UFC 306 at Sphere can take combat sports experience to new heights

On Saturday night at UFC 306, the organization’s second Noche UFC event, the organization’s debut at the Sphere will exhibit how the experience of combat sports can be taken to new heights.

With an interesting mix of teams at the top and teams on the rise, the Pacific Division has a wide range of possible outcomes this season, and several different perspectives to view the season through.

In this division we’re considering how big contracts will affect the sustainability of contenders, but also if some dynamic young players could begin to reshape the order of things. For now, the division is relatively settled, with a clear delineation between the top, middle and bottom teams. But slowly that line will blur.

To some degree, that could start to happen this coming season, depending on how things play out in various places. So, with training camps on tap next week, we look at one question each team in the Pacific Division is facing this season, and what it means for what comes next.

Anaheim Ducks: Will the climb up begin this season?

Trevor Zegras. Mason McTavish. Leo Carlsson. Cuter Gauthier. Olen Zellweger. Pavel Mintyukov. There are a lot of under-24 players on this Ducks roster and they keep coming every season. They also have a decent stable of productive, slightly older players, such as Frank Vatrano, Troy Terry and Cam Fowler. Now after seasons of 58 and 59 points, we have to start wondering when Anaheim will begin to climb out of the muck.

A sudden rise all the way into the playoffs seems unlikely, but can they push past Calgary, or closer to Seattle or even Los Angeles? Is something like a 20-point improvement a realistic possibility for this group yet, or are we still a year (or two) early? It’s going to come one day, and the Ducks Breakout Watch begins now.

Calgary Flames: Will any players look to exit the rebuild?

Unlike the Blackhawks or Sharks, Calgary hasn’t gone scorched earth in its rebuild (re-tool, whatever you want to call it) and has retained some good NHL players. Blake Coleman scored 30 goals last season and Yegor Sharangovich got 31. Nazem Kadri still approached a point per game season, and the defence duo of Mackenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson are still a great 1-2.

But there’s no question this is a transition year for the Flames after they sold off some other key pieces last season and over the summer. The trade speculation may not be as hot around the team this season, but what will flare up? Does Kadri’s contract still have too much term (five years) to speculate, or will the fact he’s a centre attract interest?

One player we’d expect questions to be asked about is Andersson, who has two years left on his great-value of a contract ($4.45 million AAV). Whether or not a poor start or season leads to him asking out behind the scenes, the Flames are going to have to weigh his future with the team against what they might be able to get if they traded him. As an organization, do you get out in front of that now, or wait until he’s a rental for someone else?

Edmonton Oilers: With Draisaitl done, what will Evan Bouchard’s extension look like?

Celebration over the Draisaitl extension soon turned to talk of what Connor McDavid’s future bar-setting contract may look like, but we can’t forget that Bouchard is the next big contract up. His breakout in 2023-24 saw a point total that more than doubled year over year, he finished fourth in regular season scoring at his position, and with 32 points in 25 playoff games, scored twice as many playoff points