• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
atlantic division

NHL Offseason Report Card: Atlantic Division

November 14, 2020
The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

February 28, 2021
Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

February 28, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021
The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

February 27, 2021
Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres

Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres

February 26, 2021
Islanders Put Away Bruins 7-2 With Best Game Of Season

Islanders Put Away Bruins 7-2 With Best Game Of Season

February 26, 2021
NHL Up and Down the Boards: Boucher Tops Ducharme on Habs Coaching Odds

NHL Up and Down the Boards: Boucher Tops Ducharme on Habs Coaching Odds

February 26, 2021
As Flyers Get Healthier, Returning Claude Giroux Makes An Immediate Impact

As Flyers Get Healthier, Returning Claude Giroux Makes An Immediate Impact

February 25, 2021
Canadian AHL Clubs See Unprecedentedly Inconsisent Schedule

Canadian AHL Clubs See Unprecedentedly Inconsisent Schedule

February 25, 2021
Sabres Forward Jeff Skinner Is Struggling … Or Is He?

Sabres Forward Jeff Skinner Is Struggling … Or Is He?

February 25, 2021
NHL ProteauType: Despite Sunny Bumps, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Games Deserve Praise

NHL ProteauType: Despite Sunny Bumps, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Games Deserve Praise

February 25, 2021
The San Jose Sharks Facing Glum Future

The San Jose Sharks Facing Glum Future

February 25, 2021
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Full Press Wrestling
  • Full Press Radio Network
  • FullPressShop.com
  • Want to write for us?
  • Advertise With Us


Monday, March 1, 2021
Full Press Hockey
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
Full Press Hockey
No Result
View All Result
Home NHL Atlantic Division

NHL Offseason Report Card: Atlantic Division

Which team in the Atlantic Division got the best marks on their offseason report card?

Michael Augello by Michael Augello
November 14, 2020
in Atlantic Division, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Featured, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs
0
889
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After going through a two-month ordeal to complete the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the bubble cities of Toronto and Edmonton, 31 National Hockey League clubs returned to some normalcy by making trades and signing free agents to remake their rosters for the 2020-21 regular season.

Unlike previous years, where general managers had the benefit of an increased salary cap due to $5 billion in annual league revenue, clubs were hampered by the $81.5 million salary cap staying flat due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that did not stop them from making moves that may turn out to be consequential when the season begins in January or February.

Here is an evaluation of what changes clubs in the Atlantic Division made:

BOSTON BRUINS


In – Greg McKegg, Craig Smith

Out – Torey Krug, Joakim Nordstrom

Unsigned – Zdeno Chara, Jake DeBrusk

The Bruins are looking like they will take a step back after posting the league’s best record prior to the pause. Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are expected to miss the start of next year after off-season surgeries, GM Don Sweeney refused to make an exception in the club’s salary structure to pay big money to re-sign Krug, to this point has not re-signed RFA Debrusk and the future of team captain Chara is still in question.

Boston will attempt to replace Krug internally with Matt Grzelcyk taking on a bigger role, but their offseason moves of replacing Nordstrom with McKegg and adding free agent Smith will not have a big impact.

Grade – C-

BUFFALO SABRES


In – Cody Eakin, Taylor Hall, Matt Irwin, Tobias Rieder, Eric Staal

Out – Marcus Johansson, Dominik Kahun, Johan Larsson, Wayne Simmonds, Vladimir Sobotka, Jimmy Vesey

The Sabres ninth straight season without making the playoffs resulted in Jason Botterill being fired and replaced by Kevyn Adams. The rookie GM filled the gaping hole at second-line center with the swap of Johansson for Staal and made the biggest splash in free agency by signing former Hart Trophy winner Hall to a one-year, $8 million contract.

Buffalo used a significant chunk of their cap space to re-sign RFA’s Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, Brandon Montour and Linus Ullmark, and bring back Zemgus Girgensons, but their other moves were mostly re-shuffling the bottom six with the additions of Eakin and Rieder.

Grade – B

RelatedPosts

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres


DETROIT RED WINGS


In – Thomas Greiss, Jon Merrill, Vladislav Namestnikov, Bobby Ryan, Marc Staal, Troy Stecher

Out – Trevor Daley, Justin Abdelkader, Madison Bowey, Jonathan Ericsson, Johan Franzen, Jimmy Howard

The Red Wings have a long road ahead after their league-worst 17-49-3 record last season. GM Steve Yzerman wisely is not rushing prospects Moritz Seider or Joe Veleno to the NHL and using his available cap space to acquire assets and add support players on short-term deals.

Detroit got a second-round pick from New York to take on the final year of Staal’s deal, signed Greiss and Namestnikov to two-year deals, added Ryan after Ottawa bought the Masterton Trophy winner out, and brought in Stecher after Vancouver passed on qualifying him.

Grade – B-

FLORIDA PANTHERS


In – Radko Gudas, Vinnie Hinostroza, Patric Hornqvist, Markus Nutivaara, Carter Verhaeghe

Out – Josh Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Matheson, Mark Pysyk, Colton Sceviour, Lucas Wallmark, Brian Boyle, Erik Haula, Mike Hoffman

Unsigned – Henrik Borgstrom

New Panthers GM Bill Zito made some bold moves out of the gate, trading the albatross contract of Matheson along with Sceviour to Pittsburgh for Hornqvist and adding Nutivaara in exchange for minor-leaguer Cliff Pu.

Veteran Gudas replaces the departed Pysyk and Florida added depth forwards in Hinostroza and Verhaeghe, but to this point has not replaced the 54 goals that Dadonov (who signed with Ottawa) and Hoffman (unsigned) scored last season.

Grade – C

MONTREAL CANADIENS

In – Jake Allen, Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, Joel Edmundson

Out – Max Domi

The Habs were one of the few clubs that had the combination of extra draft picks and cap space and GM Marc Bergevin used that to his advantage in trading for Allen to back up Carey Price and acquiring the negotiating rights of Edmundson from Carolina before the blueliner hit free agency.

Montreal extended veterans Jeff Petry and Brendan Gallagher, and signed Toffoli to add some much-needed scoring punch, but took a calculated risk by swapping Domi for Anderson (who scored one goal in 26 games for Columbus last season) and extending the oft-injured winger for seven years.

Grade – B+

OTTAWA SENATORS


In – Evgenii Dadonov, Alex Galchenyuk, Erik Gudbranson, Micheal Haley, Austin Watson, Josh Brown, Matt Murray

Out – Mikkel Boedker, Mark Borowiecki, Craig Anderson, Ron Hainsey

The Senators have a promising young core group led by Thomas Chabot, Brady Tkachuk, and Colin White, and GM Pierre Dorion’s offseason task was to add some depth and experience to take some of the pressure off of them.

Ottawa bolstered their blueline in trades with Anaheim and Florida to acquire Gudbranson and Brown, added size on the wing with the acquisition of Watson, and signing of a top-six winger in Dadonov, but the biggest move was the deal for two-time Stanley Cup winner Murray to take over for Anderson as the #1 goalie and signing the 26-year-old to a four-year extension.

Grade – B

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

In – None

Out – Zach Bogosian, Kevin Shattenkirk, Carter Verhaeghe

Unsigned – Erik Cernak, Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev

Lightning GM Julien BriseBois did not have much time to celebrate his Cup victory before being faced with the dilemma of how to get players looking for new contracts signed and staying under the cap. Tampa could not get any cap relief from placing Tyler Johnson on waivers and over a month into free agency still do not have the space to get Cernak, Cirelli, and Sergachev signed.

Tampa re-signed veterans Pat Maroon and Luke Schenn to economical deals but lost depth on the blueline in Bogosian and Shattenkirk. One possible option may be to place Steven Stamkos on long-term injured reserve if his core muscle issues require surgery, but eventually, Brisebois is going to have to move out a significant salary to make room.

Grade – D

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS


In – Joey Anderson, Travis Boyd, TJ Brodie, Zach Bogosian, Wayne Simmonds, Joe Thornton, Jimmy Vesey, Mikko Lehtonen, Alexander Barabanov

Out – Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Kyle Clifford, Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, Frederik Gauthier

After a fourth straight early playoff exit, GM Kyle Dubas made significant changes by moving out the salaries of Kapanen and Johnsson for prospects and a first-round pick and using the cap space to address the Leafs need for a top-four blueliner by signing Brodie to a four-year, $20 million contract.

The signings of Simmonds, Bogosian, Vesey, and Barabanov were aimed at adding toughness and depth to a top-heavy lineup loaded with skill, while the addition of future Hall-of-Famer Thornton provides Toronto with veteran leadership.

Grade – A-






Tags: Bobby RyanBruinsDivision GradesEvgenii DadonovJake AllenJoel EdmundsonLeafsMarc StaalRadko GudasRed WingsTaylor HallThomas GreissTyler ToffoliWayne Simmonds
Previous Post

The Latest On The Flames and Red Wings in NHL Rumor Roundup

Next Post

KHL: Best Player’s From Week 10

Michael Augello

Michael Augello

Next Post
khl

KHL: Best Player's From Week 10

NHL

NHL Exploring Options for 2020-21 Season

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021
Manitoba Moose Showing Flashes of Future Brilliance

Manitoba Moose Showing Flashes of Future Brilliance

February 24, 2021
KHL

KHL Releases List of Top Player Salaries

December 1, 2020
Cleveland Monsters netminder, Brad Thiessen, kneels in the crease while stopping pucks.

Offense, Goaltending Shine Bright in Rockford

1
The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

February 28, 2021
Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

February 28, 2021
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021


  • Ep 55: Bruins Depth Issues; Time to Panic?
    by Full Press Coverage on February 27, 2021 at 11:28 pm

    Ian and Chris try to make sense of the Bruins losing 4 of the last 5 and the last two games by a […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV2230585722.mp3
  • Off The Post Talks Bruins Hockey and More with Matt Kalman
    by Off The Post on February 27, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    Off The Post talks to Matt Kalman from Full Press Hockey.

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/994599598-russ-cohen-off-the-post-talks-bruins-hockey-and-more-with-matt-kalman.mp3
  • The Sheriff with Sean McMorrow ft Ken Reid
    by HW Radio on February 26, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    Sean and Kyle are back to discuss Austin Matthews recent hot streak, Sidney Crosby's 1000th game, […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43651643/https_d3ctxlq1ktw2nl_cloudfront_net_staging_2021_1_26_beb4816d_0c82_8958_7f08_4827c18d93d5.mp3
  • Episode #15: Bears, Bunting, Battlestar Graovac-tica
    by Full Press Coverage on February 26, 2021 at 5:12 am

    C.C. and Sean welcome on not one, but two guests this episode! Elaine Shircliff previews the […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43644854/the_calder_farmstead_episode_15_final.mp3
  • HW 3.24 ft Anthony Di Marco
    by HW Radio on February 24, 2021 at 6:07 am

    In episode 24 of season 3, Jim is joined by special guest, Anthony Di Marco, of The Fourth Period […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43611554/https_d3ctxlq1ktw2nl_cloudfront_net_staging_2021_1_24_158397934_44100_2_a7a4d7109a46f.mp3
  • Episode #7 - Straight Outta Tahoe
    by Full Press Coverage on February 24, 2021 at 3:34 am

    C.C. and Scott talk about the Avs at Lake Tahoe (which Scott went to!) and the experience of an […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43610116/front_range_hockey_episode_7_final.mp3
All Shows

  • Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy
    by Lyle Richardson on March 1, 2021 at 12:40 am

    As we near the midway point of the shortened 2021 NHL season, two players have separated themselves […]

  • 2021 Dolphins Draft Profile: Safety Jevon Holland
    by Daniel Roberts on February 28, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    Miami could target safety Jevon Holland with one of its multiple early round draft picks to improve […]

  • “It’s Like Disney World” – Blue Jays Unveil Player Development Complex
    by Carter Brooks on February 27, 2021 at 11:47 pm

    This past week, the Toronto Blue Jays unveiled the club's new state-of-the-art practice and […]

  • The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”
    by Murray Pam on February 27, 2021 at 11:40 pm

    The Senators opened the season 2-12-1 in the first 15 games, but are now hitting stride, winning […]

  • Who Is The Logical Choice To Replace Jerry West As The NBA Logo?
    by John Sapochetti on February 27, 2021 at 7:40 pm

    The silhouette of Jerry West has been the NBA logo since 1969. The post Who Is The Logical Choice […]

Full Press Hockey

2020 Full Press Coverage

Navigate Site

  • NHL
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop

2020 Full Press Coverage