{
  "id": 9390718,
  "title": "Pacific Division is top-heavy with Cup-contending Vegas and Edmonton and San Jose on the rise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/pacific-division-is-top-heavy-with-cup-contending-vegas-and-edmonton",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T18:33:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/2026/09/23/pacific-division-is-top-heavy-with-cup-contending-vegas-and-edmonton-and-san-jose-on-the-rise"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pacific Division was a tough place to be last season, with teams struggling and losses mounting. Center Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights likened it to every team losing every night. Despite its struggles, the Pacific Division now boasts three of the NHL's most promising rebuilding teams. Vegas, Edmonton, and San Jose are all contenders for a championship, with San Jose and Anaheim showing signs of improvement. Anaheim recently signed Peter Laviolette, who has guided three teams to the finals, while San Jose bolstered their defense by acquiring Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba. The Ducks also locked up Leo Carlsson long-term and brought back Leo Carlsson, making them even more competitive. With young talent like Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid, and Draisaitl, the Sharks look poised for a significant jump. San Jose has also added a rookie-of-the-year candidate in Ivar Stenberg. While Los Angeles is coached by an experienced hand in Peter Laviolette, the Kings have faced questions about their future success. Seattle's chances of contention might be boosted by their star players and the absence of a winger who declined to join the team. Vancouver, on the other hand, is rebuilding from the bottom, with a new coach and a roster focused on growth.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}