Road to the playoffs tougher with a stronger Atlantic Division

With the Atlantic Division teams improving, the New York Rangers best hope for the playoffs is within the Metropolitan Division

The off-season is far from over and teams have many more moves to make, but a month into free agency and with the NHL Draft concluded, it’s time to assess the New York Rangers’ Eastern Conference competition.

For years, the Metropolitan Division has considered the tougher division in the East. Last season, seven of eight Met Division teams made it to the Stanley Cup Qualifier, compared to five from the Atlantic.   In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, both wild card teams from the East came out of the Metropolitan Division three out of the last four years.

Not anymore.  While the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators are in the throes of a major rebuild, a number of Atlantic teams have made moves to strengthen their rosters compared to the Metropolitan Division where big moves have been scarce.

The Atlantic Division was getting predictable.  Last season, Tampa, Boston and Toronto were the class of the Division as they have been for years with the Canadiens sneaking into the Qualifying round.   Next season, while it appears that the same top three teams will be battling it out for the Division title while Montreal, Buffalo and Florida are poised to make some noise.

Here’s a quick update on what the teams in the Atlantic Division have done so far.

Buffalo Sabres: Bold moves

With new management (and the same coach) the Sabres have surprised everyone by pulling off the biggest signing of the off-season and also making as close to a blockbuster trade as has been made so far.

First, the team traded for Eric Staal, from Minnesota in exchange for Marcus Johansson.  Staal give the Sabres a one-two punch at center that they have been lacking.  The then added Taylor Hall for one year at $8 million, automatically elevating the offense and giving Jack Eichel a stud winger to play with.

They also signed free agent veteran center Cody Eakin, forward Tobias Reider and defenders Matt Irwin and Brandon Davidson.  Not earthshaking additions, but they added experience and depth. Their latest signing was former Ranger prospect Steven Fogarty who was the Blueshirts’ first call up from Hartford most of last season.

Although there have been rumors that they have been shopping Rasmus Ristolainen, there has been no deal and they went out and re-signed defenseman Brandon Montour. They also got some important business done recently, re-signing Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson and avoiding arbitration.

Are they better?  With Staal and Hall they have improved their top six and they have to be hoping for a rebound season from Jeff Skinner.  They improved their depth, but some observers question their commitment to Ullmark as their number one goalie.  Still, the Sabres are poised to compete for a playoff spot for the first time in ten years.

Verdict:  Much improved for at least one year

New faces:  Eric Staal,  Taylor Hall,  Cody Eakin,  Matt Irwin,Tobias Rieder, Steven Fogarty, Brandon Davidson,

Re-signed: Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson

Unsigned RFA’s:  Lawrence Pilut (playing in the KHL)

Departed: Marcus Johansson, Dominik Kahun, Johan Larsson , Wayne Simmonds, Jimmy Vesey,

Unsigned UFA’s:  Micheal Frolik,  John Gilmour, Dalton Smith

Boston Bruins: Annual contender

The Boston Bruins just don’t go away.  A perennial contender, they are still a solid team though their core is aging.  This off-season so far they have focused on re-signing heir own players including defensemen Matt Grzelcyk, Kevan Miller and Jakub Zaboril.   There’s no doubt that they want to bring Zdeno Chara back for another season, but face a tough cap situation with less than $9 million in space.

Their cap issue is what kept them from retaining Torey Krug who signed a seven year, $45 million deal with the Blues.  It has also kept them from signing RFA Jake DeBrusk or Chara.

They did sign three free agents with middle six forward Craig Smith the biggest name.  The 31 year old forward has been a consistent 20 goal scorer for Nashville.  They also added ex-Ranger Greg McKegg on a two-way contract.

The big challenge for the Bruins will be the fact that David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand had surgery in September and will be out of action until February.  Pastrnak’s hip surgery could keep him out longer and the B’s will have to contend with starting a shortened season without two of their most important players.

The Bruins are still one of the strongest teams in the Atlantic Division, but still have to get some business done.  Most recently, the rumor mill has been working overtime with the Bruins mentioned as a contender for Mike Hoffman, the top free unsigned free agent.   They’ll need to clear some cap space if that is even a reality.

Verdict: Some big questions marks, but still a formidable team

New faces:  Callum Booth, Greg McKegg, Craig Smith

Re-signed: Karson Kuhlman, Matt Grzelcyk, Jakub Zboril, Kevan Miller, Zach Senyshyn

Unsigned RFA’s: Jake DeBrusk,

Departed: Torey Krug, Maxime Lagace, Joakim Nordstrom, Alexander Petrovic.

Unsigned UFA’s: Zdeno Chara,  Brendan Gaunce, Brett Ritchie, Wiley Sherman.

Florida Panthers: Annual pretender

The Panthers are perpetual playoff wannabes, but have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs only twice in 19 years.  Last season, like the Rangers, they made it into the Qualifying Round, but went out meekly to the Islanders in four games.

With one of the top coaches in the NHL in Joel Quenneville, the Panthers will need a rebound season from Sergei Bobrovsky who finished with a 3.23 Goals Against Average and .900 Save Percentage.  He needs to live up to that $10 million contract.

The Panthers haven’t made any big moves, but did get more experience by adding Patric Hornqvist, Alexander Wennberg and Radko Gudas.  The question is whether they have replaced the scoring provided by Mike Hoffman who led the team last season.

New Panthers GM Bill Zito has to believe that his team is a contender as they gave up a lot to get Hornqvist in steady defenseman Mike Matheson and bottom six forward Colton Sceviour.  If Hornqvist still has gas in his tank at the age of 34 he could help the Panthers get into the postseason.  If not, it could be another lost season for the Panthers.

It does look like the Panthers will be one of the teams the Rangers will have to contend with for a wild card spot in the East.

Verdict:  Another disappointing year? Some big years needed.

New faces: Patric Hornqvist, Radko Gudas, Carter Verhaeghe, Ryan Lomberg, Alexander Wennberg, Vinnie Hinostroza, Markus Nutivaara,  Josh Brown,   Scott Wilson

Re-signed: Philippe Desrosiers, Mason Marchment

Unsigned RFA’s:   Emil Djuse, Sam Montembeault, Aleksi Saarela.

Departed: Evgenii Dadonov , Mark Pysyk, Dryden Hunt , Dominic Toninato, Lucas Wallmark, Cliff Pu, Mike Matheson, Colton Sceviour

Unsigned UFA’s: Brian Boyle, Ryan Haggerty, Erik Haula, Mike Hoffman, Joel Lowry, Paul Thompson, Curtis Valk.

Montreal Canadiens: On the upswing

The Montreal Canadiens are fully expecting to be a playoff team after a year when they made the Stanley Cup Qualifier and eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins before going out in the first round to the Flyers.   All of their off-season moves are by a team with the playoffs in mind and so far, they have done very well.

Their biggest signings so far has been the six-year extension they gave to 28 year old Brendan Gallagher and the four-year extension for defensman Jeff Petry.  Gallagher is the heart of the team and Petry has developed into one of the best blueliners in the NHL.  Locking them both in for the forseeable future eliminates any uncertainty about the future. They also re-signed defensemen Victor Mete and Noal Juulsen along with forward Jake Evans who broke into the starting lineup late in the season.

Their first moves were in the trade market as they acquired and subsequently signed forward Josh Anderson from Columbus and goalie Jake Allen from St. Louis.  Anderson is a gritty forward who would have looked great in a Rangers uniform.  Allen gives the Habs a solid goaltending tandem with Carey Price.

They then went out and signed free agents forward Tyler Toffoli and defenseman Joel Edmundson.  Toffoli and Edmundson were two of the better UFA’s on the market and the Canadiens got relative bargains signing Toffoli for an AAV of $4.25 million and Edmundson for an AAV of $3.5 million.

The only unfinished business is a contract for unsigned RFA Charles Hudon, currently playing in Europe.

The Canadiens are all in on the playoffs and have made the moves they needed to make. They were a bubble team last season, but have improved without losing any assets.  They could give the Atlantic Division big three a run for their money.

Verdict:  Back in the playoff mix and they still have Carey Price

New faces: Josh Anderson , Tyler Toffoli , Jake Allen Joel Edmundson, Brandon Baddock,

Re-signed:Victor Mete, Jake Evans, Noah Juulsen, Xavier Ouellet.

Unsigned RFA’s: Charles Hudon

Departed: Keith Kinkaid, Max Domi, Karl Alzner

Unsigned UFA’s: Christian Folin, Max Friberg, Dale Weise.Aaron Luchuk, Andrew Sturtz, Antoine Waked.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Cap issues always

There are two constants in the NHL.  One is that the Toronto Maple Leafs are always up against the salary cap and make a number of moves to get around it.  The other is that they ultimately fall short in the post-season.

This off-season has been no different with a revolving door in Toronto, once again.   Starters who have departed include Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Kasperi Kapanen, Cody Ceci, Kyle Clifford and Andreas Johnsson.

Replacing them will be Joe Thornton TJ Brodie, Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, Jimmy Vesey and Travis Boyd.  All except Brodie are bargain basement signings for $1.5 million or less.  They also picked up winger Joey Anderson from the Devils in exchange for Andreas Johnsson.

The Leafs began to try to clear cap space during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, swapping Kasperi Kapanen, Pontu Aberg and Jesper Lindgren to Pittsburgh for three depth players and the Pens first round draft pick.

The issue for the Maple Leafs is that they are a million dollars over the cap ceiling. They still need to find cap space, though the good news is that they have signed all of the RFA’s.

The Maple Leafs have a highly paid, highly skilled core of immovable players in forwards John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and defensemen Jake Muzzin, Morgan Rielly, and now, TJ Brodie.  Every season,they surround them by a supporting cast of marginal players and aging veterans.   This year that Jimmy Vesey and Zach Bogosian in the former category and Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds in the latter category.

It means that the Maple Leafs will contend once again, but will inevitably face the same fate they have encountered the last few years.  Their challenge is that teams like Montreal,Buffalo and Florida have improved enough to give the Maple Leafs a hard time.

Verdict:  Playoff worthy, but another early exit?

New faces: TJ Brodie, Aaron Dell, Wayne Simmonds. Zach Bogosian. Jimmy Vesey, Travis Boyd, Joe Thornton, Joey Anderson, Filip Hallander, David Warsofsky

Re-signed: Ilya Mikheyev, Travis Dermott, Michael Hutchinson, Jason Spezza

Departed: Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Miikka Salomaki, Kyle Clifford, Jeremy Bracco, Evan Rodrigues, Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, Pontus Aberg, Jesper Lindgren, Kasimir Kaskisuo

Unsigned UFA’s: Miro Aaltonen,David Clarkson, Tyler Gaudet, Kevin Gravel, Nathan Horton, Matt Lorito, Garrett Wilson,  Frederik Gauthier, Max Veronneau.

The non-contenders

The Atlantic Division boasted two of the worst teams in the NHL last season in Detroit and Ottawa.  Now, both teams are stocking up on draft picks and have a lot of cap space.  2020-21 won’t be a season where they will contend, but they could be ready to make a move soon, especially Ottawa.

Detroit has focused on a rebuild while working to retain their young players like Ryan Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi.  They’ve made some low key acquisitions like Bobby Ryan, Troy Stecher, Thomas Greiss, Vlad Namestnikov and former Ranger Marc Staal.

Still, Detroit had 23 points fewer than the second worst team in the NHL.  The next few seasons are going to be long ones for the Red Wings.

Ottawa has been very active in the free agent and trade marketplace as one of the few teams with a lot of cap space.  They have a long road ahead, but with two picks in the top five and new faces including Matt Murray, Evgeni Dadonov, Alex Galchenyuk and Chris Tierney, the are off to a good start.

Summing up

For the first time in years, the Atlantic Division has six teams with a legitimate chance of making the playoffs.  It could be a time for a shakeup in the playoff order in the division.

The fact that the Atlantic Division has gotten much more competitive is not a good thing for the Rangers playoff hopes.  Their focus will have to be on their Metropolitan Division rivals with the odds of a Met Division getting both wild card teams lessened.

The good news for New York is that the power is shifting in the Metropolitan Division with contenders like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals getting older.  The Rangers are still rebuilding, but they are getting close.  We’ll have a look at the Rangers’ Met Division rivals in the coming days.