I’m a massive fan of the quick, four-game pre-season.

It started this past Saturday and wraps up this coming Saturday. Realistically, there are usually one or two jobs open on most NHL teams. Some will argue the short preseason doesn’t allow players time to win a job, but I’d counter that too often people overrate a good preseason performance, not realizing the competition was often non-NHL players. In fact, if a young player has to start in the American League, that can benefit them, as they will play more minutes and have a better chance of gaining confidence, so when they get recalled during the season, they can contribute with better success.

Regardless of how we view the preseason, it will be over quickly, and the regular season begins next Tuesday, Sept. 29.

There will be 15 teams playing regular season games in September, and Toronto plays twice as they have back-to-back home games vs. Montreal and the New York Islanders. Every team would like a good start, but of course that isn’t realistic. I did a quick look at the schedule up to the end of October. Some teams definitely have a schedule more conducive to getting off to a good start. The Edmonton Oilers might have the best early-season schedule. Here is a look at all four divisions.

ATLANTIC…

TEAM

GP

H-R

BTB

v. West

Miscellaneous

BOS

15

7-8

10

Only one game v. an Atlantic opponent in October.

BUF

14

6-8

Five of first six at home and then seven of next eight on the road.

DET

14

9-5

Seven of first eight games are at home.

FLA

14

4-10

Two four-game road trips in October.

MTL

14

7-7

Five sets of two days between games and one three-day break in October.

OTT

15

7-8

Start season with three games in four days in TOR, BOS and DET.

TBL

13

6-7

Only five games in the final 14 days of October.

TOR

16

8-8

Back-to-back (BTB) first two games of the season.

Florida begins the season with a four-game road trip and has 10 of their first 14 away from home, while Detroit starts the season with seven of their first eight games at home. The Red Wings were first place in the Atlantic on January 1st last season, but for the third year in a row, they tanked down the stretch. Will Dylan Larkin play for the Wings or wait for a trade? The Wings desperately need a good start as they........

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