With an eventful 2017 nearing its end, it's time to look forward to 2018 and some of the stories and people to follow in the new year.
Among those in the headlines in 2017 were Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, repeat Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup champion Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier, the first Switzerland-born player to be picked No. 1 in the NHL Draft.
Here, in alphabetical order, is NHL.com's list of 18 expected newsmakers for 2018:
Top NHL stories, people to follow in 2018
Penguins hope for three-peat; futures of Doughty, Karlsson, Tavares among biggest topics in coming year