Grading NHL Free Agent Summer – Pacific Division Pt I

With the majority of the big-name unrestricted free agents signed and training camp just around the corner, it is time to take a comprehensive look at the additions and subtractions made by each team since July 1 and evaluate how they did.

We start with the Pacific Division:

Anaheim Ducks

Subtractions: D Kevin Shattenkirk, G Anthony Stolarz

Additions: F Alex Killorn, D Radko Gudas, D Robert Hagg, G Alex Stalock

Grade: C

The Ducks are young and seemed focused on adding veterans with size and sandpaper to protect their core group. Killorn and Gudas have boatloads of playoff experience and character and will be able to accomplish that goal, but it is likely that they will not be around or be diminished in effectiveness when Anaheim is ready to contend. 

David Kampf heads to the locker room after this hit from Radko Gudas. pic.twitter.com/xE2by0ShDv

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2023

Calgary Flames 

Subtractions: F Milan Lucic, F Trevor Lewis, D Troy Stecher

Additions: None

Grade: D

The grade given to the Flames reflects their lack of action in free agency and not on their plan to promote from within under new head coach Ryan Huska. The losses of Lucic, Lewis, and Stecher are relatively inconsequential, and new GM Craig Conroy has likely been focusing on either re-signing or dealing several veterans entering the final year of their contracts.  

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Edmonton Oilers

Subtractions: F Nick Bjugstad

Additions: F Drake Caggiula, F Connor Brown

Grade: C

The Oilers have still not reinforced their defense to be championship-caliber. Still, they did potentially get a great bargain in Brown (a former junior teammate of Connor McDavid), signing for one-year for the veteran minimum, looking to re-establish himself after missing nearly all of 2023 with an ACL tear. 

Fourth assist of the night for Connor Brown! Great team guy 🤝#IIHFWorlds #ITACAN @hockeycanada @Senators pic.twitter.com/lxXbE9lSzv

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 30, 2021

Los Angeles Kings 

Subtractions: F Zack MacEwen, G Joonas Korpisalo

Additions: G Cam Talbot, F Trevor Lewis

Grade: C

Kings GM Rob Blake’s big summer move was extending defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and trading for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, which are additions that could help them match up better against the center depth of the Oilers and the Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. In free agency, Lewis a good veteran depth forward, but the swapping of Korpisalo for the aging Talbot is a step back. It is likely that Blake will be shopping for goaltending when the trade deadline rolls around.