The day after Montreal wins the North I am doing offseason plans for the three teams who did not make the playoffs in the North the Flames, Senators, and Canucks
4th Montreal Canadiens 0 24-21-11 59 20 23 159-168-9
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5th Calgary Flames 0 26-27-3 55 22 25 156-161-5
6th Ottawa Senators 0 23-28-5 51 18 21 157-190-33
7th Vancouver Canucks 0 23-29-4 50 17 20 151-188-37
Calgary Flames
The Flames missed the playoffs by a mere 4 points and they were only 0.5 game back of .500 and have the #12 overall pick at the draft, and are expected to have big changes this year. On their goalies Jacob Markstrom is their man in net and proved this past year why the Flames sighted him for six years but after trading pending UFA David Rittich to Toronto at the Trade Deadline they are going to need a backup. The Flames could go one of two ways as Dustin Wolf and Artyom Zagidulin are two young goalies who could wind up challenging for the backup role or Calgary could look for a backup on the Free Agent Market on via a Trade. On the Defense I am just going on a limb and saying that Mark Gilrdano will be exposed and selected by the Kraken in the expansion draft and will need to shake up their D a bit. Valimaki should be heading to a more prominent role and a new contract because he is a pending RFA, on the Defense if Giordano Is gone and they will need a third D pair if Valimaki is moving up. Now there right side depth is lacking so going to Free Agency or the Trade Market would be a good idea while using a young player like Oliver Kylington or Connor Mackey on the Left side would be better. And on the Offence is where the biggest shake up is supposed to happen. Signing two or three veteran bottom 6 forwards to add some depth as their depth players are heading to Free Agency and they should call on young guys like Connor Zara, Jakob Pelletier, and Glenn Gawdin as I think they should try to have a more younger based roster. The Big change will be seeing if the Flames trade one or both of Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. If either won is traded they should be looking for a 1ST or 2ND round pick a high prospect, and a NHL players wether a top 6 forwards a top 4 D-Men, and I know there have been rumours that maybe Calgary trades Matthew Tkachuk but that should not happen as he is a big part of their team and if they can do this they could be back in the playoffs.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators played a lot better than previous years and were able to finish only 8 points back of a playoff spot and were 2.5 games back of .500 and have the #10 overall pick at the draft. On the Goalies Matt Murray should be Goalie #1 this year even after having a subpar start and season but they got him to be their starter and that is what will happen as for the backup their are three capable people but I think Filip Gustavsson will get the backup job after he showed this season why everyone had hopes he would be the future goalie while Joey Daccord and Anton Forsberg will fight over third string role. On the Defense they have a good core with Chabot and Zub but could upgrade their last pair. They have a ton of young guys who could compete for a third line role like Erik Brannstrom, Lassi Thomso, and Jacob Bernard Docker but it is lacking a veteran prescience. Getting a veteran third D pair would be a smart move to pair a older guy with a young rookie next season. And on Offense they could add a couple more pieces. With Norris, Tkachuk, and Batherson on the top line and Tkachuk and Batherson pending RFA they have a pretty young a good roster. Young guys like Shane Pinto and Greig Ridley should try for a spot in the lineup and maybe get in but the do have a couple holes. Colin Whita has. Not proven himself as a top NHL center and I could easily see Chris Tierney being traded so if I was the Sens I would try to find Center’s. Now I could see Pinto play a third line center role but ether via Free Agency or on the Trade Market the Senators need a second line center to help them try for a playoff spot next year.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks finished 9 points out of the playoff spot and were last in the division while they were 3 games under .500 and have the #9 overall pick at the draft, and will need to find their 2020 form that got them to the second round of the playoffs. On the Goalies Thatcher Demko is the number one goalie after signing his five year extension and the Canucks need to get cap space so making sure Brayden Holtby is selected by the Seattle Kraken should be a priority. If Brayden Holtby is out the Canucks will need to have a new backup and they have two options one seek a goalie off the Trade Market or via Free agency or use young prospect Michael DiPietro to back up Demko. On Defense they tried to go younger on defense and had to much inexperience so the year of getting did them good. Quinn Hughes needs a new contract and that should start the defensive plans with both Edler and Hamonic heading for Free Agency the Canucks will need some more defensemen. Young D-Men Rathbone and Juolevi will most likely help Hughes man the Left side but they should look to Free Agency or the Trade Market to find a defensemen who can play on the right side and pair up with Hughes. And on the Offense Elias Pettersson’s new contract is the first and for most need that the Canucks need to take care of. Than they need to send off Virtanen anywhere they can weather it is via buyouts through trade they need to get rid of him. And letting young guys like Kole Lind and Vasily Podkolzin should provide some depth scoring behind there top 6 and if they can also get a third line Center with Brandon Sutter leaving for Free Agency and if they do this they can maybe make the playoffs again.
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