Utah Signs Egor Sokolov To Two-Way Contract

Utah Signs Egor Sokolov To Two-Way Contract

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The Utah Hockey Club has signed forward Egor Sokolov to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal was first reported by Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff (Twitter link). Utah acquired Sokolov from the Ottawa Senators on July 3rd, sending forward Jan Jenik the other way.
This deal will mark Sokolov’s first move away from the Senators organization after the club selected him in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, after a breakout year in the QMJHL, with 92 points, split evenly, in just 52 games. He turned pro immediately following the draft, recording 15 goals and 25 points in his first 35 games with the Belleville Senators. That production earned Sokolov the first eight NHL games of his career in 2021, though he went without any scoring. Still, he’s maintained his strong offense at an AHL level, ranking in the top three of Belleville’s scoring in each of the last three seasons. That notably includes a career year in 2022-23, when Sokolov managed 21 goals and 59 points in 70 games. He once again earned NHL games with the high-scoring, netting two points in five additional games with Ottawa.
Sokolov again recorded 21 goals this season, though he was limited to 46 total points in 71 games. A hefty, shoot-first winger, he’s still finding how to create and maintain tempo at the pro level, though Sokolov has shown a strong ability to produce on both a juniors and minor-league stage. A two-way deal will give him a chance to prove that potential with the NHL’s newest club this season, though he may have to first work his way up from the minor leagues.

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NHL insider says there will be interest in Cody Ceci if Oilers try to trade him this summer – Oilers Nation

NHL insider says there will be interest in Cody Ceci if Oilers try to trade him this summer – Oilers Nation

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NHL insider says there will be interest in Cody Ceci if Oilers try to trade him this summer  Oilers Nation100% certainty Edmonton Oilers can move out veteran d-man, NHL insider says. But should they?  Edmonton JournalOilers Defenders Surface in Trade Rumors  The Hockey NewsRumors & Proposals Thread | Post Free Agent Frenzy, Will JJ Show His Pimp Hand Again to Upgrade the Defense?  HFBoardsNHL trade rumors: Top insider names Edmonton Oilers’ Brett Kulak and $13,000,000 D-man as targets to facilitate deals  Sportskeeda

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Six players who could challenge James Hagens for first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft

Six players who could challenge James Hagens for first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft

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There hasn’t been much intrigue at the top of the draft in the past two seasons. Connor Bedard had first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft locked up years in advance. There were a few pretenders for that spot in the 2024 draft, but Macklin Celebrini held his claim when the league descended upon Las Vegas, Nevada, for this year’s draft.Which brings us to the 2025 NHL Draft, with James Hagens as its frontrunner. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound American centre has been atop his age bracket for as long as this class has been on scouts radar. He spent the entirety of his draft-minus-one season with the USNTDP U18 team and was far and away their best player, leading the team with 102 points in 58 contests. A brilliant encore to the 19 points that he amassed in 17 games with that team as a 16-year-old.Inter

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Rangers’ Matt Rempe taking fighting lessons from former NHL heavyweight

Rangers’ Matt Rempe taking fighting lessons from former NHL heavyweight

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Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY SportsCredit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves (75) lands a punch as he fights with New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe (73) in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Before Matt Rempe headed home to Alberta for the summer, the New York Rangers forward listed all the things he planned to improve on this offseason in a conversation with reporters at breakup day. That included one skill that brought him the most notoriety as an NHL rookie in 2023-24.

Fighting.

True to his word, Rempe is trying to improve his on-ice pugilistic skills and has incorporated the help of someone who knows a thing or two about the subject. Former NHL heavyweight Georges Laraque.

The 12-year NHL veteran posted on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram photos of himself working with Rempe and Tyrel Bauer, a Winnipeg Jets defenseman prospect, on the finer points of fighting.

See moreI’m training Matt Rempe and Tyrel Bauer for hockey fighting, this week in Edmonton, at the Silent Ice arena. If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the @NHL, wait till you see him this coming season… 🔥🔥J’entraîne Matt Rempe et Tyrel Bauer aux combats de hockey,… pic.twitter.com/Y0zjWNTJjl— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) July 8, 2024

“If you thought Rempe was a problem this year in the [NHL], wait till you see him this coming season,” Laraque wrote in his post.

Rempe burst on to the NHL scene in February when the 22-year-old dropped the gloves on his first NHL shift with Islanders tough guy Matt Martin in front of 79,000 fans outdoors at MetLife Stadium. He proceeded to fight in five of his first seven games, including bouts with Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nic Deslauriers of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Later in the season, the 6-foot-8 forward engaged with Kurtis MacDermid as part of a wild line brawl to start the Rangers game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on April 3.

All told, Rempe racked up 71 penalty minutes in 17 NHL games and a four-game suspension for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler on March 11.

Those are the kinds of numbers Laraque can relate to. Now, 48, Laraque retired in 2010 with 1,126 penalty minutes in 695 regular-season games.

So, yeah, Laraque probably can teach the rambunctious Rangers forward a thing or two.

“I also ant to work on the fighting, I want to be the guy,” Rempe explained in June. “I really enjoy that part of the game, so I want to continue to work on that.”

Related: What we learned about Rangers through 1st week of NHL free agency

Matt Rempe prepares for 2nd Rangers season with help of Georges Laraque

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY SportsCredit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Though Laraque is most known for his fighting in the NHL, he carved out an important role for four teams because he could play, as well as drop the gloves. He had 13 goals and 29 points in 2000-01 with the Edmonton Oilers and 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) for the Phoenix Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006-07.

Laraque used his 6-foot-4 frame to be an effective forechecker and physical presence even when not fighting.

That’s an important example for Rempe to follow. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has emphasized that Rempe can be a very good player and will be trusted more as he develops every facet of his game. It showed when Rempe scored New York’s first goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after driving to the net and hammering home a centering pass in Game 1 of the first round against the Washington Capitals.

And that’s Rempe’s goal this summer because he has big plans for 2024-25 and beyond.

“I want to bring more to the table. I want to be a guy that can play 8-12 minutes every single night,” Rempe explained. “I want to be really good defensively. I want to eventually be a penalty killer. But I just have to earn all these things. I have to work on my skating, work on my skills, every part of the game.”

As Rempe noted, “being a sixth-round pick, I’ve always had to out-work, out-work, out-work … that’s my mindset.”

And it’s continuing this summer, where pilates and fighting lessons both have their place in his schedule.

An improved Rempe skating on a fourth-line now centered by the rugged Sam Carrick, perhaps with another towering wing, Adam Edstrom, on the other side, could be a big part of the Rangers lineup next season.

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3 Potential Free-Agent Destinations for Mark Giordano – NHL Trade Rumors

3 Potential Free-Agent Destinations for Mark Giordano – NHL Trade Rumors

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Mark Giordano is still looking for his new home over a week into free agency. The veteran defenseman’s plan is to continue his career rather than retire. As a result of this, let’s discuss three teams who could consider bringing him in now.New York Rangers: The New York Rangers could consider taking a shot on Giordano. When looking at their left side, it is clear that Giordano could compete for a spot on their bottom pairing if signed. In addition, he would give them another veteran with great leadership qualities, which would certainly be good for a contender like the Rangers. Florida Panthers: The Florida Panthers could use more defensive depth, as they lost multiple defenders this offseason. Due to this, they could consider bringing in Giordano on a one-year deal. He would give them another option for their bottom pairing. In addition, he likely wouldn’t be against playing there, as they are the reigning Stanley Cup champs, and he has yet to win one. Carolina Hurricanes: The Carolina Hurricanes are another club that lost several defensemen this offseason. Due to this, it would not hurt for them to add a bit more depth to their blueline before the start of the season. Giordano would give them that and could serve well as a seventh defenseman for the Metropolitan Division club.photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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Penguins name Maple Leafs’ Wes Clark VP of player personnel: What it means for both teams

Penguins name Maple Leafs’ Wes Clark VP of player personnel: What it means for both teams

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The Pittsburgh Penguins added to their hockey operations department Tuesday, announcing the hiring of Wes Clark as vice president of player personnel. It is a new position under Kyle Dubas, who was hired last summer as president of hockey and later assumed the role of general manager.Clark will preside over amateur and professional scouting, college and European free-agent scouting and will report to Dubas.
The Penguins have named Wes Clark Vice President of Player Personnel.
Clark will oversee the club’s amateur, professional and college/European free agent scouting departments and will report directly to Kyle Dubas.
Details: https://t.co/jPKwgZ3lyC pic.twitter.com/5rL458mRMs
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 9, 2024Clark was with the Toronto Maple Leafs in various capacities over the previous six seasons. He ran the Maple Leafs’ drafts as director of player personnel from 2023-24, and previously served as director of amateur scouting, assistant director of player personnel and development, and also as a player evaluation consultant.Though granted full autonomy on hockey matters by Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Penguins, Dubas has slowly remade hockey operations. He has promoted personnel that served under previous management, while also adding Vickie Mpofu (directory of hockey operations and legal affairs, Trent Mann (player development and scouting advisor), and former San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson (senior advisor).“Starting last fall with the addition of Trent Mann as a player development and scouting advisor and the elevation of Andy Saucier to lead our pro scouting department, we have sought to really bolster our player personnel system,” Dubas said in a statement. “Our personnel decisions in this short term will be critical as we seek to add the draft picks, prospects and young players that will serve to add an infusion of young, hungry players to our core.“By adding Wes to lead the departments directed by Nick Pryor and Andy, along with the valuable experience and wisdom that Trent provides, we have tried to put the Penguins in a strong position to go out and execute on our personnel strategy in the short and long run. Having worked with Wes for many years, I have a deep trust in his ability to identify talent, lead staffs, advance our scouting process and methods, learn from mistakes to improve processes and to challenge my own thinking and planning on a near-daily basis.”In May, the Penguins fired more than 20 staffers from their business operations. No cuts were made to hockey operations.What this means for the Maple LeafsThis hiring is not a huge surprise. Wes Clark worked for Dubas back when Dubas was still running the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. When Dubas became GM of the Leafs, he brought Clark into the organization and eventually made him the head of amateur scouting. Clark earned fans within the team for nabbing potential NHLers Fraser Minten in 2022 and Easton Cowan in 2023. He just led the 2024 NHL Draft that saw the Leafs pick Ben Danford at the end of the first round. His departure means the Leafs will need someone new to oversee their amateur scouting operation.Dubas was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and grew up around the Greyhounds, for whom his late grandfather coached from 1960-67. Dubas was GM of the Greyhounds from 2011-14 before he joined the Maple Leafs.Clark is not the first person with Maple Leafs ties to join Dubas in Pittsburgh. Assistant general manager Jason Spezza served as assistant to the GM under Dubas.What this mean for the PenguinsClark brings veteran experience to an area that Dubas has emphasized recently: acquiring assets. Though he has resisted using phrases such as “rebuild” or “retool,” Dubas’ moves to date this offseason indicate the once always-all-in Penguins are focusing as much on their future as their present.The Penguins took on veteran forward Kevin Hayes in a trade at the NHL Draft, essentially so they could add land a future second-round pick. As for free-agent signings, Dubas has opted for one- or two-year contracts with depth players after giving longer terms last summer to retain goalie Tristan Jarry, sign defensemen Ryan Graves and forward Noel Acciari, and acquire Erik Karlsson in a high-profile trade.Those moves did not help the Penguins return to the playoffs. They have missed out on the last two postseasons after qualifying for a salary-cap-era record 16 consecutive playoffs.The Penguins project to have around $3.5 million in cap space, as charted by PuckPedia. They have not replaced winger Jake Guentzel, who was captain Sidney Crosby’s longtime linemate and dealt at the most recent trade deadline.To acquire a winger of stature to pair with Crosby and Bryan Rust on the top line, Dubas would likely need to trade a current roster player. But many of the Penguins veterans have contractual clauses that limit Dubas’ maneuverability.Even while tinkering around the edges with the current roster, Dubas is focused on ownership’s top priority — securing a new contract with Crosby. As reported by The Athletic on Monday, the Penguins and Crosby are closing in on a deal that will keep him in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Crosby has repeatedly said he wants to retire with the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2005.(Photo: David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)


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How the Rangers’ biggest draft miss fooled almost everyone

How the Rangers’ biggest draft miss fooled almost everyone

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If you’re like me, you likely spent much of your July 4 weekend watching YouTube clips of old NHL drafts.

No? Well, apparently that’s why I’m here.

I’d never run across these before — the treasure trove is endless — and at first I checked out a couple from the early 1980s, when I worked for the Devils. There I was, walking alongside Kirk Muller on his way to the team table after he had been selected second-overall in 1984 behind Mario Lemieux.

I scrolled through a few others from the bad old days, as New Jersey’s beloved general manager Max McNab would say, and watched us select Craig Wolanin No. 3 overall in 1985. No, I haven’t yet seen the 1986 draft in which the Devils selected Neil Brady third overall while Brian Leetch was on the board and remained so until the Rangers selected the lad from Avon Old Farms at No. 9.

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Senators prospect Stephen Halliday is ready to make the NHL jump: ‘Ottawa believed in me’

Senators prospect Stephen Halliday is ready to make the NHL jump: ‘Ottawa believed in me’

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OTTAWA — The friendly family wager occurred more than a decade ago, but Stephen Halliday still remembers the terms precisely.In the spring of 2013, a 10-year-old Halliday wanted to purchase a $25 New York Rangers ball cap from Dick’s Sporting Goods. The price tag was a little steep, so his father, James — a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan — came up with a fun bet.If the Boston Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of their playoff series, James would pay for the hat for his son. But if the Maple Leafs emerged victorious, young Stephen would be on the hook for the bill.Those terms were easy for Stephen to digest, considering his hockey fandom back then really only had one crucial rule.“My dad loves Toronto, but I would just cheer for any team that was playing against the Leafs on a given night,” Halliday says.On the night of May 13, 2013, the Maple Leafs and Bruins played one of the most memorable playoff games in the salary-cap era. Toronto raced out to a 4-1 lead in Game 7, making it very likely that Stephen would have to cough up $25 for his hat.“I remember bawling my eyes out,” laughs Halliday. “The Leafs were up by three goals in Game 7 and I was thinking I had to pay him back for that hat.”The Bruins then waged one of the most epic postseason comebacks, scoring three times in the final 10:42 of regulation time to tie the contest before Patrice Bergeron ended it with an overtime winner. It shifted the dynamics dramatically inside the Halliday home.“After the game, I was jumping all over him. I was laughing at him,” says Halliday. “My dad was in total shock. His head was down and he was really upset.”Halliday jokes that he was too young to understand the significance of that game at the time, thinking it was only memorable because it determined which family member paid for the ball cap.“I didn’t realize how big that Toronto-Boston game was until like five years later,” Halliday says.That small anecdote will certainly endear Halliday to Ottawa Senators fans, but it should also paint a picture of a young man with an insatiable appetite for hockey. He happily accepts being labelled as a “hockey nerd,” and when you sit down and chat with Halliday, it becomes quickly evident that his knowledge of hockey borders on encyclopedic.The No. 19 has a unique history with the Senators. That jersey has been worn by some of the most gifted and talented offensive players in franchise history.Alexei Yashin wore it in 1998-99, the season he was a Hart Trophy nominee.Jason Spezza set a franchise record with 71 assists in 2005-06 while wearing No. 19.And these days, Drake Batherson has established himself as a legitimate top-six forward while wearing the number.During a conversation with The Athletic inside the Canadian Tire Centre last week, Halliday is asked if he knows the history of the jersey in Ottawa — considering he’s often worn No. 19 as a player himself.Without hesitation, Halliday describes Spezza’s signature move when he played for the Senators.“Spezza was patented for the fake slapper and then going five-hole on the goalie,” Halliday says. “It’s so cool to watch.”Halliday has also closely studied Batherson, whose path he is hoping to closely mirror. Like Batherson, Halliday was drafted in the fourth round by the Senators and has required a bit of a longer path to reach Ottawa. Batherson needed parts of two seasons in Belleville, where he racked up 116 points in 103 AHL games.

Halliday wore No. 19 with the Ohio State Buckeyes, a number with a rich history within the Senators organization. (Barbara J. Perenic / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today)“I’ve watched all of Batherson’s goals from Belleville and I’ve tried to figure out why he was successful there,” says Halliday.That passion for watching videos and breaking down film is genuine for the 22-year-old Halliday. As a kid who grew up with social media at his fingertips, Halliday spent countless hours during his teen years creating hockey videos on Instagram.“Every kid has their hobbies,” says Halliday. “That was mine.”Halliday’s account has produced more than 600 videos, including highlight reels featuring his favourite players to watch like Clayton Keller, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. Now that he’s an NHL Draft pick, he feels sheepish about publicly sharing the handle for his hockey video account but has allowed The Athletic to peruse some of his work. And Halliday’s video editing skills are as silky smooth as his playmaking abilities on the ice.In the spring of 2017, 14-year-old Halliday posted his first video — a montage featuring a handful of spectacular McDavid highlights.A Patrick Kane highlight reel from 2020 begins with a sequence of Kane’s eyes and No. 88 illuminated, showing off Halliday’s evolution as an editor.Senators fans will appreciate that he even commemorated Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s four-goal game against the Rangers in the 2017 playoffs with a slick video featuring DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One” as the soundtrack.“It’s actually just really easy to clip it and make these highlight reels,” says Halliday.These days, Halliday still enthusiastically soaks in as many hockey videos as he can. He’ll study Connor Bedard’s release, or try to get tips on Kent Johnson’s playmaking abilities. And this past spring, after he joined Belleville for its playoff run, Halliday put together a handful of highlight reels to pass the time in a new city. These featured 2023-24 Hart Trophy candidates Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov as well as Auston Matthews.“I still do them occasionally,” says Halliday. “I was bored this spring and did a couple of videos. I’m just always watching hockey.”Halliday’s father’s work required the family to relocate from the Toronto area down to Maryland when he was 12 years old. He easily made the top teams for his age group, representing the state at various tournaments.“But the competition really wasn’t great,” says Halliday.As a teenager, Halliday knew he had to return to Canada if he wanted to pursue his passion for hockey.He convinced his parents to let him move back to Toronto with his cousins, where he could be pushed by elite competition. In his first season playing with the Toronto Marlies as a 15-year-old, Halliday led the club in goals, assists and points. He instantly clicked with teammate Jamie Drysdale, often getting rides to and from practices and games from Drysdale’s mother.After that season, Drysdale immediately made the jump to the OHL and became a star with the Erie Otters. Halliday, however, was hesitant to follow the same route as his good friend. He feared that his frame — which was already bordering on 6-foot-4 — was too lanky to thrive in the OHL.“I knew since I was a bigger dude, I wasn’t really that well developed at that age. I wasn’t where I needed to be physically,” says Halliday. “College was the better route for me.”To prepare for the NCAA route, Halliday once again packed up and moved on his own, this time to Bloomington, Ill. He suited up as a 16-year-old for the Central Illinois Flying Aces in the USHL, but the team immediately folded at the end of that season.“The owner felt so bad he had to fold the team that he bought us all free suits,” laughs Halliday. “So at least I got a nice new suit out of it.”Halliday’s USHL rights transferred to the Dubuque Fighting Saints as part of a dispersal draft. His game exploded in three seasons in Dubuque, where he established himself as one of the premier playmakers in the league. By the time his USHL career concluded, Halliday was fifth all-time in league history for regular-season points and was the USHL Tier 11 regular-season career assists leader.But those dominant seasons and potential for an NHL team to land a big playmaking centre did not translate into success at the draft.The first year he was eligible for the NHL Draft in 2020, his good friend Drysdale went No. 6 to the Anaheim Ducks. Halliday closely followed the draft — which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic — to see if his name would be called.“That first year, I really paid attention. It was so cool. I thought to myself, ‘Oh my God, maybe I could be drafted,’” says Halliday. “And it definitely sucked not seeing my name called. But I used it as a motivational tool.”When he was eligible for the 2021 draft the following summer, Halliday didn’t even bother paying attention.“That second year, I just knew I wasn’t getting picked,” he says. “And it was really good in hindsight because it gave me even more motivation.”In the fall of 2021, Halliday committed to attending Ohio State University at the conclusion of his USHL career. He returned for a final year in Dubuque in 2021-22 and his 60-assist, 95-point season was finally good enough for the Senators to select him in the fourth round in 2022. But once again, Halliday opted not to pay attention to the draft in Montreal that summer, knowing it was hardly a guarantee he would be selected.“I didn’t want to get my hopes up because I was on a good path. But my dad was watching and he was the first one to call me,” says Halliday. “It was so cool to see his reaction because he’s been along for the whole ride. His reaction made me so happy.”If there was one more family bet Halliday wanted to make, he’s pretty sure his father wouldn’t accept it.Halliday was a standout tennis player in his teen years, following in the footsteps of his father, who played while attending Western University.“He says he was ranked 20th in the province back in the day, but there are no online records of it,” laughs Halliday. “There are no videos of him playing either.”James used to toy with him on the tennis courts, making his son race back and forth to try to chase down balls. But if the two of them were to ever step on the court again, Halliday is convinced things would go the other way.“He would never play me now because he knows I’d kill him now,” says Halliday. “So he’ll never agree to play me.”Halliday, however, rarely has time for tennis these days. He’s still working on his consumer finance degree from Ohio State and plans to finish the program remotely in the next couple of years. And of course, he’s got his sights set squarely on pushing for an NHL job this fall. He was the oldest invite to Ottawa’s development camp last week, having turned 22 the day the camp opened. Halliday was more polished and mature than the rest of his counterparts and is likely the attendee with the best chance of playing NHL games.He turned pro this spring, leaving Ohio State after leading the team in scoring in each of his two seasons with the Buckeyes. Halliday was immediately parachuted into Belleville after signing his entry-level contract this past spring and his transition to the professional game was seamless. He led Belleville with nine points in seven playoff games, showing off his playmaking skills with seven assists.As it stands, the Senators may have a spot or two open for competition in their bottom six in training camp. Halliday knows his game might require a bit more refining in the AHL, but as a player who was passed over twice in the draft, he doesn’t require a fresh lesson in patience.“Whether it’s with Belleville or Ottawa, I just need to work on my game and get it to the highest level possible. I want to make an impression at camp. I want to at least show them I can play in the NHL, whether it’s this year or the year after,” says Halliday. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to play in the NHL, so hopefully I get a call-up at some point. But I’m open to anything. Ottawa believed in me enough to pick me. And I want to show them that it was a good pick.”(Top photo: Jonathan Tenca / Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

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Way-too-early NHL Power Rankings for the 2024-25 season

Way-too-early NHL Power Rankings for the 2024-25 season

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The end of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs ran right up to draft week, as the Florida Panthers won the Cup less than four full days prior to the start of the selection process at Sphere. And less than two days after the final draft pick was made, the free agency frenzy began.And yeah, we also got the full NHL schedule release, too.It’s been a jam-packed calendar, but now it’s time to take a step back and assess just how we feel about all 32 teams, looking ahead to the fall. Who will be the top Cup contenders? Who will be in the running for the draft lottery? Here’s how the winds are blowing as of early July.How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on where they rank each club, which generates our master list here.Note: The previous ranking for each team refers to the final regular-season edition, published April 12.Previous ranking: 72023-24 finish: Stanley Cup champsIf we borrow the lineal champion concept from the world of boxing, then it’s logical that the Cats remain in the No. 1 spot, having just won the first title in franchise history. The Panthers retained Sam Reinhart, who was set to make a mint as an unrestricted free agent, and extended “Baby Barkov” Anton Lundell, along with several other moves.Previous ranking: 82023-24 finish: Lost in Stanley Cup FinalGM Ken Holland — a future Hall of Famer — is out of the Oilers’ front office, but the club made some wise moves thus far this summer to give the team he helped build a strong chance at glory next spring. Re-upping with Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark gives them two proven playoff performers, and inking Jeff Skinner following the veteran’s buyout by Buffalo should ensure that he’ll finally get to skate in a playoff game.Previous ranking: 12023-24 finish: Lost in conference finalsRemember the name Emil Hemming. The Stars have a knack for turning picks from the late first round (and later) into NHL stars thanks to a superb development system. Hemming, a Finnish forward taken No. 29 overall, is next in that pipeline.Previous ranking: 22023-24 finish: Lost in conference finalsThe big moves to which Rangers fans had become accustomed have yet to materialize this offseason, save for the trade to add Reilly Smith. To be fair, this team as currently constructed won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular season record in 2023-24, and gave the Panthers a tough series in the Eastern Conference finals. Adding around the edges — and leaving some room to do a bit more at the trade deadline — might be the best strategy.Previous ranking: 62023-24 finish: Lost in second roundThe Avs haven’t been beyond the second round for two straight postseasons; then again, the last time they were, they won the Cup. So give the front office a bit of a pass here, given that the core of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar remains in place. And while fans don’t always go wild for re-signings, the new deal for Casey Mittelstadt might wind up being their best piece of business this entire offseason.Previous ranking: 32023-24 finish: Lost in second roundPerhaps the most consequential moves this offseason happened in management positions: Eric Tulsky took over as GM, and coach Rod Brind’Amour was signed to a new contract. At least, that’s the type of stability on which fans should hang their hats; many on-ice personnel changes took place as well, including the loss of two key defensemen in Brett Pesce (New Jersey) and Brady Skjei (Nashville).Previous ranking: 52023-24 finish: Lost in second roundOne of these years, the Bruins might take a big step backwards. But not this upcoming season, according to our voters. The Bruins had one of the more satisfying summers, as they needed a top-line center and shutdown defender — then signed Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to handle those duties, respectively. The trade sending Linus Ullmark to Ottawa raised some eyebrows, but now this is officially Jeremy Swayman’s crease following an impressive postseason.Previous ranking: 112023-24 finish: Lost in first roundThe Preds haven’t historically been a top free agent destination. That changed in 2024, as Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei all signed long-term deals on July 1. A team that surprised some onlookers in 2023-24 has set a higher bar for 2024-25.Previous ranking: 42023-24 finish: Lost in second roundA cavalcade of playoff-tested ex-Bruins found its way to the Pacific Northwest, bolstering a core of players that all seemed to perform at or near career-high levels in 2023-24. The Canucks are clearly not ready to cede the Pacific Division to the Cup finalist Oilers.Previous ranking: 92023-24 finish: Lost in first roundThe Leafs have been a consistently great regular-season hockey team in recent campaigns — and then the playoffs roll around. Although much of the on-ice personnel remains in place from last season — including all of the “Core Four,” in spite of Mitch Marner trade rumors — the club did make a coaching change, subbing in Craig Berube for Sheldon Keefe, as well as investing in veteran defensemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Will it be enough?

Previous ranking: 222023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsHad the Devils received league-average goaltending in 2023-24, it’s likely they would’ve qualified for the postseason, if not won a round or two. To help matters in that department, they traded for Jacob Markstrom this summer; to help Markstrom, they signed Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon, and will get back a healthy Dougie Hamilton. Our voters are bullish on them getting back among the playoff contenders.Previous ranking: 152023-24 finish: Lost in first roundIt’s easy to forget because it feels like it was years ago, but the Knights’ first-round matchup against the Stars was one of the best of the entire postseason. There were some significant losses from the on-ice group due to Vegas’ ever-present salary cap crunch, but we’re not convinced they’re done making summer moves, either.Previous ranking: 122023-24 finish: Lost in first roundHave the Panthers gained a long-term upper hand in the Battle of Florida? It would seem so, based on how the regular season finished, and what happened in Round 1. For the first time in over a decade, the Lightning will not have Steven Stamkos as their captain. Can they jump back ahead of the Panthers without him?Previous ranking: 132023-24 finish: Lost in first roundNew uniforms, new starting goalie, different results? It has been three straight first-round playoff losses to the Oilers for L.A., and in order to get by Connor McDavid & Co., they inked former Edmonton forward Warren Foegele (in addition to other moves).Previous ranking: 102023-24 finish: Lost in first roundBehind an impressive defensive effort, the Jets charged up the standings and looked like one of the strongest teams in the 2024 playoffs. Then the system appeared to fail, whether it was goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the players in front of him or both. They’ll run it back with essentially the same crew this season, hoping to maintain that dominance into the postseason.Previous ranking: 192023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsAt some point, the Yzerplan must result in the Red Wings’ return to the playoffs. Will it happen for them in 2024-25? Detroit brought back Patrick Kane for another kick at the can, and wisely added two-time Cup winner Vladimir Tarasenko as well. But was that enough?Previous ranking: 142023-24 finish: Lost in first roundThis team has not made splashy moves during the Lou Lamoriello era, and that trend continued this offseason. Nevertheless, Isles fans should be encouraged by one move for the short term (signing Anthony Duclair), and one for the long term (drafting Cole Eiserman).Previous ranking: 182023-24 finish: Lost in first roundMany thought the Caps would be content watching franchise icon Alex Ovechkin chase down Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record, and wouldn’t otherwise be too competitive. After a surprising run to the 2024 playoffs, the front office has not stood pat, trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jakob Chychrun and Logan Thompson, and signing Matt Roy. Those are not moves made by a team content to be in draft lottery position.Previous ranking: 232023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsThe Flyers were one of the NHL’s pleasant surprises for much of 2023-24, holding a playoff position well beyond the trade deadline. Unfortunately, a late-season tailspin sent them back to the draft lottery. And they didn’t really add anyone of note in free agency, either. Then again, by signing Matvei Michkov, they made the biggest on-ice addition in recent team history — and one of the most consequential additions league-wide this summer.Previous ranking: 202023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsEntering their final season with $14.743 million in dead cap space due to the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, the Wild didn’t do a ton in free agency. However, they did land perhaps the steal of the draft in Zeev Buium, who somehow fell to them at No. 12. So at least there’s help on the way.Previous ranking: 162023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsOutside observers were pretty sure that the Penguins would be looking to get a little younger this offseason. While Anthony Beauvillier and Matt Grzelcyk sort of help in that cause, the trade for Kevin Hayes was a bewildering one.Previous ranking: N/A2023-24 finish: N/AIt’s the first season for the NHL’s newest team! You might recognize some familiar faces from the Arizona Coyotes, but Utah GM Bill Armstrong made some major additions this offseason too, trading for Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino and inking veteran D-man Ian Cole and Cup champ Kevin Stenlund. This team could surprise in 2024-25.Previous ranking: 172023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsThe Blues remained on the fringes of the playoff race well past the deadline last spring and made some wise moves to shore up the forward depth this summer, including adding Radek Faksa and Alexandre Texier. Is that enough to keep pace with the Central heavyweights?Previous ranking: 242023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsFor a team that faces immense pressure to end the NHL’s longest playoff drought, the Sabres didn’t really do too much this offseason (unless one believes that Jason Zucker can find a new gear). Perhaps the switch to Lindy Ruff behind the bench will spark something.Previous ranking: 272023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsDo the Senators get a mulligan for the entire star-crossed 2023-24 campaign? New ownership yielded new front office personnel, which yielded a new coaching staff. The team made a major upgrade in goal in landing Linus Ullmark in a trade, and a young core should be entering its prime seasons.Previous ranking: 212023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsAfter a run to the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Kraken were quite underwhelming in Year 3. That cost Dave Hakstol his job, and Dan Bylsma (who coached the club’s AHL team this past season) is taking over. From an on-ice perspective, they made some significant additions in center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour, members of the two most recent Cup champs.Previous ranking: 252023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsWith the trade of Jacob Markstrom — coupled with the many veteran deletions ahead of the 2023-24 trade deadline — it’s clear that the rebuild is on (whether management wants to use that word or not). However, the Flames left Las Vegas with one of the best draft classes, so help is assuredly on the way.Previous ranking: 282023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsThe Canadiens are most definitely doing the “slow and steady” version of a rebuild, and the club’s most significant move this summer was inking 2022 first-round pick Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year contract extension. Can they catch up to the Senators, Sabres or Red Wings this season?Previous ranking: 312023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsConnor Bedard earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie last season, and GM Kyle Davidson rewarded him by adding another strong batch of veteran free agents to the roster this summer. It’ll continue to be tough sledding in the stacked Central Division, but maybe the games will be a bit more competitive this time around.Previous ranking: 292023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsWith a new GM and new coach heading into 2024-25, it’s a bit of a clean slate for the Blue Jackets. With one of the more impressive young cores in the NHL led by Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov, they could be a sleeper.Previous ranking: 302023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsThe Ducks were not a very good team in 2023-24. While they didn’t do a ton to change the personnel this season, they did make a significant upgrade to their logo and uniforms, so at least they’ll look better doing what they’re doing.Previous ranking: 322023-24 finish: Missed the playoffsAlthough the Sharks weren’t record-setting in their poor performance last season, they were a country mile out of a playoff spot. After adding Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick, signing 2023 first-rounder Will Smith, and welcoming an impressive collection of veteran free agents (including Tyler Toffoli and Alex Wennberg) and trade additions (Jake Walman and Carl Grundstrom) they won’t be such an easy out in 2024-25.

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