John Locher/AP
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates around Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Las Vegas.
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The roster turnover throughout the Pacific Division further shows how lackluster of an offseason it’s been for the Golden Knights.
They took care of their top objective in re-signing Reilly Smith on the first day of free agency on July 13, but that came with a cost in trading Max Pacioretty for future considerations.
While the Golden Knights’ biggest move was sending another expensive cap hit for nothing in return, almost all their division rivals got significantly better this summer.
The Golden Knights are banking on a healthy roster — and likely someone breaking out to replace Pacioretty’s scoring — to get back to the postseason in 2023. Not to mention them re-signing Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague will aid in that.
But if there was a time to look over their shoulder, it might be now.
Edmonton Oilers
Key additions: Signed G Jack Campbell (five years, $25 million), re-signed F Evander Kane (four years, $20.5 million), signed F Mattias Janmark (one year, $1.25 million), re-signed F Jesse Puljujärvi (one year, $3 million), re-signed D Brett Kulak (four years, $11 million)
Key departures: Traded F Zack Kassian (Arizona)
The Oilers aren’t sitting back after a surprising trip to the Western Conference Final. They believe in their core that got them that far with re-signing Kane and Puljujarvi, but that they made it to the final four with 41-year-old Mike Smith in goal was an incredible feat.
Upgrading to Campbell, an All-Star last season with Toronto, gives Edmonton a formidable presence in net for the first time since Cam Talbot back in 2017.
Campbell turns Edmonton’s greatest weakness into a major strength. The Oilers need competent goaltending to give Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a chance to win. Right now, they have to be considered the division favorites.
Calgary Flames
Key additions: Acquired F Jonathan Huberdeau and D Mackenzie Weegar via trade (Florida), re-signed D Nikita Zadorov (two years, $7.5 million), re-signed F Andrew Mangiapane (three years, $17.4 million), re-signed D Oliver Kylington (two years, $5 million)
Key departures: F Johnny Gaudreau (signed with Columbus), traded F Matthew Tkachuk (Florida)
The Flames were on the verge of a cataclysmic offseason. After losing Gaudreau, the face of their franchise and MVP candidate, to the Blue Jackets for nothing, they traded 40-goal scorer Tkachuk after the restricted free agent said he did not want to sign with Calgary long-term.
To get Huberdeau and Weegar in a return for Tkachuk from the Florida Panthers saved Calgary’s summer. General manager Brad Treliving put the stamp on that claim by signing Huberdeau to an eight-year extension worth $84 million on Thursday night.
Not only did the Flames turn lemons into lemonade, they franchised the lemonade stand. After re-signing Mangiapane fresh off a 35-goal season in 2022, there's serious optimism once again in Calgary when all hope seemed lost.
Los Angeles Kings
Key additions: Acquired F Kevin Fiala via trade with Minnesota (signed to seven-year, $55.125 million contract), re-signed F Adrian Kempe (four years, $22 million)
Key departures: F Dustin Brown (retired)
The Kings made a surprising playoff run in the first year of what could be described as the transition phase — a mixture of veterans and youth throughout the lineup.
Not only did the Kings get younger, they acquired a top-end winger in Fiala that could give captain Anze Kopitar one of the best lines he’s ever played with, having Fiala and Kempe on his sides.
Goaltending remains the biggest question in L.A. and if Jonathan Quick is still the answer in net. Cal Petersen remains the backup and could once again challenge for the No. 1 goalie spot.
Following an All-Star campaign from Kempe and bringing in Fiala, the Kings have the depth to build off last season.
Vancouver Canucks
Key additions: Re-signed F Brock Boeser (three years, $19.9 million), signed F Ilya Mikheyev (four years, $19 million), signed F Andrei Kuzmenko (one-year entry-level contract)
Key departures: None
The Canucks finally lived up to their potential in the beginning of the Bruce Boudreau era. They couldn’t reach the postseason, but Vancouver has set itself up for future success.
Bringing back Boeser was never in question, but Vancouver is putting faith in its young star to to bounce back after a tough year personally. The Canucks added some offensive firepower with Mikheyev from Toronto, and Russian star Kuzmenko from the KHL.
All eyes, however, turn to the future of J.T. Miller following a 99-point season. The Canucks did not trade him during the NHL Draft or beyond. If Vancouver can continue to build off Boudreau’s arrival, and Miller replicates that production, Vancouver will be challenging for a playoff spot once again.
Anaheim Ducks
Key additions: Signed D John Klingberg (one year, $7 million), signed C Ryan Strome (five years, $25 million), signed F Frank Vatrano (three years, $10.95 million)
Key departures: C Ryan Getzlaf (retired)
Anaheim’s rebuild is ahead of schedule. Thanks to the emergence and starpower of Trevor Zegras, the Ducks stayed competitive last season until the very end. With Zegras entering Year 2, expectations are high in Anaheim.
Ducks management feels the same. They signed Klingberg, the top free agent defenseman on the market, to a one-year, prove-it deal. Adding Strome gives Anaheim a surefire top-six center, and Vatrano will provide scoring and effective skating to the middle six.
Anaheim might be the division’s darkhorse. Card is subject to change, but the roster is a formidable one and coach Dallas Eakins might have the pieces in place to break through.
San Jose Sharks
Key additions: Signed F Oskar Lindblom (two years, $5 million), signed F Nico Sturm (three years, $6 million), acquired F Steven Lorentz and G Eetu Makiniemi via trade from Carolina, re-signed G Kaapo Kahkonen (two years, $5.5 million)
Key departures: Traded D Brent Burns to Carolina
It’s a new era in San Jose with Mike Grier taking over as general manager. His first major splash was sending a longtime cornerstone in Burns to Carolina for promising prospects Lorentz and Makiniemi.
Burns’ departure is the first sign that Grier might be wanting to move on from the salary cap albatrosses that hinder San Jose’s rebuild. If Grier can move on from Erik Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic next, that will be a win.
The next piece to the San Jose puzzle is when top prospect William Eklund will become an NHL mainstay.
Seattle Kraken
Key additions: Signed F Andre Burakovsky (four years, $22 million), signed D Justin Schultz (two years, $6 million), acquired F Oliver Bjorkstrand via trade from Columbus, drafted C Shane Wright with No. 4 pick in NHL Draft
Key departures: None
The Kraken wanted to make a splash this summer, and they have. Signing Burakovsky from the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche gives them a much-needed shooter on the wing. Acquiring Bjorkstrand also gave Seattle a promising young player to fortify the top six.
But Seattle’s past year has been defined by who it took in the draft. Matty Beniers made his way to the NHL roster late last season, and Wright — the consensus top prospect this year — fell in the Kraken’s lap at No. 4.
Seattle might not be closing in on the playoffs next season, but the building blocks are there for a bright future.
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
