2RD eliminations are today as I do the Offseason previews for the Avalanche, Hurricanes, Bruins, and Jets.
1st Colorado Avalanche 0 39-13-4 82 35 39 197-133+64
2nd Carolina Hurricanes 0 36-12-8 80 27 32 179-136+43
3rd Boston Bruins 0 33-16-7 73 25 29 168-136+32
4th Winnipeg Jets 0 30-23-3 63 24 30 170-154+16
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado was eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the Golden Knights in six games after winning the President’s trophy and having the best record in the league with a record of 39-13-4 and were 13 games above .500 and will have the #27 overall pick at the draft. On the Goalies they have a big problem. Philipp Grubauer was nominated for the Vezina Trophy and is a pending UFA meaning he could get a substantial contract raise this offseason. Colorado number one priority should be to retain his services but if they can’t they will look for a starting goalie either via Trade or Free Agency to be the starter in front of Pavel Francouz. On the Defense I really do not see very much change happening. Makar needs a new contract as he is a RFA and will bring in substantial value but their biggest problem is the expansion draft as they have to many valine defensemen to protect but if they can figure out a way to protect their biggest defensemen that would be huge. Having a healthy Byram next year will help their defense and if they can get a right side defensemen to play on the third pair they should do it. And on the Offense they have a few things to solve. Landeskog and Saad are pending UFA’s and need new contracts with Landeskog probably the most urgent one but they may need to add a middle six forward or two if they lose either of these players. Jost will need a new contract as he is a RFA and there have been talks of moving Kadri this offseason. If they were to move kadri they could possibly get a middle six scoring forward for him so if they get all of these moves settled they may get past the second round next year.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina was eliminated in the seventh round after losing to the Lightning in five games after finishing the regular season 1st in the Central with a record of 36-12-8 and finished 12 games above .500 and will have the #26 overall pick at the draft. On the Goalies Alex Nedeljkovic proved himself to be a regular NHL starter and this coupled with some pending Free Agent Goalies the Canes will need to be active in the Free Agent Market. Reimer and Mrazek who have been both soild goalies for the Hurricanes in recent years but with emergence of Alex Nedeljkovic they will ether only resign one of the two free agent net minders or let both go and look to Free Agencyto sign a 1B option to Tandem with Nedeljkovic. On the Defense their Left side is good but they may need some recalibration on the right. With Bean, Slavin, and Skjei if they can get through the expansion draft with those Guys still on their team there left side is set but signing Hamilton is priority number 1 and if they can’t sign him than they will need to find a top 4 defensemen who can play on the right and will also need a veteran who can play on the right side in the bottom six to play with Bean. And on the Offensive side the first priority should be giving contracts to pending RFA’s Svechnikov, Foegele, and Geekie. As for the rest of their team maybe getting two or three depth forwards who can play in their bottom six and are a physical presence on the Canes because they need some gritty forwards. As for their top nine I wouldn’t change anything as they have one of the best top nine forward groups in the league then maybe they can get back in the playoffs.
Boston Bruins
Boston was eliminated from the playoffs in the second round as they fell to the Islanders in 6 games after finishing third in the East with a record of 33-16-7 and finished 8.5 games above .500 and will have the #20 overall pick at the draft. On the Goalies they have a little work to do. Swayman has proven that he can be one of the goalies next year basically moving Halak a pending UFA out of the picture but the Bruins have a decision to make on Tuukka Rask. Rask has played his entire career with the Bruins and is a pending UFA so they have to either resign him to tandem with Swayman or let him go and get another goalie in free agency or via trade. On the Defense they have to attend to somethings. Carlo needs a new contract as he is a pending RFA. Then they have to figure out if they want to resign Mike Reilly or look elsewhere for a top 4 defensemen. Reilly has been a really good defensemen for Boston since coming over at the trade deadline but as he is a UFA they will ether resign him or go to free agency to get a top 4 D-Men and use their young guys on the third pair. On the Offense a couple of big pending UFA’s are top priority. Hall and Krejci are key parts of their offense since Hall was acquired at the deadline and resigning both is a priority and if they don’t resign the Bruins will go out and get one or two top six forwards. They should also trade Debrusk after he had a not very productive season and seeing what they can get back for him would be a good move and any other holes they have should be filed with youngsters like Fredric and Senyshyn and maybe they can get past the second round next year.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg was eliminated from the playoffs after losing in a sweep to the Canadiens also after finishing 3RD in the North division with a record of 30-23-3 and finished 3.5 games above .500 and will have the #17 overall pick at the draft. On the Goalies Connor Hellebuyck is the starter and there is no arguing that point but with Laurent Brossoit slatted to hit Free Agency the Jets will most likely be on the lookout for a backup this offseason. Brossoit has been Hellebuyck’s backup the past couple seasons but the Jets in my opinion will look elsewhere for a backup as there are a couple backup options in Free Agency or on the trade Market for a experienced backup. On the Defense this is the position in my opinion that needs the most work in the Offseason. Poolman, Benn, and Forbort are all UFA’s so they will need a upgrade on defense. Getting two defensemen on the Backend either via Trade or Free Agency one at left side who can play with Pionk on the 2nd pair while a right side defensemen who can play on Winnipeg’s third pair while have a young player like Heinola or Stanley play on the third pair but on the Left side. And on the Offense they had one of the best top nine’s in the league and would like to keep it intact. With Stastny and Perreault heading for Free Agency it would make sense for the Jets to go out and get another Middle 6 forward to help with goals as well as getting one or two bottom six forwards who have playoff experience as I think they should also bring up one or two of their young kids like Perfetti or Vesalainen to be regulars and if they do this maybe they get past the second round next year.
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