The Biggest Offseason Priority for Every Projected Non-Playoff NHL Team

The NHL season still has a few things to sort out, but most of the 14 teams that will miss the playoffs are known at this time. In those cities, management people are already sifting through the season to identify what went wrong. 

Changes for NHL teams usually come two or three at a time over the summer, and the major issues in each NHL city will be addressed at or around the entry draft or in free agency. 

Here are the No. 1 offseason priorities for 12 NHL teams outside the playoffs at this time. 

Arizona Coyotes

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Arizona Coyotes lack a true No. 1 goalie, despite Mike Smith's massive contract ($5.667 million per year through the summer of 2019). The club save percentage is one of the worst in the NHL and has obscured the emergence of a fine group of talent at the forward positions. The Coyotes need some help in goal, either a strong backup to Smith or a more substantial player to push him for the starting job.

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? Louis Domingue is an older prospect—he is 24—but he has emerged this season as a possible solution. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? Arizona does not have a strong goaltending option coming up through the system, so free agency may be the best route. Among the promising names are James Reimer, Karri Ramo and Chad Johnson.

Buffalo Sabres

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Buffalo Sabres are a fairly balanced team, despite being out of the playoffs since 2011. One area they could address is left-handed defensemen, as only Jake McCabe and Josh Gorges are signed NHL players for next year who fit that description. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Sabres do not have much in the way of certain contributors bubbling under—a reflection of a young and building team lacking depth. Many of the teams that are in rebuild mode suffer from the same issues. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? There are some very good free-agent options this summer, providing the projected group actually reaches July 1 unsigned. Keith Yandle and Alex Goligoski are two of the top options.

Calgary Flames

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Calgary Flames are in pretty solid shape moving forward, but they need a strong No. 1 goalie option for their emerging team. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Flames have three unrestricted free agents—Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller and Niklas Backstrom—along with restricted free-agent Joni Ortio. Those men aside, the most promising internal option may be Providence College star Jon Gillies, who has been outstanding in his brief AHL career. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? James Reimer is an attractive free-agent option, and the Flames have a lot of assets they could offer in a trade. Calgary has a plethora of restricted free agents to sign, so it is possible they avoid a big free-agent addition at the position. Ramo has been their best incumbent, so they could sign him as a No. 1 guy and run with Ramo and Ortio as a tandem until Gillies is ready.

Carolina Hurricanes

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Carolina Hurricanes are a far better team than they are given credit for and are going to be even better soon. The biggest need this summer will be defensemen in their prime. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? Carolina has done well with an unusual mix of youth, led by teenager Noah Hanifin, and experience, best reflected by Ron Hainsey. The only defender in his prime may be power-play star Justin Faulk, and Carolina needs more defensemen who are under 28 and have played over 300 NHL games.

Is There an Obvious External Solution? The Hurricanes may find some good options in free agency, including Jason Demers and Kris Russell. Carolina has a terrific young foundation, and if it can find a veteran defenseman or two young enough to hang around for a few years, the 'Canes could be the surprise team of 2016-17.

Columbus Blue Jackets

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Columbus Blue Jackets lack scoring up front beyond their top scorers—Cam Atkinson, Brandon Saad, Scott Hartnell and Boone Jenner. Columbus needs an established and consistent offensive piece to add to its group. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? Saad is 23 and Jenner is just 22, so you could argue the internal options have already arrived. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? Columbus is having a difficult year, and that means a strong draft pick is on the way. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen is from Finland, and if the Blue Jackets have a chance to draft one of the top Finns available—Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi—that could go a long way to solving the offensive problems in Columbus. If he could find a way to draft both prospects—via trade for an additional pick—the future could be very bright for the Blue Jackets. 

Edmonton Oilers

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Edmonton Oilers badly need help on defense, as has been the case for almost a decade. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Oilers have veteran Andrej Sekera and an emerging group that includes Oscar Klefbom, Brandon Davidson and Darnell Nurse. This season has shown it hasn't been enough, so changes are going to be made. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? No defender in the draft is considered a plug-and-play like Aaron Ekblad was a couple of years ago. Free agency offers skaters such as Jason Demers—who would be a quality addition, although the Dallas Stars may sign him before July 1. A trade for help is extremely likely, with quality forwards such as Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—and possibly the first-round pick—in play for the right defenseman. 

New Jersey Devils

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The New Jersey Devils need forwards. There are four signed forwards for 2016-17, including Travis Zajac, Mike Cammalleri and Adam Henrique. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Devils have some players who can help, including leading scorer Kyle Palmieri and call-up Joseph Blandisi. Recent draft picks Pavel Zacha and John Quenneville may turn pro in the fall and could have an immediate impact.

Is There an Obvious External Solution? New Jersey is in a good position in one way: Teams looking to offload struggling phenoms and big contracts may make talent available for little return. Free agency may offer quality young players such as Mikkel Boedker and David Perron, among others. 

Montreal Canadiens

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Montreal Canadiens are a substantial NHL team disguised as an also-ran, mostly because of the Carey Price injury. The team was not prepared to lose its impact goalie and would be wise to make acquiring a solid backup its top priority this summer. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Canadiens have some promising young goalies, including Mike Condon, whom the Habs have used heavily this season, and top prospect Zachary Fucale.

Is There an Obvious External Solution? A veteran such as Jonas Hiller might be suitable backup, and he's a free agent this summer. Anton Khudobin may also fit the bill for Montreal. The key for the Canadiens is to find a goalie they can both fit under the cap and lean on heavily if Price gets injured again. That is a very difficult player to identify.

Ottawa Senators

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Ottawa Senators need capable defensemen. The addition of Dion Phaneuf at the deadline this year helps, but more is needed if there is hope for the playoffs in 2016-17.

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? Ottawa's top pairing is rock solid, with impact player Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot serving as an effective duo over the last three years. Phaneuf and Cody Ceci should be able to play in the top six—and the organization has an attachment to Mark Borowiecki—leaving the Senators in search of at least one additional defenseman. Chris Wideman showed well this season and may or may not be part of the future.

Is There an Obvious External Solution? Free agency could offer a solution for Ottawa, with Jason Demers representing a very strong fit for the team's needs. It is very important for the Senators to fix this area, as they are wasting Karlsson's considerable talents due to a lack of addressing a clear need.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Toronto Maple Leafs are in rebuild mode and are going to use the draft to get better. Their biggest need is good luck at the draft lottery as well as solid procurement via free agency. The club needs its young players to become NHL players quickly. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? Toronto has been effective at the draft—William Nylander and Mitch Marner are progressing very well—and it has a solid young group playing for the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Names who could step up next season include Nylander, Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov—all of whom have had some success late in the season with the Maple Leafs. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? The current standings have the Maple Leafs in prime position for the draft lottery. Winning the lottery—and the right to choose Auston Matthews No. 1 overall—would be a sensational result for Toronto fans and management. 

Vancouver Canucks

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Vancouver Canucks badly need impact youth to replace their aging team. Many of the team's best players—Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Miller—are well past 30 and on the downside of their careers.

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Canucks have some solid young prospects, including Bo Horvat and Jake Virtanen. No young player in their system has the kind of offensive potential normally associated with future impact NHL players. 

Is There an Obvious External Solution? Vancouver is having a terrible season, but the silver lining is it should draft very high in the 2016 entry draft. If it can win a lottery spot in the top three overall, one of Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine or Jesse Puljujarvi would be that impact prospect so badly needed by the Canucks. 

Winnipeg Jets

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What Is Their Biggest Need? The Winnipeg Jets need a strong option in goal. The team ranks No. 26 this season in goals-against per game. It was tied for No. 10 in the category a year ago. 

What Are Their Internal Options to Address That Need? The Jets have employed rookie Connor Hellebuyck a lot this season, with encouraging results. Rookie pro Eric Comrie has performed well in his first AHL season and could be part of the solution in the future.

Is There an Obvious External Solution? Free agency offers some options, including James Reimer, and the club could bring back its own restricted free agent in Michael Hutchinson. If those solutions don't give the Jets the kind of goaltending they should be looking for, trade options may be the more likely scenario. A team to watch in this area is the Anaheim Ducks, who have two brilliant young goalies in John Gibson and Frederik Andersen.