NHL offseason grades: Central Division
Divisions:
Pacific (Sep. 28) | Central
Atlantic (Oct. 1) | Metropolitan (Oct. 2)
One Central Division squad made waves with a significant trade and several other clubs locked up key players to long-term deals, but the rest of the group didn't make many earth-shattering moves over the summer.
Here's how each Central club fared this offseason:
Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value does not include bonuses.
Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Ward | G | 1 year | $3M |
| Brandon Manning | D | 2 year | $4.5M |
| Chris Kunitz | LW | 1 year | $1M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Marian Hossa | RW | Contract traded to Coyotes post-retirement |
| Vinnie Hinostroza | C | traded to Coyotes |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Henri Jokiharju | D | 2017 29th overall pick |
| Dylan Sikura | RW | 2014 6th-round pick |
Re-signed: N/A
Given the uncertainty surrounding Corey Crawford, landing a reliable backup goaltender was paramount for Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman this offseason. The Cam Ward signing made sense then, even if he's 34 years old and well past his prime.
However, aside from that move and the less-than-inspiring additions of Kunitz and Manning, the Blackhawks were fairly quiet over the summer. They were forced to part with Hinostroza, a promising but unproven forward, to offload Hossa's contract.
Adam Boqvist and Victor Ejdsell won't start the season with Chicago, but the future appears bright for the two Swedish prospects.
Grade: C
Colorado Avalanche
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philipp Grubauer | G | 3 years | $10M |
| Ian Cole | D | 3 years | $12.75M |
| Matt Calvert | LW | 3 years | $8.55M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Bernier | G | Signed with Detroit Red Wings |
| Blake Comeau | F | Signed with Dallas Stars |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Vladislav Kamenev | C | 2014 2nd-round pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrik Nemeth | D | 1 year | $2.5M |
| Matt Nieto | LW | 2 years | $3.95M |
| Mark Barberio | D | 2 years | $2.9M |
| Gabriel Bourque | LW | 1 year | $950K |
Like the Blackhawks, the Avalanche needed goaltending depth, but the difference in Colorado is that Grubauer will challenge Semyon Varlamov for the starting role.
Acquiring Grubauer and veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik (who Colorado immediately bought out) from the Washington Capitals for the 47th pick in June's draft (forward Kody Clark) was a smart move by Avalanche GM Joe Sakic, given Varlamov's injury concerns and Grubauer's stellar play in Washington while spelling Braden Holtby.
Cole is a solid depth defenseman, and Calvert similarly reinforces the forward group.
Grade: B-
Dallas Stars
Jerome Miron / USA Today SportsKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anton Khudobin | G | 2 years | $5M |
| Blake Comeau | LW | 3 years | $7.2M |
| Roman Polak | D | 1 year | $1.3M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Kari Lehtonen | G | UFA |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Miro Heiskanen | D | 2017 3rd overall pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Seguin | C | 8 years | $78.8M |
| Stephen Johns | D | 2 years | $7.05M |
| Valeri Nichushkin | RW | 2 years | $5.9M |
| Devin Shore | C | 2 years | $4.6M |
| Mattias Janmark | C | 1 year | $2.3M |
| Gemel Smith | C | 1 year | $720K |
| Jason Dickinson | C | 1 year | $875K |
| Remi Elie | LW | 1 year | $735K |
Stars GM Jim Nill had a busy offseason, making his biggest move in September when he inked Seguin to a long-term extension not long after the superstar said he was disappointed with the lack of negotiations over the summer.
Seguin has one year left on his current deal, but getting him signed for the long haul was Nill's top priority, The star center will have a deeper supporting cast this season with the return of Nichushkin, and with the highly touted Heiskanen seemingly ready to play a big role on the back end.
Grade: B
Minnesota Wild
Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Pateryn | D | 3 years | $6.75M |
| Eric Fehr | C | 1 year | $1M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Cullen | C | Signed with Pittsburgh Penguins |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Greenway | LW | 2015 2nd-round pick |
| Nick Seeler | D | 2011 5th-round pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Dumba | D | 5 years | $30M |
| Jason Zucker | LW | 5 years | $27.5M |
| Nick Seeler | D | 3 years | $2.175M |
New Wild GM Paul Fenton didn't make any big splashes on the free-agent market in his first offseason with Minnesota. But he did lock up a few key players for the long run in Dumba and Zucker.
The Wild have a solid veteran core, but it's aging, as Mikko Koivu is 35, Zach Parise is 34, Eric Staal will turn 34 in October, and Ryan Suter will do the same in January. It remains to be seen whether Fenton did enough this summer to account for that.
Grade: C+
Nashville Predators
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Hamhuis | D | 2 years | $2.5M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Fisher | C | Retirement |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Eeli Tolvanen | RW | 2017 30th overall pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Ellis | D | 8 years | $50M |
| Juuse Saros | G | 3 years | $4.5M |
| Ryan Hartman | RW | 1 year | $875K |
| Miikka Salomaki | RW | 2 years | $1.5M |
The Predators' primary goal this offseason was the Ellis extension, and while it's a bit lengthy and not exactly cheap, there's no denying how important the bearded blue-liner is to Nashville's defensive corps.
Predators GM David Poile now has three of his top four on the back end locked up through 2021-22.
Poile didn't have to do anything extreme this summer. His two biggest offseason priorities were further securing his core by getting Ellis signed, and making sure Saros, the heir apparent to veteran goaltender Pekka Rinne, was taken care of, too. He did both, and the Predators - who were already a Stanley Cup contender - are solidified as a result.
Tolvanen won't start the season with Nashville following a disappointing camp, but a strong showing in the AHL should earn him a ticket back to the Music City before long.
Grade: A-
St. Louis Blues
Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan O'Reilly | C | 5 years left | $37.5M (trade with Buffalo Sabres) |
| Tyler Bozak | C | 3 years | $15M |
| David Perron | LW | 4 years | $16M |
| Patrick Maroon | LW | 1 year | $1.75M |
| Chad Johnson | G | 1 year | $1.75M |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Carter Hutton | G | Signed with Sabres |
| Patrik Berglund | C | Traded to Sabres |
| Vladimir Sobotka | C | Traded to Sabres |
| Tage Thompson | C | Traded to Sabres |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Thomas | C | 2017 20th overall pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dmitrij Jaskin | RW | 1 year | $1.1M |
| Robby Fabbri | C | 1 year | $925K |
GM Doug Armstrong used both the trade route and free agency to solidify the Blues' forward group, landing O'Reilly in a blockbuster with the Sabres and adding Bozak, Perron, and Maroon on the open market.
He also replaced backup goaltender Hutton with the less expensive Johnson.
St. Louis may not be the best team in the Central Division, but it definitely did the most to improve and could finally be primed for a breakthrough.
Grade: A
Winnipeg Jets
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyKey arrivals
| Player | Position | Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurent Brossoit | G | 1 year | $650K |
Key departures
| Player | Position | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Stastny | C | Signed with Vegas Golden Knights |
| Steve Mason | G | Traded to Montreal Canadiens |
Rookies who could crack the lineup
| Player | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| Kristian Vesalainen | LW | 2017 24th overall pick |
Re-signed
| Player | Position | New Contract Length | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blake Wheeler | RW | 5 years | $41.25M |
| Connor Hellebuyck | G | 6 years | $37M |
| Jacob Trouba | D | 1 year | $5.5M |
| Josh Morrissey | D | 2 years | $6.3M |
| Brandon Tanev | LW | 1 year | $1.15M |
| Joe Morrow | D | 1 year | $1M |
| Marko Dano | C | 1 year | $800K |
Losing Stastny in a bidding war with the Golden Knights and letting Trouba go to arbitration undoubtedly hurt for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. But he did get Wheeler, Hellebuyck, and Morrissey signed to new deals at relatively reasonable rates and terms.
Paying Wheeler until he's 37 years old isn't ideal, but removing Mason's $4.1-million cap hit from Winnipeg's books helps in the short term.
Grade: B+
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