10 with something to prove this season
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie defenseman Stuart Percy played 20 minutes on opening night to show he is worthy of an NHL roster spot.
Fellow rookies Sam Reinhart, John Gibson and Jonathan Drouin will be trying to earn their keep over the next few weeks.
But more than rookies have to confirm their value this season in a parity league. Some veterans who must prove themselves again:
1. Goalie Ondrej Pavelec (Winnipeg Jets): The Jets have shown considerable faith in Pavelec, even though he has been inconsistent.
Last season, he had a 3.01 goals-against average and .901 save percentage, while his backup goalies went 15-9-3 with a goals-against average under 2.30 and a save percentage over .920.
Pavelec needs a strong season to keep his net. If he stumbles, the Jets need to explore other options.
2. Goalie Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes): At 30, the former playoff MVP is in a battle to be No. 1 goalie.
He lost the job last season because Anton Khudobin was sharper. Ward had an .898 save percentage and was hurt. But with new coach Bill Peters in charge, the competition is on again.
Ward has two seasons left on a contract that pays $6.7 million this season and $6.8 million next season. That's too much to spend on a backup goalie, and trading a goalie who makes that much is all but impossible.
3. Coach Randy Carlyle (Toronto Maple Leafs): With a Stanley Cup title on his coaching resume, Carlyle shouldn't have to prove anything, but he's unquestionably on the hot seat.
He could have been fired last summer but probably received a reprieve because new president Brendan Shanahan wanted more time to evaluate his key personnel.
The Maple Leafs struggled defensively last season, and they must cut down the goals against for Carlyle to keep his job.
4. Center Eric Staal (Hurricanes): Staal, 29, is coming off his poorest season since his rookie year, with 61 points in 79 games.
That led to plenty of debate about whether the Hurricanes should trade him and embrace a rebuilding campaign.
He makes $9.2 million this season and next, and the Hurricanes have to ponder if he'd be willing to re-sign in Carolina.
5. Center Stephen Weiss (Detroit Red Wings): The Red Wings believed they were landing a No. 2 center when they signed Weiss in 2013 for $24.5 million over five years.
But Weiss was injured most of last season. When he did play, he scored two goals in 26 games.
Weiss was supposed to replace Valtteri Filppula, who left as a free agent and put up good numbers on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings still aren't sure what they have with Weiss. He was a scratch in the opening game.
6. Left wing David Clarkson (Maple Leafs): Rugged Clarkson was one of the most attractive free agents when he signed a seven-year, $37.5 million deal in 2013.
Saddled with high expectations, he had five goals and 11 points. He had been a 30-goal scorer in 2011-12 and scored 15 goals in 48 games in 2012-13.
This season, the Maple Leafs have told Clarkson to concentrate on playing a solid, gritty, physical game and the goals will come. But Toronto fans clearly are looking for him to score.
7. The Edmonton Oilers: The team's rebuilding efforts have been agonizingly slow and fans have to be running out of patience.
Their latest round of moves included signing defensemen Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin. The Oilers are under heavy pressure to show significant improvement.
The have missed the playoffs the past eight seasons and must at least make a strong run this season.
8. Center Mike Richards (Los Angeles Kings): Because Richards slumped offensively in the second half, there was speculation about whether the team would buy him out.
Richards has six seasons left on a contract that has a $5.7 million cap hit. It's a significant price for a player who had 42 points last season.
The word is Richards worked exceptionally hard this summer in the hope that superior conditioning will help him once again be an edgy, effective player.
9. Right wing Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals): Ovechkin scored 51 goals last season and was -35. That disparity suggests Ovechkin must make changes if the Capitals want to be an effective defensive team.
New coach Barry Trotz won't expect Ovechkin to be a shot-blocking defensive stalwart, but he will expect him to be mindful of what's happening when the puck turns in the other direction.
Ovechkin has scored 50 or more goals five times and has been a minus player three times. With Trotz behind the bench, Ovechkin might feel pressure to play more of a two-way game.
10. Left wing Rick Nash (New York Rangers): Last season, he finished 159th in NHL scoring with 39 points. Although Nash scored 26 goals, it was his lowest point production since his rookie season. He also wasn't as productive in the playoffs as the Rangers needed him to be.
Nash is capable of being among the NHL's top 30 in points or at least the top 50. He needs to be 20 to 25 points better to optimize his value.
He got off to a good start with two goals and assist in the opener.