NHL offseason grades: Atlantic Division

Divisions:
Metropolitan | Central
Pacific | Atlantic

The Atlantic Divison is arguably the best in the league. Last season it featured three 100-plus-point teams, including the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins.

However, the bottom of the division is nothing to write home about. The Ottawa Senators are the league's worst team and the Detroit Red Wings aren't much better.

But after the Florida Panthers' huge offseason, there are four Atlantic teams with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations and at least five that will compete for a playoff spot.

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value doesn't include bonuses.

Boston Bruins

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

With the Bruins holding limited cap space, this offseason was all about re-signing McAvoy and Carlo, and to date, they haven't checked the former off the list. Don Sweeney is a fantastic GM, but he didn't improve the team at all, making it tough to give him a high grade.

Grade: C-

Buffalo Sabres

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Sabres added Miller and Jokiharju to significantly upgrade their blue line, and they also acquired Brandon Montour at the deadline. That seemingly paved the way to trade Rasmus Ristolainen for a much-needed top-six forward, but a deal hasn't materialized. Johansson and Vesey are nice, low-risk additions up front, but neither player moves the needle much.

Jason Botterill's best piece of work this offseason was re-signing Skinner. The forward's new contract may seem like a bit of an overpay, but that's usually the cost to convince someone to stay in western New York. Plus, it's far better than the alternative of watching him walk for nothing.

Ralph Krueger is a nice hire to replace Phil Housley behind the bench, but the Sabres still aren't ready to hang with the big boys in this division. They're headed in the right direction, though.

Grade: B+

Detroit Red Wings

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

N/A

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Steve Yzerman's first summer as the Red Wings' GM was rather quiet.

There isn't anything wrong with that because the club is in rebuild mode, and the prospect pipeline - which grew after a pair of nice signings - should begin to bear fruit in no time.

Grade: C

Florida Panthers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Panthers overpaid during free agency, and they were able to pursue that path due to a number of bargain in-house contracts. Bobrovsky provides a desperately needed solution between the pipes, while Stralman should become a steadying presence on the blue line. Connolly could shine with more ice time, and Acciari is a nice depth piece.

Florida also landed the top coaching option available in Joel Quenneville, who's arguably the league's best bench boss.

There was already a talented core assembled in Florida. But after filling out the roster, the Panthers are the most improved team in the league (sorry, Rangers), and a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Grade: A

Montreal Canadiens

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The analytics community would argue that Chiarot is actually a downgrade from Benn, but the Habs decided to pay the former Winnipeg Jets blue-liner nearly double what the Vancouver Canucks gave Benn. Meanwhile, Montreal probably could've landed Jake Gardiner for a bit more (both in AAV and term) than what they handed Chiarot.

The Canadiens didn't make the necessary moves this offseason to become a playoff favorite. Their forward group is deep, but Montreal's defense didn't get the upgrade it needed. If Shea Weber misses any time, the Habs will be in tough to compete for the East's second wild-card spot - which is their ceiling in this division.

An embarrassing attempt to pry Sebastian Aho away from the Carolina Hurricanes sums up Marc Bergevin's summer.

Grade: D

Ottawa Senators

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Everything the Senators did this summer was about money. Every trade they made was done to land a player whose average annual value is higher than his actual salary. That allows the club to get to the cap floor while spending as little as possible, which was the plan all along.

Ottawa executed that strategy well, and it's not the worst idea for a rebuilding team with limited financial resources.

There are many young and exciting players on the Sens' roster, but the team will be bad enough to give itself a shot at landing the 2020 first overall pick.

Grade: C+

Tampa Bay Lightning

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Julien BriseBois' first summer as GM of the Lightning was pretty stellar. He kept most of the gang together, and the player he did part with (Miller) was swapped for a first-round pick.

Not getting Point signed puts a slight damper on the offseason, but the club should be able to ink him with its remaining cap space. And when the Lightning do that, they'll be considered Stanley Cup favorites.

Grade: B-

Toronto Maple Leafs

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Unsigned RFAs

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Leafs were one of the busiest teams this summer, and GM Kyle Dubas deserves credit for getting out from under a tough cap situation while also addressing team needs.

Dubas amazingly shipped out Marleau and Zaitsev, and their bloated contracts. For Marleau, it cost Dubas a first-round pick, but that was worth it to free up $6.25 million in cap room, which the team used to sign Kapanen and Johnsson.

Ceci is essentially a right-handed version of Hainsey, but he comes with far more upside, and the 25-year-old could perform better after a change of scenery.

Dubas also added Barrie, another much-needed right-handed defenseman. The electrifying blue-liner fits the Leafs' up-tempo skill game. If he re-signs before his contract expires next summer, the trade was a win for Toronto. If not, Kerfoot - who was acquired in the same deal - should be a decent and cheaper Kadri replacement.

The only thing preventing a higher grade here is not re-signing Marner yet, though Dubas is apparently pulling out all the stops.

Grade: A-