2016 offseason grades for all 30 NHL teams
— -- There are still moves to be made. There are still useful free agents to sign. There are arbitration cases to settle. There are teams with holes to fill. There are players waiting to be traded. But traditionally, the heavy lifting to the offseason starts to slow down right about now.
With that in mind, here are offseason grades for every NHL team:
Note: The teams are listed in alphabetical order, but to skip to a specific team click on the link below:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI | COL | CLS | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA | LA | MIN | MON | NSH | NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL | TB | TOR | VAN | WSH | WPG
Anaheim Ducks: C+
Notable additions: Jonathan Bernier
Notable subtractions: Jamie McGinn, David Perron, Frederik Andersen
Corey Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: General manager Bob Murray does a great job managing assets while also managing the burden of being a team with Stanley Cup aspirations on a real budget.
The Frederik Andersen trade was a great example of Murray selling at the necessary time. The Sami Vatanen contract is team-friendly and gives the Ducks flexibility with Hampus Lindholm, who also needs a long-term deal. Once Lindholm signs, the Ducks will have eight defensemen under contract so you still can't rule out a Cam Fowler trade.
Buying low on Jonathan Bernier was smart, and it was even smarter waiting until after he got his $2 million signing bonus this year. Again, strong use of assets on a budget.
The biggest concern is the hiring of Randy Carlyle after firing Bruce Boudreau. It's a real stretch to see that as an upgrade.
Arizona Coyotes: B+
Notable additions: Alex Goligoski, Jamie McGinn, Clayton Keller (draft)
Notable subtractions: N/A
Pronman's draft grade: A-
Analysis: It was a strong debut offseason for new GM John Chayka, who grabbed the rights to Alex Goligoski and signed him to a reasonable contract worth $5.475 million per season. The Coyotes also had a good draft, grabbing the highly skilled Clayton Keller and a needed defenseman prospect in Jakob Chychrun, even if it cost cap space in adding Pavel Datsyuk to do it.
The Anthony DeAngelo trade with Tampa Bay is intriguing -- he's a player with tons of skill but with questions about his maturity. The sense is that the Coyotes aren't done yet on defense, and Chayka has plenty of good, young forwards to pull off another deal to address an area that still needs help.
Boston Bruins: C
Notable additions: David Backes, Anton Khudobin
Notable subtractions: Loui Eriksson, Brett Connolly, Chris Kelly, Lee Stempniak
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: The Bruins signed David Backes to a five-year contract worth $6 million per season, and he'll replace Loui Eriksson, who signed a six-year deal worth $6 million per season. Chances are, neither of those contracts will age well, so it comes down to preference. Backes provides a physical edge that Eriksson doesn't, but his points per game average (0.57) was the lowest since his second season. The bet, at 32 years old, is that the trend won't go the other way. As much as we love Backes, that's probably not going to be a good contract during its second half. He projects as a third-line player, at least as that contract matures, and $6 million per season is a lot for that role.
The John-Michael Liles contract is a good one and helps justify the Bruins' aggressive trade deadline moves, but the defense still needs work and Brad Marchand needs a new contract. GM Don Sweeney has some heavy lifting before the season starts.
Buffalo Sabres: B
Notable additions: Kyle Okposo, Dmitry Kulikov, Anders Nilsson, Alex Nylander (draft)
Notable subtractions: Mark Pysyk, Chad Johnson
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: GM Tim Murray's offseason to-do list was to add a veteran winger and a left-shot defenseman. He was also the most publicly vocal GM in his desire to add Steven Stamkos. Well, the Stamkos thing didn't work out, but Murray was able to check the other needs off the list.
July 1 can be a dangerous day to do serious shopping, but in signing Kyle Okposo, the Sabres did well to get one of the younger free agents on the market. There's still going to be decline built in to the seven-year deal given to Okposo, but at 28 years old, it'll be less severe than a few of the other veteran forwards awarded big contracts.
Coach Dan Bylsma probably would have embraced a reunion with left-shot defenseman Alex Goligoski, but the Coyotes' aggressive pursuit there left the Sabres few options, and they settled on Dmitry Kulikov, who is serviceable in the top four but tends to leave you wanting more out of his game offensively than he provides. The Sabres are trending in the right direction and should push for a playoff spot, but the defense still needs work.
This grade improves if Murray gets defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen locked up to a long-term deal similar to many of the other talented young defensemen around the league.
Calgary Flames: B+
Notable additions: Troy Brouwer, Brian Elliott, Chad Johnson, Matthew Tkachuk (draft)
Notable subtractions: Joe Colborne
Pronman's draft grade: A-
Analysis: Troy Brouwer is just about the perfect addition for a team with good, young forwards like the Flames. He's going to be a quick fit in that dressing room, and it won't take him long to win over Calgary. Four years was just about the max you'd want to go on that deal, and GM Brad Treliving did well not to overspend on a player who is a cheaper alternative to Milan Lucic or David Backes. The Brian Elliott trade was another shrewd move that brings in a No. 1 goalie without breaking the bank.
The heaviest lifting is still to come for Treliving, who has to get restricted free agents Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau locked up to long-term deals. There have been enough young forwards signed to contract extensions that a market is getting established, but these are two important pieces to the puzzle that need to get settled.
Carolina Hurricanes: B-
Notable additions: Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, Lee Stempniak
Notable subtractions: Nathan Gerbe
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: GM Ron Francis took advantage of his cap space by adding talented forward Teuvo Teravainen in the deal that also brought Bryan Bickell to Carolina. For a team that is defense-heavy in its prospect pool, it's a smart addition to bring Teravainen, 21, into the mix. The Victor Rask contract is sneaky good; he's a better player than people realize, and $4 million per season for a 23-year-old who blossomed into a 20-goal scorer is perfectly acceptable.
The Cam Ward contract is a bit of a mystery. Goaltending was part of the reason Carolina struggled last season, with the Hurricanes finishing No. 29 in the league with a .915 even-strength save percentage. As of now, Francis is bringing both Ward and Eddie Lack back. This offseason would look at lot better if it included Ben Bishop or Marc-Andre Fleury headed to Carolina.
Chicago Blackhawks: C
Notable additions: Brian Campbell
Notable subtractions: Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, Andrew Shaw, Andrew Ladd, Dale Weise
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: Defenseman Brian Campbell at $1.5 million for next season is the best short-term contract signed in free agency. That's the power of Chicago.
The burden of being the Blackhawks is a constant cap crunch, and it was costly this offseason. GM Stan Bowman had to move Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen for cap reasons, and in losing Shaw, the Blackhawks lost a part of their soul. Campbell addressed the hole in Chicago's top four, but there are now more concerns than ever about their depth up front, an edge the Blues enjoyed in their playoff series this spring.
Colorado Avalanche: Incomplete
Notable additions: Joe Colborne, Patrick Wiercioch, Fedor Tyutin
Notable subtractions: Reto Berra, Mikkel Boedker, Shawn Matthias
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: Taking a flier on Joe Colborne at $2.5 million per season for two years was a solid move, in part because of his versatility. Patrick Wiercioch signing a one-year deal for $800,000 was even better, and Colorado did well to get Nathan MacKinnon locked up long term at $6.3 million per season.
But none of these moves make the Avalanche a significantly better team than they were last season. Colorado's offseason will hinge on what happens with restricted free agent Tyson Barrie. There have been contract talks, and he has an arbitration date coming up at the end of the month. This is looking more and more like a Ryan O'Reilly situation, where a trade is the most logical solution. The challenge is that the Avs would want a defenseman back in the deal, which isn't easy to do and might mean a third team has to get involved.
There are a lot of moving parts here, and it's impossible to grade Colorado's postseason until it's settled.
Columbus Blue Jackets: B-
Notable additions: Pierre-Luc Dubois (draft)
Notable subtractions: Fedor Tyutin
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: This offseason hinges completely on the draft selection of Pierre-Luc Dubois over Jesse Puljujarvi. And while the Blue Jackets' roster might be loaded with questionable contracts that are going to weigh Columbus down if they haven't already, GM Jarmo Kekalainen has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to evaluating young talent. He's really good at it. The Calder Cup win for the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate is the latest proof. So if he ends up being right on Dubois, he deserves a ton of credit for sticking his neck out.
The Seth Jones contract is fantastic, and Kekalainen never blinked when there were threats of an offer sheet. Now, if he can just find a way to move an aging forward (or two) on a bad contract, the Blue Jackets would be in much better shape.
Dallas Stars: B
Notable additions: Dan Hamhuis
Notable subtractions: Jason Demers, Vernon Fiddler, Colton Sceviour
Pronman's draft grade: C
Analysis: GM Jim Nill is gambling that his young defensemen are ready for bigger roles after losing Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell (presumably) and Jason Demers from a defense that helped push the Blues to seven games in the second round.
The Stars love the potential of Esa Lindell, and were impressed with the contributions from Stephen Johns after his call-up last season. They also believe both Patrik Nemeth and Jamie Oleksiak have earned an opportunity to contribute.
The Dan Hamhuis signing was a bit of sanity during a time when general managers were spending wildly, and he provides insurance on defense.
Bringing back both Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen in goal is less than ideal, and is something that has to be addressed before the 2017 postseason. Plenty of time.
Detroit Red Wings: C
Notable additions: Frans Nielsen, Thomas Vanek, Steve Ott
Notable subtractions: Pavel Datsyuk
Pronman's draft grade: B-
Analysis: It was a deft move by GM Ken Holland to move Pavel Datsyuk's contract in a market where few had cap space, even picking up a second-round draft pick in the process. That gave the Red Wings flexibility to spend in free agency, and now the debate begins as to whether they spent wisely.
Detroit's biggest need is addressing a defense that needs more speed and mobility. The problem was that the two free agents most capable of doing that were Alex Goligoski and Keith Yandle, two defensemen swept off the market before the Red Wings had the available cap space or a Steven Stamkos decision. That limited what Detroit could do on defense in free agency, so Holland instead spent money at forward.
Frans Nielsen is a wildly useful two-way center. Red Wings fans rightly showed immediate concern over the term given to a player who is already 32 years old, and that's fair. But before that contract becomes a declining asset, they're going to love the player. He was the best center on the market, and Detroit got him. Taking a flyer on Thomas Vanek at $2.6 million is a reasonable bet. The guess here is he'll make that contract look good at some point this season. Steve Ott brings personality and leadership into a room that, as it gets younger, will need it.
The concern is that two of the Red Wings most important young players -- Danny DeKeyser and Petr Mrazek -- remain unsigned. More important, the defense still hasn't been addressed. The Red Wings get an average grade for now, one that will be upgraded significantly if this offseason includes a trade that lands a defenseman such as Cam Fowler or Jacob Trouba.
Edmonton Oilers: B+
Notable additions: Milan Lucic, Adam Larsson, Jesse Puljujarvi (draft), Jonas Gustavsson
Notable subtractions: Taylor Hall
Pronman's draft grade: A-
Analysis: Yes, the Oilers overpaid to land Adam Larsson, but GM Peter Chiarelli is taking the bold steps necessary to change the course of this franchise.
And while the public reaction to the Taylor Hall trade wasn't overly positive, there have been people inside hockey who have expressed the belief that the Oilers could very well win that trade in the long haul. It's really hard to find a high-end young defenseman. It's not as hard to find a talented, young winger -- the Oilers know that as well as anyone.
Either way, the Oilers have stopped bringing in young, talented wingers from the top of the draft and expecting a change in the standings. And it's likely the Oilers aren't done making moves to address the defense.
Milan Lucic's contract won't look good in a few years, but as the Connor McDavid era begins in earnest next season, Lucic is invaluable to have around. There's still work to be done this offseason, but the Oilers will be better. Add another top-four defenseman and they could be significantly better.
Florida Panthers: A
Notable additions: Keith Yandle, James Reimer, Jason Demers, Colton Sceviour, Reto Berra, Mark Pysyk, Jared McCann
Notable subtractions: Brian Campbell, Al Montoya, Teddy Purcell, Jiri Hudler, Erik Gudbranson
Pronman's draft grade: B-
Analysis: This grade is a reflection only of the Panthers' roster construction and not the series of sometimes-puzzling firings and demotions that seemed to bubble up every other day in south Florida. The sincere hope here is that Dale Tallon finds a place where his voice is valued and heard, because he's a major reason why the Panthers have positioned themselves as an Eastern Conference riser.
All that said, current Florida GM Tom Rowe had a heck of a first offseason.
His best move was getting Aaron Ekblad locked up to an eight-year deal worth $60 million. There was already speculation at the draft that Ekblad might be an offer-sheet candidate, and that threat was immediately dealt with. That's a great contract for everyone involved. Yes, the Panthers overpaid for Keith Yandle, but that's allowable when there are so many other young, cheaper options on the roster. Had Tallon made the move, you could draw a comparison to the Brian Campbell contract he negotiated to bring Campbell to a young, up-and-coming Blackhawks team years ago. That worked out OK for Chicago.
Jason Demers at $4.5 million per season is very reasonable, and the revamped defense in Florida is exactly the kind you need to win in the NHL -- mobile, offensive and littered with great skaters.
As Roberto Luongo ages and presumably slows down, having James Reimer in there at a nice number ($3.4 million per season) helps provide insurance.
Los Angeles Kings: C
Notable additions: Teddy Purcell, Jeff Zatkoff, Tom Gilbert
Notable subtractions: Milan Lucic
Pronman's draft grade: B-
Analysis: It was another eventful offseason for GM Dean Lombardi. Concerns over an extended term meant the Kings had to break off negotiations with Milan Lucic, which is unfortunate for the Kings because he was a great fit in Los Angeles.
The Kings also stripped Dustin Brown of his captaincy, which will make for a potentially uncomfortable situation when training camp arrives. Brown, in comments to the media, clearly wasn't thrilled with how the situation was handled.
Tom Gilbert is another in a long line of stopgap defensive fixes that doesn't quite address the void that was created when Willie Mitchell and Slava Voynov left the team. On the bright side, Teddy Purcell at $1.6 million for one year is a good value.
Minnesota Wild: B+
Notable additions: Eric Staal, Chris Stewart
Notable subtractions: Thomas Vanek
Pronman's draft grade: C+
Analysis: The signing of Eric Staal takes the pressure off GM Chuck Fletcher to trade one of his defensemen for a top-six forward, and if Staal can regain something close to the form that made him one of the best centers in the game, that contract will look really good. At $3.5 million per season, Staal doesn't have to be a top-six forward to fit that salary slot, but it would help solve a need if he is.
Fletcher is sitting in a good spot because he has depth on defense and there are still teams desperately trying to add defensemen. There's no urgency to trade Matt Dumba or Jonas Brodin, but if he gets knocked over with a trade offer that brings a young forward back, he has the flexibility to make the deal.
The best move of the offseason, however, was the hiring of Bruce Boudreau, which accounts for the Wild's high grade. It goes even higher if Fletcher pulls off a blockbuster deal for a forward.
Montreal Canadiens: C+
Notable additions: Shea Weber, Alexander Radulov, Andrew Shaw, Al Montoya
Notable subtractions: P.K. Subban, Tom Gilbert, Lars Eller
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: The Canadiens are going to be significantly better this season than last. They have that going for them. In terms of trying to win games in the short term, Shea Weber in place of P.K. Subban is, at worst, a wash. Depending on who you talk to in the game, it's a short-term upgrade. Alexander Radulov adds a dynamic offensive winger. Andrew Shaw has a Stanley Cup-winning pedigree to go with a physical edge and capacity for front-of-net irritation.
But all the moves that GM Marc Bergevin made put the Canadiens on the clock to win now. Weber's game had already shown signs of decline. That swap might not look particularly good in a few years. Radulov might be a good short-term gamble, but isn't a long-term solution. Shaw's contract is probably too long. There was a long-term cost to what Bergevin did this offseason that puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders to win now. With traditional Eastern Conference playoff teams such as the Rangers, Bruins and Red Wings starting to age, there's an opportunity for the Canadiens to jump back toward the top of the East, but the clock is ticking.
Nashville Predators: A
Notable additions: P.K. Subban, Yannick Weber
Notable subtractions: Shea Weber, Carter Hutton
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: In the past couple years, GM David Poile has traded for a franchise winger in Filip Forsberg, a franchise center in Ryan Johansen and a franchise defenseman in P.K. Subban. The Predators have one of the best, young micro-cores in the NHL, and Poile assembled them without bottoming out. He may not be getting enough credit for that.
There will be a leadership void with Shea Weber gone, and there will probably be growing pains as this group learns to win together, but the Predators are set up to be a Stanley Cup contender for the next several years, especially if Pekka Rinne can regain his form. That, and a contract extension for Johansen are the biggest challenges facing the Predators.
New Jersey Devils: A
Notable additions: Taylor Hall, Beau Bennett, Ben Lovejoy
Notable subtractions: Adam Larsson, David Schlemko, David Warsofsky
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: GM Ray Shero had an under-the-radar good offseason last summer in adding Kyle Palmeiri and Lee Stempniak on the cheap. He made more of a splash this offseason with the Taylor Hall trade, adding the dynamic young winger in a deal in which the Devils lost Adam Larsson. Shero was smart to capitalize on an Oilers team looking to change the culture, shift salary allocation and address a bad defense.
As good as that trade was for the Devils, they still have tough minutes to replace on defense. Larsson played the toughest competition and often started in the defensive zone. According to behindthenet.ca, Larsson started just 30.5 percent of his even-strength shifts in the offensive zone. Ben Lovejoy at a reasonable salary ($2.67 million per season) helps the cause, but the Devils are going to miss Larsson.
New York Islanders: C-
Notable additions: Andrew Ladd, P.A. Parenteau
Notable subtractions: Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Matt Martin
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: It's understandable why GM Garth Snow didn't want to spend the money necessary to retain Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo, but to then turn and give seven years to Andrew Ladd seems a bit excessive. If you're investing, I'd rather do it in the center or with the younger winger.
Good for Ladd and his camp for landing a contract close to the six-year deal he turned down in Winnipeg. There were plenty of people who thought that ship had sailed and that his next deal wouldn't approach that number. Casey Cizikas at $3.5 million per season is a lot of money for a fourth-line player. Again, if you're willing to pay Cizikas $3.5 million per season, maybe there's a way to scratch together the extra $2 million per season and keep Nielsen instead.
The Islanders have a slew of young forwards on the way, so they might be able to withstand the losses of Nielsen, Okposo and Matt Martin, but it's hard to look at this team and think they're any better than they were when they lost in the playoffs.
New York Rangers: Incomplete
Notable additions: Michael Grabner, Nathan Gerbe
Notable subtractions: Eric Staal, Viktor Stalberg
Pronman's draft grade: B-
Analysis: The Rangers were expected to be one of the most active teams this summer in an attempt to reshape their roster after a short playoff appearance this spring. Other GMs have said that just about anyone could be had on the Rangers' roster in the name of salary cap management, but it's now mid-July and the roster remains largely untouched.
New York's cap squeeze meant Keith Yandle, who GM Jeff Gorton really liked, is gone. The demand for highly mobile defensemen who can spark a transition game has kept the market for Marc Staal and Dan Girardi very limited. Derek Stepan's name hit the trade market, but teams typically don't get very far when dealing away 26-year-old centers. Rick Nash is another player whose name has come up in trade talks. Restricted free agent Chris Krieder needs a new contract, as does fellow RFA Kevin Hayes; J.T. Miller agreed to a bridge deal with the team for two years, $5.25 million. Gorton still has a lot of work to do.
Ottawa Senators: C-
Notable additions: Chris Kelly
Notable subtractions: Patrick Wiercioch
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: The hiring of Guy Boucher was smart and is really the only move that gives any hope for improvement.
Chris Kelly is a cheap, veteran addition who will help the depth, but there was nothing done by Ottawa to suggest they will be any better this season than last. And they weren't particularly good last season. Senators fans might be in for a long season.
Philadelphia Flyers: B
Notable additions: Dale Weise
Notable subtractions: N/A
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: The Flyers didn't do anything crazy in free agency. They drafted well. The patient Ron Hextall continues to collect young assets. The payoff will arrive at some point.
The biggest order of business is a new contract for restricted free agent Brayden Schenn, a deal that got some clarity after Kyle Palmeiri signed his extension in New Jersey.
Pittsburgh Penguins: B-
Notable additions: N/A
Notable subtractions: Jeff Zatkoff, Ben Lovejoy
Pronman's draft grade: C+
Analysis: You got the sense of the kind of offseason Jim Rutherford was going to have when he was asked at the draft whether he had the cap space to sign anybody in free agency. He didn't hesitate when offering up a terse "no."
According to generalfanager.com, the Penguins are nearly $2.3 million over the cap right now after re-signing Justin Schultz to a one-year deal for $1.4 million -- a deal we like, for the record.
That Matt Cullen is still without a contract for next season gives hope to Pittsburgh fans that the Penguins' offseason isn't over. Rutherford has to clear cap space, but after the shopping spree his colleagues went on during free agency, there just isn't a lot of cap space to go around. It's going to take some creativity for the Penguins to open up the cap space necessary to improve their current roster.
San Jose Sharks: B+
Notable additions: Mikkel Boedker, David Schlemko
Notable subtractions: James Reimer, Roman Polak
Pronman's draft grade: C+
Analysis: The Sharks had a speed advantage over the Kings and Blues, but could have used more speed against the Penguins. That's where the signing of Mikkel Boedker will pay off. He can play on a second line with Logan Couture that will make the Sharks even more dynamic, allowing Patrick Marleau to center a third line if needed.
There's a familiarity there, too, with the reunion of Boedker and Peter DeBoer, who coached him in Kitchener, where he put up 73 points in 62 games. The Sharks got one of the youngest free agents on the market (26 years old) and did it without breaking the bank. Boedker, at one point before the regime change in Arizona, turned down a more lucrative offer than the four-year deal worth $4 million per season.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson would be smart to get a Brent Burns extension done this summer before that becomes a distraction during the season.
St. Louis Blues: B- (for now)
Notable additions: Vladimir Sobotka, Carter Hutton
Notable subtractions: David Backes, Brian Elliott, Troy Brouwer, Steve Ott
Pronman's draft grade: B-
Analysis: GM Doug Armstrong is getting heat for letting David Backes and Troy Brouwer walk from a team that made a Stanley Cup run this spring. But the cost of bringing that team back was prohibitive. Both players were too pricey for a team that has to pay and keep its young talent, so we applaud Armstrong's restraint. The easier thing to placate fans would have been to bring them back and take another run at a title with that group, but there would have been long-term ramifications with that decision.
The Blues looked slow at times against the Sharks in the Western Conference finals, and David Perron doesn't fix that. The priority remains getting Jaden Schwartz signed long-term, which still hasn't happened, although talks continue.
There's probably a Kevin Shattenkirk trade coming, and you can't blame Armstrong for holding out for top return considering how invaluable defensemen like Shattenkirk are in today's NHL. So really, this offseason truly can't be judged until we see the Shattenkirk return and the Schwartz contract.
Tampa Bay Lightning: A+
Notable additions: N/A
Notable subtractions: N/A
Pronman's draft grade: B
Analysis: We might look back at Steve Yzerman's 2016 as one of the most impressive calendar years of any general manager in a decade.
The degree of difficulty in which he had to navigate in solving issues with Jonathan Drouin, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman was incredibly high. That each case ended with a solution that favored the club is simply remarkable.
Stamkos went from being an over-pay candidate in free agency to signing a very club-friendly contract worth $8.5 million per season because he picked winning in Tampa Bay over cashing in on the open market. That only happens if you establish a winning culture as Yzerman has in Tampa. Hedman's eight-year contract worth $7.875 million is a great value and immediately removes him from a Stamkos-like situation next season. Andrei Vasilevskiy got locked up at a very nice $3.5 million per season.
We now wait to see what number restricted free agent Nikita Kucherov comes in at, but it's going to be hard for him to ask to break the bank when his teammates are all signing reasonable contracts to keep the band together.
Toronto Maple Leafs: A+
Notable additions: Auston Matthews (draft), Frederik Andersen, Matt Martin, Roman Polak
Notable subtractions: Michael Grabner, P.A. Parenteau, Stuart Percy
Pronman's draft grade: A
Analysis: This offseason could have looked a lot different for Lou Lamoriello and Mike Babcock, especially because so much of it was out of their control. They could have lost the lottery and ended up with a talented but not franchise-shifting winger. They could have overpaid for Steven Stamkos.
Instead, they landed Auston Matthews, who is going to be great at center. They didn't get a crack at Stamkos and were smart enough not to use that money elsewhere. Sure, you might not like the Matt Martin contract, but it's not going to break the Maple Leafs, and he's the kind of guy you want around your young players.
They signed Roman Polak again, and if they aren't in playoff contention, there's no reason to think that won't translate to a second- or third-round draft pick at the deadline. They got their young goalie to build around in Frederik Andersen. Things went about as well as you could have asked for in Toronto this offseason.
Vancouver Canucks: C
Notable additions: Loui Eriksson, Olli Juolevi (draft), Erik Gudbranson
Notable subtractions: Dan Hamhuis, Yannick Weber, Jared McCann
Pronman's draft grade: B+
Analysis: The direction of the Canucks continues to be a bit of a mystery. One moment it looks like they're rebuilding and adding young talent, the next they're signing a veteran forward like Loui Eriksson to a long-term contract that goes well into his 30s.
During a time in which teams are looking to get more mobile on defense by adding high-end skaters, the trade for Erik Gudbranson is questionable, although one scout did say it will make the Canucks a little harder to play against. As constructed, this isn't a playoff team in the competitive West, and there isn't a lot of high-end young talent coming. This team appears destined for more mediocrity.
Washington Capitals: B
Notable additions: Lars Eller, Brett Connolly
Notable subtractions: Jason Chimera
Pronman's draft grade: C
Analysis: Teams can have bad contracts. Sometimes it's a necessity to overpay in free agency to fill a need and change a culture. One or two inflated salaries aren't going to sink the ship. GM Brian MacLellan has a couple of high ones in defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen, courtesy of his first trip into free agency as a GM in 2014.
So MacLellan was wise to address his biggest need, a third-line center, via free agency. Lars Eller, acquired for a pair of second-round picks, isn't going to light things up offensively, but definitely has the skill to fill a very defined role in Washington. Signing Brett Connolly at a discounted rate of $825,000 was a nice move, too, for depth.
Ultimately, MacLellan's offseason can't be completely judged until we see the resolution on restricted free agent Marcus Johansson, who has drawn trade interest. According to one source, at this point the most likely scenario is a one-year contract unless things shift fairly dramatically.
Winnipeg Jets: A-
Notable additions: Patrik Laine (draft), Shawn Matthias
Notable subtractions: N/A
Pronman's draft grade: A
Analysis: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff's finest work was moving up in the lottery, not out-thinking himself and grabbing Patrik Laine. He's an exciting, young winger who fills a need for the Jets, who are suddenly loaded with a pool of NHL-ready young players.
Getting Mark Scheifele locked up long-term for the next eight years at a cap hit of $6.125 million is a win for the Jets, too. He's developed into every bit the player the Jets thought they were getting when they grabbed him at No. 7 overall (while taking heat for doing it).
The biggest question facing the Jets now is Jacob Trouba. Winnipeg faces the same challenge Colorado faces in dealing Tyson Barrie. If they are going to move him, they want a good, young defenseman back. Preferably a left-handed shot defenseman. And that's not an easy deal to make.