2021 NHL Draft: Needs and mock draft, part 3

 The third installment of the needs and mock draft continues, and this is where trades figure into the equation. Every team is still getting covered, in order of original draft position, but the mock draft will go as planned, as well as the first picks of teams without a first round pick. 

16. St. Louis Blues

A team that may not go into free agency much this offseason, the Blues now have to consider moving on from Vladimir Tarasenko, who requested a trade. Depth pieces up front and blue line help are possible needs.

Projected pick: Mason McTavish, C, Olten

A team short on high end talent if Tarasenko does get traded, McTavish can provide goal scoring and a big body down the middle for a team that needs to harder to play against, something that has been missing since 2019.

17. Winnipeg Jets 

Offense up front is a major need, especially since Pierre-Luc Dubois is not a guy that can replicate the goal scoring totals Patrik Laine had. That is where replenishing the wings can be a factor. Having fewer worries about free agents in their own end should help the Jets zero in on getting scoring help there, either through draft or free agency. 

Projected pick: Oskar Olausson, LW, HV71

The Jets can afford to develop another player if Cole Perfetti and Kristian Vesalainen both make the leap next season. Olausson has upside that can be worked with for a couple more seasons, as he's signed with HV71 until 2023.

18. Nashville Predators 

The search for a top center continues, and there isn't a top guy available in the draft, much less where the Predators are drafting. As for free agency, it's going to be about shedding either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene's contract through the expansion draft.

Projected pick: Fyodor Svechkov, C, Togliatti Jr.

Probably the safest pick if you take away the Russian Factor, Svechkov projects as a middle six player, at worst, thanks to the overall balance in his game.

19. Edmonton Oilers 

The search for wing men that can play alongside either McDavid or Draisaitl continues, as depth once again, became an issue. Blue line help is also a problem, but acquiring Duncan Keith should help the younger players mentally, even if Keith is no longer the player he was even a few years ago. Goalie help is also needed, as there's no sure fire starter now, nor is there a guarantee the prospects will develop as promised. 

Projected pick: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL)

Goalie is the thinnest spot in the Oilers prospect pool, as they drafted all forwards last season, and they're expecting Evan Bouchard to try for a spot next season. Keeping Cossa in Edmonton would be a boon, as they can keep an eye on him as he looks to continue to post great numbers for a strong Oil Kings squad.

20. Boston Bruins

An aging core will need much more than just David Pastrnak up front and Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on the blue line. Depth continues to be a major problem, even as Patrice Bergeron continues to play at a high level and Taylor Hall is a possibility to resign with the team. Down the middle is a worry that could be solved in free agency while the blue line needs a more sure thing.

Projected pick: Aatu Raty, C, Karpat

A top 10 projected pick prior to this season, his confidence was rattled at times and he missed the cut for the 2021 WJC tournament, due to no practice for the Finnish squad prior to the start. He still has the tools, and could be an eventual replacement for David Krejci.

21. Minnesota Wild 

Even as they move on from the Parise/Suter era, the Wild need to continue to fill holes in their prospect pool, especially defensively, where only Calen Addison is a top 10 prospect. Their most important thing on the to-do list is getting Kirill Kaprizov signed. 

Projected pick: Sean Behrens, D, US NTDP

A mobile defenseman that got overshadowed by teammate Luke Hughes, Behrens has upside to an already good all-around game and projects to more of a sure thing than 2018 pick Filip Johansson.

22. Washington Capitals

The Capitals first round pick was traded to Detroit in the Anthony Mantha deal, and while Mantha had his moments, not having that first round pick means they don't draft until late in the second round. Their biggest concern is what to do with Alex Ovechkin, who is a UFA. Whether they think they can win one more Cup is going to be a factor in the decision making for at least a couple seasons. Beyond that, they could use another above average prospect in the system, especially up front, as Ovechkin won't easily be replaced by one player.

Projected pick (Detroit): Nikita Chibrikov, RW, CKA

His game is bent more towards offense, and with both size concerns and the Russian Factor, it's easy to see Chibrikov fall. Still, his offense is better than most players in the draft.

Projected pick (Washington): Brett Harrison, C, Koovee Jr.

An offensive threat with consistency issues that were exposed when he had to head to Europe when the OHL season was ultimately canned, Harrison should benefit by returning to Oshawa this coming season, where he performed well. If he can use his size more to his advantage, his potential is higher.

23. Florida Panthers 

Defense is a sore point depth-wise, as evidenced by Aaron Ekblad's injury. Cutting ties with Keith Yandle further reinforces this idea, and with a decent amount of cap space, they can add another player there, if needed, although they did commit 3 million per year for three years to Anthony Duclair.

Projected pick: Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's 

Far better offensive starter than in his own end at this point, Morrow has the desire to improve upon his weaknesses. It helps that he is a bigger player than the trendy smaller, yet mobile defender some teams take a chance on.

2019 NHL mock draft: picks 9-15

Picks 9-15 are up, and like everything after pick three, it's anyone's guess where the teams will go.

9. Anaheim Ducks-Matthew Boldy, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

Skill is not the problem with Boldy, but the consistency in which he shows it is, which is why he is not mentioned among the top five. The Ducks will still need to replace their aging stars up front, particularly since prospects such as Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom don't appear to be ready for big roles right away and once they do crack the NHL roster, will need to replenish their pipeline.

10. Vancouver Canucks-Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL)

Krebs has played well on an Ice team that has largely struggled in the standings, and given that he has the prerequisite tools and work ethic, it is likely he could be drafted earlier than the tenth spot. As it is, the Canucks need more help up front, especially down the middle, and Krebs fits the bill here as a Bo Horvat clone.

11. Philadelphia Flyers-Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)

The Flyers have built themselves a nice pipeline, but not many of them have had an impact on the NHL thus far. Eventually, some of that talent is going to stick, and when it does, it will need to be refilled. Lavoie helped himself in the QMJHL playoffs and Memorial Cup tournament with Halifax after an okay regular season, and projects to be a power forward.

12. Minnesota Wild-Spencer Knight, G, US NTDP (USHL)

The Wild have little in the way of talent in the pipeline, as they were the only team without a representative in the WJC tournament in January. The other problem is that they need reinforcements everywhere and will likely need to trade out a player to pick up more draft picks. Where the Wild hurt the most in the system is in goal, where there is nothing behind Devan Dubnyk. Knight is the consensus top goalie in the draft, and it is possible that the Wild panic and draft a goalie earlier than they should.

13. Florida Panthers-Trevor Zegras, C, US NTDP (USHL)

If the Wild don't panic and take Knight, it is likely the Panthers will take him here, since their goalie situation is just as big of a mess, with Sam Montembeault not ready for the starting role and Roberto Luongo likely headed to long term IR. Forward depth was tested this season, and it was not good. Zegras is a few years away, but with Henrik Borgstrom ready for the NHL, he will be allowed to develop.

14. Arizona Coyotes-Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)

Depth is still an issue on the blueline for the Coyotes, who will eventually see guys like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Alex Goligoski, and Jason Demers fall off a cliff, if they haven't already, from a skill set point of view. Harley is the most well-rounded defensive prospect of the class, and he could be a fringe top defender with definite second defender potential.

15. Montreal Canadiens-Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton (OHL)

Kaliyev excels at scoring goals, and the Canadiens were the second-worst team on the power play. The rest of his game isn't great, but that should come with experience. As it is, he would give the Canadiens the thing they sorely need: goal scoring.

Things I Missed

The team previews are written, and as is seemingly the case every year, there are things that happen after I type each report. This year is no exception, so let's see what I missed or need to correct in time for the season to start Wednesday.

• The Carolina Hurricanes have settled their captaincy problem, and it isn't Justin Faulk or Jordan Staal, co-captains a year ago. Instead, the captain role will go to Justin Williams, who returned for a second tour of duty last season after spending time earlier in his career with the Hurricanes, helping them win a Stanley Cup in 2006.
• The Florida Panthers also named a new captain, as Derek McKenzie stepped down from the role to give way for Aleksander Barkov. Barkov is on the verge of being a superstar that more people will get to know about, and his progression has been on the rise from his rookie season of 2013-14. He's an excellent choice for a team that needs a stable identity after having gone through identity changes in the last three seasons.
• Corey Perry was expected to try and rebound after some subpar seasons. He won't get that chance until February or March because he will be out due to injury. With Ryan Kesler likely out for the season, pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Nick Ritchie to produce, as he has yet to be the player the Ducks have hoped for since being drafted in 2014.
• Seth Jones is also going to miss time, 1 to 2 months. While it isn't a fatal blow for Columbus, it is a blow for a team who relies on defensive ability to win games. Zach Werenski will have some added pressure to begin the season.
• Chicago may be without Corey Crawford to start the season, as he continues to recover from vertigo and concussion issues. Cam Ward will likely be the starter for opening night, and the Blackhawks will need Crawford to be 100 percent sooner rather than later because depth behind Ward is woefully thin unless Colin Delia can convince the team that he is at worst, a good AHL starter.

On the Prowl

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2017-18 record: 44-30-8 (96 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Derek McKenzie

The Florida Panthers overcame a mess of a 2016-17 season, a complete makeover (again) in the off-season, a slow start, and tragedy in their own backyard to make a furious push for a playoff spot. In the end, it did not work, but the momentum they had should carry over into this season. The question is whether they truly are ready to take the next step.

The Panthers finished in the middle of the pack offensively, and despite losing both Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith to Vegas the previous off-season, the Panthers still have some nice offensive punch thanks to the breakthrough season of Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. They also got nice contributions from Evgeni Dadonov and Jonathan Huberdeau, though the latter still has yet to play a full season thanks to injuries. Continued production from this group plus a revived Aaron Ekblad will be a factor in the team's chances. Defensively, their 18th ranked group was a reflection of the team's struggles early on, punctuated by the fact that Roberto Luongo missed time to injuries and James Reimer was merely ordinary. In front of the duo, Ekblad's return to better numbers was key to the team playing well. He is the leader of the defense, and when he plays well, so does the rest of the team.

Prediction: 4th in the Atlantic Division

The Panthers hope to ride the momentum of late last season into this one, as the sting of missing out on the playoffs by tie-breaker will be fresh in their minds. In a relatively weak Eastern Conference, the Panthers should be able to make the playoffs if they can avoid injuries and a slow start.

NHL mock Draft: Picks 9-15

Continuing on to the NHL mock Draft, and picks 9-15, I'll try to get in the selections with the World Cup going on.

9. New York Rangers-Brady Tkachuk, C/RW, Boston University (Hockey East)

The Rangers have three picks in the first round, and they can afford to wait until later to pick a defenseman. They can also trade up if they need to. Should they think Tkachuk could come off the board earlier and they want him, a trade up is possible. Then again, a defenseman heavy draft could very lead to Tkachuk falling if the Rangers decide to stay put. Tkachuk is almost like his dad and older brother. In other words, a power forward that can make life miserable for the opposing players.

10. Edmonton Oilers-Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Oilers are in a precarious spot with the salary cap, and there is word that they may be moving the pick along with a hefty contract. Should they stay, Sandin provides the most offensive upside of the defenders remaining. He also happens to be fairly proficient in his own end, something that was evident when paired with fellow Draft-eligible defenseman Adam Boqvist.

11. New York Islanders-Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

A playmaker who has immense talent, Veleno showed most of what he can do after a mid-season trade to Drummondville. Already a champion with Saint John in 2017, his talent level can be even higher, and with John Tavares likely a goner, he can step in as a top center once he makes the NHL.

12. New York Islanders (from Calgary)-Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)

The Islanders were terrible in their own end last year, and Smith is the best defensive defenseman available in the Draft after Dahlin. He may not provide much offense, but the Islanders aren't exactly hurting in that category.

13. Dallas Stars-Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden)

The Stars may wish to address their center depth soon, as Martin Hanzal is better suited for third line duty and Jason Spezza is seeing a pretty steep decline in skill. Lundestrom may not be flashy, but he does a lot of things well and his skill set reminds some of current Nashville center Calle Jarnkrok, who can play a complete 200-foot game.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)-Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Finland)

The Flyers may need to force feed a few of their current prospects into the NHL roster soon, which of course means that it's a good idea to stock up on prospects with a high ceiling. Kotkaniemi may be seen as a late bloomer, but he has great potential offensively and is continuing to work on being better in the areas he needs to improve upon (i.e. skating).

15. Florida Panthers-Bode Wilde, D, US NTDP

Hockey sense is a question mark for Wilde, but everything else checks out. Florida needs defensemen badly, and Wilde has potential if he can improve his hockey sense.

Licking Their Wounds

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2016-17 record: 35-36-11 (81 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Derek MacKenzie

To call the Florida Panthers a hot mess last season would be an understatement. The Panthers stumbled out of the gate, the acquisitions prior to the season weren't panning out, the head coach was left at the airport after a road loss and being fired, and oh yeah, they missed the playoffs by a fairly wide margin. If there was ever a team that needed to hit the reset button, it was the Panthers. Dale Tallon was reinserted as General Manager, and now, with stability returning to the team's front office, the clean up on the ice begins.

Things were brutal for the Panthers, and offensively, it doesn't figure to be much better, as leading goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault was plucked in the Expansion Draft. That leaves Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov as the only 20-goal scorers from last season that are returning, and Barkov missed considerable time to injuries. Their next two leading goal scorers are also not returning, as Jaromir Jagr was not tendered a new contract and Reilly Smith was traded to Vegas. That's a lot of goals going out the door, and ex-KHLer Evgeny Dadonov and free-agent signing Radim Vrbata were signed to replace some of that production. It would also help if both Barkov and Nick Bjugstad can stay out of the trainer's room and Jared McCann can finally break into the lineup full time. 2017 first round pick Owen Tippett will also have a shot at sticking on the NHL roster. The blue line wasn't much better, as Aaron Ekblad hit a wall in his third season while the rest of the unit was merely okay. There's talent on this unit, and they will need to show more than what they did last season. In goal is where things may very well get dicey. Roberto Luongo never truly recovered from off-season hip surgery, and James Reimer was forced into the lineup more often. The result was a goaltending duo that may see a shift in who sees more starts, as Reimer is more likely to see starts with Luongo needing more rest. The offensive struggles carried over onto the power play while the penalty kill was surprisingly near the top of the league.

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division

The Panthers are in clean up mode, and any hopes of making the playoffs will hinge on whether or not key players can stay healthy. At worst, off-ice distractions should be a thing of the past, but on the ice may be a far different story.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 9-15

Continuing on with the NHL Mock Draft, and the rest of the lottery teams:

9. Detroit Red Wings- Eeli Tolvanen, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

Detroit was awful offensively, and short of guys like Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist finding their offensive games again, they need a game-breaker badly. Tolvanen has the potential to be just that.

10. Florida Panthers- Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Florida has plenty of young talent in the pipeline, but it doesn't hurt to have another player ready, especially if Jaromir Jagr eventually hangs it up. Tippett is the biggest boom or bust pick of the potential first round players, but the upside is great here.

11. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Necas, RW, Brno (Czech Republic)

The Kings have been left behind when it comes to the changing game, which is speed. Necas provides their best chance at catching up, but he also brings a reliable two-way game up front, so it isn't just one dimension.

12. Carolina Hurricanes- Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL)

The Hurricanes are lacking down the middle, and while Suzuki isn't a gamebreaker down the middle, he is reliable and has enough offensive talent to one day be a number one center.

13. Winnipeg Jets- Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)

The Jets don't have that intimidating presence up front, and while it is a folly to suggest that Rasmussen will be a great power forward, there is a lot to like, with his offense being no worse than third-line. At best, he would open up opportunities for the likes of Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning- Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

While it is possible that the Lightning could lose some talent up front (Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat), they do have pretty good talent in the pipeline. Comtois would add a two-way element that has largely been missing from the forward unit, with potential for above average offensive output.

15. New York Islanders- Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Because it is unknown whether the Islanders will ever put their young talent on display, one can never know how the defensemen will pan out. In the event that most don't, it may be wise to pick one, and Valimaki is more developed offensively than defensively, but the puck mover type is what they sorely need the most.

Black Monday in the NHL

The day after the NHL regular season ended, a few coaches and General Managers found themselves out of a job, making the term "Black Monday" an appropriate one. Let's look at where the axe fell, where some coaches and front office people managed a short reprieve, and which teams may be in trouble down the line.

First, the casualties:

• The Dallas Stars announced that Lindy Ruff would not return next season as head coach. In four seasons, Ruff led the team to the playoffs, but it was clear that in the just completed season, he could never solve their defensive woes and his message wasn't getting through. Gerard Gallant is rumored to be a name on the Stars' list for the next head coach.
• Tom Rowe was relieved of both head coaching and General Manager duties, and Dale Tallon was reinstated as General Manager, effectively meaning that owner Vincent Viola admitted the error of his ways after the previous season. Bad trades, an ill-timed firing of coach Gerard Gallant mid-season, and Rowe being in over his head in both roles now have the Panthers back at square one.
• Vancouver ended the Willie Desjardins experiment after three seasons, and in the process, canned assistants Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn. Desjardins led the team to the playoffs in his first season, but manipulating lines with little success and the second-worst record this season led to his ouster.
• The big bomb of the day belongs to the Los Angeles Kings, who fired head coach Daryl Sutter and General Manager Dean Lombardi. Luc Robitaiile and Rob Blake were moved up in the front office, with Blake assuming the General Manager role. Three years after the Kings won their last Stanley Cup, poor trades, salary cap mismanagement, and the inability to adapt to play in the NHL the last three seasons mean that the Kings' opportunity to win is now closed.

Now, let's look at who avoided the axe for now:

• Colorado was dead last in many categories, yet as of this writing, they have not announced whether coach Jared Bednar or VP of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic will be let go. Given that the Avs were in a bind about two months before the season, thanks to Patrick Roy leaving the head coaching job prior to this season, it would not be surprising if both were given one more year.
• Arizona still employs Dave Tippett as head coach despite a fifth straight season of playoff-free hockey. The Coyotes took a major step back this season, and one would think that it's time to look into a new head coach.
• The Buffalo Sabres were another team that took a step back. However, one could point to injuries as a reason for their decline, though one does have to wonder if Dan Bylsma should look over his shoulder soon. 
• The Winnipeg Jets were a streaky team this season, often on the wrong kind, though a strong finish to the season should render Paul Maurice safe for now.

Teams that will possibly look for permanent replacements:

• The Boston Bruins made the playoffs, and depending on how far they go could determine if Bruce Cassidy gets the interim label taken off.
• The New York Islanders missed out, but under Doug Weight's watch, they played markedly better than under Jack Capuano. Whether or not Garth Snow remains as General Manager is most likely going to determine the coaching job's fate.

No Sunshine State

The Florida Panthers weren't supposed to be just 11-10-1 as the calendar turned to December, yet that is where they stand. While that isn't normally grounds to fire your head coach, the Panthers upper brass evidently thought so, and and after losing to Carolina on Sunday, relieved Gerard Gallant of the head coaching duties. General Manager Tom Rowe will be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

The firing comes in the midst of the Panthers falling a little short of expectations, as they were supposed to be near the top of the Atlantic Division after making firewagon changes to the roster, adding Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, and James Reimer in the off-season. As to why Gallant would possibly be fired this soon, the special teams would be a culprit, as they were the team's downfall last season in their first round exit against the Islanders, and continued to be a problem area for the Panthers. Rowe, who previously coached in the AHL and KHL prior to becoming the General Manager for the Panthers, will get the chance to help turn around the team's problems on special teams.

Readying the Roar

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2015-16 record: 47-26-9 (103 points)
Lost to NY Islanders in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: TBA

It was two seasons ago that the Florida Panthers were practically the doormat of the NHL. In truth, that was the most recognition they received in 14 seasons other than the 2011-12 aberration that saw them make the playoffs the lone time in that stretch. That anonymity began to fade a little in the 2014-15 season and seemingly, the 2015-16 season provided hope that the Panthers would be in it for the long haul. Despite an early exit in the playoffs, an Atlantic Division crown is an indication that the Panthers are on the right track, but they'd like to accelerate that evolution, and the off-season moves were a sign of that.

Up front, it's the kids' show, as Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, etc. are all 25 and under and are under contract for a few seasons, at least. Jaromir Jagr, who is definitely not a kid, but seemingly plays like one despite his 44-years on the planet, has been setting good examples for the rest to follow, and he led the team in scoring last season. If there is a concern, it's how the new pieces will fit in on the right side, especially the bottom two lines. Defensively, they're basically retooling and building around Aaron Ekblad, who is also under contract for the foreseeable future. Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, and Mark Pysyk are the new faces that will fill out the defensive six along with Ekblad, Mike Matheson, and whoever emerges from the group of Jakub Kindl, Alex Petrovic, Ian McCoshen, and Steven Kampfer. In goal, Roberto Luongo has been great since returning to the Panthers almost two and a half seasons ago, but he is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season after hip surgery. James Reimer was signed to not only be the goalie while Luongo recovers, but also provide quality backup goaltending and provide a buffer against next season's expansion draft. Reto Berra was also picked up for depth. If the Panthers hope to harbor Stanley Cup aspirations, they will need to fix their special teams, though picking up Yandle should help the power play. On the penalty kill, that's less of a certainty, though Demers may likely be seeing penalty killing minutes.

Prediction: 2nd in the Atlantic Division

The Panthers still need to win a playoff series, as they haven't done so since 1996, when they made the Stanley Cup finals. However, as last season proved, they are finally putting it together and feel that with a youthful core combined with veterans that can contribute significant numbers, the window of opportunity may be open for a while. The question is whether Florida can take advantage.

In the News...

There were many things going on in the NHL, with a trade, coaching announcements, and a new captain all being on the ledger. For at least half of those announcements, the Arizona Coyotes were at the center of them, so let's get caught up.

First, the trade, and the Arizona Coyotes acquired Dave Bolland and Lawson Crouse from the Flordia Florida Panthers in exchange for a third round pick in next year's draft and a conditional second round pick in 2018. For Florida, they get a little cap space after clearing Bolland's contract off the books, but it comes at the cost of a player with power forward potential in Crouse. Of course, there is the matter of getting Jonathan Huberdeau signed to a long-term deal, and the pipeline is still fairly strong, and given the glut of forwards, somebody had to be moved to get Bolland moved. For Arizona, they've announced that Bolland is unlikely to play for the forseeable future, meaning that his contract is likely nothing more than a way to stay above the cap floor beyond this season, as both Chris Pronger and Pavel Datsyuk's contracts come off the books after the season. Crouse offers a power forward option for a Coyotes team that is likely going to be in need of it once guys like Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and Dylan Strome all either make the roster or make a bigger impact.

The Coyotes were also in the news for coaching announcements, as they hired Mike Van Ryn, Steve Potvin, and Dawn Braid to be a part of their coaching staff. The last name on that list is significant because Braid becomes the first female to have a full-time coaching spot on an NHL roster, as she will be the skating coach. Her credentials include consulting gigs with Anaheim, Toronto, Calgary, and Buffalo, and was the director of skating development at Athletes Training Center in Mississauga, ON, where one of the clients included John Tavares. Van Ryn will be the development coach while Potvin becomes the skills coach.

The other coaching announcement involves the Colorado Avalanche, who hired Jared Bednar away from the now Cleveland Monsters to be their head coach. A lifelong minor leaguer in his playing days, Bednar achieved success in both the ECHL and AHL levels, coaching the Carolina Stingrays to a championship, as well as coaching in Peoria and in the Columbus Blue Jackets' system with both Springfield and then-Lake Erie, winning a title with Lake Erie last season. It will be up to Bednar to do what neither Joe Sacco nor Patrick Roy could do, and that is build up a credible defense, something that he should have familiarity with, as he was a defenseman in his playing days.

Last bit of news is the captaincy, and one spot is now spoken for, as the St. Louis Blues announced that Alex Pietrangelo will be replacing David Backes as captain starting next season. The decision is the right one, as Pietrangelo has grown into an all-around defender who certainly has the potential to be even better as he enters his prime years.

Leaders Wanted

The NHL season is less than two months away, and there are vacancies as far as who the captains will be, as well as potential changes with a couple of teams and one team already pulling the trigger on the change. Let's look at the teams that are or could be entering the season with a new captain:

Buffalo Sabres: Currently, Brian Gionta is the captain, but with just one year left on his current deal and the fact that his skills have been in decline for some time, it may be wise for the Sabres to think about a new captain. Ryan O'Reilly is the favorite to be the next captain, the only question is when he will inherit that role.

Carolina Hurricanes: The mid-season trade of Eric Staal means the Hurricanes will have a new captain. However, there is no clear cut leader in the clubhouse, as Jordan Staal is the closest they have, and he hasn't put up the numbers the elder Staal did when he was at the top of his game. Going with four alternate captains would be the best way to go, though if Justin Faulk shows something, he could swoop in and take the captaincy.

Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog is currently the captain, but there have been rumors of him being on the move to acquire an NHL-ready defender. However, with Patrick Roy's unexpected resignation, that could mean Landeskog isn't going anywhere in the near future.

Edmonton Oilers: They went without a captain last year, as Andrew Ference was stripped of the C, and it is likely that the Oilers will once again, go with four alternate captains. The favored bet here is that they're going to wait until Connor McDavid is ready to inherit the role.

Florida Panthers: With Willie Mitchell likely to retire, the Panthers will need a new captain. However, picking from Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Jonathan Huberdeau will not be an easy task. Expect the Panthers to go with four alternate captains, with Jaromir Jagr likely occupying one of those A's in a mentor role.

Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown had the captaincy handed to Anze Kopitar, and it was the right time to make this move, as Brown hasn't produced to his current deal, and perhaps not being burdened with added responsibility means an uptick in on-ice production. As for Kopitar, he's proven as a productive player and as one of the leaders of the Kings.

Nashville Predators: The Shea Weber-PK Subban trade sent shockwaves through the NHL, and in the process, left Nashville looking for a new captain. If they're looking to fill the gap in the interim, Mike Fisher would be the logical choice. Roman Josi doesn't appear to be ready for the role yet, but he was also the better defender last year. Subban has embraced the trade to Nashville, and it is not out of the question that he could be the guy that replaces Weber, both on the ice and with the captain's C.

St. Louis Blues: David Backes changed addresses in the off-season, and while Vladimir Tarasenko may appear to be the logical choice to be captain, it would be a folly to do so if it causes a decrease in goal scoring. Alex Pietrangelo would be the safer, and more likely pick.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Morgan Rielly has been a name kicked around as the next Maple Leafs captain. The front office appears to be leaning towards a player with more experience, which means Leo Komarov may be the guy they pick until Rielly is ready.

Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd's trade mid-season left the Jets without a captain for part of last season. There are at least two options the Jets can go towards, as Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler are favorites to inherit the role. If they want to go bold, Mark Scheifele would be the answer.

Free Agency Clean-Up from Day 1

With the biggest name in free agency signed days before the actual period began, it was expected that some of the biggest names remaining would be going on the first day. Though there are still some useful players still available at this point, many of them either found new homes or re-signed with their team from last season. To that end, let's look at who signed and what it means for the team that they signed with:

Loui Eriksson: Signed with Vancouver for six years, and an average of $6 million per year. He provides offense, usually to the tune of 25-30 goals per year, and though the years may be a little high, given that the Sedins will likely retire by the time Eriksson finishes year four of the contract, they could always do worse. I'm okay with this signing, but it will be up to Willie Desjardins to keep a level of consistency that maximizes the talent available (that means not putting Derek Dorsett with the Sedins ever again).

Milan Lucic: Edmonton claims him to the tune of seven years, $6 million per year. Obviously, his familiarity with General Manager Peter Chiarelli was an influence, but it will be the idea that he is likely getting slotted with Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle that should have Oilers fans excited. It also adds another big, physical presence to a team that is finally figuring out what they really want to do.

Kyle Okposo: Same contract configuration as Lucic, but with the Buffalo Sabres. On the minus side, he may experience a drop off in numbers now that he won't be alongside John Tavares. However, it's not so bad when you realize that Okposo could be on a line with Jack Eichel at best, and Ryan O'Reilly, at worst. Given the uncertainty of Evander Kane's future after another run-in with the law, Okposo is a welcome addition to a maturing Sabres team (minus Kane).

David Backes: Five years, $6 million per year to play in Boston. This wasn't such a great signing, but not because Backes can't play. However, it's a far different thing to play on a team with a superstar in Vladimir Tarasenko than it is to play with unproven talents such as David Pastrnak. Boston needed an NHL body on the blue line worse, and though they may find that player yet, Backes doesn't fill a need in any way, shape, or form for them.

Eric Staal: Three years, $3.5 million is what Minnesota is giving him to center the second line. The days of putting up boffo offensive numbers is long past, but he is still useful. The contract, as a whole, is friendly to both him and the team, so at worst, it beats the deal they (regrettably) handed Thomas Vanek two years ago.

Thomas Vanek: Speaking of Vanek, the recently bought out player didn't have to wait long to find a new home, as Detroit signed him to a $2.6 million deal for one year. 18 goals last season wasn't cutting it for Minnesota, and it's questionable if it cuts it for Detroit. However, one year is not a bad deal, and the Red Wings could still get something out of him.

James Reimer and Jason Demers: Reimer is heading to Florida for five years, and $3.4 million to presumably be the full-time starter when Roberto Luongo finally hangs it up. In the meantime, he will serve as a backup with the possibility of splitting time to start. Also, in recent news, the  Panthers also signed Jason Demers to a five year, $4.5 million deal. He won't put up the numbers recently departed Brian Campbell has, but he's younger and should make up a fair amount of that offensive production. Plus, he's likely first in line to get paired with Aaron Ekblad, who signed an eight-year extension recently.

There's more, but there is one that I will address that caught my eye, and that is...

Alexander Radulov: One year, $5.75 million to play in Montreal. If you remember his first NHL stints with Nashville, it was pretty headache inducing, right down to Radulov being benched for a game due to missing curfew in the 2012 playoffs. From 2012 until now, he had played in the KHL, falling short with CSKA in the last two seasons. Montreal needs offense, but this may be too much of a gamble, as Radulov was never a proven player in the NHL, and few players who spent the majority of their careers in the KHL ever see that success translate to the NHL level.

All Eyes on Las Vegas

Yesterday, the city of Las Vegas was the location for the NHL Awards ceremony. However, it was also the location that the NHL announced in a unanimous vote for the 31st team to play in the NHL starting in the 2017-18 season. Because this post will be all about Vegas, the expansion and Awards will be covered in one shot.

First, the expansion, and what it all means. Because of the unanimous vote, Las Vegas will have a team, and Bill Foley will be principal owner once that team gets rolling. As for arena, the T-Mobile Arena was opened two months ago with a team in mind, be it NHL or NBA, so arena is not an issue. The NHL paved the way for this expansion with a fair amount of preparation, right down to how they were going to plan the expansion draft, which will be explained at a later date. For now, the NHL doesn't plan on making immediate expansion to 32 teams, but will have Quebec City in mind. The hang-ups there? A weak Canadian Dollar, which was last seen at 78 cents to the American dollar, and geographic imbalance, as Quebec would have to kick an existing Eastern Conference team to the West, something that Las Vegas doesn't have to worry about, since they will play in the Pacific Division. The NHL did their homework before handing an expansion franchise to Las Vegas, but we'll see how it works long-term, as their nearest future rival Arizona has had a history of trouble bringing in fans.

The other business in Las Vegas? The annual Awards ceremony, which saw Patrick Kane take home the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross trophies as the MVP as voted by the media, MVP as voted by the players, and most points, respectively. Blackhawks teammate Artemi Panarin took home the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year while Washington won big with Braden Holtby winning the Vezina as the goaltender of the year and Barry Trotz winning the Jack Adams as coach of the year. Los Angeles took home some hardware, too, as Anze Kopitar took home the Selke as the defensive forward of the year and the Lady Byng as the most gentlemanly player while Drew Doughty finally got his due recognition as defenseman of the year, winning his first Norris Trophy. The Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance went to Jaromir Jagr, the General Manager of the Year was awarded to Jim Rutherford, the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award went to Shea Weber, the King Clancy Trophy went to Henrik Sedin, and the NHL Foundation Player Award went to Mark Giordano.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 21-30

With something coming up yesterday, the last third of the first round mock draft was pushed back to today. With the actual Draft eight days away, let's get to the last third.

21. Carolina Hurricanes (from Los Angeles)-Julien Gauthier, RW, Val D'Or (QMJHL)

The Hurricanes need a big body that won't get pushed around. Too often, that's been an issue, and now that they filled the needs on the blue line, as well as a skilled scorer earlier in the draft, they can focus here. Gauthier scores, and he has the body to be a power forward.

22. Winnipeg Jets (from Chicago)-Libor Hajek, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

A shutdown defender that won't put his team in a bind offensively, Hajek played well for a terrible Saskatoon team. The Jets may look for an eventual replacement for Mark Stuart, and Hajek is a perfect fit here.

23. Florida Panthers-Alex DeBrincat, RW, Erie (OHL)

Questions about his size will undoubtedly be abound. However, he did post 51 goals in consecutive seasons, and though much of them came as linemates of superior players such as Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome, he is willing to play wherever he is placed.

24. Anaheim Ducks-Markus Niemelainen, D, Saginaw (OHL)

The Ducks are still without a top-tier defender, instead relying on numbers to get their point across. The potential move of Cam Fowler to possibly open a spot for Shea Theodore means the Ducks may want to get another top defender prospect. Niemelainen has the size that few others currently on the Ducks have, and they can take their time, as usual.

25. Dallas Stars-German Rubstov, C, Russia

The Stars have often gone for high risk, high reward players in the first round under General Manager Jim Nill's watch. Rubstov's question marks are obviously the Russian factor and not nearly as many eyes were on him. What he does bring is solid two-way play and the ability to play on any line.

26. Washington Capitals-Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)

The blue line prospects may be in need of newer talent soon, and picking the St. Cloud State commit would give them time to develop him while everyone else is still in the NHL. He has the ability to be the offensive firestarter from the blue line that the Caps need.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning-Brett Howden, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

The potential loss of Steven Stamkos means that the Lightning will need to fill a hole in center at some point, if not sooner. While Howden is still a few years away, he does have a high ceiling and will have a bigger role on a Warriors team that will be missing Dryden Hunt and Brayden Point, the latter also being a Lightning prospect.

28. St. Louis Blues-Pascal Laberge, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Like the Lightning, the Blues also need to brace for a possible loss, though it's not necessarily the same losing David Backes. Laberge does need to gain a little more weight and strength, but in time, he could be like Backes in some regard, but with more offense.

29. Boston Bruins (from San Jose)-Nathan Bastian, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

Losing Milan Lucic made Boston a little easier to push around this season. While he isn't going to light up scoresheets, he will open space for players like David Krejci and David Pastrnak while making life easier on Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Pittsburgh)-Lucas Johansen, D, Kelowna (WHL)

The Maple Leafs could use a few more bodies in front of the goalie, and one way to do that is to pick up someone of Johansen's caliber. Expected to be more of a two-way defender, he can provide both offense and defense with the same level of proficiency. He won't be rushed to the NHL too soon like the last Rocket to be taken by the Leafs in the first round, Luke Schenn in 2008.

Restocking Needs Part 3

Los Angeles Kings

Number of picks: 4
First pick: 51st overall

Like the Rangers, the Kings have traded away picks in their quest for the Stanley Cup every year. However, the Kings have had some success, as they've claimed two Stanley Cups since 2012. With many of their best players in the prime of their careers, the Kings can afford to push their top prospects slowly. That doesn't mean the Kings should skip the draft, as there are still holes to fill, namely secondary scoring, one that can replace possible salary cap casualty Milan Lucic, and eventually a long-term replacement for Jonathan Quick when he starts moving past his prime.

Chicago Blackhawks

Number of picks: 7
First pick: 83rd overall

This draft will be a major test of just how well the Blackhawks hit on the late round picks, as they don't pick for the first time until round three. However, they have six other picks after that, so there's a chance they can replenish their system that will be in need of players in the next year or so. Given their annual salary cap issues, players will have to emerge sooner than wanted, so extra bodies are needed just about everywhere.

Florida Panthers

Number of picks: 5
Picks in the first round: 23rd overall

The Panthers are set as far as prospects are concerned, even with their best young players already on the NHL squad. However, identifying a replacement for Roberto Luongo is paramount, and while Samuel Montembault, a 2015 pick, may be the answer, drafting another goalie would be wise. Also, finding a shutdown defender to replace Erik Gudbranson would be a good idea, though it did net a potential secondary scoring option in Jared McCann.

Anaheim Ducks

Number of picks: 5 or 6
Picks in the first round: 24th overall

Despite a number of prospects that will eventually find their way to Anaheim, the Ducks suffered another early exit, and the uncertainty of what the next head coach will bring muddies the picture somewhat. What is clear is that secondary scoring to go along with what they have is needed, especially since Corey Perry pulled a disappearing act in the playoffs. Jakob Silfverberg is one answer, but the Ducks would love more answers, and if one of them is Perry re-emerging, that would be great. Also, finding a true number one defender would be great for a Ducks team that relies on all six to pull their weight.

Dallas Stars

Number of picks: 5 or 6
Picks in the first round: 25th overall

With a few key players possibly being on the way out, the Stars would need to plug in players from the pipeline. That means they would need to replenish with those that can play on the blue line, especially. A still suspect blue line needs answers, as does a forward unit that needs good two-way play on the bottom lines. Neither Kari Lehtonen nor Antti Niemi proved to be the true answer in goal, and there isn't anything resembling a future starting goalie in the system, so finding a goalie to develop is paramount.

Washington Capitals

Number of picks: 6
Picks in the first round: 26th overall

With no immediate needs, the Capitals can afford to take the best available player with their first pick. With nothing else to do until round four, the Caps will have time to figure out what parts needs restocking, which signs point to the blue line and possibly scoring. Anything the Caps pick this year will likely need two or three years to develop, which shouldn't be too hard, since the NHL roster is set for that time.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Number of picks: 9
Picks in the first round: 27th overall

Everything centers around what Steven Stamkos will do. The UFA-to-be lost a little leverage when the Lightning made the Conference Finals despite him not being there for much of it, and given the Lightning's salary cap issues potentially looming, it may result in Stamkos walking. As for draft options, another defender would be nice, as would someone that can step in and contribute right away offensively. Filling the leadership void will be harder if Stamkos walks.

St. Louis Blues

Number of picks: 7
Picks in the first round: 28th overall

The Blues have potentially some major holes to fill on their immediate roster with David Backes and Troy Brouwer likely leaving. A true number one defender would also be nice, particularly since Kevin Shattenkirk has been a perpetual name being floated around in trade rumors. The Blues don't hurt for offense, but getting a center would help, since that's where Backes would be leaving a void.

San Jose Sharks

Number of picks: 5
First pick: 111th overall

The first round pick that was traded for Martin Jones last off-season appears to be well-spent, as the Sharks made the Stanley Cup Finals this year. However, their pipeline continues to bear watching, as there aren't a great amount of high-end prospects. That doesn't mean the Sharks are necessarily mortgaging their future, as they now have an ability to see their prospects in their own backyard, and their best players, save for Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, are still in their prime years.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Number of picks: 5
First pick: 55th overall

Their first round pick sacrifice for Phil Kessel, as well as giving up a few prospects, is bearing fruit as the Penguins made the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite not having much in the way of top end prospects, the Penguins get the most out of the players that are forced to step in when needed. However, at some point, it may be time to find top end prospects to go along with Daniel Sprong, particularly since Beau Bennett hasn't panned out while others such as Joe Morrow and Simon Despres were traded in deals that didn't pan out.

Making Sense of the (yet another) Vancouver/Florida Trade

The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have traded with one another and in many instances, they have involved significant players. Yesterday, you can add Erik Gudbrandson to the list that includes Pavel Bure, Ed Jovanovski, Todd Bertuzzi, Roberto Luongo (twice), and Keith Ballard.

The Canucks picked up Gudbrandson and a fifth round pick in this year's draft and sent Jared McCann and the second and fourth round picks in this year's draft. As seen this year, the Canucks struggled to score, so on one hand, trading McCann for a defenseman that does very little on the scoresheet is a head-scratcher. On the other hand, the blue line for the Canucks was pretty terrible save for Ben Hutton and Chris Tanev. In short, the Canucks needed help every which way except in goal, where Jacob Markstrom is going to be a starter one way or another next season. Gudbrandson gives the Canucks badly needed size that is sure to play in the NHL, as Nikita Tryamkin is not as sure of a thing at the moment. He also gives them much needed toughness that was sorely lacking last season. As for what they give up in McCann, like Hunter Shinkaruk a few months prior, potential offense. However, unlike Shinkaruk, McCann's ceiling is much higher, but given that center depth would make him fourth best at the moment, it's hard to see him making a great impact next season. Also, there is the matter of having the fifth overall pick, which can at least, cover some of the offense lost in time.

As for what Florida gets, they create room for Michael Matheson to be on the roster next season, as the Panthers are good on defensive depth in the system while getting a high ceiling player in McCann and a high second round pick that gives them another chance to replenish the pipeline.

NHL Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference

The NHL Playoffs begin this Wednesday and despite there being no Canadian teams in the hunt this time around (much to my chagrin), there will be no shortage of excitement, as the storylines do run here. For this segment, it will be the Eastern Conference preview.

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Philadelphia Flyers

The Capitals basically wrapped everything up by the time the calendar turned to April, so anything that could be looked into this month appears to be irrelevant. Now, the real fun begins, as we will see if the Caps can finally get over the hump or if it was all smoke and mirrors. Braden Holtby's season for the ages suggests that he's turned a corner in becoming an elite goalie while Alex Ovechkin once again led the way, securing the Rocket Richard Trophy and being the only player with 50 goals this season. This is the best shot for the Caps to win it all, but will it come together finally?

The Flyers needed the last weekend to make the playoffs, and did so with fairly convincing wins. Few expected them to make it here prior to the season, but the team is firmly buying into rookie head coach Dave Hakstol's system and with contributions from Claude Giroux and rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, the Flyers could cause some trouble.

Prediction: Capitals in 6

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) New York Rangers

No Evgeni Malkin, no Marc-Andre Fleury, and a dysfunctional team for half the season, yet the Penguins comfortably made it into the playoffs. A mid-season coaching change lit a fire under Sidney Crosby, who put the team on his back for the first time in a while Malkin is out with injury. Fleury's situation also bears watching, as he could miss a game or two to open the series, but is more likely to start. However, it doesn't look great when Jeff Zatkoff is still on the roster and Tristan Jarry was recently called up to take Matt Murray's spot due to injury.

The Rangers had a little drama of their own, as they couldn't get out of their own way at times, and if not for Henrik Lundqvist, they would have had a harder time making the playoffs. As the likes of Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash go, so will go the Rangers' offense. The wild-card here is Eric Staal, who hasn't been in a playoff game since 2009 with Carolina. Defensively, there could be trouble if Ryan McDonagh is out for an extended period of time.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

(1) Florida Panthers vs. (4) New York Islanders

The Panthers rode the goaltending of Roberto Luongo and contributions from the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Aaron Ekblad to the Atlantic Division title. The next step is winning a playoff series for the first time since 1996. With Jagr, Willie Mitchell, and Dave Bolland on board, this is where the veterans will have the most impact, as they can impart the wisdom of how to handle a playoff series to the young players. If there is a player that needs to step up, it's Nick Bjugstad, as he had a disappointing season.

The Islanders weren't quite as good this season, as John Tavares didn't put up the elite numbers one would be used to, but he contributed in other ways that benefited the team, and that worked for players such as Kyle Okposo and Brock Nelson. Defensively, this wasn't the best of units, but part of that can be traced to a revolving door in goal, as Jaroslav Halak, Thomas Greiss, and J-F Berube saw a fair amount of time there due to injuries. If there is a way the Islanders can pull off the upset, it will have to be up to the likes of Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin to throw off the Panthers with their physical play.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings

The Lightning come limping in thanks to the absence of both Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman. However, the Lightning seem to be getting goals from everyone, but especially Nikita Kucherov, who broke the 30-goal barrier for the first time in his career. Victor Hedman is still on the blue line, and he will look to build on last year's performance while Ben Bishop holds down the fort in goal. One interesting thing to watch for is what, if anything, can Jonathan Drouin contribute.

Detroit barely managed to make it 25 seasons in the playoffs, thanks to a tie-breaker over Boston. However, there isn't a heck of a lot to like about the team right now. Despite having Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings couldn't do much damage offensively, and Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk aren't getting any younger, with Datsyuk possibly on his way out after the season. The Wings still haven't come close to filling the void left by Nicklas Lidstrom after the 2011-12 season, and this time, the goaltending is having a hard time bailing it out, as consistency was hard to come by for either Petr Mrazek or Jimmy Howard.

Prediction: Lightning in 4

Trade Dud-Line

If you had Mikkel Boedker as the big name that would be moved on the Trade Deadline day, then step on up and claim your prize of absolutely nothing. The NHL Trade Deadline came and went, and the biggest names all moved before the actual deadline, with Dion Phaneuf in Ottawa, Andrew Ladd in Chicago (again), and Eric Staal playing with his other brother Marc on Broadway. Saying that, there were teams that immensely helped themselves one way or another while others failed to help themselves. First, the four teams that benefited the most:

FLORIDA PANTHERS: Clearly all in this year, they picked up Jiri Hudler, Teddy Purcell, and Jakub Kindl, effectively picking up two rental players that can play wing and shore up a weak spot with Jonathan Huberdeau injured, as well as a defender that adds depth, as well as a guard against Willie Mitchell being out with a concussion. They also moved Brandon Pirri, as they were dealing from a position of strength.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Andrew Ladd was the big pick-up, and it only cost them Marko Dano and a first round pick in this year's draft. It's not a bad deal, as Ladd returns to a team he's familiar with while the Blackhawks didn't have to give up a player from their roster (Dano was in the AHL) and the Blackhawks have done fairly well developing prospects. Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann were decent pick-ups, as well, as at worst, they will fill the bottom two lines, and although they did give up Phillipp Danault, Mark McNeill remains. Christian Ehrhoff is a nice reclamation project that should fit in with what Chicago wants to do.

CALGARY FLAMES: Traded both Jiri Hudler and Kris Russell, but got back a player with NHL experience in Jyrki Jokipakka, as well as a good prospect in Brett Pollock, plus three draft picks. The Flames may be out of the playoff picture this year, but they did well to shore up their prospect pool.

EDMONTON OILERS: They traded Teddy Purcell and Anders Nilsson for draft picks, and they showed that they were heading in the right direction by picking up Adam Cracknell and Adam Pardy off waivers on the deadline day, as well as trading for Patrick Maroon.The players they got signal that the team is doing its best to address their long-standing problem of lack of grit and size. Oh, and they found someone to take Justin Schultz off their hands.

Now, the four teams that did little to satiate their fan base:

VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Apart from essentially a minor-league trade involving Markus Granlund and Hunter Shinkaruk and a trade for the rights to Phillip Larsen, you have to think the lack of movement, namely the inability to move either Dan Hamhuis or Radim Vrbata, is sending a lot of Canucks fans over the ledge. I'm willing to wait out the season, but this off-season will definitely be a referendum on whether or not fans will be in a forgiving mood if the Canucks fail to make that "earth-shaking" move.

BOSTON BRUINS: They didn't trade Loui Eriksson, which isn't a bad move, but if he doesn't sign with them after the season, that assessment can change. They gave up far too much for John-Michael Liles and Lee Stempniak.

DALLAS STARS: While getting Kris Russell was good, the bounty they had to give away to get him would have been better served getting Dan Hamhuis. Also, getting a third or fourth liner would have been nice.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: All the wheeling and dealing of years past have caught up to the Penguins, as they were unable to do anything more than trade free-agent bust Sergei Plotnikov and pick up three minor-league players from Arizona.

Ready to Pounce

FLORIDA PANTHERS

2014-15 record: 38-29-15 (91 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Willie Mitchell

After a couple of seasons where they finished at the bottom of the league, the Florida Panthers had a respectable showing last season, staying in playoff contention for much of the season.  Now, with the youth a year wiser and veterans that are still with the team providing a winning mentality, the Panthers will be looking to make the playoffs for just the second time since the turn of the century.

The Panthers were still dreadful offensively, as just two players cracked the 20-goal barrier, and one that just missed the mark (Jimmy Hayes' 19) was traded in the off-season.  However, those numbers were somewhat deceptive, as the offense had a bit of a spike thanks to trade deadline acquistion Jaromir Jagr, who showed that he has some life left in his 43-year old body.  His presence also helped Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov, and both will likely be having him as a linemate again, as Jagr re-signed with the team after the season ended.  Nick Bjugstad and Brandon Pirri (the two 20-plus goal scorers) will have Reilly Smith, who came over in the Hayes deal, as a linemate.  The bottom two lines are a nice balance of skill and toughness.  Defensively is where the Panthers make their hay, as the blue line is fairly well stocked as far as depth is concerned, and that begins with Calder Trophy winner Aaron Ekblad.  While he showed why he as taken first overall last year, he did benefit from the presence veterans Wille Mitchell and Brian Campbell, who both also helped Dmirty Kulikov rediscover his game.  In goal, it begins and ends with Roberto Luongo, who picked up where he left off from the last stint he had in Florida.  He stole games for lesser talented Panthers teams of the past, and now, with an improved team in front of him, he won't have to steal as many games, though he is still capable of doing so if the youth don't progress as planned.

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division

In a division where just about any team save for Toronto could be playoff contenders if the cards fall right, the Panthers can boast the most balanced team.  However, for them to take the next step forward, the youth has to step up and be better than what they were or else another year of playoff-free hockey awaits.