Kevin Allen: Who needs to rise up for teams to be serious Cup contenders Do you believe in Darcy Kuemper? How about Robin Lehner? Is Andrew Brunette ready to be a playoff coach? Who needs to step up for top NHL teams.

No mention of Carolina? Minnesota?

Also, I think you have several players dead wrong. Tristan Jarry is a bigger key to the Pens than Malkin. At this point Malkin is just gravy, but not a key. Just like Jack Campbell is more important than Nylander. The health of Ovechkin is more important than how Kuznetsov is playing.

I guess he doesn't consider Carolina a contender.