Atlantic Division: Who got Better, Worse or Stayed the Same
The NHL off-season is always a mixed bag.
This offseason season saw at least one blockbuster trade and several big name players change teams via free agency. However, we've now hit August, and hockey news can be slow to say the least.
With that in mind, and with the 2022-2023 season just around the corner, it might be worthwhile to take a look at which Atlantic Division teams made the most of their offseason.
Mainly, who got better, who got worse and who stayed close to the same?
The Florida Panthers:
The 2022 Presidents Trophy winners won't be nearly as dominant as last season.
Notable losses:
- Jonathan Huberdeau
- MacKenzie Weegar
- Claude Giroux
- Mason Marchment
Notable additions:
Tkachuk is an incredible player, but those losses are going to hurt this club more than people realize. Outside of Aaron Ekblad, the defense is rather weak on an already top-heavy team.
Prediction: Worse
Ottawa Senators:
The Senators maybe had the best offseason in the entire NHL. General manager Pierre Dorion more than worthy of some recognition for the summer he has had.
Notable losses:
- Filip Gustavfsson
- Connor Brown
- Matt Murray
Notable additions:
- Alex DeBrincat
- Claude Giroux
- Cam Talbot
However, one issue that wasn't addressed was on the blue line. Not much on the backend outside of Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub.
Prediction: Better
The Detroit Red Wings:
The Wings are coming into this season looking a lot stronger and deeper up front, along with the skillful youth they've built through the draft in recent years.
Notable losses:
- Sam Gagner
Notable additions:
- Andrew Copp
- David Perron
- Dominik Kubalik
- Ben Chairot
- Ville Husso
With Calder Trophy Winner Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond expected to take another big step forward, can the Red Wings challenge for a Wild Card spot in the East?
Prediction: Better
Tampa Bay Lightning
After being a juggernaut for past five to six years, the Lightning are maybe slower losing some of their thunder.
Notable losses:
Notable additions:
- Haydn Fleury
- Vladislav Namestnikov
- Ian Cole
Only losing McDonagh and Palat is way more than the Lightning gained this offseason. The club will also be without Anthony Cirelli until at least December following surgery this summer.
However, Tampa still has the best goaltender in the NHL and one of the best cores with Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman.
Prediction: Worse
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are still in rebuild mode, and those no reason not to keep it that way to try and get the chance to select Connor Bedard with the first overall pick next summer.
Notable losses:
- Jeff Petry
- Alexander Romanov
Notable additions:
- Kirby Dach
- Evgeni Dadonov
- Mike Mathewson
- Juraj Slafkovsky
- Sean Monahan
Maybe a slight improvement from last season with a few upgrades on offense, but the news of Carey Price is a dagger.
I don't think the Habs are going into this season expecting a lot but another high draft pick.
Prediction: Same
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres could go either way. The club vastly improved after they traded Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights.
A full season with new look Sabres could have potential.
Notable losses:
- Colin Miller
- Mark Pysyk
Notable additions:
- Eric Comrie
- Ilya Lyubushkin
- Kale Clague
I don't think the Sabres will be much better in the 2022-23 season but
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs haven't changed a ton over the offseason, except for in the crease.
Notable losses:
- Jack Campbell
- Ondrej Kase
- Petr Mrazek
- Ilya Mikheyev
Notable gains:
- Matt Murray
- Ilya Samsonov
- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
- Calle Jarnkrok
Plenty of lateral moves by the Leafs and maybe some slight improvements, but the same core led them to a fourth place regular season finish.
As stated above they changed the most in net, and their entire season banks on a bounce back from Samsonov and the health of Murray.
Prediction: Slightly Worse
Boston Bruins
Last but certainly not least, the Boston Bruins!
Notable losses:
Notable additions:
- David Krejci
- Pavel Zacha
The Bruins made minor deals, but re-signing Patrice Bergeron is a huge gain for this club. Along with the additions of Krejci and Zacha, the club actually has decent centre depth.
However, as we've touched on before, it all comes down to what happens until the New Year because of injuries to major pieces Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy.
Prediction: Same
Here are some other teams who have gotten better, worse and stayed the same this summer:
