For the first time in 46 years, every NHL team from Canada watched the playoffs from the sidelines. That means a busy, and in some cases franchise-changing, off-season for the seven Canadian franchises. Some have already started with much of the heavy lifting to come at the upcoming draft and start of free agency on July 1.
Calgary Flames
Flames general manager Brad Treliving ticked one huge off-season box in hiring Glen Gulutzan to replace head coach Bob Hartley.
The next big task is finding a starting goaltender after enduring below-average performance at the position last season.
Calgary has 10 picks at the upcoming draft, including the sixth overall selection, and perhaps it’s by surrendering a pick or two that the Flames shore up the position, much as Toronto did in a recent trade with Anaheim. Otherwise, Calgary might have to look to unrestricted free agency with James Reimer topping a mostly uncompelling list.
The Flames have other monumental decisions on the horizon with their two cornerstone forwards, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, both due new contracts. Also requiring a new deal is Joe Colborne, a former first-round pick who had a career-high 19 goals and 44 points last season.
Edmonton Oilers
It’s yet another off-season of intriguing consequence for the Oilers.
Last summer they hired Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan and drafted Connor McDavid with the No. 1 overall pick. This time around questions linger over the core of the roster and whether Chiarelli will make a significant change, perhaps dealing Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Jordan Eberle for help on defence.
The Oilers remained one of the worst defensive teams in the league last season, despite solid goaltending from first-year starter Cam Talbot (.917 save percentage). The club is lacking high-end defenders and might not find an easy path to landing one without sacrificing talent.
The club holds the fourth pick in the upcoming draft, but there’s not a ready-made defender ranked that high on most projections, meaning the Oilers either keep the pick and draft the best player or trade down and try to service a long-term need.
Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle are all young, signed long-term and considerably productive. In dealing one or perhaps more, Chiarelli needs to find a defender (or two) that helps the Oilers not only now but down the line as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl develop.
A heady task indeed for the Edmonton manager.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa made two franchise-changing decisions in the immediate aftermath of a disappointing season. The club fired coach Dave Cameron and then promoted Pierre Dorion into the role of GM, replacing Bryan Murray, who moved to an advisory role with the club.
Dorion’s first big decision was hiring a coach to replace Cameron, bringing in Guy Boucher, who spent parts of the last three seasons coaching in Switzerland. Known to be an intense coach, Boucher is tasked with helping to fix a club that was one of the worst in hockey defensively last season.
The Senators added Dion Phaneuf to their defence in February. Now they need to re-sign his partner, 22-year-old Cody Ceci, who can become a restricted free agent on July 1, and determine whether they see a fit for 25-year-old Patrick Wiercioch, also headed for restricted free agency.
The biggest contractual task though is 26-year-old Mike Hoffman, who posted career highs in every offensive category last season. He’s due a big raise, though how much and how long is the question.
Montreal Canadiens
Barring an unlikely blockbuster trade, the biggest addition the Canadiens can make this summer is a healthy Carey Price. Montreal’s season went down the drain shortly after Price injured his knee in late November, goaltending, scoring woes and injuries ruining a 19-4-3 start to the season.
The value of Price’s return can’t be understated. He was at the top of the sport before the injury and the Canadiens can only hope he returns to that level following a hopeful stint with Canada at the World Cup.
Montreal needs help on the wing to complement the offence behind captain Max Pacioretty, feisty winger Brendan Gallagher and emerging talent Alex Galchenyuk, who had a career-high 30 goals last season. Whether that means landing Steven Stamkos, the top available free agent, or a helpful part like Kyle Okposo is the question.
Also on the docket, perhaps, is a more experienced backup goaltender behind Price.
Montreal has the ninth overall pick at the draft, their first top-10 selection since Galchenyuk was plucked from Sarnia in 2012 third overall.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have already been busy this off-season.
Shortly after a predictable last-place finish, the Leafs signed two key young pieces, Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly, to long-term deals. The club then won the draft lottery, capturing the rights to the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1985. American Auston Matthews is the likely choice to join a promising young core which includes William Nylander and Mitch Marner.
Toronto only recently stepped to the plate in hopes of addressing a long-standing issue in goal. The Leafs surrendered two draft picks to pry Frederik Andersen from Anaheim, then agreeing to terms with the Danish goaltender on a new five-year contract.
The Leafs still have 11 picks at the upcoming draft, after which attention in Toronto will quickly turn toward free agency and Stamkos, a Toronto area native. Speculation about his fit with the Leafs has bubbled for years and will come to a head on July 1.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks appear stuck between trying to contend for the playoffs and rebuilding a poorly built roster still fronted by the Sedin twins.
Earlier this off-season GM Jim Benning sent out Jared McCann, a 20-year-old first round pick, for more immediate help on defence in Ottawa native Erik Gudbranson. The 24-year-old fills a need in the top-four of the Canucks defence, though at the expense of a prospect with promise.
Vancouver was among the poorest performing teams in the league last season, both offensively and defensively.
The Canucks will try to address both concerns this summer. Vancouver needs some offensive pep and will presumably look to free agency, where a decent crop of forwards lie, to do so. The club also needs to decide whether to retain impending unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis and if not, where to find further help on the back end.
The Canucks hold the fifth overall pick at the draft, a chip that could either be used to supplement the future or aid the current group through a trade for a ready-made addition.
Winnipeg Jets
Already boasting a rich pool of young talent, the Jets got a massive boost when they moved up into the second spot at the draft lottery. Exciting Finnish winger Patrik Laine seems a good bet to join a truly promising core that includes University of Michigan standout Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba, among others.
On the docket this summer are new contracts for Scheifele, who blossomed with a 29-goal, 61-point season, and Trouba, who averaged 22 minutes per game for coach Paul Maurice. Both are likely looking at rich, new deals and are key pieces of the team’s present and future.
The Jets recently signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a new two-year deal, the 26-year-old likely to compete for a share of the starting job with Ondrej Pavelec and 22-year-old Connor Hellebuyck, who was the team’s most effective option last season.
Beyond adding Laine and perhaps a depth piece or two up front, the Jets are probably best-served simply letting their young talent continue to bloom next season. The future appears bright in Winnipeg.
