Grading NHL Free Agent Summer – Metropolitan 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.

Today we look at the Metropolitan Division:

Carolina Hurricanes

Subtractions: Calvin de Haan, Shayne Gostisbehere, Max Pacioretty 

Additions: Dmitry Orlov, Michael Bunting, Brendan Lemieux, Anthony DeAngelo

Grade: B+

The Hurricanes surprisingly made a lateral move in bringing back their goaltending tandem of Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen, but in free agency they made significant upgrades on defense with the signing of Orlov to a two-year, $15.5 million deal, bringing back DeAngelo on a one-year deal after he was bought by Philadelphia, and replacing the oft-injured Pacioretty with the pugnacious Bunting on a three-year deal.   

Warning: Dmitry Orlov incoming ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/jAYvn8zNsp

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 20, 2023

Columbus Blue Jackets

Subtractions: None

Additions: None

Grade: F

The failing grade for Columbus is more for non-participation than anything. GM Jarmo Kekalainen made his moves prior to the draft, with a three-way trade with Los Angeles to acquire Ivan Provorov from the Flyers and a sign-and-trade with New Jersey to add Damon Severson to the blueline. The Blue Jackets will rely more on the internal development of their youngsters under Mike Babcock to become a playoff contender.  

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New Jersey Devils

Subtractions: Ryan Graves, Miles Wood

Additions: Erik Kallgren, Tomas Nosek

Grade: D

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald did not dip into what many considered a mediocre free agent market, opting instead to extend forwards Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier on eight-year max deals and trading for veterans Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller. New Jersey allowed Graves to leave since they have youngsters in Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec pressing for playing time on the blue line. Kallgren was signed away from Toronto to be the third goalie behind Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. 

Jersey’s got the ⛽️
We’ve got the 🔥
And for the next 8 years…
We’ve got TIMO 🤬 MEIER pic.twitter.com/N6ZKbcQqB9

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 28, 2023

New York Islanders

Subtractions: None 

Additions: None

Grade: F

Similar to the Blue Jackets, Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello gets a failing grade for non-participation, but he also for the head-scratching seven-year extension to Pierre Engvall and four-year deal to veteran goalie Semyon Varlamov. While the extensions to Scott Mayfield and Ilya Sorokin were smart, New York has not addressed their listless offense, which will likely prevent them from being a playoff team next season.