Anaheim Ducks
Key Acquisitions: Mason McTavish, Sasha Pastujov, Ryan Getzlaf (resigned)
Key Departures: Haydn Fleury, Danton Heinen, Ryan Miller
The Anaheim Ducks had a pretty simple offseason, not doing too much to change their team. The Ducks drafted Mason McTavish with the 3rd overall pick and Sasha Pastujov, who both will be big parts of their future. The Ducks lost Haydn Fleury to Seattle in the expansion draft and Danton Heinen in free agency. Overall, the Ducks didn’t do too much this offseason which makes sense as a rebuilding team.
Grade: C
Calgary Flames
Key Acquisitions: Blake Coleman, Nikita Zadorov, Dan Vladar
Key Departures: Mark Giordano, Derek Ryan, Josh Leivo
After missing the playoffs in a disappointing season, the Flames took an aggressive approach this offseason. Unfortunately for the Flames, they lost their long-time captain Mark Giordano in the expansion draft. But with the cap space freed up, they were able to sign Blake Coleman and Nikita Zadorov to boost their defensive play. The Flames slightly upgraded their team and could be in the mix of the playoffs next year.
Grade: B-
Edmonton Oilers
Key Acquisitions: Zach Hyman, Duncan Keith, Cody Ceci
Key Departures: Adam Larsson, Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones
The Edmonton Oilers made some aggressive moves this offseason, trying to win now with Connor McDavid. The Oilers threw a ton of money at free agents such as Zach Hyman, Cody Ceci, and Tyson Barrie. However, this led them to lose solid players like Adam Larsson and Ethan Bear. Even though the Oilers are in a win-now mode, they should have spent their cap space more wisely.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Kings
Key Acquisitions: Phillip Danault, Viktor Arvidsson, Alexander Edler
Key Departures: Kurtis MacDermid
The Los Angeles Kings are a young team rising out of their rebuild and with the successful offseason they had, The Kings made some major upgrades, signing Phillip Danault to solidify their already deep center depth, signing Alexander Edler to be a veteran presence on defense, and trading for Viktor Arvidsson, a top 6 forward they desperately needed. The Kings’ smart moves this offseason could end bringing them to the playoffs once again.
Grade: B+
San Jose Sharks
Key Acquisitions: Adin Hill, James Reimer, Nick Bonino
Key Departures: Martin Jones, Ryan Donato, Christian Jaros
The San Jose Sharks are looking to be diving into the rebuild with their disappointing performance last year. The Sharks did make a fantastic pick in the draft by taking William Eklund with the 7th pick. They even added Adin Hill and James Reimer to upgrade their goaltending. But overall, the Sharks stayed relatively the same and could be expecting another disappointing season next year, prompting their rebuild
Grade: B
Seattle Kraken
Key Acquisitions: Philipp Grubauer, Mark Giordano, Jaden Schwartz
Key Departures: Tyler Pitlick, Kurtis MacDermid, Vitek Vanecek
In their first-ever offseason, the Seattle Kraken made some significant moves to try to replicate the success of the Golden Knights. The Kraken drafted Matthew Beniers with the 2nd overall pick and signed Alexander Wennberg, Jaden Schwartz, and Phillipp Grubaeur in free agency. Overall, the Kraken have constructed a fairly strong team and have a good chance at making the playoffs in the weak Pacific Division
Grade; B
Vancouver Canucks
Key Acquisitions: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland, Jaroslav Halak
Key Departures: Nate Schmidt, Alexander Edler, Braden Holtby
Despite having a young roster, the Canucks are looking to go in win-now mode with the moves they made this offseason, the biggest being the Coyotes trade. The Canucks acquired Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland from the Coyotes for the 9th pick, a 2nd round pick, and 3 cap dumps. The Canucks did free up cap space with Nate Schmidt, Alexander Edler, and Braden Holtby gone, but they are still in a tough cap situation with Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson left to sign.
Grade: C+
Vegas Golden Knights
Key Acquisitions: Evgenii Dadonov, Nolan Patrick, Laurent Brossoit
Key Departures: Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Reaves, Cody Glass
The Vegas Golden Knights made some fairly questionable moves, potentially ruining their championship chances. The Golden Knights first traded their Vezina-winning goal Marc-Andre Fleury for practically nothing. That move did clear cap space, but they then used that space to trade for another winger they don’t need, Evgenii Dadonov. The Golden Knights’s got worse this offseason and they have yet to fully address their biggest need, a first-line center.
Grade; D+
