VANCOUVER - The eruption is expected to occur almost any day now.

Observers are wondering how long it will take fiery new Canucks coach John Tortorella to do a Mount Vesuvius impression as a new era begins in Vancouver. It's just a matter of time, they feel, before he spews the kind of rage that eventually got him fired from his previous job with the New York Rangers.

Tortorella's explosive temper is just one of the hot topics circulating in Canucks camp as the 2013-14 NHL season approaches. Many are questioning whether he can reinvigorate a team that made first-round playoff exits the past two springs.

Other prominent storylines include goaltender Roberto Luongo's return to No. 1 status following Cory Schneider's trade to New Jersey; a healthy Ryan Kesler's play after two injury-plagued seasons; perennial scoring leaders Daniel and Henrik Sedin's production; winger Zack Kassian's potential increased role; highly-paid, enigmatic winger David Booth's recovery from injuries and inconsistency; and backup netminder Eddie Lack's promotion to the NHL from the minors.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Phoenix Coyotes played the past four seasons with a chip on their shoulder, trying to prove the little team without an owner could compete with the rest of the league.

Now that they have an owner looking over their shoulder, the Coyotes have something new to contend with: Expectations.

Backed by owners for the first time since 2009, the Coyotes will finally be on the same financial and operational standing as the NHL's other 29 teams — and will have to change their mentality because of it.

"In a lot of ways the past four years, we were kind of wards of the state, poor Coyotes, this and that," Phoenix general manager Don Maloney said. "We never used it that way, but now I think it's different. With strong, stable ownership, we have no excuses for lack of performance."

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sabres coach Ron Rolston is reminded of the changes taking place in downtown Buffalo every day he heads into work.

There's a construction site across the street from the team's arena, where Sabres owner Terry Pegula's HarborCenter hotel and entertainment complex is being erected. Then there's the major overhaul the Sabres themselves have been undergoing over the past eight months.

They're both works in progress, and also reflect the potential of a brighter future in Buffalo.

"I would say it's a good correlation and analogy," Rolston said. "It's both out front and in the arena."