Give me some NHL Info please?

ive been a small time hockey fan for some time now. i live in milwaukee so the predators are my favorite team (theyre ahl affiliates are the local admirals). im trying to get more into hockey this year since i havent watched it except for local admirals games. can any body fill me in on the basics like what stats are considered good and bad, what teams are on the rise and which arent. i know the basic stuff about the big teams and players like the redwings and penguins and ovechkin and crosby. what i need more is overall details to make me a more informed NHL fan. thanks