16. Buffalo Sabres – Insert the Titanic film’s “It’s been 84 years” meme. In reality, it has been 13 seasons since the Sabres punched their ticket to the postseason. You’d imagine that Kevyn Adams and the Sabres would be aggressive this offseason to try to buoy the Sabres back to the postseason. Fast forward to today – the Buffalo Sabres have had a very quiet offseason. Luckily, they already have core forward Tage Thompson on a team-friendly deal. They do have Alex Tuch under contract, but he is coming due for a contract renewal in 2026, and they will need to budget for this. Additionally, they have a glut of top-tier prospects, such as Isak Rosen, Noah Ustlund, and more, knocking on the door. I think that the pressure is on for the Sabres. The city of Buffalo is an amazing hockey town, and it has suffered a long time. Sadly, I don’t think that suffering is going to end this year.

15. Columbus Blue Jackets – This team cannot avoid disaster. They finished last in the Eastern Conference last year after a disappointing record of 27-43-12. Former Canes GM Don Waddell was hired as president of hockey operations, and the general manager of the club. Outgoing GM Jarmo Kekalainen was shown the door after 11 years in the GM seat. Don Waddell went to work quickly, naming Dean Evason who obviously has to be the actor that plays Creed from The Office to replace interim head coach Pascal Vincent. He also dipped into the July 1 madness, signing free agent center Sean Monahan to a lucrative five-year contract. They saw Jake Bean and Adam Boqvist depart as free agents. However, they have some top tier prospects looking to show that they can contribute at the NHL level, such as Kiril Marchenko, Yegor Chinakov, and Cole Sillinger. However, it’s not all sunshine and roses, with Patrik Laine being deal to the Montreal Canadiens alongside a 2nd round pick for defenseman Jordan Harris. No salary was retained, which explains the sweetener the Jackets had to add to entice the Canadiens to take on that full contract.

14. Washington Capitals – During the eventful offseason, the Washington Capitals made headline-grabbing moves. They shook up their roster by bringing in Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Kings and Andrew Mangiapane from the Flames in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. In addition, they acquired Logan Thompson, Jakob Chychrun, and Matt Roy to fortify their defensive ranks. However, the Capitals didn’t make any significant additions to their forward lines, potentially leaving them overly reliant on Alex Ovechkin. Although they also added players like Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh, it remains uncertain if these additions will alleviate the load on the shoulders of the “Great 8”. It appears that a transitional phase may be on the horizon for the Capitals in the upcoming year.

13. Ottawa Senators – The Sens last made the postseason in 2017, and were on the precipice of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Their journey from that moment of time was akin to finishing your skiing lessons and being dropped off at the summit right in front of a double black diamond trail – a rapid and steep decline. Luckily, the Sens have since amassed a stockpile of young talent headlined by Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. The Senators play a pugilistic style of game as they are dragged into the trenches of war by their captain, but the young squad seems to struggle with keeping the puck out of their own net. They’re hoping that by acquiring former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins that he can bring the Senators to a play where they can stop the GAA bleed. Can the Sens young roster take a step forward this year, or will new General Manager Steve Staios need to tear it all down and begin again?

12. Montreal Canadiens – Le Canadiens de Montreal have had a quieter offseason that was highlighted by their acquisition of Finnish forward Patrik Laine and their re-signing of former first overall draft pick Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year deal. Laine and Slafkofsky will join Caulfield and Suzuki as cornerstone pieces of this franchise for the years to come. GM Kent Hughes and the Habs front office are fully expecting this Montreal club to transition out of the rebuild this year.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins – The Pittsburgh Penguins are trying to strike a balance this season, staying competitive without fully rebuilding. General manager Kyle Dubas made it clear they’re not aiming to just scrape into the playoffs but want to get back to being serious contenders. While the team isn’t what it was during their Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017, they believe in the core that’s still there—Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and now Erik Karlsson. Crosby, who just turned 37, still wants to chase another championship alongside Malkin and Letang. Even though they’ve missed the playoffs for the past two seasons, the Penguins are hopeful, especially after finishing last season on a strong note. Although they’ve seen some departures like Jeff Carter, they’ve also made moves to bring in fresh talent like Kevin Hayes and Cody Glass.

10. Detroit Red Wings – The Detroit Red Wings had a busy offseason as they aimed to build on their progress from the 2023-24 season, where they just missed the playoffs. They focused on key roster decisions, dealing with unrestricted free agents like Patrick Kane, David Perron, and Shayne Gostisbehere, while also needing to sign young restricted free agents like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Alongside these moves, Detroit looked internally for potential roster additions, with younger players in the organization being considered to fill gaps. The overall goal was clear: keep improving and finally make that playoff push next season.

9. Philadelphia Flyers – The Philadelphia Flyers had a quiet offseason due to their tough salary cap situation, while some of their Metropolitan Division rivals made significant roster upgrades. The Flyers’ biggest move was the surprise signing of 19-year-old Russian phenom Matvei Michkov, who was drafted seventh overall in 2023 and is now set to join the team sooner than expected. Beyond Michkov, the Flyers focused on re-signing young players like Bobby Brink and Egor Zamula, and bringing back veteran defenseman Erik Johnson. Overall, the Flyers are returning with a lineup that’s mostly unchanged from last season, relying on internal growth to improve.

8. New York Islanders – The New York Islanders head into the 2024-25 season with a familiar roster but need to address their scoring depth after a disappointing offensive performance last year. GM Lou Lamoriello’s biggest move was signing Anthony Duclair to boost their top-six, but concerns remain about their top-heavy offense, goaltending strategy between Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, and the health of key defenseman Scott Mayfield. The Islanders’ playoff hopes will depend on improving their scoring, keeping players healthy, and possibly making strategic trades to strengthen the team.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning – The Tampa Bay Lightning made some significant changes this offseason, highlighted by the departures of Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev. While it’s tough to see longtime stars leave, the Lightning prioritized strengthening their 5-on-5 play, which was a weak spot last season. They brought in Jake Guentzel to help boost their offensive efficiency and re-acquired Ryan McDonagh to shore up the defense. Along with these moves, younger players like Emil Lilleberg are expected to take on bigger roles. These changes aim to make the team more formidable in even-strength situations, marking a shift from their previous strategy. Despite the changes, the Lightning remain focused on staying competitive and chasing another Stanley Cup.

6. New Jersey Devils – The New Jersey Devils made several key moves this offseason to strengthen their roster and coaching staff, aiming to build on last season’s disappointments and return to being consistent playoff contenders. With a focus on becoming tougher and harder to play against, they brought in notable players like defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon, and goalie Jacob Markstrom, who is expected to stabilize their goaltending woes. The team also added forward depth with Stefan Noesen, Tomas Tatar, and Paul Cotter. Under new coach Sheldon Keefe, the Devils will look to find renewed chemistry and consistency, driven by a core of talented forwards and the continued development of young defensemen.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs – The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for the 2024-25 season with a lineup that’s taking shape but hasn’t undergone a major overhaul. Up front, the team has added Cedric Pare, Max Domi, and Connor Dewar while losing Tyler Bertuzzi and Noah Gregor. The departure of Bertuzzi, a key player last season, leaves a notable gap that will need to be addressed during training camp. On defense, the Leafs have upgraded by bringing in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, although they’ve also lost several experienced players like T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano. In goal, the team has opted for Anthony Stolarz as the backup, moving on from Ilya Samsonov, and will rely on Joseph Woll as the primary netminder, with Matt Murray providing additional depth. Overall, the Leafs’ offseason strategy focused on improving defense and goaltending while keeping the core group intact, aiming for stability rather than dramatic change.

4. Boston Bruins – The Bruins made some strategic moves this offseason by focusing on key areas like center depth and defense. Adding Elias Lindholm bolsters their center position, bringing a strong presence that complements current players like Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha. Nikita Zadorov’s physical style and impressive playoff performance add depth to their defense, even though his six-year, $30 million contract may need careful monitoring. While trading goalie Linus Ullmark does mean transitioning to Joonas Korpisalo, the acquisition of a first-round pick provides an opportunity for future growth.

3. New York Rangers – The New York Rangers’ offseason has been notably quiet, with only two new faces expected for the Oct. 12 opener: right wing Reilly Smith, acquired from the Penguins, and center Sam Carrick, signed as a free agent. The team’s strategy appears to involve minimal changes, sticking closely to the previous season’s lineup. While the summer’s inactivity might seem surprising, it’s reminiscent of past eras when offseasons often brought minimal turnover. Historically, the Rangers have had seasons with very few external additions, reflecting a period when major roster changes were less common.

2. Carolina Hurricanes – The Carolina Hurricanes made significant changes following the 2023-24 season, as several key players departed via free agency. Defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, as well as forwards Stefan Noesen and Teuvo Teravainen, signed with other teams, while the Canes added veteran defensemen Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere, and depth forwards William Carrier, Eric Robinson, and Tyson Jost. They also re-signed forward Jordan Martinook and defenseman Jalen Chatfield, and extended restricted free agents Martin Necas and Jack Drury. Veteran center Evgeny Kuznetsov was released. General Manager Eric Tulsky, who took on the role full-time in June, is focused on negotiating with restricted free agent Seth Jarvis, the team’s second-leading scorer last season.

1. Florida Panthers – The Florida Panthers are gearing up for the 2024-25 NHL season with high expectations after winning the Stanley Cup in 2024. They are co-favorites to win the 2025 Cup with odds of +900, alongside the Dallas Stars. Key moves include retaining top scorer Sam Reinhart with an eight-year deal and extending Anton Lundell for six years. However, the team has faced significant departures, with defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson moving to other teams. In response, the Panthers have added Dmitry Kulikov, Nate Schmidt, and Adam Boqvist to bolster their defense. The goaltending situation is also evolving with Chris Driedger’s return to compete with Spencer Knight behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Maintaining energy after extensive playoff runs is a challenge, but General Manager Bill Zito remains confident in the team’s ability to stay competitive. As they prepare to defend their title, the Panthers will face strong competition from teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars out West, and with Carolina, New York, Tampa, Toronto and Boston in the East.