Every NHL offseason feels endlessly long, with fans and analysts alike turning to preseason predictions to pass the time. Some teams are penciled into playoff spots, while others are written off before opening night even begins. But as the season unfolds, the NHL has a way of humbling expectations. As the Olympic break approaches, four teams have rewritten the narrative of their seasons, emerging as genuine threats and forcing the league to take notice.

As the NHL regular season begins this Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Mammoth both have a chance to rise above the noise and make a statement from the opening puck drop.