Last seasons slow start had little to do with the team meshing. It was the team peaking too early in training, even according to McDavid who felt fatigued and not 100% at seasons start.
That's my feeling, too. There was this air about the club one year ago, like, "
This time it's SERIOUS and we're going to accept nothing less than 110%!" Which is fine, but you can't really approach the season with that much intensity in training camp if you don't want to burn out before the playoffs.
I think MacTavish said the mood a year ago was "trying to win the Cup in pre-season".
I suspect this year the big guys will get a bit less ice-time (they're getting older, too), and in the first 9-10 games or whatever it is (before NHL contracts have to be signed with young players) we'll see some of the young'uns getting a fair shot. Even if they play .500 hockey for the first 15 games, they'll still be WAY ahead of where they were a year ago at that stage...
The topline this year will be identically the same. The players knowing each other in their sleep. The Drai line will need time to work together.
The most fun this season, I predict, will be watching the Draisaitl line (whatever it ultimately is) taking shape. The top six (actually the top nine) looks remarkably promising, so let's hope they can all start scoring at will again... because the defence looks damn suspect.