It's a Western world this year in the Ontario Hockey League, with arguably the top four teams in the OHL residing in the Western Conference.
As usual, teams will be affected greatly by who does and doesn't come back from National Hockey League camps, with the likes of Mitch Marner, Dylan Strome, Travis Konecny and Matt Tkachuk all expected to get long looks from their NHL clubs before deciding whether or not they will be returned to junior hockey for another year.
Here's one guy's pre-season overall rankings in the Western Conference.
(1) WINDSOR SPITFIRES
Last Season: 40-21-6-1 (5th)
Why: As Memorial Cup hosts, Warren Rychel will be trading everything but Templeton the family cat this season to add to what is already a very good base.
Why Not: London outbids them for the top talent on the market.
On The Verge: Aaron Luchak. Had 27 goals in his second full season with the team. Solid and gritty.
Synopsis: Yes, the Spits have three NHL first rounders leading the way and another one on the horizon in goaltender Michael DiPietro, but the excellent second tier of guys like Hayden McCool, Christian DiGiacinto and Jalen Chatfield are what makes them so solid.
(2) LONDON KNIGHTS
Last Season: 51-14-2-1 (2nd)
Why: Because even if they don't upgrade the defence they'll just beat everyone 9-5.
Why Not: They lose three to the NHL and Tyler Parsons doesn't go from good to great in net.
On The Verge: Evan Bouchard. Didn't get a tonne of ice time last year but by the end of the season was a very skilled and composed defenceman.
Synopsis: It's quite possible that the Knights will get Matt Tkachuk, Mitch Marner, Max Jones and Olli Juolevi back, which is scary. Will definitely be challenging Windsor for top spot. They've also added Carolina 2nd rounder Janne Kuokkanen to the forward group.
Defence is the issue and they need some more experienced grit to balance all that offence.
(3) SARNIA STING
Last Season: 42-19-5-2 (4th)
Why: Deep and talented up front and Justin Fazio has blossomed after taking over as number one in net.
Why Not: Pavel Zacha and Travis Konecny don't return from NHL camps.
On The Verge: Jakub Chychrun: Chychrun didn't quite live up to all the hype last season but he could still be the best defenceman in the OHL this season.
Synopsis: Fully loaded the Sting can score with any team in the league, with Jordan Kyrou and Nikita Korostelev being first liners on most teams. Potential NHL first-rounder Adam Ruzicka only adds to the firepower.
Defence is talented and maturing and Fazio needs to prove last season was no fluke.
(4) SAULT STE. MARIE
Last Season: 33-27-7-1 (7th)
Why: Good young players usually become very good older players.
Why Not: Joseph Raaymakers can't handle the workload of finally being the number one goalie.
On The Verge: Boris Katchouk was a 50-point rookie last season and has lit it up in the pre-season.
Synopsis: The Hounds were a very competitive team a year ago despite being one of the youngest teams in the league. They are well-balanced, tough to play in their rink and have some talented character overagers in Blake Speers and recently-added David Miller. Probably a year away from peaking.
(5) KITCHENER RANGERS
Last Season: 44-17-5-2 (3rd)
Why: Rangers need to be that team everyone hates to play against and they have plenty of gritty players who can play that way at both ends of the ice.
Why Not: Not enough high end skill to compliment super sniper Adam Mascherin.
On The Verge: Elijah Roberts. Rangers need the slick-skating second year blueliner to help feed the offence.
Synopsis: The Rangers turn into a bit of a lunch bucket team this year, with the loss of some high-end skill and starting goaltender Luke Opilka still recovering from hip surgery. But there's lots of experience and a new head coach in Jay McKee.
But a tough year to get home ice in the playoffs.
(6) OWEN SOUND ATTACK
Last Season: 32-25-8-3 (6th)
Why: The emergence of second-tier scoring has them challenging for home ice.
Why Not: Someone comes knocking for goaltender Michael McNiven at the trade deadline.
On The Verge: Jonah Gadjovich. The big boys sometimes take a while and Gadjovich showed great improvement last year. His third season could see him become a premier power forward.
Synopsis: The Attack remind me a lot of the Guelph Storm: solid and experienced blueline, good goaltending but not enough depth up front to earn a home-ice playoff spot.
Continued development of Nick Suzuki down the middle will take some of the pressure off.
McNiven is as good as anyone in the league when he's on his game.
(7) ERIE OTTERS
Last Season: 58-15-1-0 (1st)
Why: Because if they don't get Dylan Strome back they better be in rebuild mode.
Why Not: Strome comes back and Troy Timpano proves he is a better goalie than he has shown thus far in his career.
On The Verge: Ivan Lodnia: one of the league's most exciting young forwards.
Synopsis: Remember two years ago when the Guelph Storm held on to Tyler Bertuzzi and Jason Dickinson rather than trade them in rebuild mode? That's where Erie finds itself this year: a decent team not capable of challenging the big boys but with potentially the two most desireable forwards come trade deadline.
An eighth-place finish is where they end up if they sell Strome and DeBrincat at the deadline. Could be fifth if they held on to them, but that would be a big mistake.
(8) GUELPH STORM
Last Season: 13-49-4-2 (10th)
Why: Newcomer Liam Herbst can't stay healthy and not enough players take the next step offensively.
Why Not: A more experienced on defence, consistent goaltending and a group of players capable of scoring much more than they did last year.
On The Verge: Ryan Merkley. Buy the jersey. Now.
Synopsis: The Storm have a more experienced and skilled blueline and what should be more consistent goaltending.
What they need are for a group of forwards to take that next step offensively. Issac Ratcliffe, Nic Sicoly, Nick Deakin-Poot, Liam Stevens and Nate Schnarr no longer get the hall pass.
Most of all this team needs a veteran, solid two-way natural centre. One will likely be sought via trade.
(9) SAGINAW SPIRIT
Last Season: 24-36-5-3 (8th)
Why: Because the Spirit continue to have too many under performing players.
Why Not: Saginaw has a pretty decent and deep blueline corps and Evan Cormier plays much better in net.
On The Verge: Brady Gilmour: 6th overall pick in 1999 has much more talent than last year's 23-points indicates.
Synopsis: The Spirit are loaded with guys who should be better. But those players aren't first or second year players, they're third and fourth year players. Until that potential starts turning into performance, the Spirit will have a hard time making the playoffs.
(10) FLINT FIREBIRDS
Last Season: 20-42-4-2 (9th)
Why: Despite finally having a stable coaching and front office situation, thanks to league intervention, the Firebirds remain a mess on the ice.
Why not: I honestly can not think of one reason the Flint Firebirds won't finish last this season.
On The Verge: First round pick Ty Dellandrea had a solid pre-season and has been getting rave reviews.
Synopsis: Their top forward (Will Bitten) didn't report and wants a trade, they have no proven goaltender and players are still telling the team pre-draft that they won't report. Other than that everything's fine in Flint.
