NHL Offseason Overview
The recent NHL offseason was marked by a swift series of events, including the draft, significant trades, and the opening of free agency, all occurring within a brief 10-day window. This period presented every NHL front office an ideal chance to enhance their rosters, with varying strategies among general managers. Some teams, on the brink of championship contention, aimed for minor adjustments to maintain or boost their competitive edge, while others took a more forward-thinking approach, eyeing long-term improvement for future playoff runs extending into the 2026-27 season and beyond.
With the initial frenzy of roster changes subsiding, it is now time to evaluate each team’s offseason maneuvers in an objective manner. The following report cards assess all 32 NHL teams based on their draft selections, trades, and free agency activities, considering their anticipated moves against the backdrop of their current needs as they head into the latter part of July and prepare for upcoming training camps.
Team Summaries
Florida Panthers
- Key Additions: D Jeff Petry, G Daniil Tarasov
- Key Departures: D Nate Schmidt, G Vitek Vanecek
- Salary Cap Space: None (projected over by $2,950,000)
- Overall Grade: A+
GM Bill Zito earns accolades for masterfully retaining critical components from the Panthers’ prior successful seasons, securing long-term contracts for key figures like Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand. This strategy has not only preserved the team’s competitive core but positioned Florida as a contender once more. The addition of promising goaltender Tarasov bolsters their net presence, suggesting Zito’s shrewd approach has set the stage for potential repeated postseason success.
Anaheim Ducks
- Key Additions: F Mikael Granlund, G Ville Husso, F Chris Kreider
- Key Departures: G John Gibson, F Trevor Zegras
- Salary Cap Space: $28,988,812
- Overall Grade: A
The Ducks made a significant impact this offseason, particularly in how they navigated their financial flexibility to enhance a promising roster filled with youthful talent. Acquiring Kreider while offloading Gibson and Zegras granted them enough budget room to acquire Granlund, resulting in an offseason that could keep Anaheim competitive in the near future as they focus on nurturing their young players under favorable contracts.
St. Louis Blues
- Key Additions: F Nick Bjugstad, D Logan Mailloux, F Pius Suter
- Key Departures: F Zach Bolduc
- Salary Cap Space: $625,150
- Overall Grade: A
Blues GM Doug Armstrong made a few strategic moves that greatly strengthened the roster. Shifting Bolduc created room for Mailloux, an addition that anticipates Torey Krug’s absence. The selection of Bjugstad provides a strong option for the bottom six, while Suter shores up center depth, making the Blues a formidable team heading into the new season.
Mammoth
- Key Additions: F JJ Peterka, D Nate Schmidt, F Brandon Tanev, G Vitek Vanecek
- Key Departures: F Josh Doan, D Michael Kesslering
- Salary Cap Space: $6,657,143
- Overall Grade: A
With a high-profile acquisition in Peterka, the Mammoth have positioned themselves as strong playoff contenders, committing to him with a five-year contract post-trade. The team’s ability to integrate additional proven players indicates a solid strategy to bolster their chances this coming season.
Carolina Hurricanes
- Key Additions: F Nikolaj Ehlers, D K’Andre Miller
- Key Departures: D Brent Burns
- Salary Cap Space: $10,644,291
- Overall Grade: A
After several unsuccessful bids to add a top-tier winger, GM Erik Tulsky finally secured Ehlers in a pivotal move expected to elevate the Hurricanes’ offensive capabilities. The addition of Miller brings further stability to the defense, although the search for a second-line center remains ongoing.
Montreal Canadiens
- Key Additions: D Noah Dobson, F Zachary Bolduc
- Key Departures: D Logan Mailloux
- Salary Cap Space: -$4,454,167
- Overall Grade: A
The Canadiens made a statement by acquiring Dobson from the Islanders, which is expected to enhance their long-term prospects as they look to capitalize on their current young talent, including Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
New York Islanders
- Key Additions: D Matthew Schaefer
- Key Departures: D Noah Dobson
- Salary Cap Space: $3,936,667
- Overall Grade: B+
A potentially transformative offseason began with the selection of Schaefer, signaling a shift towards building a refreshing roster. The trades ensuring the team remains competitive, along with the signing of veteran forward Jonathan Drouin, show progress in setting a new direction for the franchise.
Philadelphia Flyers
- Key Additions: F Trevor Zegras, F Christian Dvorak
- Key Departures: F Ryan Poehling
- Salary Cap Space: $5,520,238
- Overall Grade: B+
The Flyers’ centerpiece acquisition of Zegras may prove pivotal as they aspire to transform their scoring dynamics. Alongside him, Dvorak is expected to complement the offense while changes in the crease create additional competition.
Vancouver Canucks
- Key Additions: F Evander Kane
- Key Departures: None
- Salary Cap Space: $556,667
- Overall Grade: B
While securing Kane adds to the scoring depth, questions remain around their overall strategy of balancing rich contracts in a competitive market, especially with additional concerns around offensive depth.
