Offseason Moves Having the Biggest Early Impact on the 2016-17 NHL Season

As October 2016 draws to a close, several offseason moves are having a significant early impact in the NHL. For example, the Montreal Canadiens shipping P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber has had a notable effect upon both clubs.

Some of these transactions, such as the Weber-Subban swap, were the result of trades. Others were free-agent signings, such as left wing Milan Lucic joining the Edmonton Oilers. Some lesser deals, such as the Florida Panthers signing free agent Jonathan Marchessault, are paying substantial early dividends. 

The following slideshow examines the offseason moves having the most significant early impact on this NHL season. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below.

10. Carolina Hurricanes Sign Lee Stempniak

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The Carolina Hurricanes made a noteworthy offseason trade by acquiring forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell from the Chicago Blackhawks. However, their signing of unrestricted free-agent winger Lee Stempniak is proving to be more significant early in 2016-17.

Though the Hurricanes won only two of their first seven games, Stempniak was among their better players during that stretch. He was tied with Victor Rask for the team lead in goals (four), while his six points ranks among their leaders. A versatile forward who can skate on either wing, the 33-year-old was also tied for the club lead in takeaways (five). He has thus far outperformed Teravainen and Bickell.

Stempniak joined the Hurricanes after a 51-point performance last season split between the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. They're already benefiting from his experience and skills. If Stempniak maintains this pace over the course of his two-year deal, he'll be rated among this summer's most worthwhile free-agent signings.

9. Boston Bruins Sign David Backes

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The Boston Bruins landed one of this summer's top free agents, signing forward David Backes to a five-year, $30 million contract. While the Bruins are stumbling in late-October after starting the season well, none of that can be pinned upon their new power forward. 

As the former captain of the St. Louis Blues, Backes brings a measure of experienced leadership and a physical two-way game to the Bruins. Through his first five games, the 32-year-old tallied five points. Three of those came in his first outing, a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's also the Bruins leader in hits (20).

With Backes sidelined by minor elbow surgery, the Bruins will miss his leadership and aggressive play. His absence will make it difficult for them to snap out of their slump. Fortunately, he's not expected to miss much playing time. 

8. Calgary Flames Sign Troy Brouwer

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The Calgary Flames made two notable offseason acquisitions from the St. Louis Blues. One was trading for goaltender Brian Elliott. The other was signing free-agent right wing Troy Brouwer. Of the two moves, it's the 31-year-old power forward providing the best early returns. 

While Elliott struggles in the Flames net, Brouwer's played well for his new club. With six points in nine games, he's among their leading scorers. He's also a physical presence, leading the Flames in hits (25) while ranking among the leaders for forwards in blocked shots (seven). 

The Flames were inconsistent through most of October, entering the month's final weekend with four wins in nine games. However, that cannot be blamed upon Brouwer. His solid performance with the Blues through last spring's playoffs has carried over into his first season in Calgary.

7. Minnesota Wild Sign Eric Staal

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On July 1, the Minnesota Wild signed free-agent forwards Eric Staal and Chris Stewart. Both have contributed to the Wild's run of 11 points in their opening eight games. However, the 32-year-old Staal is having the more noticeable impact. 

Centering the Wild's second line, Staal has quickly established himself as a vital player. In his first eight games, he netted three goals and registered three assists for six points. Entering the final weekend of October, he was among the Wild's leaders in goals, points, shots (20), faceoff win percentage (52.2) and takeaways (six). 

Staal seems determined to rebound from last season's dismal 39-point effort split between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers. He brings invaluable skilled depth at center for the Wild. His experience and leadership are important reasons behind their strong start to this season.

6. Detroit Red Wings Sign Thomas Vanek

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The Detroit Red Wings made two notable free-agent signings this summer, adding center Frans Nielsen and left wing Thomas Vanek. Of the two, Vanek is so far proving to be the most notable. 

A former 40-goal scorer who can skate on either wing, the 32-year-old Vanek was bought out of the final year of his contract by the Minnesota Wild on June 24. Signing a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Wings, the move could be considered his last chance to prove himself as a reliable scoring forward. 

Vanek's off to a good start. Playing third-line minutes, he's tied for the Wings' scoring lead, with eight points in seven games. During that stretch, he was held scoreless only once. Thanks in part to Vanek's timely offense, the Wings won five of those seven games.

5. New York Rangers Trade Derick Brassard to Ottawa Senators for Mika Zibanejad

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The New York Rangers made three significant moves in the recent offseason. Among them was trading for defenseman Nick Holden and signing free-agent prospect left wing Jimmy Vesey. Their best deal, however, was their July 18 trade of center Derick Brassard to the Ottawa Senators for center Mika Zibanejad. 

In the early going with the Rangers, the 23-year-old Zibanejad has quickly fit in well with his new teammates. Skating on the Blueshirts' second line with J.T. Miller and Mats Zuccarello, he tallied eight points in as many games. Zibanejad became their leader in points and shots (27).

Brassard's played well for the Senators, tallying five points in his first seven games. But through October, Zibanejad is having a more positive effect upon his new club. He's a key reason the Rangers are among the top teams in the Metropolitan Division.

4. New Jersey Devils Trade Adam Larsson to Edmonton Oilers for Taylor Hall

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Among last summer's biggest trades was the deal sending left wing Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson. While Larsson's helped bolster the Edmonton's blue-line depth, Hall is making more substantial contributions in the early going for New Jersey.

Through the Devils' opening seven games of 2016-17, the 24-year-old Hall is already their top forward. During that stretch, he led them in scoring, with five goals and seven points. He was also their leader in power-play goals (three) and game-winners (two), while his 20 minutes and five seconds of time on ice per game is tops among their forwards. 

The Devils acquired Hall to boost an offense that was the NHL's worst (only 182 goals) in 2015-16. So far, he's been the serious scoring threat they've been missing since Ilya Kovalchuk returned to Russia in 2013. 

3. Edmonton Oilers Sign Milan Lucic

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The Edmonton Oilers made the summer's most significant free-agent signing, inking left wing Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million contract. The 6'3", 233-pounder was expected to bolster the Oilers' size at forward, providing experienced offensive depth, grit and leadership to the rebuilding club. 

Skating on Edmonton's top line alongside superstar center Connor McDavid and right wing Jordan Eberle, Lucic tallied four goals and three assists for seven points in his first eight games for the team. That puts him among their leading scorers. He's also their leader in hits (20), providing a strong physical presence to the top line. That allows McDavid and Eberle more time and space to operate. 

Winning seven of their first eight games, the Oilers vaulted atop the Western Conference standings. Part of that is Lucic's doing. As one of the NHL's top power forwards, he's provided his new club with a welcome mix of offense and physical menace.

2. Montreal Canadiens Trade P.K. Subban to Nashville Predators for Shea Weber

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The Montreal Canadiens made three notable offseason moves. Via free agency, they signed right wing Alexander Radulov and backup goalie Al Montoya. While both have already made significant early-season contributions, trading for defenseman Shea Weber is paying the largest dividends thus far. 

Acquired in the deal that shipped popular blueliner P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators, Weber wasted little time establishing himself as the Habs' top defender. Entering the final weekend of October, he led them in points (nine), time on ice per game (25 minutes and 53 seconds) and blocked shots (16). He is also one of their their hits leaders, with 22. Among NHL defensemen, he's one of the leading scorers. 

Subban is playing well for the Predators, ranking among their leaders in points (five), ice time (24:30) and blocked shots (20). The Canadiens, however, are atop the Eastern Conference standings after winning seven of their first eight games, while the Predators won just two of their opening seven contests.

It could take years to determine which team got the best long-term value from the Weber-Subban trade. As of October 2016, however, the nod goes to the Canadiens.

1. Florida Panthers Sign Jonathan Marchessault

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On July 1, the Florida Panthers signed forward Jonathan Marchessault to a two-year contract. It was a largely unheralded move. After all, the 25-year-old had only 19 points in 49 NHL games dating back to 2012-13. Few would've anticipated his impact upon the Panthers early in this season. 

With left wing Jonathan Huberdeau sidelined for three to four months by a leg injury, Marchessault was promoted to Florida's top line alongside center Aleksander Barkov and right wing Jaromir Jagr. He meshed quickly with his new linemates. Through the Panthers' first seven games, Marchessault ranks among the league leaders in goals (five) and points (10). 

Small by NHL standards (5'9", 174 lbs), Marchessault is using his speed and skills to make the most of this opportunity. It remains to be seen how long he'll be among the league's leading scorers, but there's no question he's been an invaluable early-season asset for the Panthers.

Players stats (as of Oct. 28) via NHL.com.