NHL Teams Still in Need of Improvements This Offseason

Approaching the dog days of the NHL offseason, there's limited activity in the trade and free-agent markets. A number of teams have already made notable roster improvements. Some, such as the Colorado Avalanche and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, still have work to do. 

There are those, such as the Avalanche, who have significant roster needs to address. For others, such as the Penguins, only one issue has to be addressed before the start of 2017-18. 

Here's a look at the NHL clubs still in need of improvement this offseason, examining their biggest roster needs and how they could be addressed. You can express your opinion on this topic in the comments section below.

Pittsburgh Penguins

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Coming off consecutive Stanley Cup championships, the Pittsburgh Penguins aren't in need of a roster overhaul. The departures of Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen via free agency, however, create a need for experienced checking-line depth at center.

During the Penguins' championship runs, Bonino and Cullen played key roles as the Penguins' third- and fourth-line centers, respectively. Now they're out of the picture, the Penguins are left with Greg McKegg (65 NHL games) and Carter Rowney (27 games).

One of those two could fill in the fourth-line center role, but both lack sufficient experience to adequately replace Bonino on the third line. On July 11, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was patiently evaluating his trade and free-agent options. 

Trade options could include Colorado's Matt Duchene ($6 million annual cap hit) or the Toronto Maple Leafs' Tyler Bozak ($4.2 million), but it's unlikely either will land with the Penguins. On July 13, Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review cited Rutherford telling Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan he'll have around $2 million in cap space to bring in a center.

San Jose Sharks

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After marching to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, the San Jose Sharks were eliminated from the opening round of the 2017 playoffs. General manager Doug Wilson's biggest moves this summer were re-signing center Joe Thornton, defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic and goalie Martin Jones. He's yet to seek outside help for his roster.

Scoring was an issue for the Sharks last season, finishing 19th in goals per game (2.67) and 25th in power-play percentage (16.7). Thornton (38) and center Joe Pavelski (33) are aging, and their best seasons are likely behind them. Wilson has yet to find a replacement for veteran winger Patrick Marleau, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent.

The Sharks offense could benefit from healthy seasons from forwards Tomas Hertl and Joonas Donskoi and a bounce-back performance from left wing Mikkel Boedker. They'll also look forward to a full campaign from late-season acquisition Jannik Hansen. 

It might be worthwhile for Wilson to see what is available via trade. With more than $8 million in salary-cap space, he has sufficient room to add another scoring forward. Perhaps he could look into the asking price for Colorado Avalanche center Duchene.

New Jersey Devils

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A lack of skilled defensive depth contributed to the New Jersey Devils' failure to make the playoffs last season. Despite several offseason moves by general manager Ray Shero, he's yet to address this concern. 

The Devils gave up the 10th-most shots per game in 2016-17 (31.4). Their top four blueliners are Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, John Moore and Damon Severson. Shero still hasn't found a suitable replacement for Adam Larsson, dealt away to the Edmonton Oilers in June 2016 for left wing Taylor Hall. 

On Monday, CBS New York's Steve Lichtenstein reported Shero "is keenly aware of this issue," especially after the New York Rangers signed top free-agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Unless Shero can swing a trade, however, Lichtenstein doubts there is help coming from the free-agent market.

The Devils GM could look for help within his system, but it's unlikely he'll find any meaningful improvement there. With over $19 million in salary-cap room, he could target a club in need of shedding salary before the start of the season. The Vegas Golden Knights have a glut of blueliners and perhaps could be persuaded to part with one for a draft pick or prospect.

Los Angeles Kings

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Since winning two Stanley Cups between 2012 and 2014, the Los Angeles Kings have been in decline. A lack of swift-skating scorers is their biggest concern. New general manager Rob Blake (above, left) has yet to sufficiently address that problem. 

In 2016-17, the Kings were 25th in goals per game (2.43). Jeff Carter (32 goals) and Tanner Pearson (24) were the only Kings to exceed 20. Captain Anze Kopitar managed only 12 goals and failed to reach 60 points in a full season for the first time in his NHL career. Injuries sidelined wingers Tyler Toffoli and Marian Gaborik. 

Kopitar and Toffoli could have bounce-back performances, but Gaborik is 35 and frequently hampered by injuries. The same goes for offseason addition Mike Cammalleri, who is also 35. 

Bolstering the offense remains a difficult task for Blake. With $6.8 million in cap space and lacking sufficient depth in tradable assets, he doesn't have much room to add an established scorer via trade. His best options perhaps lie in free agency. Thomas Vanek, 33, can skate on either wing and appears the best of an aging class of free-agent forwards.

Chicago Blackhawks

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After being swept out of the opening round of the 2017 playoffs by the Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman made some significant roster changes. While he shook up his offense by shipping left wing Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets to bring back Brandon Saad, the defense remains a question mark for 2017-18. 

The blue-line depth drops sharply beyond veterans Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Shutdown rearguard Niklas Hjalmarsson was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. Trevor van Riemsdyk was plucked away in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Defenseman Connor Murphy, 24, was part of the return from Arizona and will be expected to replace Hjalmarsson. Sophomores Michal Kempny and Gustav Forsling could be pressed into bigger roles next season. Veteran Michal Rozsival, 38, is often hampered by injury and past his prime. 

Bowman doesn't have many available trade assets, and there's limited depth remaining in the free-agent market. The Hawks are already up against the $75 million salary-cap ceiling, though they could get $5.2 million in relief if winger Marian Hossa is placed on long-term injured reserve. Bowman could invite any remaining free-agent blueliners to training camp in the hopes of finding an affordable signing. 

Washington Capitals

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A deep defense corps played a significant role in the Washinton Capitals' Presidents' Trophy triumphs in 2016 and 2017. However, the expansion draft and expiring contracts depleted their ranks of experienced blue-line skill.

Late-season acquisition Shattenkirk and longtime Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner departed via free agency. Shattenkirk signed a four-year contract with the New York Rangers, while Alzner inked a five-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens. Speedy blueliner Nate Schmidt was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. 

John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov and Brooks Orpik remain, though the 36-year-old Orpik is well past his prime. With only a little over $4 million in salary-cap room for 2017-18, general manager Brian MacLellan could be forced to look to his farm club and prospects to fill out his defense. 

Salary-cap constraints also forced MacLellan to trade winger Marcus Johansson to the New Jersey Devils. Johansson, who tallied a career-high 58 points last season, could prove difficult to replace. The promising Jakub Vrana could be called upon to fill that void. 

Montreal Canadiens

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The Montreal Canadiens began the summer in need of a first-line center and a replacement for aging free-agent defenseman Andrei Markov. Now well into this offseason, general manager Marc Bergevin still hasn't adequately filled those needs.

Bergevin did make several moves. He shipped defense prospect Mikhail Sergachev to the Tampa Bay Lightning for left wing Jonathan Drouin, signed free-agent blueliners Alzner and David Schlemko and added right wing Ales Hemsky. On July 12, Marc de Foy of Le Journal de Montreal stated Bergevin made a one-year contract offer to veteran free-agent rearguard Mark Streit (stick tap to TSN). 

If the 39-year-old Streit were to join the Habs, he wouldn't be much of an upgrade over the 38-year-old Markov. The oft-injured Hemsky is scarcely a suitable replacement for right wing Alexander Radulov, who signed with the Dallas Stars in early July.

Avalanche center Duchene could be available via trade, but the cost of pursuing him could be too expensive. Center Alex Galchenyuk could fetch a top-four blueliner but he was re-signed to a three-year contract. Galchenyuk could be given another opportunity to finally establish himself as a reliable center.

Colorado Avalanche

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Coming off a woeful 48-point performance in 2016-17, the Colorado Avalanche need a significant roster shakeup. So far, however, general manager Joe Sakic has done little to substantially improve his club. 

Upgrading the defense remains the biggest need. The depth drops significantly beyond Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie. On July 8, Sport-Express' Igor Eronko reported the promising Nikita Zadorov could sign with a KHL team if he doesn't get a better contract offer from the Avs before the end of July. His departure could leave Sakic scrambling for a suitable replacement. 

Center Duchene could be used to acquire a good young defenseman. On July 1, BSN Denver's Adrian Dater reported Sakic won't move the 26-year-old Duchene unless he gets "at least a bona fide, top-four young defenseman" as part of the return. 

Having finished last in goals per game last season (2.01), the Avalanche offense also needs helps. Sakic made a couple of minor additions, acquiring winger Colin Wilson from the Nashville Predators and signing free-agent right wing Nail Yakupov. Trading Duchene to improve his blue line could further weaken their anemic scoring punch. 

Player and team stats via NHL.com. Salary info via CapFriendly.