The 2022 NHL offseason is upon us, as teams recently concluded stocking up their organization with prospects at the 2022 NHL Draft on Friday.
Now the focus is on free agency. Some teams have already gotten started re-signing their one players or trading for others. But Wednesday marks the official start of free agency, where teams are open to sign any free agent on the market.
Every teams has their holes and gaps on their roster they need to address. Here is a look at every team's offseason needs.:
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Anaheim Ducks
Team need: Top-four defense
Anaheim traded away Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm at the deadline, leaving some major holes on the blue line. Cam Fowler is their only true top-four defenseman on the roster, as Jamie Drysdale is still progressing. Anaheim likely won't be playoff contenders next season, but they still need reliable options on the blue line.
Arizona Coyotes
Team need: Take on bad contracts
I won't sugarcoat it, the Coyotes aren't going to compete next year. So they should continue the trend they've been on and take on bad contracts for draft picks and prospects. They're going to build their team through the draft, while also fielding a roster. They started by taking on Zack Kassian from the Oilers, and they could probably add another player or two like that.
Boston Bruins
Team need: Center
Patrice Bergeron is reportedly going to return on a one-year deal to Boston, so that gives the Bruins their top-line center, but their second line is still a concern. Erik Haula and Charlie Coyle are both better suited for third-line roles. With no promising centers coming through the pipeline, Boston needs to lock down a center long-term.
Buffalo Sabres
Team need: Goalie
The Sabres re-signed Craig Anderson, but he's 41 years old and can't take on a full-time starter's role. Ukko-Pekka Luukonen likely will get another crack, but the prospect has not progressed as expected. Goalie is absolutely a weak link for the Sabres, who are on the cusp of competing for a playoff spot.
Calgary Flames
Team need: Re-sign Johnny Gaudreau
The Flames have been waiting to get a dynamic scoring star for a few seasons now, and Gaudreau emerged in 2021-22 as just that. Now he's in need of a new contract, and could be walking come Wednesday. Calgary needs to do everything they can to bring him back, because it will take a massive step back without him.
Carolina Hurricanes
Team need: Scoring forward
The Hurricanes were a dominant defensive team last year, but their offense handicapped them. For as good as Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are, neither has emerged as a true scoring star. With Vincent Trocheck hitting free agency, that leaves a gap in the top-six. Carolina cannot afford to rely solely on its defense and goaltending again.
Chicago Blackhawks
Team need: Draft picks/prospects
The rebuild is here, as Chicago shipped Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach off for picks. Up next is certainly Patrick Kane and, likely, Jonathan Toews. It's going to be a long few seasons upcoming for the Blackhawks.
Colorado Avalanche
Team need: Re-sign Valeri Nichushkin
The Avs' goaltending was arguably the biggest question, but they were able to trade for Alexander Georgiev, giving them a solid 1-2 combo of him and Pavel Francouz. Now the focus should be on re-signing Valeri Nichushkin. The Avs are tight on cap space, but should have enough to bring back the big winger, who was critical in their Cup win.
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Columbus Blue Jackets
Team need: Re-sign Patrik Laine
Columbus' big need was defense, but it used its two first-round picks on top prospects David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk. Now the Blue Jackets should work on a deal with Patrik Laine, who was a point-per-game player last year and should be the offensive star of the future for the team.
Dallas Stars
Team need: Scoring forwards
GM Jim Nill needs to get Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski some help. The Stars relied too heavily on that trio for their offense, and that's just not a winning formula. Perhaps under Peter DeBoer, he can get more out of guys such as Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Dallas can't rely solely on its top line again.
Detroit Red Wings
Team need: Left-Defense
The only left-handed defensemen currently signed for Detroit next season is Jordan Oesterle. Top prospect Simon Edvinsson will compete for a roster spot at camp, so the hope is he can seamlessly transition to the NHL like Mo Seider did. Even so, the Red Wings need to add to that side of the blue line.
Edmonton Oilers
Team need: Goalie
The Oilers need to figure out who is going to be in the crease come fall. There are rumors of Mike Smith potentially going on LTIR to finish out his contract/career, which makes the need even greater. Edmonton has cleared some cap space with Duncan Keith's retirement and the Zack Kassian trade, and need to make a splash in free agency.
Florida Panthers
Team need: Veteran forward
There's not a ton the Panthers need, and they don't have any big free agents they need to re-sign. What they do need is to add some forwards with playoff experience up front, after it became clear they weren't ready for postseason play. It certainly will take this spring and learn from it, but another depth option or two built for playoff hockey will help Florida.
Los Angeles Kings
Team need: Left defense
The Kings have a strong right side with Drew Doughty, Sean Walker and Sean Durzi, but the left side is pretty much just Mikey Anderson. It doesn't help that their loaded prospect pool is full of right-handed defensemen such as Brandt Clarke, Helge Grans and Jordan Spence. They need a left shot on the blue line.
Minnesota Wild
Team need: Create cap space
The Wild couldn't afford to re-sign Kevin Fiala, and moved him to the Kings. After signing Marc-Andre Fleury and Jacob Middleton, the Wild hardly have any cap space. With the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts kicking in, Minnesota is going to be cap-strapped for some time.
Montreal Canadiens
Team need: Draft picks/prospects
Anyone on the roster not named Cole Caufield or Nick Suzuki should be expendable at this point. The Canadiens are facing a rebuild and have a number of intriguing options as trade bait, such as Josh Anderson and Jeff Petry. It certainly wouldn't hurt to get those cap hits off their books, either.
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Nashville Predators
Team need: Top-six wing
The top need was re-sign Filip Forsberg, but the Predators got that deal done before free agency started. However, the Predators still need another wing in the top-six. It would be good to see Eeli Tolvanen or Philip Tomasino progress and take another leap next season, but if Nashville wants to get back to being Cup contenders, it needs to bolster its top forward core.
New Jersey Devils
Team need: Wing
The biggest need was goaltending, before the Devils traded for Vitek Vanacek. Now New Jersey needs another wing after losing out on Juraj Slafkovsky at the draft. Alexander Holtz may finally take the next step and get more playing time but, even then, the Devils should add another impactful wing option.
New York Islanders
Team need: Scoring forward
Before the acquisition of Alexander Romanov, I would have said defense. But the Islanders added the young, puck-moving defenseman. New York still lacks a true scoring forward in the top-six, as Mat Barzal is more of a playmaker.
New York Rangers
Team need: Center
Ryan Strome is going to walk in free agency, leaving a gap on the second line. Filip Chytil could theoretically fill that spot, but I think he's better suited for the third line. There's a lot to like about the Rangers group, but they want to make sure they're taking another step forward this offseason, not backwards.
Ottawa Senators
Team need: Top-four defenseman
The addition of Alex DeBrincat helps the whole at right wing. Now, Ottawa needs to address the blue line. If he's ready and makes the team out of camp, Jake Sanderson will certainly be a good addition to have. But Ottawa needs another defenseman to join Thomas Chabot in the top-four.
Philadelphia Flyers
Team need: Top-six forward
After trading Claude Giroux, the Flyers have a pretty big gap in the top-six. Sean Couturier is coming off back surgery, so you're not sure how effective he'll be from the jump. If the Flyers are truly looking to contend next season, they need to get an impact forward to help them score.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Team need: Re-sign Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins already re-upped Bryan Rust and Kris Letang. Now it's time for Malkin. The veteran center has reportedly expressed his displeasure towards the Pittsburgh organization, saying he doesn't think they want him or that they think he's good enough. If the Penguins can bring him back on a team-friendly deal like Letang, they can take another run at the Cup.
San Jose Sharks
Team need: Depth forwards
San Jose has a solid top-six forward group and has some skilled young players such as William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau who will be joining the big club, but it's not a very deep group up front for the Sharks. They're tight on the cap, so some cheaper veteran options are the ideal route to go.
Seattle Kraken
Team need: Scoring forward
Seattle struggled putting the puck in the net last season, and looking at their roster, they don't have a ton of top-six forwards who are capable of taking over games. Matty Beniers and Shane Wright will both get opportunities to shine, but the Kraken shouldn't be relying on two rookies.
St. Louis Blues
Team need: Left defense
The Blues still have a hole in the top-six at left defense. And with the rumblings of a potential Torey Krug move, that would leave two spots available on that side. They could attempt to re-sign Nick Leddy, but he's not the impact defenseman they need.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Team need: Re-sign Ondrej Palat
Reports from the weekend say Palat's is likely heading to the open market, but you never know what can happen before Wednesday. Palat has been a key part of the Lightning's success and would be a fairly sizable loss to their core group.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Team need: Goalie
It's an obvious need, as the Maple Leafs currently only have Erik Kallgren on the roster for next season. With Fleury and Ville Husso off the board, Toronto either must re-sign Jack Campbell or see if it can land Darcy Kuemper.
Vancouver Canucks
Team need: Defense
The Canucks' blue line is a bit of a disaster right now, and Tyler Myers may also be on the move in order to clear some cap. They really don't have anyone else who can be reliable to join Quinn Hughes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Travis Dermott in the top-four.
Vegas Golden Knights
Team need: Clear cap space
The Golden Knights have been pressed against the cap for a couple of seasons now, and clearing space for this season should be a top priority. They were able to trade Evgenii Dadonov, successfully this time, to the Canadiens. With the reported extension coming for Reilly Smith, there still are some moves to be made in order to enter the fall with a bit of financial flexibility.
Washington Capitals
Team need: Goalie
Washington traded Vitek Vanacek to the Devils, so right now it's Ilya Samsonov's crease to tend. But he hasn't shown the capability of being a starter. If the Caps want to make another run with an aging core group, they must shore up goaltending.
Winnipeg Jets
Team need: Re-sign Pierre-Luc Dubois
With a new coach in place now, there is hope the Jets can be salvaged. It starts with re-signing Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is an RFA. It's unlikely that they'll sign him to a long-term deal, but at least getting him locked up for the short term on a bridge deal will certainly help the club.
