Here I give my opinion on all the latest signings and I try to predict how the rest of the offseason will play out for each Pacific team so they can stay under the cap.
Here is what moves I think each Pacific Division team could do before the start of the season to either get under or remain under the Salary Cap.
Anaheim
Cap Space: $18.848
How does Anaheim stay under the Cap: the Ducks have had a hard time this year staying above the Cap Floor but after some improvements this year and all of their signings basically done I think they could look to do one more thing before the season starts. So according to CapFriendly the Ducks have around $18.85 Million dollars and that is with a 23 man Roster right now (13F-8D-2G and after signing Isac Lundestrom they don’t have anymore RFA’s they need to sign and that part of the offseason is over). Anaheim has had a decent offseason this year by signing veterans Strome, Vatrano and Klingberg and trying to improve this team to be good this year and while I think they are probably finished with most of their offseason stuff for this year, the one thing I could see them do is add another forward. The Ducks didn’t bring back UFA’s like Simon it Aston Reese from last year but also didn’t qualify RFA’s Sam Steel or Sonny Milano who did a decent job last year and while I expect a younger player or two to maybe make the roster this year I could see them try to bring in one more depth forward to challenge for a spot and while I don’t think Milano or Steel would be willing to comeback I could see the Ducks try to bring them back and if not one of those two then maybe they go out and sign a guy like Rodrigues or maybe Kessel but I think that after losing some good depth this year they will be adding one more forward to this group but besides that I really don’t see the Ducks doing anything more and would probably done for this offseason.
Calgary
Cap Space: $2.762
How does Calgary stay under the Cap: the Flames were dealt a few huge blows in the offseason when Gaudreau and Tkachuk wouldn’t sign and they lost both but they have filled in some pieces thanks to acquiring Huberdeau and Weegar from the Tkachuk trade and extending Huberdeau but I think that they still will add a few more forwards to this roster before the season starts. Now the Flames according to CapFriendly have $2.76 Million dollars and that is with a 21 man Roster (12F-7D-2G and that doesn’t include RFA Adam Ruzicka who is still waiting to sign a new deal with the Flames). Now the Flames have not won this offseason by any means but they have done well given the circumstances given that Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Gudbranson all left this year but getting back Huberdeau who signed a extension and Weegar was smart and while they have a very little amount of cap space I still think that they will add a forward or two more to this group. Now they might starts the season without Monahan and Tanev who are recovering from injuries but I don’t think they will be out long enough to be placed on LTIR so they may try and move someone and I think that it will most likely be Lucic who has been rumoured to have drawn interest from Boston and whether it is Boston or someone else I think that if the Flames can at least gain one million in cap space then I think they would do that but they are lacking in depth forwards and I think that they still have a few more signings to do before the season starts. Now I think they should try to bring in 2 bottom six forwards via free agency and the players who I think would work for the Flames would probably be one or two of Mathieu Perreault, Zach Aston Reese, Daniel Sprong, Sam Gagner, Tyler Motte or Alex Galchenyuk as all six are capable bottom six forwards who can play in a role that the Flames need and I think that all would work for the Flames and the two I would think fit the best are Motte or Gagner as those two would bring the best to this now young lineup, but besides bringing in a couple of capable veterans to fill bottom six roles I don’t really expect the Flames to do much else for the rest of this offseason as their defence and goaltending are pretty deep right now.
Edmonton
Cap Space: -$6.031
How does Edmonton stay under the Cap: the Oilers have definitely improved in my opinion this offseason but they are now well over the cap and although there is a simple solution to fix that I am going to say that they will still need to make a trade to remain cap compliant before the season starts. So according to CapFriendly right now the Oilers are $6.03 Million dollars above the cap right now and that is with a 22 man Roster (11F-8D-3G and this doesn’t include RFA Ryan McLeod who is still waiting to sign a new contract with the Oilers. So Edmonton has had a pretty busy offseason giving new deals to Puljujarvi and Yamamoto as well as bringing back Kane and Kulak and getting new starter Jack Campbell but it seems that although they have a few injuries they could put on LTIR a new deal for McLeod would but them above the cap even farther then what LTIR will help them with so I expect some sort of a cap dump to happen soon. So the Oilers have Klefbom and Mike Smith who probably won’t play this year and will probably be placed on LTIR and their combined cap hit is $6.4 Million dollars so if the Oilers put those two players on LTIR with their current roster they would be fine but they still have to sign McLeod who I think will get between $1-1.5 Million dollars on his contract extension meaning that even with the LTIR moves the Oilers would be $.600-1.1 Million above the cap so they will probably have to make a corresponding move and I would think that a forward probably gets moved and it is one of Foegele or Puljujarvi. Now both of these players have been mentioned in trade rumours this offseason as Puljujarvi has more value then Foegele and the the return would be better especially after the Oilers signed Puljujarvi to a reasonable deal but he might be more valuable to the Oilers then Foegele and because Foegele is a bottom six forward where Puljujarvi is a top six they may be more willing to part with Foegele more then Puljujarvi. And while I think Puljujarvi is the more likely one to go because they have been trying to move him this year, I do think that it is a guarantee because without Foegele’s $2.75 or Puljujarvi’s $3 Million dollar cap hit they would have between $1.65-2.4 Million in cap space which would be enough to call up Holloway and maybe sign another forward because I have heard them be connected to guys like Kessel or Milano and with this amount of cap space they could sign one of those two but besides resigning McLeod, possibly bringing in a UFA forward and moving one of Puljujarvi or Foegele I think the Oilers are pretty much done for this offseason and after they do some more moves will look towards the upcoming season.
Los Angeles
Cap Space: $1.513
How Does Los Angeles stay under the Cap: the Kings have had a good year improving the team and I think they have done a amazing improving this team over the course of the offseason but I think they still have one move in them to try to free up cap space. So for the time being according to CapFriendly the Los Angeles Kings currently have $1.51 Million dollars in cap space and that is with a 24 man roster right now (15F-7D-2G and this doesn’t include RFA’s Michael Anderson and Sean Durzi who both remain without a contract right now and need to sign new ones before the season starts). So the Kings offseason has gone well keeping basically everyone in their lineup and adding a important piece in Fiala and having a healthy Doughty but this team is up tight to the cap and I expect a defensemen to be moved. Now the Kings have to sign Durzi and Anderson first of all and I would expect that Durzi probably gets a 1-2 year deal that is around $1.5 Million dollars per year and Anderson will probably get a 2-3 year deal at around $2.5 Million and if these AAV’s are close to right then just Durzi’s AAV would take up all their remaining cap space and the even though they would be over the roster limit by 3 players, I think they could move down a forward like Kupari or Andersson and defensemen Spence as he is waivers eligible but they would still be one player over the limit and that is why I think they will move a defensemen. Now they have Doughty and Durzi on the right and Anderson, Bjornfot and Edler on the left so with Moverare and Clarke waiting in the wings I think that one of Roy or Walker are moved. Now both are pretty decent top 4 defensemen that are both 2 years away from being UFA’s and with Durzi and Clarke the future of the right side it makes to start giving them the opportunities and move one of Roy or Walker for a pick and with both their cap hits over $2.50 Million it would definitely solve their cap problem enough so they could sign Anderson and have enough room to make callups, but besides resigning Anderson and Durzi and moving one of Roy or Walker I think the Kings are done as they have done enough for this offseason to get better.
San Jose
Cap Space: -$1.201
How does San Jose stay under the Cap: the Sharks have done the best job to improve their team with the little cap space they had but now that they are over the cap I expect them to make at least one cost cutting move before the start of the season and I would say it is more then likely to involve a goalie. So according to CapFriendly the Sharks are over the cap by $1.2 Million and that is with a 25 man Roster (13F-9D-3G and that doesn’t include Jonah Gadjovich and Noah Gregor as both are RFA’s who haven’t signed new deals with San Jose yet). So the Sharks are going to need to sign their to RFA’s and I don’t think it would take too much to sign them as Gadjovich will probably sign for under $1 Mill dollars and with San Jose probably needing to send down a forward he would be a likely candidate, while Gregor will probably get a short term deal with a AAV of $1-1.5 Miller dollars and if that is true the Sharks could be $2.7 Million above the cap and in which case they would need to make some moves. Now if they move Gadjovich down that would give them 14 forwards, then they would still have 9 defensemen and after the horrible news that Knyzhov will miss the next six months due to injury, the Sharks can place him on LTIR and free up a little bit of cap space and I think they will risk moving one of Simek or Nutivaara down via waivers as I think one of those two will be the odd man out and burying them in the minors will also help their cap situation, but I think that the simplest way to get that cap space is to move one of their goaltenders. Now Kahkonen should remain there as he just signed with San Jose and has starter potential so the Sharks most likely keep him, but one of Hill or Reimer will probably be moved as both have one year left on their contracts and Hill has a $2.18 Million dollar cap hit and is 8 years younger than Reimer who has a $2.25 Million dollar cap hit. Reimer probably has the higher trade value as he put up better numbers last year and is more of a tandem goalie whereas Hill didn’t have a spectacular season and is more of a backup and while I think that Hill is more likely to move because the Sharks like Reimer too much, I definitely expect one of these two goalies to be moved before the start of the season but besides signing their RFA’s and trading a goalie I don’t see them doing anything else as they have had a pretty good offseason to this point.
Seattle
Cap Space: $1.011
How does Seattle stay under the Cap: the Kraken have done a really good job improving this offseason to make their team better for next year and while they are very close to the cap I think there is a simple solution they can use to get the cap space they need to start the year. The Kraken currently have about $1 Million dollars in cap space according to CapFriendly and that is with a 25 man Roster (16F-6D-3G and that doesn’t include Cale Fleury who is still a RFA who is waiting for a new contract). So the Kraken are currently over the roster limit by 2 players and I think they start to fix that by moving down two of Hayden, Kuhlman or Wright as I think that if Wright is able to make the team then the other two would have to go to the minors but if Seattle doesn’t feel that Wright is ready for a NHL spot then I think he is moved to juniors and one of the other two is moved to the minors while one stays up and I think that with only six defensemen at the NHL level they’re will probably call up one more whether it be the veteran Kempny or the younger unsigned Cale Fleury but I definitely expect 2 forwards to be moved down and a Defensemen to be called up but the way they will get the much needed cap space will be via the goaltending. Now the Kraken have Grubauer as their starter and they brought in Martin Jones to backup on a short term deal but Dreidger will miss most of the season due to surgery he had and he isn’t expected back until next March so he will probably be able to get into game action this year but it will probably be with only 15-20 games left in the season so the Kraken can put him and his $3.5 Million dollar cap hit on LTIR and deal with it around the trade deadline but that would give them about $4.5 Million dollars in cap space to start the year and while I could see them to try to upgrade their defence with that money I think they will probably stay pat and in my eyes are probably done for the season after they improved this team a lot.
Vancouver
Cap Space: -$2.752
How does Vancouver stay under the Cap: the Canucks have done a good job improving this team in the offseason by adding to their forward group but with them over the cap I think it will take more then a simple injury placement to make this team cam compliant and I expect a trade to happen before the season gets underway for the Canucks. Now according to CapFriendly the Canucks are currently over the cap by a astonishing $2.75 Million dollars and that is with a 24 man Roster (14F-8D-2G and after extending DiPietro they don’t have any RFA’s left to sign and that part of their offseason is now over). The Canucks have done a really good job adding to their roster this offseason getting Lazar, Kuzmenko and Mikheyev to add to their already lethal forward group and with the Canucks being over the cap by $2.75 Million dollars the simple solution would probably be to move Michael Ferland who’s career is likely over due to injury to LTIR which would take his $3.5 Million dollar cap hit off the board and get them to around $.750 Thousand dollars under the cap and then move a defensemen down like Keeper or Burroughs or maybe both and call up a young forward like Will Lockwood and maybe Jack Rathbone and they would be slightly under the cap but I think the most logical thing would be to move a forward. Now this could also be increased if Tucker Poolman who is a decent 2nd or 3rd pair defensemen is injured to start the year cause I don’t think he will be injured too long but if they don’t have Poolman to start I could see them move a forward for a cheap player who could play top 4 minutes for them but with a lineup that has guys like Garland, Podkolzin or maybe Hoglander on the 3RD line and Pearson and Dickinson on the 4th line it would make sense to move a forward and I think one of Miller, Garland or Pearson will be the one to go. Now Pearson has 2 year left at $3.25 Million dollars and is a decent 3rd line forward but would be difficult to trade with that kind of money so because they would probably have to attach a asset to make a trade work I think he would be a last ditch trade option and the least likely to be traded of the 3, Garland is signed long term for 4 years at $4.95 Million and I would say that it is pretty likely that he might be the one to move because he is a younger player and given he is signed at a pretty affordable price and they could probably get a decent return for moving him, but I think the most likely to move is Miller because the Canucks and Miller are ways apart on a contract extension and the Canucks could get one heck of a return on Miller as he is entering the final year of his contract and if a team can work out a extension before the trade goes through then the Canucks could get even more of a return but if they can get a young defender and some other pieces in the trade then I think they would be willing to move Miller, but besides moving out a forward and maybe acquiring a good young defender in the trade I don’t see them doing much else in the offseason as they have done a pretty good job in the offseason so far.
Vegas
Cap Space: -$5.795
How does Vegas remain under the Cap: now the Golden Knights haven’t had the best offseason and haven’t really impoved their team and while they are well over the cap hit for next there is some injuries that will make them cap compliant and I expect them to maybe even add before the season starts. Now according to CapFriendly the Golden Knights are of the cap by a staggering $5.8 Million dollars and that is with Vegas currently having a 22 man Roster (12F-8D-2G and that doesn’t include big RFA Nicolas Hague who is still in need of a new deal). The Golden Knights have not had the best offseason by moving Pacioretty and Coghlan while they were able to bring back Smith but they haven’t been able to improve this offseason but I think they still could. Now the Golden Knights acquired Shea Weber this offseason and because his career is over they can put his $7.86 Million dollars and that would get them about $2.07 in cap space they could use but then they are also two more players who sadly probably won’t play this year in Patrick who will miss at least the first half of the season if not the entirety of it and Lehner is out for the season due to hip surgery so with these two being able to go on LTIR they could get as much as $8.27 Million dollars in cap space which could help them as it will help the Golden Knights call up players and allow them to get Nicolas Hague under contract as he still needs a new deal but more importantly it will allow them to get a new goalie as I don’t think they will do to well without Lehner. Now Thompson is a really good goalie and in a few years I think he could be the starter but right now I see him as more of a backup or 1B, and while Brossoit is a good backup I think that he is just that a backup and he could also be injured to start the season and I don’t think Hutchinson would do well as backup so I see them trying to acquire a goalie before the season starts and I would see them target a team that has three NHL goalies whether it be San Jose with Reimer or Hill or New Jersey with Bernier as all of those goalies only have one year left and could come in and replace Lehner for one season and help the Golden Knights towards the playoffs and while I am a fan of them trading for Reimer I definitely see them acquiring a goalie before the season starts, but besides that and signing Hague I don’t see them doing much else as they would have a decent enough goaltending tandem and their defence is top notch and while I think they could add to that forward group I think it would come closer to the deadline if they are in the mix so after those two moves I think they would be done in the offseason.
Here is a list of all the NHL signings that have happened between AUG 3RD and AUG 6TH.
Metro
Carolina
Right Winger, Center Martin Necas and the Carolina Hurricanes have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $3 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Necas is a really good young player and is coming off a great season where he had 14 goals and 40 points in 78 games and I think that for what he brings he fully deserved this contract and with Pacioretty now injured I believe that Necas will definitely be a top 9 forward next year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got another crack to be a mainstay top 6 forward.
New Jersey
Center, Right Winger Fabian Zetterlund and the New Jersey Devils have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.750 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Zetterlund had his first taste of NHL action last year as he got into 14 games and did quite well putting up 3 goals and 5 points and had a outstanding AHL season putting up 52 points in 58 games and while I could see him sent to the minors and be a call up option, I definitely feel that he has a legit chance of making the roster and maybe even playing consistent 4th line minutes with the Devils this year.
Atlantic
Boston
Center David Krejci and the Boston Bruins have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1 Million dollars and a signing bonus possibility of $2 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Krejci has come back to the NHL after he took a year off to play in Europe and now he is back as the last time he was in the NHL he had 44 points in 55 games in the COVID shortened season and he is coming back to probably Center the second line again and I could see him play again with David Pastrnak next year.
Center Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.5 Million dollars and a signing bonus possibility of $2.5 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Bergeron is a big part of the Bruins organization and resigning him was a important move for this team after Bergeron had 25 goals and 65 points in 73 games and should return to being the Bruins one and only top line Center this year and once again play with Marchand once he is healthy again.
Left Winger, Center Pavel Zacha and the Boston Bruins have come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $3.5 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Zacha is going to play on a deep Boston team after they acquired him and he is coming off a season where he had 15 points and a career high 36 points with New Jersey last year and after signing Krejci and Bergeron he will most likely fill Haula’s spot as third line next year and will probably want to play well as this contract leads him straight to being a UFA.
Buffalo
Left Winger, Center Riley Sheahan and the Buffalo Sabres have agreed to a 1 year contract that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. This is Sheahan’s second stint with the Sabres in 3 years and heads back there after putting up 4 goals and 17 points in 69 games with Seattle and while I am not sure he makes the roster out of the gate I do expect him to carve out a 4th line role in time with the Sabres and give the young guys the experience they need.
Detroit
Left Defensemen Jake Walman and the Detroit Red Wings have avoided arbitration and come to terms on a 1 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $1.05 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Now the Red Wings have added a lot of defensemen this offseason but I think Walman will still get a spot as he had a decent year last season putting up 3 goals and 10 points in 51 games last year with Detroit and St.Louis and I think that even after the offseason additions, Walman should be a consistent 3rd pair defensemen for the Red Wings for this year.
Pacific
Vegas
Center, Right Winger Nicholas Roy and the Vegas Golden Knights have come to terms on a 5 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $3 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Roy has been one of the fantastic stories for the Golden Knights and one of their best players after last year where he put up a career season getting 15 goals and 39 points in 78 games played and I think that he is definitely deserving of this deal and the fact Vegas was able to get him for 5 years is amazing and with the loss of Pacioretty it wouldn’t surprise me if Roy gets consistent minutes in the top 6 this year for the Golden Knights.
Central
Arizona
Left Winger Lawson Crouse and the Arizona Coyotes have avoided arbitration and come to terms on a long term 5 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $4.3 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Crouse was in trades rumours this year after he had a career year putting up 20 goals and 34 points in 65 games but those rumours are now gone as he seems to really like it in Arizona and I think that with Crouse most likely being a top 6 forward for the Coyotes next year I think he could definitely be worth the money he is now getting.
Chicago
Left Defensemen Kevin Korchinski who was the 7th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks signed his 3 year entry level contract with the Blackhawks that will carry a AAV of $.950 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Korchinski is definitely a good defensemen after he had 65 points in 67 games with Seattle of the WHL and while I think he will go back to the WHL for another season he definitely has top 4 potential and I think that next year he will be a regular in the Blackhawks lineup.
Winnipeg
Right Winger Mason Appleton and the Winnipeg Jets have avoided arbitration and come to terms on a 3 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $2.17 Million dollars and the deal is 1 way. Appleton didn’t have a great season last year as he had 6 goals and 17 points in 49 games with the Kraken before being dealt back to Winnipeg where he put up 2 goals and 4 points in 19 games with Winnipeg and his best seasons came in Winnipeg so I think with the loss of Copp that Appleton will have a bigger role in Winnipeg next year probably playing on the 3rd line but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a shot to play some time in the Jets top 6 next year.
Center David Gustafsson and the Winnnipeg Jets have come to terms on a 2 year contract extension that will carry a AAV of $.775 Thousand dollars and the deal is two way. Gustafsson seems like a good player but he hasn’t yet cracked the NHL Roster full time as he only played two games at the NHL level last year but he put up a good amount in the AHL getting 30 points in 47 games and I think he might be able to crack the lineup this year and get consistent minutes on the 4th line for the Jets.
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