The NHL free agency period is always a flurry of activity, with teams looking to make the necessary moves to improve their rosters for the upcoming season. This year was no different, with several teams making significant moves to bolster their lineups. As the dust settles on the opening day of free agency, it’s time to take a closer look at the winners and losers of the offseason so far.
Winner: Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers made a big splash in free agency, adding key pieces to their roster in Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. After falling just short in the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers are looking to make another deep playoff run, and the additions of Arvidsson and Skinner should help bolster their forward ranks. With stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, the Oilers are favorites to contend for the Cup in 2025.
Loser: New York Rangers
The New York Rangers, who finished as the regular-season champions, failed to make any significant moves in free agency. While they did re-sign some depth players, they largely stood pat while other teams around them improved. With a disappointing exit in the playoffs, the Rangers will need to regroup and make some moves to stay competitive in the upcoming season.
Winner: New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils missed the playoffs last season but have made some big moves in free agency to improve their roster. Adding players like Dougie Hamilton, Jacob Markstrom, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon should help solidify their defense and goaltending. With a healthy lineup and some key additions, the Devils are poised for a big rebound in the upcoming season.
Loser: Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings made some questionable moves in free agency, allowing key players like Viktor Arvidsson to depart while signing depth players to long-term contracts. Acquiring Darcy Kuemper in a trade was a questionable move, as it may not significantly improve their chances of contending for the Cup. The Kings will need to reassess their strategy moving forward to stay competitive in a tough Western Conference.
Winner: Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators made some bold moves in free agency, adding scoring forwards like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, as well as defenseman Brady Skjei and backup goalie Scott Wedgewood. With key additions to their roster, the Predators are looking to make a push for the playoffs and potentially contend for the Cup in the upcoming season.
Loser: Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights lost several key players in free agency, including Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, and Michael Amadio. With significant offensive talent leaving the team, the Golden Knights will need to rely on young players to step up and fill the void. It remains to be seen if they can maintain their level of success without key contributors from last season.
Winner: Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs focused on improving their defense in free agency, adding players like Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to shore up their blue line. With a strong core of forwards, the Maple Leafs are looking to address their defensive weaknesses and make a push for the playoffs in the upcoming season.
Loser: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes made some questionable moves in free agency, replacing key players like Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei with lesser-known names. Losing depth players like Teuvo Teravainen and failing to adequately replace them could hurt the Hurricanes’ chances of making a deep playoff run. They will need to reassess their roster and make some moves to stay competitive in a tough division.
Overall, the opening day of free agency saw some teams make significant improvements to their rosters, while others failed to make the necessary moves to stay competitive. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how these teams fare in the upcoming season and whether their free agency moves pay off in the long run.
