He may not produce at an elite level offensively, but his mature two-way game should slot in nicely on a team which ranked eighth in 5v5 expected goals against per-60 (xGA/60) in 2021-22. They also snagged top prospect Shane Wright fourth-overall in the 2022 Draft, solidifying a formidable one-two punch at center with Matty Beniers for the foreseeable future. The motive for general manager Ron Francis was simple: bolster the team’s forward ranks. They seem to have done just that, jumping at the chance to acquire even-strength star Oliver Bjorkstrand from the cap-strapped Columbus Blue Jackets, and snapping up Andre Burakovsky from free agency, he of 61 points in the high-flying Avalanche system last season. Simply put, the Seattle Kraken’s attack was anemic during their inaugural campaign, as they scored a paltry 2.63 goals per game (29th in the NHL) and Jared McCann’s 50 points were the lowest team-leading total in the league last season. Notable Subtractions: Haydn Fleury, Daniel Sprong, Derrick Pouliot, Dennis Cholowski, Victor Rask, Riley Sheahan Notable Additions: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Shane Wright, Andre Burakovsky, Martin Jones, Michal Kempny, Justin Schultz The playoffs remain uncertain due to an unforgiving Atlantic Division, but the pieces for a future Stanley Cup contender are slowly falling into place, which is welcome news for a long-tortured fanbase. The Senators still lack depth, particularly on defence, but there is no question they are the most-improved team after a busy offseason. The hefty extensions recently awarded to Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson show the organization is willing to spend, suggesting a big payday could be in the winger’s future. Although he’s no longer at the peak of his powers, giving up nothing but cap space for a high-level playmaker who produced 73 points in 85 regular-season and playoff games is a win for the much-maligned Dorion. Furthermore, the Senators solidified their goaltending tandem for 2022-23 with the addition of Cam Talbot and sent Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs after several injury-riddled campaigns plagued by inconsistency.Īlex DeBrincat, formerly of the Chicago Blackhawks ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)Īlthough DeBrincat has yet to sign long-term, he could be swayed by a rapidly accelerating project in Canada’s capital promising to take the Eastern Conference by storm. The offseason could have been labelled a success if Ottawa stopped there, but they also managed to procure the services of Claude Giroux, a native of nearby Hearst, Ontario. Although it’s not insignificant, a first-rounder outside the top-five in a weaker draft is a small price to pay for a two-time 40-goal scorer under the age of 25 who remains under team control next season. Has anyone enjoyed the 2022 offseason as much as Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion? First, he swung for the fences by acquiring sniper Alex DeBrincat from the now rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks in a draft-day deal with a package headlined by the seventh-overall pick. ![]() ![]() Notable Subtractions: Matt Murray, Connor Brown, Filip Gustavsson, Colin White, Victor Mete, Chris Tierney ![]() Notable Additions: Alex DeBrincat, Cam Talbot, Claude Giroux, Jacob Larsson With that, here are the five most-improved teams of the 2022 NHL offseason – let’s dig in. Remember, this list only considers the talent difference between a team before and after the events of the offseason, not necessarily how they stack up to their competitors. As a result, the teams entering the offseason with clean books were poised to capitalize and capitalize they did, reminding everyone that cap space is the most valuable asset in the modern NHL. The 2022 edition did not disappoint, with a meagre $1 million cap increase for 2022-23 forcing several teams to unload notable contracts for little to no return. ![]() As salary cap restrictions are loosened and teams find themselves armed with a bevy of cap space at their disposal, the NHL offseason – beginning with the annual Entry Draft – is often the most exciting time on the league calendar.
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