dallas

East: 4. NY Rangers defeats 2. Pittsburgh

Anaheim defeats NY Rangers

Hart Trophy (MVP): Dany Heatley, Ottawa

Norris Trophy (Top defenseman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit

Vezina Trophy (Top goalie): Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota

Calder Trophy (Top rookie): Nicklas Backstrom, Washington

Adams Award (Top coach): Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota