From shakeups to shakedowns, it hasn’t exactly been a quiet summer in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference.
Your Ottawa Senators added in the way of veteran help (as advertised), your Toronto Maple Leafs shook up that targeted, beleaguered blueline, and your Montreal Canadiens stuck to due diligence on the signing front as the warm weather invaded.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at who did what and which questions are front and centre as the teams start the long road towards training camp in September.
(We’ll start our checkdown with Ottawa then proceed alphabetically.)
“Did management do enough to get into the post-season?”
It wasn’t quite the barnburner of a summer Ottawa fans expected.
GM Steve Staios added to the team’s weakest link – in goal – but as far as shaking up the club’s youngish core?
Not much there.
David Perron, Noah Gregor and Mike Amadio were brought in to aid the third and fourth lines, while Linus Ullmark gets the keys to the castle in net.
Nick Jensen was the best Staios could do in a swap for Jakob Chychrun. And as much as the Ullmark-from-Boston deal looks like a steal, the take-back on Chychrun is wildly underwhelming.
Staios is banking on youngsters like Zack Ostapchuk, Tyler Kleven and perhaps Max Guenette making the jump, as well as seeing growth from Jake Sanderson and Tim Stutzle.
Is Ottawa closer to breaking the seven-year hex?
Unlikely at this juncture.
(. . . And now, the rest of the East).
“Swayman’s now the man, right?”
No question about it. The envy of the league with Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman in goal, the Bruins are no longer a two-headed dread for the rest of the circuit.
“Are the post-season blues going to occur, again?”
Never really got it with Buffalo. Great young core and not remotely close to the playoffs . . . year after year. Will the club hit 14 years without a spot? Not much was done – akin to Ottawa – this summer roster-wise. Again, the hope here is that the Bowen Byrams, Owen Powers and Rasmus Dahlins take another step. Riding your hopes on ‘hope’ can be a killer though.
“Too thin up front?”
Carolina lost out in a big way when trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel grabbed his ball and slid over to Tampa. Scoring’s always been an issue when this team gets into the playoffs, and it appears to be unresolved.
“Last, again?”
The Jackets have a whack of quality prospects, a new coach and a new point producer in Sean Monahan, but last place in the conference is likely going to happen one more time. Big sigh over there, Columbus.
“Is Stevie Y faltering here?”
Steve Yzerman’s team got to within a hair of the playoffs in 2023-24 and it’s going to be tougher this season after losing veteran hockey guys in Perron, Shayne Gostisbehere and Daniel Sprong. The goaltending is suspect as well.
“Are we talking dynasty, or not?”
We’ll take the latter. Florida’s back end took a big knock when stud Brandon Montour signed with Seattle, and Oliver-Ekman Larsson signed in Toronto. Given how difficult it is to go title town back-to-back, and the fact that the Panthers have made it to the final two straight seasons, it’s a big ask to get there yet again.
“We’re still chatting about ‘growth,’ correct?”
Yep. No doubt. The Habs defensive depth and youth is to be relished while Nick Suzuki capably leads the forwards, but, but, but . . . the organization’s still a year or two away from competing impressively.
“Who’s the most improved team in the East?”
Why, that would be the Devils. Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon bolster the defence and don’t discount the return to health for Dougie Hamilton. In goal, it’s all yours, Jacob Markstrom.
“Is this still Team Bland?”
Nothing says differently. The Isles will do their best to bore teams into wins for another go-round.
“See that hump? Get passed it, Ok?”
First in the standings didn’t get New York’s best into the league final. Seemingly it’s the same story every season – the Rangers get so, so, close, then sputter. If the Panthers do indeed fatigue themselves away, the door opens for 2024-25.
“The old gang’s still here, why?”
As much as we don’t ‘get’ Buffalo, ditto with Pittsburgh which’ll trot out the same old, same old one more time.
“Has the Torts well run dry?”
John Tortorella’s shelf life as a head coach isn’t a lasting one and Philly got a taste of that sour last season. Captain Sean Couturier was a healthy scratch, and Torts labelled his club as too soft at one point. Clock’s a’ ticking.
“Is Julien Brisebois the top GM in the league?”
If he’s not, he’s right next to the guy down the road with the Panthers (Bill Zito). Brisebois doesn’t re-sign legend Steven Stamkos to a parade of boos, then inks the top free agent available in Jake Guentzel to a parade of cheers. Tampa never reboots, just reloads.
“Defence is stronger, but is it enough?”
GM Brad Treliving’s certainly put his stamp on Toronto, reeling in blueline help in Ekman-Larsson and defensive dynamo Chris Tanev. Big questions still surround the goaltending and this whole Mitch Marner fiasco has to be unsettling. So, to answer your question . . . probably not.
“All about Ovie?”
It will be until (or if) the NHL’s best scorer surpasses Wayne Gretzky. Still, the team did make improvements in hauling in Chychrun and the underrated Matt Roy to aid the defence.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
