The best under-the-radar additions this NHL offseason

The big-name moves naturally steal the most attention, but under-the-radar transactions from the NHL offseason deserve some love, too.

With training camps underway and the preseason soon to follow, here are some additions that didn't make headlines but could make a big impact this season.

Sabres' speedsters

At the end of last season, the Sabres' bottom six featured a strange mix of skill sets and lacked identity.

In an effort to improve the lineup's depth, general manager Kevyn Adams added four of the fastest skaters in the NHL.

Adams began by trading a second-round pick for Beck Malenstyn, then added Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel in free agency. He controversially traded top-10 pick Matt Savoie for Ryan McLeod later in the summer, too.

Skating speed is far from everything (just look at Mark Stone), and the additions on their own aren't overly exciting, possibly with the exception of McLeod. But taking into account how they give the Sabres' bottom six a much-needed identity, it's a very intriguing set of moves.

Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel comprised two-thirds of the Washington Capitals' superb fourth line last season. With Nic Dowd in the middle, the trio started just 7.7% of shifts in the offensive zone but managed to outscore opponents 16-12 at five-on-five.

As expected, Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel are flanking Lafferty to commence Sabres camp. The blazing speed and forechecking of the new-look bottom six in Buffalo will be a lot for opposing defenders to deal with, and it properly replaces the mishmash of players that the team ended last season with.

John Marino, D, Utah Hockey Club

Marino's acquisition was overshadowed by Utah's blockbuster trade for Mikhail Sergachev mere minutes earlier, but don't discount just how important Marino could become for his new club.

The 27-year-old has shown he can be an elite defensive defenseman over his five-year career. He burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019-20 and posted elite defensive metrics again in 2022-23 with the New Jersey Devils.

Marino has accumulated 21.2 expected defensive goals above replacement since he entered the league, ranking 16th among all defenders over that span.

He also played over 222 shorthanded minutes last season and joins a roster that didn't see a single defender play over 200 minutes on the penalty kill last season. In fact, the five defensemen who logged the most shorthanded minutes for the then-Arizona Coyotes have all left, with two being traded at the deadline and three departing in the offseason.

The trade for Sergachev was certainly more exciting, and Marino won't put up the numbers others will on the back end, but he'll likely be the team's most important defensive player.

Ty Emberson, D, Edmonton Oilers

When the Oilers shipped Cody Ceci and his $3.25-million cap hit to the Sharks, most people focused on the salary it freed up, and rightfully so. After all, Edmonton was still mulling the offer sheets Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway signed at the time.

What went overlooked in the transaction was the defenseman the Oilers got back from San Jose, a player who could legitimately help Edmonton this season.

The Sharks plucked Emberson off waivers from the New York Rangers before last season. The 24-year-old got into 30 games as a rookie, recording one goal and 10 points. He averaged 18:33 of ice time and over three hits per game, and he led Sharks defenders in five-on-five points per 60.

In addition to being physical and moderately productive in limited action, Emberson posted strong underlying metrics. His 5.2 defensive goals above replacement led Sharks defensemen and would've ranked second on the Oilers behind Vincent Desharnais.

San Jose acquired Emberson after a strong defensive campaign with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack in 2022-23. His coach that year: Kris Knoblauch, who, of course, is now the Oilers' head coach. That isn't a coincidence.

Emberson opened Oilers camp paired with Darnell Nurse and projects to play a notable role for the Stanley Cup contenders. For a measly $950,000 cap hit and as the youngest defenseman on the roster, there's a good chance this acquisition will soon be praised as shrewd.

Adam Boqvist, D, Florida Panthers

The Panthers have gained a reputation in recent years for revitalizing careers. Gustav Forsling, Brandon Montour, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, and more have enjoyed levels of success that many didn't expect before the players arrived in Florida.

Boqvist hopes to become the franchise's next success story. He signed a one-year contract at the league minimum of $775,000 after being bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Boqvist was set to cost $2.6 million against the cap in Columbus this season.

The 2018 eighth overall pick managed just one goal and 10 points in 35 games last season. Availability has been a major issue; he has a career high of only 52 games.

Boqvist is still only 24 years old and steps into a significantly better Panthers team that, as mentioned, has consistently gotten the best out of reclamation projects.

Montour is the obvious blueprint for Boqvist. When the Panthers acquired Montour in 2021, he had failed to live up to the hype of his sophomore season with the Anaheim Ducks. Montour had 14 points in 38 games when he was traded to Florida and had only reached the 30-point mark once in four full seasons.

Boqvist is beginning Panthers camp alongside a fellow Swede in Forsling. Boqvist is in line for the best opportunity of his career, and if he sticks in the top four, he could easily be regarded as the summer's best value signing.

Avs' Swedish blue-liners

Erik Brannstrom and Oliver Kylington were viewed as two skilled defensemen who could be value adds for whichever team signed them in free agency. So, of course, the Colorado Avalanche simply landed both.

Brannstrom, 25, didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Ottawa Senators and inked a $900,000 deal with the Avs. The former 15th overall pick hasn't found the levels of offense expected of him in the NHL, but he's become an effective third-pairing option with strong underlying metrics.

Kylington, 27, returned to the Calgary Flames last season after an extended period away due to personal reasons. In his last full campaign, he registered nine goals and 31 points in 73 games as an exciting, speedy defender. He signed for $1.05 million in Colorado.

Both defenders fit the Avalanche's system extremely well with their skating and puck-moving ability. Most importantly, both come with incredibly low cap hits for a team that will be in cap hell midseason.

Valeri Nichushkin's $6.13-million cap hit will hit the books again in November. Gabriel Landeskog hopes to be back this season, which would take his $7-million ticket off long-term injured reserve.

If the Avalanche are forced to trade Samuel Girard and his $5-million cap hit midseason, Brannstrom and Kylington suddenly go from smart bets as roster depth to potential top-four contributors.

As GM Chris MacFarland prepares to navigate his cap situation, don't overlook the importance of these two signings.

(Stats source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)
(Contracts source: PuckPedia)