Photo: The Hockey News
With the high-profile players on the free agent and trade boards taken, many teams across the NHL improved, worsened, or did not move very much at all after adding and/or losing pieces of their roster. NoVa Caps grades every team across the league’s offseason in our annual post free agency grades by division, continuing with the Atlantic.
Grading Scale
- A: significantly improved roster for both the long-term and short-term
- B: improved roster, though it may have come at a cost of the future or did not do so significantly
- C: did not do much to improve roster
- D: roster got worse and team put themselves in position to struggle in future
- F: roster got significantly worse and team put themselves in horrible position for future
Teams will earn a “+” if they achieved such a grade to a high degree, “-“ to a low degree, or not get a sign if not significantly in either direction
Montreal Canadiens
Acquired: RW Alex Barre-Boulet (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), 2026 fourth-round pick, 2024 21st overall pick
Re-signed: RW Juraj Slafkovsky (eight-year contract extension, $7.6 million cap hit)
Lost: D Tobie Bisson, C Mitchell Stephens, RW Jesse Ylonen, C Lias Andersson, LW Filip Cedervist, D Mattias Norlinder, D Jonathan Kovacevic, 2024 26th overall pick, 2024 57th overall pick, 2024 198th overall pick, D Chris Wideman, LW Tanner Pearson, RW Colin White, C Philippe Maillet, D Brady Keeper, D Mattias Norlinder
First-Round Pick(s): RW Ivan Demidov (fifth)
Remaining RFAs: D Arber Xhekaj, D Justin Barron
Montreal continued rebuilding, giving Slafkovsky a rich contract in a bit of a gamble. While the 19-year-old took a big step in his sophomore season, 20 goals and 50 points is hard to justify nearly $8 million per year. Though the contract could definitely end up being good value for the team, Slafkovsky has yet to show he is worth that. The Canadiens’ only other major move was drafting Demidov at five.
Grade: C+
Trending: Same
Ottawa Senators
Acquired: D Jan Jenik, D Filip Roos (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), C Adam Gaudette (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), RW Hayden Hodgson (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Jeremy Davies (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), LW David Perron (two-year contract, $4 million cap hit), C Michael Amadio (three-year contract, $2.6 million cap hit), C Noah Gregor (one-year, $850,000 contract), D Nick Jensen, 2026 third-round pick, G Linus Ullmark, C Xavier Bourgault, C Jake Chiasson
Re-signed: Jenik (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), C Shane Pinto (two-year contract, $3.75 million cap hit), C Garrett Pilon (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), LW Matthew Highmore (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), C Wyatt Bangiovanni (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), C Jamieson Rees (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Nikolas Matinpalo (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), LW Angus Crookshank (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), G Mads Sogaard (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit)
Lost: LW Egor Sokolov, C Dylan Gambrell, LW Bokondji Imama, D Jakob Chychrun, LW Boris Katchouk, D Erik Brannstrom, RW Parker Kelly, 2024 25th overall pick, G Joonas Korpisalo (.25 of $4 million cap hit for four more seasons retained), C Mark Kastelic, LW Dominik Kubalik, C Rourke Chartier, C Josh Currie, LW Jiri Smejkal, D Jacob Larsson, LW Roby Jarventie, 2025 fourth-round pick
First-Round Pick(s): D Cartier Yakemchuk (seventh)
Remaining RFAs: RW Vitaly Abramov, LW Alex Formenton, D Lassi Thomson, G Kevin Mandolese
Ottawa did not give up much to acquire Ullmark, who finally gives them a starter in net. Though, the Senators sold low on Chychrun, getting a third-pairing blueliner and a mid-round pick back. They also got fair value in signing Perron and Amadio.
Grade: B-
Trending: Same
Buffalo Sabres
Acquired: RW Jason Zucker (one-year, $5 million contract), C Sam Lafferty (two-year contract, $2 million cap hit), 2024 123rd overall pick, 2024 219th overall pick, 2024 71st overall pick, LW Beck Malenstyn, 2024 11th overall pick, C Ryan McLeod, C Ty Tullio, D Jack Rathbone (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), C Mason Jobst (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), G James Reimer (one-year, $1 million contract), C Josh Dunne (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), G Felix Sandstrom (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Dennis Gilbert (one-year, $825,000 contract), RW Nicolas Aube-Kubel (one-year, $1.5 million contract)
Re-signed: D Kale Clague (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Henri Jokiharju (one-year, $3.1 million contract), D Jacob Bryson (one-year, $900,000 contract), LW Brett Murray (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000)
Lost: C Tyson Jost, LW Eric Robinson, LW Jeff Skinner, 2024 109th overall pick, 2024 76th overall pick, 2024 161st overall pick, 2024 43rd overall pick, 2024 14th overall pick, 2024 42nd overall pick, C Matt Savoie, D Riley Stillman, LW Victor Olofsson, C Zemgus Girgensons, LW Brandon Biro, LW Linus Weissbach, C Justin Richards, D Calle Sjalin, G Dustin Tokarski
First-Round Pick(s): C Konsta Helenius (14th)
Remaining RFAs: Malenstyn, C Peyton Krebs, G Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen, C Arttu Ruotsalainen
Buffalo overpaid to lure in Malenstyn and McLeod, which cost them one of their best prospects, but upgraded their forward depth by signing Zucker, Lafferty, and Aube-Kubel. They have a fair amount of work still to do with four restricted free agents needing a deal.
Grade: D+
Trending: Same
Detroit Red Wings
Acquired: D Tory Dello (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), G Gage Alexander, LW Vladimir Tarasenko (two-year contract, $4.75 million cap hit), RW Tyler Motte (one-year, $800,000 contract), D William Lagesson (one-year, $775,000 contract), C Sheldon Dries (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), G Jack Campbell (one-year, $775,000 contract), D Erik Gustafsson (two-year contract, $2 million cap hit), G Cam Talbot (two-year contract, $2.5 million cap hit), LW Patrick Kane (one-year, $4 million contract + $2.5 million in bonuses), 2024 53rd overall pick, RW Jesse Kiiskinen
Re-signed: RW Christian Fischer (one-year, $1.125 million contract), D Albert Johansson (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000)
Lost: Reimer, Perron, LW Robby Fabbri, conditional 2025 fourth-round pick (Boston’s or their own), D Shayne Gostisbehere, LW Chase Bradley, LW Zach Aston-Reese, D Jared McIsaac, D Andrew Gibson, D Jake Walman, 2024 53rd overall pick, C Austin Czarnik, C Matt Luff, LW Taro Hirose, D Radim Simek, G Michael Hutchinson, G John Lethemon
First-Round Pick(s): RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
Remaining RFAs: RW Lucas Raymond, C Joe Veleno, D Moritz Seider, RW Jonathan Berggren
Detroit copied the New York Rangers’ 2023 trade deadline, retaining Kane and brining in Tarasenko and Motte in hopes of ending their eight-year postseason drought. The Red Wings also got deeper on defense, adding Gustafsson and Lagesson, in addition to getting Alex Lyon some support by signing Talbot and Campbell. While Detroit improved, they made perhaps the most puzzling move of the offseason, dumping Walman and giving up a high pick for nothing in return. Steve Yzerman still has his work cut out for him as two huge parts of the Red Wings, Raymond and Seider, still need contracts.
Grade: B
Trending: Up
Tampa Bay Lightning
Acquired: Bisson (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), Girgensons (three-year contract, $850,000 cap hit), Ylonen (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), LW Jake Guentzel (seven-year contract, $9 million cap hit), C Lukas Svejkovsky, D J.J. Moser, C Conor Geekie, 2025 second-round pick, 2024 199th overall pick, 2025 second-round pick, 2024 118th overall pick, D Ryan McDonagh, 2024 126th overall pick, D Derrick Pouliot (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Steven Santini (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), RW Cam Atkinson (one-year, $900,000 contract)
Re-signed: Moser (two-year contract, $3.375 million cap hit), C Gage Goncalves (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), LW Gabriel Fortier (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Victor Hedman (four-year contract extension, $8 million cap hit)
Lost: Barre-Boulet, Motte, D Haydn Fleury, RW Anthony Duclair, D Matt Dumba, C Steven Stamkos, LW Bennett MacArthur, 2025 third-round pick, D Mikhail Sergachev, RW Tanner Jeannot, 2025 second-round pick, 2024 213th overall pick, D Philippe Myers, LW Cole Koepke, D Calvin de Haan, C Austin Watson, C Logan Brown, C Felix Robert, RW Waltteri Merela, D Sean Day
First-Round Pick(s): N/A
Remaining RFAs: C Simon Ryfors, G Hugo Alnefelt
Tampa Bay offloaded some depth, trading Jeannot and Sergachev and parting with Stamkos, to sign Guentzel but were not able to get him for an eighth year after trading a third-round pick to acquire his pending unrestricted free agent rights. Geekie is a promising prospect, which they could use after parting with a lot of high picks this decade. The Lightning also brought McDonagh back, signed Atkinson to a very low-risk deal, and inked their No. 1 defenseman to an extension.
Grade: D-
Trending: Down
Toronto Maple Leafs
Acquired: Myers (one-year, $775,000 contract), D Chris Tanev (six-year contract, $4.5 million cap hit), 2025 second-round pick, 2024 225th overall pick, 2024 31st overall pick, 2024 58th overall pick, C Cedric Pare (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Dakota Mermis (one-year, $775,000 contract), D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (four-year contract, $3.5 million cap hit), D Jani Hakanpaa (two-year contract, $1.5 million cap hit), G Anthony Stolarz (two-year contract, $2.5 million cap hit)
Re-signed: G Joseph Woll (three-year contract, $3.66 million cap hit), D Timothy Liljegren (two-year contract, $3 million cap hit), C Max Domi (four-year contract, $3.75 million cap hit), G Matt Murray (one-year, $875,000 contract)
Lost: Gregor, Laggeson, RW Max Ellis, 2026 seventh-round pick, 2024 58th overall pick, 2024 23rd overall pick, C Josiah Slavin, LW Kieffer Bellows, D Maxime Lajoie, G Ilya Samsonov, D Ilya Lybushkin, D Joel Edmundson, D T.J. Brodie, RW Tyler Bertuzzi, D Mark Giordano, D Jake Muzzin, D John Klingberg, G Martin Jones, LW Kyle Clifford, G Keith Petruzzelli
First-Round Pick(s): D Ben Danford (31st)
Remaining RFAs: C Connor Dewar, C Nicolas Robertson, C Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, C Alex Steeves
Toronto jacked up their blueline, signing Tanev, Ekman-Larsson, and Hakanpaa. After cutting bait on Samsonov, the Maple Leafs signed Stolarz to back up Joseph Woll. They were also able to re-sign Domi to a team-friendly deal. The Maple Leafs also re-signed Liljegren to a fair contract but still have some business to attend to with four restricted free agents and Robertson requesting a trade. There is also the question of whether Mitch Marner will start the year in Toronto.
Grade: B
Trending: Up
Boston Bruins
Acquired: Korpisalo, Kastelic, Koepke (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Nikita Zadorov (six-year contract, $5 million cap hit), C Elias Lindholm (seven-year contract, $7.75 million cap hit), RW Vinni Letteri, 2024 110th overall pick, 2024 25th overall pick, D Jordan Oesterle (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), D Billy Sweezey (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), LW Jeffery Truchon-Viel (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), C Riley Tufte (one-year, $775,000 contract), C Max Jones (two-year contract, $1 million cap hit)
Re-signed: G Brandon Bussi (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Ian Mitchell (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Alec Regula (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Michael Callahan (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000)
Lost: Ullmark, D Matt Grzelyck, LW Danton Heinen, C Jesper Boqvist, C Curtis Hall, LW Joey Abate, LW Jakub Lauko, 2024 122nd overall pick, C Anthony Richard, C Jesper Boqvist, D Reilly Walsh, D Connor Carrick, LW Jake DeBrusk, LW Pat Maroon, D Derek Forbort, LW James Van Riemsdyk, D Kevin Shattenkirk, G Kyle Keyser
First-Round Pick(s): C Dean Letorneau (25th)
Remaining RFAs: G Jeremy Swayman, C Marc McLaughlin
Boston did not get a great return for Ullmark, especially since they traded him to a division rival. They signed Zadorov and Lindholm, both of whom definitely fit the needs they had but the Bruins gave both a lot of term and Lindholm a lot of money. Boston lost DeBrusk and still has to sign starter Swayman.
Grade: C
Trending: Up
Florida Panthers
Acquired: 2024 169th overall pick, 2024 201st overall pick, 2024 58th overall pick, Boqvist (one-year, $775,000 contract), D Adam Boqvist (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Jaycob Megna (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), RW MacKenzie Entwistle (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Nate Schmidt (one-year, $800,000 contract), RW A.J. Greer (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), C Tomas Nosek (one-year, $775,000 contract), G Chris Driedger (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000)
Re-signed: D Dmitry Kulikov (four-year contract, $1.15 million cap hit), RW Sam Reinhart (eight-year contract, $8.625 million cap hit), RW Rasmus Asplund (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), D Matt Kiersted (one-year, two-way contract — $775,000), RW Patrick Giles (two-year, two-way contract — $775,000 cap hit), C Anton Lundell (six-year contract, $5 million cap hit)
Lost: Tarasenko, Ekman-Larsson, Stolarz, D Brandon Montour, 2024 141st overall pick, 2025 second-round pick, 2024 225th overall pick, D Josh Mahura, D Casey Fitzgerald, D Lucas Carlsson, LW Ryan Lomberg, C Kevin Stenlund, RW Kyle Okposo, C Nick Cousins, C Steven Lorentz, C Alexander True, C Gerald Mayhew, D Santtu Kinnunen, G Magnus Hellberg
First-Round Pick(s): N/A
Remaining RFAs: C Aleksi Heponiemi, RW Logan Hutsko
The reigning champions suffered a huge loss when Montour signed with the Seattle Kraken and signed a few blueliners in Schmidt, Boqvist, and Megna on bargain contracts in response. Florida also signed Nosek and Entwistle for their fourth-line. The Panthers did not drastically overpay to re-sign Reinhart, retained Kulikov for cheap, and inked Lundell to a contract that could look good for the team as time passes.
Grade: B
Trending: Down
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By Harrison Brown
