NHL Power Rankings: Evaluating Every Team's Early Performance on the Market

The Minnesota Wild made the biggest splash in the offseason when they signed not only one but the two biggest names on the free agent market: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

(Oh yeah, and they got Jake Dowell).

The Wild aren't the only team that's improved (at least on paper) this offseason, either.

Dallas surprised everyone by signing veteran winger Jaromir Jagr, the Hurricanes made a blockbuster trade for Jordan Staal and the Flyers and Maple Leafs swapped two promising young players.

The Suter consolation prize, Matt Carle, went to Tampa Bay—a team that disappointed a rejuvenated fanbase last year by missing the playoffs after reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2011.

In general, unless you're a fan of the reigning champion Kings, the Big Bad Bruins or the rising St. Louis Blues, your team went out and made some big-time adjustments in the offseason.

The following are grades for all 30 teams regarding their offseason acquisitions.

Anaheim Ducks

Notable Additions:

D Sheldon Souray (three years, $11 million)

D Bryan Allen (three years, $10.5 million)

RW Brad Staubitz (two years, $1.275 million)

Anaheim needs to win now in order to keep disgruntled forward Bobby Ryan in town.

Its moves this offseason were a good step forward.

Souray had a rebound season with the Stars last year after being banished to the minors in Edmonton, and Allen is a leader in the locker room. Both players will upgrade a poor defensive corps in the OC.

Staubitz isn't going to score, but he fits the Ducks' we're-tougher-than-you mentality and replaces longtime enforcer George Parros. He should thrive with this rough-and-tumble team.

Grade: A

Boston Bruins

Notable Additions:

None

The Big Bad Bruins have a strong corps and didn't do much to upgrade their major league roster through free agency or trades this offseason.

Well, actually, they haven't done anything so far.

Grade: None

Buffalo Sabres

Notable Additions:

LW Kevin Porter (two years, $1.075 million)

F John Scott (one year, $600,000)

C Steve Ott and D Adam Pardy (received for Derek Roy)

In case you missed it, Buffalo had a fiasco last season where Boston's Milan Lucic ran into Sabres netminder Ryan Miller and the team did not react immediately. In fact, they were quite passive.

That won't happen this year.

GM Darcy Regier added muscle to his roster, trading for notable agitator Steve Ott and signing enforcer John Scott.

Both are nice pickups, but this team could still use a few scorers.

Grade: A-

Calgary Flames

Notable Additions:

LW Jiri Hudler (four years, $16 million)

C Roman Cervenka (one year, $3.775 million)

D Dennis Wideman (received for Jordan Henry, fifth-rounder)

Calgary is giving it another go next season.

Wideman (29), Hudler (28) and Cervenka (26) are all in the prime of their careers. Wideman has been a bit of journeyman, but fits a need, while Hudler made a name for himself by playing for one team (the Detroit Red Wings) for his entire career.

As I'm sure you can tell from his name, Cervenka is an import from overseas. He had 31 and 23 goals, respectively, in his last two seasons with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.

This roster is still aging, and while all three players are in their prime, they're all nearing 30—meaning the team didn't get significantly younger.

Grade: B

Carolina Hurricanes

Notable Additions:

C Jordan Staal (received in trade for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the eighth overall selection in 2012)

D Joe Corvo (one year, $2 million)

In case you hadn't heard, the Hurricanes pulled off a blockbuster move to unite 23-year-old Jordan Staal with his brother Eric.

What does this mean?

Carolina is serious about winning. Now. (Or sometime soon.)

They also brought back Corvo after a one-year hiatus in Boston.

Grade: A

Chicago Blackhawks

Notable Additions:

D Sheldon Brookbank (two years, $2.5 million)

I realize that the Hawks have a strong core and that they're spending a decent amount on the team, but they could do a little more than signing Brookbank in the offseason.

This team still may be looking to do a big move, but right now they haven't done much.

Grade: B

Colorado Avalanche

Notable Additions:

RW P.A. Parenteau (four years, $16 million)

D Greg Zanon (two years, $4.5 million)

C John Mitchell (two years, $2.2 million)

After a string of one-year deals, Parenteau is probably happy to get some job security, Zanon should help a porous team defensively and Mitchell, well, is a nice warm body.

Having said that, this team didn't do enough to significantly improve in the offseason.

They're still banking on their young, underachieving players to step it up.

Grade: C

Columbus Blue Jackets

Notable Additions:

G Sergei Bobrovsky (received for second- and fourth-round pick in 2012 and a fourth-round pick from the Phoenix Coyotes in 2013)

D Nick Foligno (received for Marc Methot)

D Adrian Aucoin (one year, $2 million)

A Rick Nash deal is coming, we all know that, but until the trigger is pulled there's nothing to report here.

Oh. Wait.

Lost in all the mix is that the Blue Jackets picked up Bobrovsky from the Flyers.

That's actually not too bad of a deal.

Grade: B

Dallas Stars

Notable Additions:

LW Ray Whitney (two years, $9 million)

RW Jaromir Jagr (one year, $4.5 million)

D Aaron Rome (three years, $4.5 million)

C Derek Roy (received for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy)

F Cody Eakin (received with a second-round pick in 2012 and Mike Ribeiro)

The Stars sent a message to their fans in the offseason: We. Want. To. Win. Now.

They went out and got two solid 40-year-old veterans, Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr; two players in their prime, Aaron Rome (29) and Derek Roy (28); and a budding superstar in Cody Eakin (21).

This was a great offseason for GM Joe Nieuwendyk.

Grade: A

Detroit Red Wings

Notable Additions:

RW Mikael Samuelsson (two years, $6 million)

RW Jordin Tootoo (three years, $5.7 million)

G Jonas Gustavsson (two years, $3 million)

F Damien Brunner (one year, $925,000)

GM Ken Holland missed out on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

Whoops!

He then saw Matt Carle sign with Stevie Y in Tampa Bay.

Dammit!

He then whiffed on productive veterans like Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr.

…

His pickups this year were not shabby, but they are consolation prizes at best considering who was on the market.

Hockey fans in Detroit better hope he signs Shea Weber next season. Otherwise, Holland better channel his inner Bart Simpson because he's in deep, deep trouble.

Grade: C

Edmonton Oilers

Notable Additions:

D Justin Schultz (two years, $1.85 million)

Usually a productive offseason wouldn't consist of picking up one player.

In the Oilers' case, however, it is.

This team needs defense and just picked up a key member of a young franchise by signing Schultz to an entry-level contract.

(They still need more defense and goaltending, though.)

Grade: A-

Florida Panthers

Notable Additions:

D Filip Kuba (two years, $8 million)

RW George Parros (two years, $1.875 million)

F Peter Mueller (one year, $1.725 million)

GM Dave Tallon had some cap room and decided to go out and improve a Florida club that took Eastern Conference champion New Jersey to Game 7 in the first round last year.

He welcomed Kuba back to the team that originally drafted him in 1995, picked up some muscle with Parros and got a player with great upside (and on the cheap) in Mueller.

Tallon may have not turned his team into a contender (he didn't), but the Panthers certainly improved in the offseason.

Grade: B

Los Angeles Kings

Notable Additions:

None

This offseason GM Dean Lombardi said, "If it’s not broken, don't fix it," and hey, nobody in L.A. should be complaining about that.

Grade: None

Minnesota Wild

Notable Additions:

LW Zach Parise (13 years, $98 million)

D Ryan Suter (13 years, $98 million)

C Torrey Mitchell (three years, $5.7 million)

C Zenon Konopka (two years, $1.85 million)

C Jake Dowell (one year, $1.4 million)

Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher went out and made it rain in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

He dropped nearly $200 million on Parise and Suter, two superstars with ties to the Twin Cities, and then said, "Hey, Jake Dowell, do you want to play with your friends? Okay here’s $1.4 mil!"

Because he was in a giving mood, Fletcher then said, "Hey, Torrey Mitchell, you want to play with your friends from San Jose? Okay, here's $5.7 mil!"

Finally, just because, well, why the hell not? He dropped $1.85 million on Zenon Konopka, who led the league in penalty minutes two years ago.

Fletcher's moves not only improved the team but also should help team chemistry.

And if you're a friend of someone on the Wild's roster and in need of a buck, you know who to call.

Grade: A

Montreal Canadiens

Notable Additions:

LW Brandon Prust (four years, $10 million)

D Francis Bouillon (one year, $1.5 million)

RW Colby Armstrong (one year, $1 million)

Montreal didn't get significantly better, and it didn't suddenly become a Stanley Cup contender overnight.

In fact, the Canadiens probably won't even win their division.

But, hey, they got a tough guy who can (kinda) score for $10 million, a local guy and a guy who's pretty goofy. 

I guess that's worth something.

Grade: C

Nashville Predators

Notable Additions:

G Chris Mason (one year, $1.5 million)

The Predators lost Ryan Suter and replaced him with…umm…

Ahh…

Mason? Can he play defense?

This has been a tough offseason for Nashville.

Grade: D

New Jersey Devils

Notable Additions:

None

The Devils lost Zach Parise in the offseason and replaced him with…

Nobody.

Grade: D

New York Islanders

Notable Additions:

D Matt Carkner (three years, $4.5 million)

RW Brad Boyes (one year, $1 million)

D Lubomir Visnovsky (received for second-round pick in 2013)

LW Eric Boulton (one year, $540,000)

The Islanders did not become contenders in the offseason.

In fact, they probably will remain in the Atlantic Division cellar.

But Carkner is a solid defenseman, Boyes had a 43-goal season a (long) while back, Visnovsky is still a viable defenseman, and Boulton beat some people up and should put a few more people in their (mostly empty) arena.

Grade: C+

New York Rangers

Notable Additions:

LW Taylor Pyatt (two years, $3.1 million)

RW Arron Asham (two years, $2 million)

C Jeff Halpern (one year, $700,000)

This offseason, Asham decided, "Hey, I'm going to piss everyone off!"

When he takes the ice at Madison Square Garden this year the former New York Islander, New Jersey Devil, Philadelphia Flyer and Pittsburgh Penguin agitator will have played for all five teams in the Atlantic Division.

Word is the former Montreal Canadian draft pick will join the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs when his deal is up with the Rangers.

The Blueshirts also signed Pyatt and some guy who had more ice time in the playoffs than Alex Ovechkin last year.

Grade: B

Ottawa Senators

Notable Additions:

D Marc Methot (received for Nick Foligno)

RW Guillaume Latendresse (one year, $2 million)

D Mike Lundin (one year, $1.25 million)

After taking the mighty Rangers seven games in the first rounds, the Senators made a couple shrewd moves to upgrade their roster.

Methot was highly sought-after during the season, and the team finally came to terms with the former Columbus Blue Jacket. Latendresse has upside; he scored 25 goals in 55 games for the Wild in 2009-10, and Lundin was a decent player in Tampa before his 17-game stint with Minnesota.

Grade: B+

Philadelphia Flyers

Notable Additions:

D Luke Schenn (received for James van Riemsdyk)

LW Ruslan Fedotenko (1-year, $1.75 million)

D Bruno Gervais (2-year, $1.65 million)

The JVR trade that paired the Schenn brothers together wasn't a bad idea. Van Riemsdyk could probably use a change in scenery, and Luke and Brayden could become a dynamic duo.

The loss of Matt Carle and most likely Chris Pronger were not filled this offseason, however.

Grade: C+

Phoenix Coyotes

Notable Additions:

D Zbynek Michalek (received for Harrison Ruopp, Marc Cheverie and third-round pick in 2012)

LW Steve Sullivan (one year, $1.85 million)

It's nice to have Michalek back, and Sullivan fills in a gap left by Ray Whitney, but the real question for Phoenix is if it will re-sign Shane Doan.

Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Penguins

Notable Additions:

C Brandon Sutter (received with first-round pick in 2012 and Brian Dumoulin in return for Jordan Staal)

G Tomas Vokoun (received for a seventh-round pick in 2012)

LW Tanner Glass (two years, $1.1 million)

F Benn Ferriero (one year, $700,000)

The Penguins added a backup goaltender and an up-and-coming pivot following their offseason moves, which included a blockbuster trade involving Jordan Staal.

Time will tell if that move paid off.

For right now, the Penguins should be right in the thick of things once again.

Grade: B

San Jose Sharks

Notable Additions:

D Brad Stuart (three years, $10.8 million)

C Adam Burish (four years, $1.8 million)

Sharks GM Doug Wilson will not stand pat while he waits to see if he can land a trade for prized superstar Rick Nash. He signed Stuart, a veteran defenseman, and reunited longtime Shark Joe Pavelski and former Dallas Star Adam Burish as he feels out Columbus management.

Grade: C+

St. Louis Blues

Notable Additions:

None

St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong sees a young core that is developing into something and probably didn't want to complicate matters in the offseason.

Grade: None

Tampa Bay Lightning

Notable Additions:

D Matt Carle (six years, $33 million)

G Anders Lindback (received with Kyle Wilson and a seventh-round pick in 2012 for Sebastien Caron, two second-round picks in 2012 and a third-round pick in 2013)

D Sami Salo (two years, $7.5 million)

RW B.J. Crombeen (received with a fifth-round pick in 2014 for two fourth-round picks in 2013 and 2014)

LW Benoit Pouliot (received for Michel Ouellet and a fifth-round pick in 2012)

After a disappointing follow-up season to their Eastern Conference finals run in 2011, GM Steve Yzerman was aggressive in the offseason. He went out and got Carle, a prized defenseman; Lindback, a franchise goalie; and a slew of other players to fill holes in his roster.

Yzerman's team is bound to improve this season as a result.

Grade: A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Notable Additions:

LW James van Riemsdyk (received for Luke Schenn)

C Jay McClement (two years, $3 million)

JVR may become a great player in Toronto.

GM Brian Burke certainly hopes so. He didn't land any big free agents this offseason.

Grade: C

Vancouver Canucks

Notable Additions:

D Jason Garrison (six years, $27.6 million)

D Derek Joslin (waivers)

GM Mike Gillis dropped a decent amount of money on Garrison and picked up Joslin on the side, hoping to fill out his defense corps.

Time will tell if that's enough to get the always-almost-there Canucks over the top.

Grade: B

Washington Capitals

Notable Additions:

C Mike Ribeiro (received for Cody Eakin and second-round pick in 2012))

RW Joey Crabb (one year, $950,000)

Two understated moves from GM George McPhee, but frankly, that might be the right move for this Capitals squad.

Grade: B

Winnipeg Jets

Notable Additions:

LW Olli Jokinen (two years, $9 million)

LW Alexei Ponikarovsky (one year, $1.8 million)

G Al Montoya (one year, $601,000)

The Jets needed a little more of a veteran presence on their team, and that's just what GM Kevin Cheveldayoff did by bringing in Jokinen, Ponikarovsky and Montoya.

Grade: B

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com.

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