NHL offseason grades: Metropolitan Division
Divisions: Central | Pacific | Atlantic (Thursday)
With the 2024-25 NHL season approaching, we're handing out comprehensive offseason grades for all 32 teams. The four-part series carries on with an in-depth look at each Metropolitan Division club.
Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted.
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Carolina Hurricanes
⭐ Re-signed F Seth Jarvis to 8-year deal with $7.5M AAV
⭐ Re-signed F Jordan Martinook to 3-year deal with $3.05M AAV
⭐ Re-signed F Martin Necas to 2-year deal with $6.5M AAV
⭐ Re-signed D Jalen Chatfield to 3-year deal with $3M AAV
⭐ Signed D Jaccob Slavin to 8-year extension with $6.46M AAV
The Hurricanes underwent a transformative offseason in which they saw major talent walk, core players lock in, and a change in the general manager chair.
New GM Eric Tulsky took care of some important business in re-signing Slavin and Chatfield, as the Hurricanes only had one blue-liner under contract for 2025-26. Retaining Necas was also key as he was rumored to be a prime trade candidate after he expressed frustration with his role on the roster. Trading him while backed into a corner likely would've hampered the return, and losing his offensive talent would've been a tough pill to swallow on top of the departures of Guentzel, Kuznetsov, and Teravainen.
Another important transaction was the Jarvis contract, and kudos to the Canes' new front office for getting creative by deferring money to keep his cap hit lower.
Carolina's lack of depth at center and wing weren't adequately addressed. Tulsky added analytic-friendly players who should fit nicely in Rod Brind'Amour's system, but they aren't huge needle-movers. The Canes simply aren't as loaded as years past. However, the core should carry the club back to the playoffs, and a positive first impression from the new front office makes for a decent grade.
Grade: B-
Columbus Blue Jackets
Grading Columbus' summer transactions after the unthinkable deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau feels hollow. A peaceful path forward for family, friends, and the organization is all that truly matters. We've opted not to include Johnny in our departures section out of respect due to the tragic nature of the event.
⭐ Re-signed F Kent Johnson to 3-year deal with $1.8M AAV
⭐ Re-signed F Kirill Marchenko to 3-year deal with $3.85M AAV
The Blue Jackets hired a new GM (Don Waddell) and head coach (Dean Evason) this summer, laying the groundwork for a new culture as the club continues on its lengthy rebuild.
Columbus' only marquee signing was Monahan, who was excited to play with close friend Gaudreau again after a successful tenure together in Calgary. While the price tag is rich for a near-30-year-old with an extensive injury history, the Blue Jackets are swimming in cap space and can afford to overpay. Additionally, Monahan showed last season he's still productive when available, and he can help shoulder some of the pressure down the middle of the ice on youngsters Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger.
The defining move of the Blue Jackets' offseason - and the first big move of Waddell's tenure - was dealing Laine to the Canadiens. Columbus was in tough to win the trade with Laine wanting out, but throwing in a second-round pick while only receiving a bottom-pairing defenseman was puzzling. If the market for Laine was that poor, the Blue Jackets could've given him an opportunity to bounce back this season and improve his value.
Grade: C-
New Jersey Devils
⭐ Re-signed D Kurtis MacDermid to 3-year deal with $1.15M AAV
⭐ RFA F Dawson Mercer remains unsigned
The Devils were one of the league's busiest teams this summer. GM Tom Fitzgerald made good on his promise to find a starting goalie by finally landing Markstrom in a blockbuster deal with the Calgary Flames. If Markstrom is anywhere near as impactful as he was between the pipes last season, a healthy New Jersey squad should waltz back into the playoffs. Fitzgerald deserves full credit for addressing his club's biggest need before free agency opened, and for hardly paying anything to do so.
New Jersey was also aggressive with its signings, transforming the defensive corps with Pesce, Dillon, and Kovacevic. The Devils now have an enviable blend of youth and experience on the blue line, as well as more quality to deploy than new head coach Sheldon Keefe ever had during his Maple Leafs tenure. Tactical adjustments may be required with a new voice behind the bench, but it's difficult to dislike what New Jersey has put together on paper.
Up front, the Devils only added fringe pieces to supplement their star-studded core. Tatar, Cotter, and Noesen all make New Jersey a deeper team, and none of those contracts hinder the club's cap outlook.
Improving at every position while still leaving wiggle room for acquisitions during the season adds up to a near-perfect summer in the Garden State.
Grade: A
New York Islanders
⭐ Re-signed F Kyle MacLean to 3-year deal with $775K AAV
⭐ Re-signed D Mike Reilly to 1-year deal with $1.25M AAV
There's not much to grade here after another quiet summer in Long Island. New York's most notable signing was Duclair, who should provide scoring punch to a squad that ranked 22nd with 2.99 goals per game a season ago. Although Duclair was a smart addition, it's a gamble to hope his presence alone will be enough to offset a potential drop-off from the club's aging core.
New York also made an intriguing add in Tsyplakov, who netted 31 goals in the KHL last season. He hadn't profiled as a dynamic offensive player before his 2023-24 breakout, but it's worth the gamble for the Islanders to see if they unearthed a gem on a cheap deal.
The Islanders have been set on defense and between the pipes for years, so we won't criticize them for not making any changes there. It would've been fun to see the front office get creative in offloading some salary to add a dynamic forward, but Lou Lamoriello's been an advocate of biding his time for decades. New York has a solid, unspectacular lineup that's likely to sniff around a wild-card spot, and the franchise appears to be satisfied with that.
Grade: C
New York Rangers
⭐ Re-signed F Kaapo Kakko to 1-year deal with $2.4M AAV
⭐ Re-signed D Ryan Lindgren to 1-year deal with $4.5M AAV
⭐ Re-signed D Braden Schneider to 2-year deal with $2.2M AAV
The Rangers stayed quiet this summer after winning the Presidents' Trophy and reaching the Eastern Conference Final. Without enough cap space to go on a spending spree in free agency, New York instead replaced some depth pieces and gave out a trio of bridge deals to its restricted free agents.
One of New York's most notable moves was the unexpected waiving of Goodrow with three years left on his contract. While a tad cold-hearted, it was a necessary decision by Chris Drury to ensure there was enough money available to take care of Kakko, Lindgren, and Schneider. Credit to Drury for finding a way out of one of his mistakes - he inked Goodrow to a highly criticized six-year $21.85-million contract in 2021 - for the betterment of his team.
The Blueshirts would be more eligible for a complete grade if they extended Igor Shesterkin or Alexis Lafreniere - which may still happen - but New York appears to be taking the patient approach for two contracts that are likely to reshape the club's financial structure. It remains to be seen if waiting is the correct course of action, though. Lafreniere enjoyed a breakout season in which he scored 36 goals between the regular season and playoffs, and his price tag will only go up if he carries that form into 2024-25.
Shesterkin, on the other hand, is the team's most important player. We can't know what's happening in negotiations behind closed doors, but it'd be prudent to sign the backbone of the franchise before his status potentially becomes a distraction.
Grade: B-
Philadelphia Flyers
⭐ Signed F Travis Konecny to 8-year extension with $8.75M AAV
⭐ Signed F Garnet Hathaway to 2-year extension with $2.4M AAV
The Flyers opted to keep their rebuild in neutral this offseason but got a huge boost by signing Michkov out of Russia earlier than expected. The 2023 seventh overall pick is projected to be a franchise cornerstone. If he comes as advertised, he'll inject some much-needed skill into Philadelphia's attack. Michkov's signing alone made up for an otherwise quiet summer that saw Daniel Briere stay away from the free agency and trade markets.
Philadelphia's other key piece of business was the Konecny extension. The Flyers did well to lock up their top forward for the maximum term at a reasonable price. Konecny is a leader on the roster and a strong player in all situations. His veteran presence will be key as the Flyers look for their next generation of players to gain footing at the NHL level.
The Flyers also cut ties with Atkinson and Johansen, maximizing cap space while opening the door for younger players to make the roster. It wasn't a flashy summer in Philadelphia, but it was a productive one nonetheless.
Grade: B+
Pittsburgh Penguins
⭐ Re-signed G Alex Nedeljkovic to 2-year deal with $2.5M AAV ⭐ Re-signed F Sidney Crosby to 2-year deal with $8.7M AAV
Kyle Dubas was significantly less aggressive in his second summer in charge of the Penguins. One year after pulling off a trade for Erik Karlsson and handing out numerous big-ticket contracts, the Penguins boss went after depth pieces and kept an eye on the future.
Pittsburgh needs more contributors beyond Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin if the team is going to return to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus. That said, we're not convinced any of the forwards Dubas brought in will make enough of an impact to change the club's fortunes. Hayes, Glass, Beauvillier, and Lizotte combined for an uninspiring 31 goals last season, but the ultimate X-factor among Dubas' additions is McGroarty.
The 20-year-old immediately became Pittsburgh's top prospect, and, by many accounts, he's more NHL-ready than the prospect he was dealt for: Brayden Yager. McGroarty will be given every opportunity to make his mark at the NHL level. If he's as good as advertised, he could transform the Penguins' top six. Even if he's a year or two away from stardom, landing a prospect of McGroarty's caliber is a long- and short-term win for Pittsburgh. It's fair to say the club's final mark would've been harsher if not for the late August prospect swap.
Grade: C+
Washington Capitals
⭐ Re-signed F Connor McMichael to 2-year deal with $2.1M AAV
The Capitals appear set on being much more than a team content to be on the playoff bubble while watching Alex Ovechkin chase down the all-time goal record. Washington was more active than arguably any other team this summer and looks to have improved throughout the lineup.
The Caps' most noteworthy move was acquiring Dubois from the Los Angeles Kings. Taking on the disgruntled forward with seven years left on his contract is a big risk after he failed to fit with three different teams before turning 26, but Washington desperately needed a center with Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov no longer in the picture. Only giving up Darcy Kuemper to get Dubois makes the risk more palatable, but Washington must find a way to tap into his potential.
Dealing Kuemper also opened the door for the Capitals to acquire Thompson, who will form a formidable goaltending duo with Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren was sneakily one of the best goalies in the division last year, and Thompson, despite limited action, has a lifetime .912 save percentage. Reliable goalie tandems are a rarity in today's NHL, but the Capitals impressively found one for a combined $1.866 million.
Washington's most radical overhaul was on defense. Six years may be too many for Roy, but his $5.75-million cap hit is fair. The former King is a reliable defender who plays hard and can eat valuable minutes. The Capitals also acquired Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators for only Nick Jensen and a third-round pick, topping off a brilliant summer. Landing one top-four defenseman in a single offseason is a win, but getting two is a coup.
Grade: A