NHL Offseason: Winners
(Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)
The NHL Offseason is dwindling down as teams and players are preparing for training camps, which open in September. Most teams have made the big moves/splashes that will improve their rosters for the upcoming season. There may be some players starting to sign Player Tryout Contracts, or PTOs; however, most of the heavy wheeling, dealing and signing has already been completed. The exception being teams trying to lockdown those restricted free agents that are still without a contract for the upcoming season.
Some teams made very few moves or stayed the course in their rebuild. Other teams left their fans scratching their heads with some of the decisions that were made this offseason. The teams that are the focus of this article made major moves to improve their team, and are considered my winners of the 2024 Offseason.
1) Nashville Predators
The Predators made the biggest free agency splashes during the offseason so far. They managed to sign forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Brady Skjei, and goaltender Scott Wedgewood. Stamkos should help balance out the Predators’ scoring depth throughout the lineup. His wicked one-timer should be a weapon on their power play, which was ranked 16th last season. The fact that he can skate should improve the Predators’ transition game. He can log minutes and play against the opposition’s top six, as he is a two-way player.
Marchessault has good vision, and can pass the puck. He can also finish despite being on the smallish side. He will also help to balance out the scoring throughout the lineup, improve the power play with his dual threat of passing and scoring touch, and bring some leadership to the team. Skjei will help to solidify the defensive corps especially the top four. He is a mobile defenseman who can carry the puck into the offensive zone, which should help the Predators create more off the rush and in transition. Wedgewood is a journeyman backup goaltender, and it will help Juuse Saros knowing that he has a capable goaltending partner, who can step in when he needs a night off. Despite moving around the league over his career, Wedgewood has proven that he can come up with a big win over a top tier team when needed.
2) Chicago Blackhawks
The focus of this offseason seemed to be to bring in some veteran players, who can mentor the young kids while helping the team improve in the standings. The Blackhawks signed defenseman Alex Vlasic and forward Lukas Reichel to new deals. Ilya Mikheyev was an acquisition via trade, who should help bring some more scoring depth to a team that had its troubles scoring last season. Alec Martinez will provide a solid option for the Blackhawks’ top four defensemen. He should help improve a dismal penalty kill since he blocks shots, is mobile, and plays a simple game in his end of the ice. TJ Brodie is the other defenseman that was signed in the offseason, and he should help the Blackhawks create off the rush since he can skate and move the puck up the ice.
Tyler Bertuzzi was the Blackhawks biggest free agent acquisition, and he will help add scoring to the top two lines. He should help to improve the power play as well, since he finds ways to get to the net to score goals. He is not afraid to get involved in scrums, and agitate the opposition. Pat Maroon is a veteran who is not afraid to stand up for his teammates and should be in the lineup to protect the younger stars. Teuvo Teravainen is a creative playmaker with good offensive instincts, and that should help his line mates pot some goals, and improve the power play. He can also help out in his own zone.
3) Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, made a few splashes in its first offseason. They re-signed key players like Liam O’Brien, Sean Durzi, Barrett Hayton, and Michael Kesselring. Their key focus seemed to be to improve the defense, and management accomplished the mission. Mikhail Sergachev was acquired via trades, and was Utah’s biggest offseason acquisition. He is a top four option on the blue line, who is physical and will block shots. Sergachev should help with the transition and off-the-rush games of Utah since he can skate, and reads the play well due to his on-ice vision.
John Marino, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in a trade, is a defenseman who can log minute and block shots, which should help the goalies see the puck better and make more saves. Marino can skate well, and contribute offensively, if needed. Ian Cole will bring leadership and a physical presence to the blue line, with his typical defensive defenseman style that he plays. Kevin Stenlund should help to improve a dismal penalty kill since he blocks shots, is usually in the right spot at the right time, and can win face-offs. He thrived last season in a bottom six role while killing penalties with the Florida Panthers.
4) New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils were one of the busier teams this offseason, as they were wheeling, dealing, and signing free agents. The Devils filled its biggest need and acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Markstrom is a big goalie, covers a lot of net and can steal games for his team by making the big save. He is the talented goaltender that the Devils needed, since this was the most glaring issue with the team last season. Paul Cotter, who was acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, is a physical depth forward, who can help on the forecheck and put up some points.
Johnathan Kovacevic, aquired from the Montreal Canadiens, could help on the power play since he has a decent shot. Brenden Dillon provides some depth on the blue line, and will help move the puck up the ice, driving play towards the offensive zone. Brett Pesce was the Devils’ second biggest acquisition of the offseason. He is one of the best defensive defenseman, will block shots, and can play in any situation. He should help cut down the opposition’s chances and let the goaltender see less shots. Stefan Noesen should help the Devils score goals since he has a nose for the net and a good shot.
5) Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are in win-now mode and this offseason proved just that. The Capitals wasted little time in acquiring forward Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Kings. Dubois is a talented player who can finish and pass. The knock on him is that he tends to not give his all and disappears if things are not going well. If he plays to his abilities, he should contribute to the offense in a big way. Matt Roy should help the Capitals with getting out of their own zone since he is a mobile defenseman. Roy can play with another offensive-minded defenseman or a typical stay-at-home guy.
Andrew Mangiapane, acquired via trade with the Calgary Flames, should provide scoring depth since he can get to the front of the net and finish. Jakob Chychrun, acquired from the Ottawa Senators, should be an asset on the power play because of his great shot. Chychrun will help solidify the Capitals’ top four on the backend, as he is a solid all-around defenseman and can play in any situation. Logan Thompson, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, is coming off of a breakout season. He is a calm presence in the crease and his acrobatic style helps him make saves that other goaltenders would not be able to make. Brandon Duhaime will help gain puck possession on the forecheck since he is physical force in that area of the game.
Honorable Mention: San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks didn’t acquire the flashiest players, but rather, signed its own, and took chances on players that seemed to need a change of scenery. Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks’ top draft prospects signed their entry level contracts this offseason. The Sharks claimed Barclay Goodrow, who will help to improve the penalty kill. Ty Dellandrea, acquired from the Dallas Stars, is an example of a young player who needed a change of scenery. He is a talented forward that just needs the coach’s trust and playing time to show that he can make it in the NHL, and with the Sharks, he will get just that. Jake Walman, acquired in a trade with the Red Wings, is a 28-year-old defenseman that can improve the Sharks’ power play because he can rush the puck up the ice, and that should also help the Sharks create more offense/chances off-the-rush.
Carl Grundstrom, traded from the Los Angeles Kings, is a physical presence when he is on the ice. Tyler Toffoli is a veteran leader and a streak goal-scorer, so the Sharks should be able to score more goals. Alex Wennberg is a playmaker, and should help to improve the scoring depth of the Sharks especially if he is paired with a goal-scorer. Cody Ceci, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, will be a veteran presence for the blue line. He is a stay-at-home defenseman and will block shots; however, he has been known to get out of position and give up chances. Yaroslav Askarov, acquired in a trade with the Predators, is probably the biggest get of the offseason for the Sharks. He is a highly touted goaltending prospect, but was not going to get playing time in the NHL with the extension of Saros. Askarov should have a chance to make the Sharks roster right out of training camp, as his competition will be Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek. Askarov has the chance of getting playing time with the Sharks, as this team is young and in the rebuilding stage, so they can take chances and let him develop while playing.
