Toronto Maple Leafs:

Key additions: None

More like Toronto Maple Laughs. The Laughs did nothing this off season but bring in a few farmers to be roster compliant. With the amount of money they had available, this team should have been able to net a big name or two to flip for additional prospects/picks down the line. Standing pat to just tank is an F in my books, especially in the Atlantic,

Grade: F

Florida Panthers:

Key additions: Frederik Andersen (3x8M, 3M SB), Sean Walker (5x4M), Ilya Samsonov (1x4.2M), Marc-Andre Fleury (2x2.25M, 0.6M SB), Brandon Saad (2x5.75M),

It’s clear the Panthers had a need in net this off-season, and that was immediately addressed handing out almost 15M / year to goaltenders Andersen, Samsonov & Fleury this offseason. The Panthers are by no means a powerhouse team, but with the likes of Wyatt Johnston and Cole Caufield continuing to grow, and now with the addition of Sean Walker adding to an already strong D corps, they’re just a few high-end forward pieces away from being a real dark horse in the already talent rich Atlantic division.

Grade: B-

Buffalo Sabres:

Key additions: Cam Talbot (via trade), Pavel Zacha (via trade), Patrick Kane (1x11M, 5.5M SB)

The Sabres had a quiet but solid off season, bringing in one of the top goalies on the trade market and new #1 goalie Cam Talbot. They we’re also able to net Pavel Zacha, whom the team still has RFA rights to, and will slide nicely into their top 6 alongside free agent signing Patrick Kane. This team is young and up and coming. The Sabres might not be a cup contender, but they aren’t to far from being one.

Grade: A-

Boston Bruins:

Key additions: Devon Toews (via trade), Ilya Lyubushkin (2x2M, 2M SB)

The Bruins by no means had many holes to fill and spent most of June bringing in quite a few names to bolster their core, such as Jason Robertson, Pavel Buchnevich & Vincent Trochek. The addition of Toews and Lyubushkin will solidify their back end as well. This team is deep everywhere and has star talent as well. There’s really not much else Greg could’ve done this off season to push his chips in to chase lord Stanley, and for that reason, he get’s the first A+ of the series.

Grade: A+

Montreal Canadians:

Key additions: Laurent Brossoit (1x5M, 2.5M SB), Brayden McNabb (2x4M, 1M SB), Nick Jensen (1x5M, 2M SB), Casey Cizikas (2x2.2M, 0.8M SB), Brock Nelson (2x7.7M, 2.4M SB)

The Canadians we’re busy when the clock struck free agent time, filling holes in net, on the back end and on forward. It’s clear the Canadians wanted to get better defending the front of the nice as their D corps is now nicely rounded out with the addition of McNabb & Jensen, and PK specialist Casey Cizikas. I also liked the addition of Brock Nelson that can be used to gain additional capital as this team looks to continue retooling into 2025.

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Key additions: Nikolaj Ehlers (5x5M - sign & trade), Lars Eller (2x3.8M, 1.5M SB)

The first major signing of the FA period, the Lighting brought in Ehlers to compliment their already strong top 6. The lighting we’re smart and methodical this off season, selling off excess cash and other pieces to rebuild their pick pipeline, and filled a need in the top 6 and PK roles in Ehlers and Eller respectively.  With a replenishment of ammo, the Lighting will be a scary team to run into come the playoffs.

Grade: A-

Detroit Red Wings:

Key additions: Mikael Granlund (5x6.5M, 16M SB), Jamie Oleksiak (5x5.3M, 13M SB), Blake Coleman (5x5.8M, 14.4M SB), Brandon Tavev (5x3.3M, 8.2M SB),

The defending champs clearly brought in a ton of revenue last playoff run, as they spent nearly 52M in signing bonus money this free agency… I don’t even think the Sens made 52M last year, wild! The Wings are built for another long run, selling off assets for multiple 1sts and prospects and replacing them with the likes of Granlund and Coleman in free agency is extremely savvy by Dan, who’s primed to be at the bottom of goals against this year with his entire roster loaded up with guys with defensive abilities (14 dudes with 80DF+). I really wasn’t expecting to dish out two A+’s but Dan’s savviness deserves an A+.

Grade: A+

Ottawa Senators:

Key additions: Jake Oettinger (via trade), Evgeni Malkin (2x8M, 1.5M SB), Calvin De Haan (2x2.1M), Evan Rodrigues (3x2M, 0.5M SB), Nazem Kadri (3x8.3M, 7M SB), Evgeny Kuznetsov (1x2.1M), Jan Rutta (3x5.3M), Dmitry Orlov (3x3.2M)

Is it to late for me to give the team back to Steph? Or relocate the franchise? Sheesh the Atlantic is a gauntlet! The goal for this off season was to sell off as many assets as I can for future capital, and bring in as many dudes as I can in free agency to sell for future capital down the line and I think I was pretty successful in doing so. Personally, spent a bit more than I wanted for a few dudes, but one of the only perks of being left with nothing is that I had cash to burn. Come the trade deadline, the Sens will have another fire sale as I try to make the Sens great again!

Grade: B+