Ranking the Eastern Conference’s biggest winners this summer
The last two weeks we tackled the biggest losers of the off-season from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, respectively. This week, we turn our attention to the biggest winners across the league – starting with the East.
Let’s jump right into it.
Honorable mention: Montreal Canadiens
As the old adage goes: sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make. In the case of the Canadiens and GM Kent Hughes, that is directly applicable.
The Canadiens did not do much of anything this summer, mostly taking care of internal housekeeping. They locked up 2025 first-round pick Ivan Demidov to a mega eight-year, $73.2-million contract on July 1, while also re-upping RFA center Kirby Dach on a one-year deal with an AAV of $3.6 million. They also sent longtime winger Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks.
Beyond that, not much of anything has gone on for the Habs, with the (somewhat) glaring holes of a second line center and right-shot defenseman still apparent. With that said, there are clear cut internal options to fill both those spots. Oliver Kapanen (despite a difficult post season) had a really solid rookie campaign and could reprise his role as the club’s No. 2 center, while 2024 first-round pick David Reinbacher may have his best crack at stepping into a full-time role in the Canadiens’ starting lineup, possibly even the top four at some point, to balance out the back end’s handedness.
There is always the chance that both spots still need addressing well into the regular season, but Hughes avoided potential overpayments before fully seeing what he had with some of his internal options.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
First things first: it is more than fair to question the Maple Leafs’ overall direction on a macro level. Trying to prolong a championship window through free-agent shopping and committing significant money to aging players always comes with heavy risk. But if that was their objective, there isn’t much more that GM John Chayka could’ve done to better execute that goal.
It would take a while to deeply analyze all of Toronto’s many transactions, but the top three additions directly addressed major issues from last season. First overall selection Gavin McKenna can step in directly beside captain Auston Matthews, a spot that has been a rotating door since the departure of Mitch Marner last summer. McKenna’s offensive game is very similar to that of Marner, being able to operate as the puck transporter through the neutral zone and facilitate offense from the perimeter.
Darren Raddysh’s arrival will hopefully give a boost to the Leafs’ power play. His booming right shot will be a welcomed addition to the point that has lacked an authentic weapon for some time. The $68 million commitment is a hefty one for a 30-year-old defender, but his 22 goals and 70 points is thoroughly needed while his (right) handedness will help balance out a defense that has historically been imbalanced in that regard.
Sergei Bobovsky had a down year in Florida last season, but his Stanley Cup pedigree will be an upgrade over the inconsistent goaltending Toronto had last season. Having a good history with fellow netminder Anthony Stolarz, the Leafs’ tandem is, at least on paper, the best it has been during the Matthews era.
2. Florida Panthers
Panthers GM Bill Zito wasted no time this summer looking to improve his team, pulling off the blockbuster acquisition of Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Trading three first-round picks to execute it, the Panthers added the power forward to a roster that was riddled by injuries and didn’t have enough offensive depth to compensate for it.
Further down the depth chart, they added forwards Garnet Hathaway and Lars Eller, while locking up returning defenseman Radko Gudas to a six-year contract to bolster the third pair. They did overhaul the goaltending by bringing back Jacob Markstrom, which is certainly a risk given his past few seasons, heavily struggling during his last season with the Calgary Flames and this past year with the New Jersey Devils.
The returns of injured players from last season will act as off-season acquisitions, as captain Aleksander Barkov and forward Matthew Tkachuk will step right into the top-line roles they have historically had. The recent injury news of Brad Marchand will affect the team’s depth, mind you, making the Hathaway and Eller additions more significant than originally thought.
Even with a roll of the dice in net, providing they can stay healthy, the Panthers are well positioned to take a major step back towards contention next season.
1. Washington Capitals
For the second time in three off seasons, the Capitals went to work, adding significant pieces directly following a playoff-miss.
The Capitals added the top forward on the free agent market in Alex Tuch, signing him to an eight-year deal carrying a $10.5-million AAV. Boone Jenner will be a big addition to the team’s bottom six, while a full season from 20-year-old Ilya Protas could have an effect directly at the top of the lineup should he force his way up it.
Vincent Desharnais will help the lower end of the defensive lineup, while a full season of Timothy Liljegren provides another puck-moving option lower in the lineup after Jakob Chychrun and Rasmus Sandin.
In an always below average Metropolitan Division, there is a real path to where the Caps end up near the top like they did two seasons ago – especially if goaltender Logan Thompson continues to play at a near elite-level.
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