NHL Teams Most in Need of Late Improvements Before the 2016-17 Season

NHL teams attempt to address their roster weaknesses in the offseason. With training camps opening in mid-September, most have made moves to bolster their lineups. Several clubs, such as the Detroit Red Wings, still need some late improvements.

Many of the clubs on his list, including the Wings, require an upgrade at a specific position. Some, such as the Vancouver Canucks, have more than one issue that needs attention. 

How these teams address these roster problems could determine the outcome of their respective seasons. Some could look toward trades or free agency. Others could draw upon their depth in promising young talent. 

Here's a look at the NHL teams most in need of late offseason improvements before the start of the 2015-16 season. We'll examine their specific weaknesses and what they could do to fix them. You can voice your views on this topic in the comments section below.

Anaheim Ducks

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The Anaheim Ducks must address their logjam on defense. They also need scoring punch at left wing. 

Once the Ducks sign restricted free agent Hampus Lindholm, they'll have eight blueliners under one-way NHL contracts. Waiting in the wings are promising defensemen Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour. Josh Manson ($825,000) or Korbinian Holzer ($700,000) could be demoted, but the blue line will remain crowded.

Up front, the Ducks lack a proven scoring left wing to skate on their top line alongside center Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry. Andrew Cogliano and Mason Raymond aren't first-line material. Youngster Nick Ritchie has yet to fully prove himself at the NHL level. 

Trading a defenseman for a scoring left wing seems the obvious move for the Ducks. However, it will cost them one of their talented young blueliners. They recently re-signed Sami Vatanen to a four-year deal and aren't expected to move Lindholm. Cam Fowler could be their best trade chip to land that much-needed winger.

Arizona Coyotes

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The Arizona Coyotes made significant strides improving their depth on defense and on the wings. However, they're in need of experienced skill at center. 

Having bought out veteran center Antoine Vermette earlier this summer, the Coyotes centers are Martin Hanzal, Brad Richardson, Ryan White and Dave Bolland. Hanzal has a long injury history, while Richardson and White lack the skills to be second-line centers. 

Bolland was acquired on Aug. 25 in a trade with the Florida Panthers. That move, however, was largely done for salary-cap reasons and to acquire promising left wing Lawson Crouse.  In recent years, Bolland was hampered by injuries. He will likely spend this coming season on long-term injured reserve. 

The Coyotes have over $2.3 million in salary-cap space, giving them room to add an experienced center. There's not much available via free agency. They also have depth in promising prospects to draw upon as trade bait. The Coyotes also could look toward promising Dylan Strome cracking the roster in 2015-16. 

Boston Bruins

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Lack of a skilled two-way defenseman was a significant issue last season for the Boston Bruins. It remains a problem to be addressed for 2016-17.

Captain and former James Norris Memorial Trophy winner Zdeno Chara, 39, is now past his prime and no longer a dominant blueliner. John-Michael Liles is 35 and his best seasons are behind him. Torey Krug is their best puck-moving defenseman, but he cannot carry the burden on his own. 

Pickings are slim via free agency. James Wisniewski is on a professional tryout contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and could be worth following during preseason play. Kris Russell is also available, but the shot-blocking specialist won't address their puck-carrying needs. 

The Bruins could go the trade route, but it will be costly. On June 27, CBS Boston reported the Bruins were interested in St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. The steep asking price of two first-round draft picks and promising young winger David Pastrnak was far too high. 

Detroit Red Wings

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Finding a skilled top-two defenseman remains a significant need for the Detroit Red Wings. So far, they still haven't found what they're looking for. 

Age and injuries are catching up with hard-hitting Niklas Kronwall. As a result, Danny DeKeyser will have to carry more of the workload. Mike Green, last summer's free-agent acquisition, is no longer the offensive force he was earlier in his career with the Washington Capitals. 

With the free-agent market picked clean, the trade route is the Wings' best option to bolster their blue line. Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler could be a target. The Ducks have a surplus of blueliners and lack scoring depth at left wing. The Wings could offer up Tomas Tatar, though that could also hurt their offense.

Earlier this summer, trade rumors linked the Wings to St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. On June 27, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported the Blues sought promising forward Dylan Larkin for Shattenkirk. As St. James noted, that's a no-go for the Wings. 

New Jersey Devils

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Trading away defenseman Adam Larsson (above, left) to the Edmonton Oilers for left wing Taylor Hall weakened the New Jersey Devils blue-line depth. With training camp approaching in September, the Devils need to address this problem. 

The Devils play a solid defensive system, but they're lacking a experienced puck-moving blueliner. Among their defenders, Damon Severson (21 points in 72 games) was their highest scorer in 2015-16. 

With over $12 million in salary-cap space, the Devils have the room to add a mobile blueliner via trade. One option could be Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, who's under contract at $4 million annually through 2017-18. However, he's a left-handed shot and the Devils have an abundance of those on the blue line.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning could be trade targets for the Devils. The Flyers have limited cap space ($413,334) and could shop a veteran defenseman to make room for younger blueliners. The cost of re-signing rising star Nikita Kucherov could lead the Lightning to trade a defender to create cap room. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Toronto Maple Leafs bolstered their goaltending this summer by acquiring Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth. They also have several promising youngsters ready to crack the roster in 2016-17. Experienced scoring depth at right wing, however, remains in short supply. 

Veterans Joffrey Lupul and Milan Michalek can skate on either wing, but both are past their playing prime. Nathan Horton remains sidelined by a back injury and could spend another season on long-term injured reserve. 

The Leafs do have considerable depth in promising young players. William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Nikita Soshnikov could be pressed into full-time service on the right side in 2016-17. 

With little of value at right wing via free agency, the Leafs could also turn to the trade market. As they're still in a rebuilding phase, they're unlikely to pursue aging, expensive veterans. They can afford to be patient and see what develops in the trade market over the course of the season. 

Vancouver Canucks

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Second-line scoring and reliable depth on defense were areas the Vancouver Canucks needed to improve entering 2015-16. Approaching 2016-17, those issues remain to be addressed. 

The Canucks second line could be comprised of center Brandon Sutter and wingers Sven Baertschi and Jannik Hansen. Sutter, 27, played only 20 games last season and is best suited as a checking-line center. Hansen 30, tallied 22 goals and 38 points in 67 games, while the 23-year-old Baertschi had 28 points in 69 games.

Defenseman Erik Gudbranson, acquired from the Florida Panthers, replaces departed veteran Dan Hamhuis. Alexander Edler is their best puck-moving blueliner, while Christopher Tanev has become a good two-way defender. Nikita Tryamkin and Ben Hutton have promise but lack experience. 

Addressing the lack of scoring depth appears the priority. On Aug. 5, Canucks general manager Jim Benning told TSN 1040 (via Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot) he was exploring his trade and free-agent options. He doesn't rule out bringing in a free agent via a professional tryout offer. 

Player stats via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.