There have been several notable events of the current offseason with draft selections, trades, and marquee free agent signings. Several teams have aggressively gotten a leg up on the competition while others are putting the building blocks together for a successful future. For different reasons, the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals have all had successful offseasons up to this point.
As arguably the most aggressive team once free agency opened up on July 1st, the Predators added $20.5MM to their 2024-25 salary cap total by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The team also committed to their goaltender by signing Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92MM extension that will kick in for the 2025-26 season. Nashville made the playoffs without this trio of players last year and is well-positioned to get into the top three of the NHL’s Central Division. The Predators finished the 2023-24 season averaging 3.24 GF/G (10th) and a 21.56% powerplay rate (16th) and could come close to leading the league in both categories next season.
The Sharks benefitted from being the team with the first overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft this summer and used it to select Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University. Celebrini has already committed to San Jose next year after signing his entry-level contract while the team will also see the fourth-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, Will Smith, join the team. These two alone will make the Sharks far more exciting to watch after finishing the 2023-24 season with 19 wins, and the team also added Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, and Ty Dellandrea up front.
Unexpectedly one of the most active teams this offseason, the general manager of the Lightning, Julien BriseBois, showed off his skills as a salary cap manipulator. After picking up defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Predators before the draft, the team moved out Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot in separate trades that brought back J.J. Moser, Conor Geekie, Utah’s second-round pick in 2025, Los Angeles’ second-round pick in 2025, Los Angeles’ fourth-round pick in 2024, and Utah’s seventh-round pick in 2024. They also added the market’s biggest fish, Jake Guentzel on a respectable seven-year, $63MM contract. Unfortunately, all the moves couldn’t stop the team from losing their captain, as Stamkos left the organization via the free agent market.
The Capitals were certainly not happy about being swept in Round One of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs and want to prove they are not solely focused on Alex Ovechkin breaking the all-time goal-scoring record. The front office took major steps in building up their defensive core as the team brought in Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy which should certainly help the team improve upon their 3.07 GA/G average from the 2023-24 season. Washington also brought in goaltender Logan Thompson and his $766K salary from the Vegas Golden Knights for a pair of third-round selections as insurance for Charlie Lindgren. Lastly, to fill the team’s second-line center vacancy, the Capitals brought in the controversial Pierre-Luc Dubois in a trade with the Kings in one of the riskier moves of the offseason.
It’s been an exciting offseason up to this point, with plenty of action from all around the league. Which team has stood out the most in having the best summer up to this point? Vote below!
I dunno, the Sharks are still just spinning their wheels and the rest of the teams made themselves better, but…not good enough.
I kinda like Seattle’s offseason the best. They added a 20 something top pair and top PP D man and a 20 something versatile top six forward who can play C or W depending on how Wright pans out or, worse comes to worse, can become a high end 3rd line center.
So, they improved their team as much as anyone else, but still have more room to grow beyond what the other teams do given where they are in their window.
All the teams mentioned in the article did have offseason success to various degrees. But I would have to say, the Nashville Predators had the biggest offseason success. Now, will that lead to success during the season only time will tell. It’s been an interesting offseason for the NHL with many twists & turns that’s for sure.
I can’t remember. Do they pay taxes in The Nashville? Stamko’s signing almost seemed school yard – they asked him and he said yes.
Like Tampa, Nashville doesn’t pay a state income tax either. Stamkos also stated, it wasn’t just on the ice things that he & his family looked at as it’s off-the-ice things that they wanted various things to check off. Stamkos said Nashville checked all the boxes where most teams only checked a few of the boxes on his family’s checklist.
Also, Stamkos got his market value with the contract from Nashville.
Hands down, the Preds! (The first time I’ve ever said that!). :D
Wonder if McDonough is having second thoughts about going back to Tampa? I’m sure he thought he and Stamkos would be teammates again.
I’m sure McDonagh is disappointed Stamkos left Tampa like all his Tampa teammates were (especially his bestie Hedman) but it’s a business & they understand that (hence, Hedman staying in Tampa on a new deal). Also, McDonagh is close friends with Hedman. During the All-Star break this season Stamkos, Hedman, McDonagh, Pat Maroon, Ondrej Palat, & Tyler Johnson all went on vacation together with their wives. McDonagh is also friends with other players on Tampa. Also, McDonagh stated his family wanted to move back to Tampa.
Furthermore, if Nashville didn’t agree to trade McDonagh (which he asked for the Tampa trade last summer to GM Barry Trotz) there offense season acquisitions this year wouldn’t have been what they are. McDonagh leaving opened up nearly $7m in cap space.
One last thing, Tampa could have kept Stamkos but for whatever reasons GM Julien BriseBois decided against it (I don’t agree with it). Tampa could have had both Guentzel & Stamkos especially if one believed the Stamkos contract rumors.
Actually, Trotz just wouldn’t have had to sign Skjei if McDonough stayed.
Looking back at Skjei’s contract, you have a valid point. Though Skjei is 5 years younger & probably has a longer playing career ahead than McDonagh at this point (though that varies pending on injuries & such.) But yeah, the scenario could have played that way though.
As much as I like McDonough, this actually worked out in the Preds favor. Skjei gives us more offense from the back end and skates better, though it’ll be hard to match what McDonough does in his own end.
But I’m sure Ryan thought the band was being put back together in Tampa with a better chance at winning the Cup than he would’ve had in Nashville. Didn’t pan out that way.
It might have played out better for the Preds as it looks right now but the answer to that may take a year or two to truly find out. The Preds are on a tight championship caliber window (2 maybe 3 years at best). I actually don’t think Stamkos or Marchessault even finish their contracts in Nashville when it’s all set & done. Trotz seems like a GM who won’t wait around long if the team isn’t producing & wins a title in the next 2 years.
As for Tampa, I didn’t like seeing Stamkos go as he should have finished in Tampa with Hedman but I feel BriseBois put the writing on the wall last summer for Stamkos (even Stammer mentioned it recently). On paper & based on metrics, the Bolts have actually improved their 5v5 & defensive unit (despite losing Sergachev) this offseason compared to last year & gained a top prospect in the process. But only time will tell how everything plays out for the Bolts.
These were my top 4 in terms of improvement as well. Dunno even if that’ll get the preds over the hump and into the last dance, though seemingly some of their competition regressed slightly (jets, stars) and they can add again at the deadline. So yeah, great so far. Fla and NYR are probably still fine though quiet. Boston probably got better enough to make some noise. Jury still out in CAR. NJ would probably be my pick for 5th & Utah 6th, but seems like the “other shoe” hasn’t dropped yet for some clubs. Could be that someone has a trick up their sleeve that’ll tie the room together.
Preds had a good one. A few big names. But I’m super impressed with what Edmontons CEO has done while without a GM.
Surprised no mention of the Coyote Club.
The Utah Nickname to be Named Later
The Flyers because they have Mickhov coming over. Better than anyone could have drafted and much cheaper than free agents. Now if only Tortorella was gone it would be a great one.
I am a preds fan all day and by far this is the best off-season in a long time, maybe even in franchise history. You can’t hardly beat adding 2 former stanley cup champions. One of which is arguably the best veteran center in the league and the other can play center or wing at an eleite level. Not to mention giving a Noris Trophy winner a solid partner on the forst pair and resigning a solid leader for the second defensive pair. I just wish they would have waited and got read of Juice at the deadline and moved Askarov up to the NHL. They still could have signed scott wedge wood to back-up Juice and then be a possible starter is Askarov isn’t ready by the deadline.
They also could have gotten Murry still to play the same role as Wedgewood or to start in the AHL once Asakrov gets to the NHL
Why do you assume Askarov would be as good as Saros?
He has only started in three NHL contest and is 1-2 in those games. But we have to look at who the opponents where though. The first game, which was a lose, was on January 12, 2023 @ Montreal. He got little to know support from the rest of the team. The blue line was not blocking shots, the forwards only scored twice. While he did let in three (the fourth goal happened with an empty net) which isn’t terrible, his save percentage was .886. You also have to think that for an NHL level Goalie that would be pretty good, it should be considered great for an AHL level Goalie. His next game, which was also a lose, he came in to relieve Saros who was down four and faced 16 shots saving all 16 of them in a blow out win for Carolina. His next and most recent game was a win against a hot Washington Capitals team on December 30, 2023 where he faced 31 shots and made 29 saves, making his save percentage .931. If we look at his career stats we see that his GAA is 2.58 and his SV% is .914. Those are numbers higher than what Fleury saw at the beginning of his career, or what even Martin Brodeur saw or Andre Vasileski saw. I can’t say that Askarov will be as good as Saros this year but in the very near future he will be better than Saros and I really wish the Preds would have left a path available for Askarov to be the next face of the franchise and possibly win us a cup, because frankly I don’t think Saros has what is needed in net to win a cup anymore unless something major changes during the off-season.
What we need to look at is that Askarov lost the starters role in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Trotz made the right move.
Trotz: Stamkos, Marchessault, Skjei, Saros. Monstrous offseason.
UHC has a new 1D. Sergachev, Marino, Durzi, and Cole is undeniably a “best offseason.”
Durzi was resigned though, not a new addition
Since Nashville is praised with the Juice extension, credit is also deserved to the Yotahs for extending Durzi.
The question is not who had the best free agent signings or even trades, but who had the best offseason so far. The author mentions the Saros resigning. So Durzi and Saros fall under the same category.
not sure why Tampa was listed, they lost a lot more than they gained
Tampa losing Stamkos & Sergachev does sting (nor do I necessarily agree on the moves). However, Guentzel & Stamkos are similar players but Guentzel has a much more prime seasons ahead of him compared to Stamkos. Guentzel was ranked in the top 20 in 5v5 production last season where Stamkos 5v5 play has rapidly declined over the past few years as most of his production now comes from the PP. Also, Guentzel is a much better defensive forward than Stamkos is in their careers at this point. Tampa wanted to improve on their 5v5 & defense with Guentzel they technically did.
As for Sergachev, while Sergachev is a great player, his defensive game has been inconsistent his whole career. Tampa got Moser who’s considered a defensive defenseman as he may not bring much offensively (like Sergachev) in his young career but Moser’s in-depth metrics show he makes very few mistakes & holds his defensive ground very well. Tampa wanted to improve defensively & one could argue they got better (on paper at least with McDonagh & Moser) in their decision but only time will tell.
Furthermore, Tampa also received from the Sergachev trade, Conor Geekie, who is a blue-chip prospect projected to be a top-six forward & could be on Tampa’s roster as early as this year.
One could argue Tampa did get better technically but I do understand how people could say they didn’t.
Maybe not the best but I feel edmonton should have at least gotten a mention. Added Skinner, Arvidsson, and Brown. Re-signed Henrique, Janmark, Perry, Brown and Stetcher to decent deals. Got rid of Campbell’s albatross of a contract. Now if they could only find a way to shed Nurse’s contract without it costing too much and add at least 1 good 2nd pair dman, and re-sign Draisaitl to a decent contract that is more inline to his actual value, and sign a good GM who isn’t some retread like Bowman and they should be gold. May be a lot to ask for tho.
I would agree that Edmonton is in a good place and I expect to see them back in the playoffs next year making another run. They are part of the reason I haven’t gotten my hopes up for the Preds yet because Edmonton is probably going to win the West again.
How do you guys feel about the Arvi deal? Think I’d prefer Perron at that price.
Perron is 5 years older, scores less, and has been on the wrong side of the +/- recently. Oilers tried Perron about 10 years ago and it didn’t work out.
+/- over Corsi!? That is old school friend <3 I agree Arvi looks better on paper. I was worried they may move Kane, and could use some of that PnVinegar.
Good morning. I am a commenting for Toronto. For the defencemen that Toronto brought in that are not house hold names they are 6’4” 6’6”’
This new Craig Berube regime might be a revisit to the Brian Burke era; just done a bit more ‘properly’. I could think of a better word but i’m still waking up
Truculance
Craig Berube and huge defensive men = Stanley Cup.
Colton Parayko: 6′ 6″ 228 lbs
Alex Pietrangelo: 6′ 3″ 215 lbs
Star power wise, definitely Nashville. As far as getting back to respectability & compete level, the Blackhawks deserve a vote there.
Tyler Bertuzzi & Teuvo Teravainen to join a returning Taylor Hall & of course #98, figure to be solid additions to their offense, while defensively they gain, if nothing else, long tenured vets in Alec Martinez & TJ Brodie to help bring along their young defensive core. Also being able to get their #2 overall pick Levshunov in their system right away is huge, & he may even impact their NHL roster if he shows well with their AHL Rockford affiliate. (although I’d keep him in Rockford for a full season) Their goaltending room figures to be much better off with the addition of Brossoit to join Mrazek. All this will likely still not lead to a playoff appearance, but injuries aside, should make them competitive and maybe one of those wild card bubble teams, possibly? Alas, these and all off season moves by these clubs are “on paper” for now. We’ve all seen how even the thickest looking sheets of paper can end up becoming razor thin once the season begins and continues to rolls on.
I don’t know if the Blackhawks are going to make the playoffs this year, but they definitely are on there way back. As a Preds fan I can’t stand that but you have to give respect where respect is due and admit that the Blackhawks could be contenders in just a few years.
Yeah for sure, them making the playoffs is a stretch, but I like what they did for the now and where they’re going beyond the now. I also like the transparency of Kyle Davidson. He never sugar coated the fact that this attempt to tear down and build back up again would be a few years long process, and a rather painful one to watch at times … well, most of the time.
Long time Hawks fan here.
cbhlarms28 you said it perfectly, although if they don’t get hit with the injury bug again this year, it may be much better than we think. I still think the playoffs are a stretch, but we should be competitive every night this year.
It is a lot easier to nail it when you have tons of cap space and you live in a tax free state. I think the Oilers nailed it considering they had very little cap space and were able to resign most of their free agents while still upgrading their team and not giving out any contracts longer than 2 years. Yes, I know they signed Josh Brown for 3 years, but his contract can easily be buried in the minors.