The 10 NHL Teams That Have Improved the Most in the 2016 Offseason

We're still about three months away from the beginning of the 2016-17 NHL regular season, but it's never too early to start assessing the winners and losers of the summer.

Unexpected twists and turns will inevitably arise, but after the draft, free agency and the massive shockwaves caused by the major trades on June 29, it looks like most teams are pretty close to having their salary-cap-compliant rosters ready to go for next season.

Not surprisingly, teams that finished outside last year's playoff picture dominate the list of clubs that look poised to take the biggest steps forward. They have more incentive to make big changes—and more room for improvement.

Whether it's through new player acquisitions, locking down key players or their roster or even addition by subtraction, here are the 10 teams that have made the best moves of the 2016 offseason so far.

Which teams do you expect to see make big strides in the standings?

10. San Jose Sharks

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Players Added: Mikkel Boedker, David Schlemko 

Players Lost: Nick Spaling, Dainius Zubrus, Matt Tennyson, James Reimer

Why the Team Has Improved: The San Jose Sharks look like they're poised to build on their run to the Stanley Cup Final last June. The big lane change was made last year with the hiring of coach Peter DeBoer and the signings of Martin Jones, Joel Ward and Paul Martin.

This year, the Sharks add another speedy sniper in Mikkel Boedker and an underrated defenseman in David Schlemko, without losing any core players.

Work Left to Be Done: Goaltender Martin Jones dealt with his heavy workload brilliantly in the playoffs, but he's probably not planning to play all 82 regular-season games next year. With James Reimer out of the picture, the Sharks need to find a steady backup for Jones, ideally at a low cap hit as they're flirting with the salary-cap ceiling.

The Sharks are fortunate that the contracts of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, with their no-movement clauses, will be coming off the books at the end of the season. That leaves the team two more slots to protect younger players in the expansion draft next June.

9. Winnipeg Jets

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Players Added: Shawn Matthias, Patrik Laine

Players Lost: none

Why the Team Has Improved: After making the playoffs with a franchise-best 99 points in 2014-15, the Winnipeg Jets fell victim to the Canadian curse last season. The Jets slipped to just 76 points and a last-place finish in the tough Central Division.

The Jets are an evolving team. Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele are trending in the direction of the league's elite forwards, with Nikolaj Ehlers and new draft pick Patrik Laine expected to follow close behind. With a defense anchored by Dustin Byfuglien and competition in goal between Ondrej Pavelec, Michael Hutchinson and Connor Hellebuyck, expect to see the Jets bounce back next season. 

Work Left to Be Done: Defenseman Jacob Trouba, 22, needs to be signed to his second contract after completing his three-year entry-level deal.

With just over $8 million in cap space remaining for next season, the Jets are uncharacteristically close to the cap ceiling. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could make moves to shed some salary in order to meet his team's internal budget before the beginning of next season.

8. Buffalo Sabres

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Players Added: Kyle Okposo, Dmitry Kulikov, Anders Nilsson

Players Lost: David Legwand, Mark Pysyk, Carlo Colaiacovo, Chad Johnson

Why the Team Has Improved: Kyle Okposo was one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents on the market this summer, so it's a coup for the Sabres to have reeled him in. He'll get a chance to try to renew his chemistry with his old teammate from the New York Islanders, Matt Moulson.

After a 30th-place finish in the NHL standings in 2014-15, the Sabres took a big step forward with a 27-point improvement to 81 points last year, good for 23rd overall.

With a healthy Robin Lehner in net and another year of development for Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen, expect to see the Sabres edge closer to playoff contention in the Atlantic Division this year.

Work Left to Be Done: Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons are both due for their second NHL contracts as restricted free agents without arbitration rights. The Sabres also continue to try to woo NCAA left wing Jimmy Vesey—Buffalo holds his rights until August 15, at which time he'll become a free agent who can sign with any team. 

7. Arizona Coyotes

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Players Added: Jamie McGinn, Alex Goligoski

Players Lost: Mikkel Boedker, Boyd Gordon, Nicklas Grossmann

Why the Team Has Improved: Under the leadership of new 27-year-old general manager John Chayka, the Arizona Coyotes are a team on the rise.

Building off a youthful core led by defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Dylan Strome, the Coyotes have a talented nucleus that is supplemented by the return of longtime captain Shane Doan.

Arizona made strong free-agent signings, attracting defenseman Alex Goligoski to help shore up the blue line and gritty Jamie McGinn to add scoring and toughness up front.

Backup goaltender Louis Domingue also established himself as a true NHLer last season, playing 39 games and giving the Coyotes the best one-two punch they've had in years in the crease.

Work Left to Be Done: Defenseman Connor Murphy and right wing Tobias Rieder are both 23 and have just completed their three-year entry-level contracts. Both restricted free agents are important players in the Coyotes organization and will need to be signed to new deals this summer.

Defenseman Michael Stone, 26, has filed for salary arbitration to help determine his next contract. His hearing is scheduled for August 4, according to Sportsnet.

6. Nashville Predators

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Players Added: P.K. Subban, Yannick Weber

Players Lost: Shea Weber, Paul Gaustad, Carter Hutton

Why the Team Has Improved: It's not easy to say that a team going forward without a player like Shea Weber is improved, but P.K. Subban will bring a new dynamic to the Nashville Predators, especially on the attack.

"P.K., I think when people might talk about him it would be his skating, the fact that he transport the puck himself, the fact that he can distribute the puck, he’s constantly in motion," said Predators coach Peter Laviolette in a June 30 press conference, per Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press via the Globe and Mail.

Weber's slap shot is one of a kind and he's a formidable hitter, but Subban's skill set will take Nashville one step closer to emulating the speed game that helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the 2016 Stanley Cup.

Work Left to Be Done: The Preds have already re-upped young sniper Filip Forsberg on a new six-year deal. Arbitration hearings are scheduled for center Calle Jarnkrok and defenseman Petter Granberg.

5. Calgary Flames

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Players Added: Troy Brouwer, Linden Vey, Alex Chiasson, Brian Elliott, Chad Johnson

Players Lost: Joe Colborne, Josh Jooris, Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo, Mason Raymond

Why the Team Has Improved: After a disappointing 2015-16 season, the Calgary Flames addressed their biggest weakness, goaltending, by bringing in Brian Elliott as their new starter and signing Chad Johnson as his backup. General manager Brad Treliving also added another former St. Louis Blues player, power forward Troy Brouwer, and will take a shot at reviving the careers of underperforming Alex Chiasson and Linden Vey.

The Flames have also revamped their coaching staff, handing the reins to Glen Gulutzan. He'll be assisted by Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard.

Work Left to Be Done: Two-thirds of the top line remains to be signed. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have both completed their entry-level contracts and are likely seeking big-money deals along the lines of the eight-year, $49-million deal inked by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets on July 8, per Daniel Goffenberg of Sportsnet.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

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Players Added: Auston Matthews, Matt Martin, Roman Polak, Nikita Zaitsev, Frederik Andersen

Players Lost: Jonathan Bernier, Michael Grabner, P.A. Parenteau, Brad Boyes

Why the Team Has Improved: When you finish in 30th place, there's nowhere to go but up.

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't land their big free-agent target, Steven Stamkos, but Frederik Andersen will give the team better goaltending. Auston Matthews should also be able to step straight into the NHL as an effective two-way center.

Add in an ever-improving Morgan Rielly on the blue line and, hopefully, healthier seasons from veteran forwards James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, and the Leafs should start their climb back to respectability in their centennial season. 

Work Left to Be Done: For starters, the Leafs need to get Auston Matthews' signature on that entry-level contract so that he can get his NHL career underway. Other top draft picks Patrik Laine (second overall, Winnipeg), Pierre-Luc Dubois (third overall, Columbus) and Jesse Puljujarvi (fourth overall, Edmonton) have already put pen to paper on their deals.

The Leafs also have three arbitration cases to look after, according to Sportsnet. Peter Holland (July 25), Frank Corrado (July 26) and Martin Marincin (August 4) all need new contracts for next season.

3. New Jersey Devils

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Players Added: Taylor Hall, Vern Fiddler, Pavel Zacha, Beau Bennett, Luke Gazdic, Ben Lovejoy

Players Lost: Adam Larsson, Patrik Elias, Tuomo Ruutu, Stephen Gionta, Jordin Tootoo, David Warsofsky, David Schlemko

Why the Team Has Improved: In just his second summer at the helm, general manager Ray Shero's overhaul of the New Jersey Devils appears to be progressing nicely. The Devils improved by six points in the standings in 2015-16 and look like they're poised to take a big leap from their league-worst 184 goals scored now that they've acquired Taylor Hall as their new first-line left wing.

Work Left to Be Done: By giving up Adam Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers in order to acquire Hall, the Devils currently have just five NHL-ready defensemen on their roster. Thirtysomethings Andy Greene and Ben Lovejoy will need some help on the back end—can Shero hit a couple more home runs with under-the-radar free agents?

The Devils avoided arbitration with winger Kyle Palmieri by inking him to a new five-year deal with a cap hit of $4.65 million per season.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

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Players Added: Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, Lee Stempniak, Viktor Stalberg, Sebastian Aho, Matt Tennyson

Players Lost: Nathan Gerbe, Riley Nash, James Wisniewski

Why the Team Has Improved: In their second year under coach Bill Peters, the Carolina Hurricanes improved by 15 points in the standings and briefly looked like they might have a shot at chasing an Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot in 2015-16.

The Eric Staal era is over, but the Hurricanes now boast an impressive collection of young talent, especially with Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin on the blue line. Fabulous Finns Teravainen and Aho will stoke the scoring up front next season, while Lee Stempniak and Viktor Stalberg are solid veteran free-agent signings.

Work Left to Be Done: Cam Ward will be back in net at a reduced rate, and 23-year-old center Victor Rask has been signed to a new six-year deal. Carolina general manager Ron Francis has completed his to-do list for next season, with more than $13 million in cap space to spare. The Hurricanes have room to make more moves if a chance arises for their roster to be further improved.

1. Florida Panthers

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Players Added: Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, Mark Pysyk, James Reimer, Reto Berra, Colton Sceviour, Jared McCann, Jonathan Marchessault

Players Lost: Erik Gudbranson, Willie Mitchell, Brian Campbell, Dmitry Kulikov, Teddy Purcell, Jiri Hudler, Rocco Grimaldi, Quinton Howden, Al Montoya

Why the Team Has Improved: After a first-round playoff upset by the New York Islanders last April, the Florida Panthers have dramatically revamped their back end in an effort to make their defense as good as their offense.

Aging veteran blueliners Brian Campbell and Willie Mitchell won't be back, while younger defenders Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson were switched out in favour of a different mix—offense-minded Keith Yandle and steady Jason Demers and Mark Pysyk.

Work Left to Be Done: The Panthers' roster for next season looks set, with just over $3 million in cap space to spare. Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith have been signed to tidy long-term deals; a serious contract extension for Jonathan Huberdeau should be the next item on the agenda for general manager Tom Rowe.

As long as James Reimer's arrival doesn't spark a goaltending controversy in South Florida as Roberto Luongo recovers from offseason hip surgery, the Panthers look well-positioned to settle into the mix among the NHL's best teams next season.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com. Salary cap information from General Fanager.