2023/24 NHL season: Three storylines to follow

It's been more than three months since the Vegas Golden Knights lifted the Stanley Cup, signifying the end of the 2022/23 NHL season.

With the 2023/24 opening night triple-header less than month way, it's time to start previewing what will be another electrifying campaign.

We broke down three of the biggest storylines heading into the new season.

How much game does Sidney Crosby have left?

Last year 'Sid the Kid' was good for 33 goals, 60 assists and played a full 82 game schedule for just the second time in his career. 

At 36 years old, is this the year we see Sid finally look his age? Kyle Dubas certainly hopes not. 

The new Pens GM is banking on the aged core of Crosby, Malkin and Letang to get it done one more time before they call it a career. 

If the Pens are going to make a push, Sid is going to have to stay healthy, play a full 82 and be a critical part of the power play, and for that to happen he will have to score - a lot. 

Can Sid turning back the clock one more time to show that the “old guys still got it"?

Crosby's Regular Season Goals total is set at O/U 31.5.

Connor Bedard's big debut

The No. 1 pick in the draft, the next Connor, the “chosen one”; Connor Bedard will make his NHL debut on the road in Pittsburgh on opening night on October 10.

Despite all the hype, the NHL has proven to challenge even the most “NHL ready” number one picks as the speed, size and scope of the league often take a few games to get used to. 

But top picks like Bedard often have a flair for the dramatic. How will the new Canadian Connor introduce himself to the nation on opening night?

Bedard is +175 to score his first NHL goal on opening night against Pittsburgh.

Is 57 years long enough to wait?

Every Leafs fan, every hockey fan, every sports fan knows why the year 1967 is significant – the last time the wealthiest and most popular team in hockey won Lord Stanley’s mug. 

Last season, the Leafs finally got over the psychological hurdle of the first round, only to run into a hot Panthers team that closed them out in five games. 

That loss lead to the firing of GM Kyle Dubas, the hiring of Brad Treliving the extension of coach Sheldon Keefe. 

On the ice the Leafs added Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Sam Lafferty, Matthew Knies, Ryan Reaves, Dylan Gambrell, Jake McCabe and John Klingberg. 

There is no two ways about it, the 2023/24 Leafs roster, at least on paper, is better than last year. Couple that with a weaker Boston Bruins team, an aging Tampa Bay Lightning squad and a rebuilding Montreal Canadiens roster; this year represents the best window in decades for the Leafs to make a run. 

The Maple Leafs are the favourites to win the Stanley Cup at +800.