Top Priority for Each NHL Team That Missed the 2015 Playoffs
With the opening round of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs now underway, the 14 NHL clubs that failed to qualify enter the offseason with issues to address. Their respective management teams will prioritize roster weaknesses and make plans to address them before next season.
Some clubs were undone by poor goaltending, a weak defense or lack of scoring depth. In addition to player shakeups, several teams face coaching and/or management changes.
The following slideshow examines the top priority for each of the NHL's non-playoff clubs, the importance of addressing these issues and potential solutions.
Arizona Coyotes
1 of 14
Priority: The Arizona Coyotes must improve their defensive game.
Why it's necessary: The Coyotes currently have a young defense corps. They were 29th in penalty-killing, 28th in goals against and 27th in shots against per game. Bolstering their defense could lighten the workload of starting goalie Mike Smith, who faced the fourth-most shots among NHL netminders this season.
Possible solutions: Coyotes general manager Don Maloney has sufficient salary-cap space next season to add one or two veteran blueliners via free agency or trades. Washington's Mike Green, Pittsburgh's Paul Martin and Los Angeles' Andrej Sekera could be free-agent targets.
Boston Bruins
2 of 14
Priority: The Boston Bruins must hire a new general manager who can bolster their offense.
Why it's necessary: The Bruins recently fired Peter Chiarelli as their general manager. His replacement must address their sagging offense. The Bruins were 23rd in goals and 18th on the power play. That lack of scoring punch was the main reason they failed to reach the playoffs.
Possible solutions: Management candidates could include former Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero, former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee or current Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney. Whoever gets the job will have limited cap space to work with next season. They could be forced to shed some high-salaried struggling talent (like Milan Lucic) in hopes of acquiring more affordable scoring depth.
Buffalo Sabres
3 of 14
Priority: The Buffalo Sabres must add some experienced skill to help their young players.
Why it's necessary: The Sabres were dead last in nearly every offensive and defensive category this season. That's because young and inexperienced players made up part of their roster. General manager Tim Murray is trying to rebuild with youth, but the Sabres need some skilled veteran leadership to mentor the kids.
Possible solutions: If Sabres ownership is willing to spend toward the salary-cap ceiling, Murray should have sufficient cap space to take on some veteran talent through trades and free agency. He could target teams with limited cap space in need of shedding salary like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
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Carolina Hurricanes
4 of 14
Priority: The Carolina Hurricanes must improve their goal production.
Why it's necessary: Though the Hurricanes finished 12th in shots per game and 15th in power-play percentage, they were 27th in goals scored and in five-on-five goals. Their inability to cash in offensively is why they failed to reach the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Possible solutions: General manager Ron Francis doesn't have much cap space to take on high-salaried help. His efforts could be hampered further if ownership declines to spend toward the cap ceiling. Francis could free up space by trading expensive veterans like Alexander Semin, Cam Ward or possibly Eric Staal and use the savings to add younger, affordable scorers.
Colorado Avalanche
5 of 14
Priority: The Colorado Avalanche must improve their defensive game.
Why it's necessary: Last season, the Avalanche reached the playoffs despite giving up the sixth-most shots against per game. Their poor defensive play caught up with them this season, giving up the fifth-most shots against. It was a significant factor in the Avalanche missing the playoffs this year.
Possible solutions: With all their key players under contract for next season, the Avalanche have cap space to boost their blue line. Washington's Mike Green, Pittsburgh's Paul Martin, Los Angeles' Andrej Sekera, Nashville's Cody Franson and Montreal's Jeff Petry could be free-agent targets. Forward Ryan O'Reilly, eligible for free agency in 2016, could be trade bait if contract extension talks break down.
Columbus Blue Jackets
6 of 14
Priority: The Columbus Blue Jackets must add more experienced depth to their defense corps.
Why it's necessary: While leading the league in man-games lost to injury, according to ManGamesLost.com, was the main reason the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs, so too was a lack of skilled blue-line depth. The Jackets gave up the third-most shots this season. On March 30, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Fox Sports Ohio's Rick Gethin he wanted to add a little more depth to his defense.
Possible solutions: Having dealt James Wisniewski to Anaheim at the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets could use an experienced top-four defenseman. Kekalainen could go the free-agent route in search of affordable rearguards. Given the Jackets' depth at center, perhaps one of them (other than Ryan Johansen, Brandon Dubinsky or Boone Jenner) could become trade bait for a defenseman.
Dallas Stars
7 of 14
Priority: The Dallas Stars must improve their defense.
Why it's necessary: The Stars had one of the youngest blue lines in the league this season. They were 19th in shots against per game this season, contributing to the Stars giving up the fourth-most goals in the league. While there is concern over their goaltending depth, bolstering the defense is the biggest priority.
Possible solutions: With starting goalie Kari Lehtonen under contract for three more seasons, Stars general manager Jim Nill could boost the defense to give Lehtonen more support. Free-agent options could include Washington's Mike Green, Pittsburgh's Paul Martin, Los Angeles' Andrej Sekera and St. Louis' Zbynek Michalek. Nill could shop one of his promising defensemen for an experienced rearguard.
Edmonton Oilers
8 of 14
Priority: The Edmonton Oilers need a proven starting goaltender.
Why it's necessary: The Oilers have numerous areas to address (top-two defenseman, depth at center and the checking lines), but goaltending is their biggest weakness. They gave up the most goals against this season. They need a netminder who can give them a fighting chance to win every game.
Possible solutions: Options are limited in the free-agent market. Better long-term possibilities could be available via trade. Toronto's James Reimer, Ottawa's Robin Lehner, Los Angeles' Martin Jones and the New York Rangers' Cam Talbot might be available. The Oilers have the Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick in this year's draft to use as trade bait.
Florida Panthers
9 of 14
Priority: The Florida Panthers must improve their offense.
Why it's necessary: The Panthers finished the season 25th in goals scored and 24th on the power play. That lack of scoring punch proved fatal to their playoff hopes this season. The late-season addition of Jaromir Jagr helps, but they could use another skilled scorer.
Possible solutions: Pickings are slim in this summer's free-agent market. Better options could be had via trade, providing general manager Dale Tallon is willing to part with a good young asset or two. One possibility is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel, who might enjoy a fresh start away from the harsh spotlight of the NHL's largest market.
Los Angeles Kings
10 of 14
Priority: The Los Angeles Kings must free up salary-cap space.
Why it's necessary: The Kings have limited salary-cap space for 2015-16. They must re-sign restricted free agents Tyler Toffoli and Martin Jones, as well as re-sign or replace unrestricted free agents Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll and Andrej Sekera. In 2016, superstar center Anze Kopitar becomes eligible for UFA status and is in line for a substantial raise.
Possible solutions: The easiest is buying out the remaining five years of fading center Mike Richards' contract. As per war-on-ice.com, it will free up over $4 million in cap space for next season alone. Those savings could be put toward re-signing some key players. They could also attempt to trade Richards, though there's unlikely to be many takers.
New Jersey Devils
11 of 14
Priority: The New Jersey Devils must bolster their offense.
Why it's necessary: The Devils were 28th in goals scored this season, which explains why they missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. On March 31, NorthJersey.com's Tom Gulitti reported general manager Lou Lamoriello wants to add two scoring forwards this summer.
Possible solutions: There's not many quality free-agent scorers available. Lamoriello could draw upon his depth in promising young defensemen as trade bait. Unless the Devils win the draft lottery, Lamoriello could shop his 2015 first-round pick for a proven scorer.
Philadelphia Flyers
12 of 14
Priority: The Philadelphia Flyers must shed salary.
Why it's necessary: The Flyers possess limited salary-cap space for next season. They'll get some wiggle room by placing permanently sidelined Chris Pronger on long-term injured reserve again. However, they must free up cap space to re-sign Michael Del Zotto, sign a backup goalie and bolster their scoring depth.
Possible solutions: General manager Ron Hextall could try trading unhappy center Vincent Lecavalier, who has three years at $4.5 million annually left on his contract. Other trade options include defenseman Andrew MacDonald ($5 million annually), Luke Schenn ($3.6 million) or Nicklas Grossmann ($3.5 million). Hextall could also buy out out the final season of winger R.J. Umberger's contract.
San Jose Sharks
13 of 14
Priority: The San Jose Sharks must decide if they need to change their management and coaching staff.
Why it's necessary: The Sharks missed this playoffs for the first time since 2003. After getting bounced in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs, general manager Doug Wilson failed to improve his roster. In March, Wilson got into a spat with former captain Joe Thornton that played out in the media. Uncertainty also persists over the future of head coach Todd McLellan.
Possible solutions: If Sharks ownership decides to replace Wilson, former NHL general managers Peter Chiarelli, Ray Shero and George McPhee are available. Coaching options could include former NHL coaches Dan Bylsma, Peter DeBoer and Kirk Muller.
Toronto Maple Leafs
14 of 14
Priority: The Toronto Maple Leafs must hire a new general manager, coaches and scouting staff before the NHL draft in June.
Why it's necessary: Team president Brendan Shanahan recently purged his front office and coaching staff. With the NHL draft scheduled for June 26-27, Shanahan must move quickly to hire suitable replacements before the playoffs end in mid-June. They must be in place by then to staff the anticipated roster overhaul.
Possible solutions: The Leafs could pursue former NHL GMs like Ray Shero or Peter Chiarelli. The Hockey News' Ken Campbell recommends Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa or Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton. Coaching options could include former NHL bench bosses Dan Bylsma and Peter DeBoer. The Leafs could also contact Detroit's Mike Babcock and San Jose's Todd McLellan.
Unless otherwise indicated, all player and team stats via NHL.com. All salary information via NHLNumbers.com.
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