Ranking the Eastern Conference’s biggest losers this summer
With offseason moves essentially wrapped up, it is fair to start pinpointing the winners and losers of the summer. It wouldn’t be fair to take a top three (for both sides) for the entire league, so why not split it between the conferences?
We will start with the Eastern Conference losers of the offseason. The parameters are personally subjective, but the list (and ones to come over the next several weeks) was assembled combining organizational standing, offseason game objective and summer transactions.
Let’s jump right into it.
Honorable Mention: Buffalo Sabres
This one may seem out of left field, but after finishing atop the ever-competitive Atlantic Division, the Sabres lost some significant pieces this summer. They traded Bowen Byram (albeit for an incredible return) to the Chicago Blackhawks and Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks, hoping to replace him with a group young defensemen.
They acquired Louis Crevier from the Blackhawks, Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks and have 2025 first round pick Radim Mrtka who could be ready to make the jump; there is a potential for a big youth-movement on the back end in the coming season. But already a bottom-half defensive team in the league last year analytically, there is a possibility for regression.
They didn’t re-sign forward Alex Tuch, who did have a very disappointing playoff performance. But even with young forwards like Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund and Tyson Kozak looking to take on bigger roles, replacing Tuch’s 33 goals and 66 points could be a tough ask. They relied heavily on goaltending last regular season; as we saw in the playoffs, it’s safe to have trepidation regarding Alex Lyon’s ability to replicate last season’s play.
The Sabres are still likely a playoff team and have a lot of potential, but after such a successful 2025-26 campaign, their offseason left a lot to be desired and makes them a candidate for a step-back next year.
3: Columbus Blue Jackets
It’s hard to put the Blue Jackets here because a lot of what’s going on with them is beyond GM Don Waddell’s control. But it still doesn’t change the never-ending parade of negative narratives surrounding this team.
They added Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche and locked up goaltender Jet Greaves to a team-friendly deal. But beyond that, this roster is heavily similar to the one that completely collapsed down the stretch and sent head coach Rick Bowness off a cliff in a post game press conference.
The noise surrounding all star defenseman Zach Werenski’s future with the club has seemingly quieted down, but has the relationship been permanently fractured? With former captain Boone Jenner leaving in free agency, many thought Werenski would be the next man up; is that still the case after the circus back in June? Forward Kirill Marchenko seemingly wants out, which adds yet another high-end player wanting to exit stage-left from Ohio over the last decade.
For a team that finished on the outside looking in last season and missed out in such dramatic fashion, things have seemingly only gotten worse entering next year.
2: Ottawa Senators
Similar to the Blue Jackets, the biggest subtraction of former captain Brady Tkachuk was out of the control of GM Steve Staios. With the never-ending list of Americans pulling the chute on Canadian markets, the eventual departure of Tkachuk seemed to be brewing for a while.
With that being said, Staios didn’t exactly compensate for his captain’s exit. The Senators received a heavy package including three first round picks for Tkachuk but only parlayed one into a player ready to step-in right now with the addition of William Eklund.
The 2021 first round pick is certainly a top-six forward and, after back to back 50-plus point seasons as a 23 year old, can certainly develop into a top-line winger. But in the here and now, it will be hard to see Eklund matching Tkachuk’s near point per game output from last season along with the intangibles the latter brought.
The Senators are deep at center but, beyond Eklund and Drake Batherson, lack an authentic top-six winger. Ridly Greig has effectively been transitioned full-time to the wing because of the team’s center depth, but he has yet to eclipse 40 points. Staios failed to add a top-four, right shot defenseman – something he has been looking to do going back to last season. The back-up goaltender was a problem last season and adding Samuel Ersson (statistically one of the worst goaltenders the last two seasons) was a highly questionable way to address it.
With the Atlantic Division arguably the toughest it has ever been, the Senators will be hard-pressed to grab the second wildcard seed again.
1: Detroit Red Wings
This one was simple, low hanging fruit and honestly, the Red Wings are atop the entire league as the biggest offseason loser. It isn’t particularly close, either.
Their captain Dylan Larkin wants out; Patrick Kane left in free agency; they traded up and coming goaltender Sebastian Cossa for futures; they failed to add any player of significance. The culmination of it all? Steve Yzerman stepping down as general manager, ending one of the most disappointing tenures for an executive we’ve seen in quite some time.
In a division where every other team could be realistically projected as a playoff club, Detroit is clear-cut behind the eight-ball. Their fanbase may not want to hear it after a near-decade of rebuilding, but the Red Wings may need to take a step back before taking one forward.
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