Edmonton was the last team standing in the Western Conference in June, and the Oilers look a step ahead of everyone else as we close out July.
Several teams in the West have improved this offseason, particularly among the ones that did not make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But as we reach the dead period of the NHL offseason, the Oilers look like the class of the conference after a breakthrough season and a couple of shrewd signings.
How did all 16 teams in the West fare this offseason? Let’s take a look.
Good team, got better
Edmonton Oilers
2023-24: 49-27-6, 104 points
In: F Viktor Arvidsson, F Jeff Skinner, D Josh Brown
Out: F Ryan McLeod, F Warren Foegele, D Vincent Desharnais, G Jack Campbell
Prospects: F Matthew Savoie, F Raphael Lavoie
The Oilers continue to find ways to create negative feelings off the ice but are also likely the team to beat in 2024-25 after adding two more strong forwards. Edmonton’s defense corps and goaltending still have some questions, but no other contender had a better July 1.
Nashville Predators
2023-24: 47-30-5, 99 points
In: F Steven Stamkos, F Jonathan Marchessault, D Brady Skjei, G Scott Wedgewood
Out: D Ryan McDonagh, F Jason Zucker, F Anthony Beauvillier, F Keifer Sherwood, G Kevin Lankinen
Prospects: D Spencer Stastney, G Yaroslav Askarov
They might not be way better, but the Predators were certainly one of the big offseason winners. Strong up front, but that defense corps will have skeptics. Still having Juuse Saros at the top of his game will offer some cover.
The Avs
Colorado Avalanche
2023-24: 50–25-7, 107 points
In: D Calvin de Haan, D Erik Brannstrom, D Jacob MacDonald, D Calle Rosen, F Parker Kelly, F Jere Innala
Out: D Sean Walker, F Yakov Trenin, F Zach Parise, F Andrew Cogliano, F Brandon Duhaime, D Jack Johnson, D Caleb Jones, G Ivan Prosvetov
Prospects: F Nikolai Kovalenko, D Sam Malinski, F Calum Ritchie
The West’s biggest wild card. Colorado’s first-choice six won’t be as good on defense, but there’s more depth now. Keeping Jonathan Drouin was the most important move. The ceiling, which might be Edmonton’s top challenger and might be one round and done, is still tied to Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog.
Good team, not better
Dallas Stars
2023-24: 52-21-9, 113 points
In: D Matt Dumba, D Ilya Lyubushkin, D Brendan Smith, G Casey DeSmith, F Colin Blackwell
Out: F Joe Pavelski, D Chris Tanev, D Ryan Suter, F Radek Faksa, G Scott Wedgewood, F Ty Dellandrea
Prospects: F Mavrik Bourque, D Lian Bichsel
Dallas is still a top contender, but the Stars missed a chance to really separate from the rest of the division with better moves around the edges. They didn’t add Tanev until near the deadline last year and might need a similar move again.
Vancouver Canucks
2023-24: 50-23-9, 109 points
In: F Jake DeBrusk, F Danton Heinen, F Daniel Sprong, F Kiefer Sherwood, D Vincent Desharnais, D Derek Forbort
Out: C Elias Lindholm, D Nikita Zadorov, F Ilya Mikheyev, D Ian Cole, G Casey DeSmith
Prospects: F Aatu Raty, F Jonathan Lekkerimaki
If we had a “good team, about the same” category, it would include the Canucks. The forward upgrades might be enough to cover the defense corps looking worse. Great high-end talent, but Edmonton is still in the way.
Los Angeles Kings
2023-24: 44-27-11, 99 points
In: G Darcy Kuemper, D Joel Edmundson, F Warren Foegele, F Tanner Jeannot, D Kyle Burroughs, D Caleb Jones
Out: F Pierre-Luc Dubois, F Viktor Arvidsson, D Matt Roy, G Cam Talbot
Prospects: D Brandt Clarke, F Akil Thomas, F Alex Turcotte
Clearly wanted to add more grit/toughness/etc. Clearly going to need young players like Quinton Byfield, Jordan Spence and the trio listed above to take big steps forward or the Kings could be in danger of … just being the same. Again.
Vegas Golden Knights
2023-24: 45-29-8, 98 points
In: G Ilya Samsonov, F Victor Olofsson, F Alexander Holtz, D Robert Hagg, G Akira Schmid
Out: F Jonathan Marchessault, F Chandler Stephenson, G Logan Thompson, F Anthony Mantha, D Alec Martinez, F Paul Cotter, F William Carrier, F Michael Amadio
Prospects: F Brendan Brisson, D Lukas Cormier
Vegas buys at the deadline and resets in July. This is what the Golden Knights do. The defense corps still looks great, but the forward group … looks more vulnerable than it has in a while.
Winnipeg Jets
2023-24: 52-24-6, 108 points
In: G Eric Comrie, G Kaapo Kahkonen, D Dylan Coghlan, F Jared Anderson-Dolan
Out: F Sean Monahan, F Tyler Toffoli, D Brendan Dillon, G Laurent Brossoit
Prospects: F Brad Lambert, F Chaz Lucius, F Nikita Chibrikov
The Jets had a similar offseason to Vegas, though Winnipeg has some younger players who are ready for bigger roles and a different coach who might give them more time to fill them.
“Stuck in the middle with you”
Minnesota Wild
2023-24: 39-34-9, 87 points
In: F Yakov Trenin, F Jakub Lauko
Out: D Alex Goligoski, D Dakota Mermis, F Vinni Lettieri
Prospects: F Marat Khusnutdinov, G Jesper Wallstedt, F Liam Ohgren
One more year of being hamstrung by the huge Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts. The Wild have a superstar (Kirill Kaprizov) and some fun young players to build around. Minnesota could be a contender-in-waiting … if it can stop using up future cap space by overpaying middle-of-the-lineup guys.
Seattle Kraken
2023-24: 34-35-13, 81 points
In: D Brandon Montour, F Chandler Stephenson, D Josh Mahura
Out: D Justin Schultz, D Brian Dumoulin, F Kailer Yamamoto, F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Prospects: F Shane Wright
Montour alone makes the Kraken better, but there’s a long way to go to catch the top eight. Stephenson was one of the worst contracts of the offseason. Still some “what’s the direction here?” vibes.
St. Louis Blues
2023-24: 43-33-6, 92 points
In: D Ryan Suter, D Pierre-Olivier Joseph, F Mathieu Joseph, F Radek Faksa, F Alexandre Texier, F Kasperi Kapanen
Out: F Kevin Hayes, F Jakub Vrana, D Marco Scandella, F Sammy Blais
Prospects: F Zach Dean, F Dalibor Dvorsky
Seattle, but with a more expensive defense corps? It doesn’t help that Torey Krug might miss the season. Low ceiling, but probably not a low floor, either.
Bad team, got better
Chicago Blackhawks
2023-24: 23-53-6, 52 points
In: F Teuvo Teravainen, F Tyler Bertuzzi, D Alec Martinez, D TJ Brodie, G Laurent Brossoit, F Ilya Mikheyev, F Craig Smith, F Pat Maroon
Out: F Tyler Johnson, F Taylor Raddysh, D Jarred Tinordi
Prospects: F Frank Nazar, F Landon Slaggert, D Artyom Levshunov
That’s a lot of dudes. Connor Bedard will have more help up front. Brossoit is going to miss his old teammates. Most of these guys won’t be here when the Hawks are really ready to win again.
San Jose Sharks
2023-24: 19-54-9, 47 points
In: F Macklin Celebrini, F Will Smith, F Tyler Toffoli, F Alex Wennberg, D Jake Walman, F Barclay Goodrow, F Ty Dellandrea, F Carl Grundstrom
Out: F Kevin Labanc, D Kyle Burroughs
Prospects: D Shakir Mukhamadullin, F Filip Bystedt
The Sharks have their centerpiece now and continue to build an army of young players to support him. Like Chicago, San Jose added a few quality NHL players. The gap to the middle should shrink, but the big jump is probably still in the future.
Utah Hockey Club
2023-24: 36-41-5, 77 points
In: D Mikhail Sergachev, D John Marino, D Ian Cole, F Egor Sokolov
Out: D JJ Moser, D Josh Brown, F Travis Boyd, D Travis Dermott, F Conor Geekie
Prospects: F Josh Doan, D Victor Soderstrom
Not listed above: The biggest upgrade might be the fresh start. OK, the new guys on defense are kind of a big deal too. More ground to cover than St. Louis and Minnesota, but all three could challenge for a playoff spot.
Bad team, not much better
Anaheim Ducks
2023-24: 27-50-5, 59 points
In: F Robby Fabbri, D Brian Dumoulin, F Jansen Harkins
Out: F Jakob Silfverberg, F Max Jones
Prospects: F Cutter Gauthier, D Olen Zellweger, D Tristan Luneau
Two of the three terrible teams made significant additions. The Ducks opted for marginal ones, but Anaheim also has more of its excellent young core ready for NHL action. This group is going to really pop at some point, but this feels like another wait-and-see summer.
Calgary Flames
2023-24: 38-39-5, 81 points
In: F Anthony Mantha, F Ryan Lomberg, D Jake Bean
Out: G Jacob Markstrom, F Andrew Mangiapane, F A.J. Greer
Prospects: F Matthew Coronato, G Dustin Wolf
San Jose wouldn’t say it was rebuilding until the standings said it for the Sharks. The Flames appear to be following the same path. Maybe Wolf finally gets a real shot now, but these moves look like another move further away from the 2021-22 club that had 111 points.
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