Tampa Bay Lightning have new look but will rely on a lot of familiar faces to get back to playoffs

Last season: 45-29-8, lost to Florida Panrs 4-1 in first round of playoffs.

COACH: John Cooper (525-279-75 over 11-plus seasons, 2 Stanley Cup titles).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 11 vs. Carolina.

DEPARTURES: C Steven Stamkos, D Mikhail Sergachev, LW Anthony Duclair, D Matw Dumba.

DITIONS: C Jake Guentzel, D Ryan McDonagh, D J.J. Moser, RW Cam Atkinson, C Zamgus Girgensons, C Conor Geekie.

GOALIES: Andrei Vasilevskiy (30-20-2, 2.90 goals-against average, .900 save percentage), Jonas Johansson (12-7-5, 3.37, .890).

BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 22-1.

Stamkos was face of franchise for more than a dece, and Lightning acknowledge ir long-time captain will be missed. But expectations within a team not too far removed from making three straight trips to Stanley Cup Final — winning it twice — have not changed. Lightning feel ir championship window is far from closed. And with a star-studded nucleus of Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brayden Point augmented by talented offseason acquisitions Guentzel and McDonagh, it's difficult to argue y don't have everything it takes to be a legitimate contender.

good: Vasilevskiy is one of best goaltenders in NHL. With Guentzel plugged into a line with Kucherov and Point, as well as replacing Stamkos on power-play, Lightning figure to remain one of league's high-scoring teams.

not-so-good: One of top priorities in offseason was bolstering defense, which saw Hedman get a four-year, $32 million contract extension. In dition to reacquiring McDonagh, who was a key member of Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup winners, Moser was obtained a tre that sent Sergachev to Utah. A lot of eyes will be on how defense performs.

Kucherov h 100 assists and led league in scoring with 144 points last season. Point scored a team-high 46 goals, so it will be interesting to see how Guentzel (30 goals, 47 assists for Pittsburgh and Carolina last season) fits that line. Hedman, entering his 16th season, takes over as captain. Vasilevskiy is healthy after missing start to last season following back surgery.