The 2021-22 NHL season included a great deal of highlights, from the dominance of the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers to the goal-scoring prowess of Auston Matthews and Chris Kreider to spectacular goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, Frederik Andersen and Jacob Markstrom.
But there can be only one team that gets to raise the Stanley Cup. For the rest, this offseason will be a critical time to restock for another playoff run, make that big free-agent signing to get over the hump or continue the slow build back to contention. It's time to identify their biggest needs as well as some solutions that can be explored.
Read on for a look at what went wrong for each eliminated team, along with a breakdown of its biggest keys this offseason and realistic expectations for 2022-23. Note that more teams will be added to this story as they are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Go through every team's profile or skip ahead to your favorite team using the links below:
Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Central teams were written by Kristen Shilton, while Greg Wyshynski analyzed the Metro and Pacific teams. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Projected cap space per Spotrac.
Jump to a team:
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF
CGY | CAR | CHI | COL
CBJ | DAL | DET | EDM
LA | LA | MIN | MTL
NSH | NJ | NYI | NYR
OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ
SEA | STL | TB | TOR
VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG
Stanley Cup finalists
Colorado Avalanche
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $24,760,000
2022 draft picks: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went right? Colorado was the NHL's most complete team this season, and that culminated with the visitors skating the Stanley Cup in Tampa. While everyone lauded the Panthers for their scoring prowess, the real heavyweights of the league were building toward a thoroughly dominant postseason. The Avalanche were too fast, too deep, too well-coached and too well-constructed to be stopped.
It wasn't just a star-driven effort, it was a talent-driven one. Colorado had more of that on every line and every pairing than any opponent it faced. GM Joe Sakic designed the Avalanche that way. He made the necessary moves to fill in Colorado's gaps, particularly with the trade-deadline addition of Artturi Lehkonen. The Avalanche received timely contributions from important role players, and there was a buy-in across the board that made Colorado impenetrable.
What went right for Colorado? Everything. But it was no accident. After three straight years of skidding through second-round playoff disappointments, Colorado got tired of falling short of expectations. This time around, the Avalanche delivered.
Keys to the offseason: Well, Sakic has a pair of big decisions. Can the Avalanche re-sign Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin, who are both pending unrestricted free agents? If not, whom do you put more weight behind trying to keep?
Kadri had a sensational 87-point regular season and an excellent playoffs with 15 points in 15 games. The 31-year-old can finally command a high-dollar deal, and he'll want to cash in. Nichushkin was the surprise of the postseason, stepping up in Kadri's absence to score nine goals and 15 points while showcasing an aggressive, 200-foot game that's quintessentially Colorado. Knowing Nathan MacKinnon is one season away from his own long-term extension, Sakic has to be smart with how he allots the Avalanche's cap space now.
Other key pending UFAs: Darcy Kuemper, Andre Burakovsky and Josh Manson. Given Colorado's success (and their contributions to it), all three will receive potentially lucrative offers from other teams. Also, Lehkonen is a pending restricted free agent. If Sakic wants Colorado to be a Tampa Bay-like success story, he'll have to get creative with the cap and in his decision-making, determining who is too critical to lose and who might ultimately be replaceable.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23: A repeat Stanley Cup Final appearance by the Avalanche is absolutely possible. The team's core is excellent. Its leadership will remain intact. Its depth will be somewhat impacted through free agency, but not insurmountably so. Whether Colorado goes all the way again or not, we should expect the defending champs to be back near the top of the league.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $0
2022 draft picks: 1st, 4th (CHI), 5th, 6th, 6th (DET), 7th, 7th (NYR)
What went wrong? Listen, it's hard to win one Stanley Cup, let alone two in a row. To be in a position to win three consecutive Cups? It's a pretty incredible feat in and of itself. But can we really say that some fatigue didn't catch up to the Lightning? That's not even a criticism so much as acknowledging that all those extra weeks and months of hockey the past couple of years do take their toll (just ask the 2010s Chicago Blackhawks). Plus, it's not like Tampa Bay was sweeping through every series (sorry, Florida).
The Lightning fell behind first against the Maple Leafs and Rangers and had to battle back. Mentally and physically, the playoffs were a grind. In the end, did Tampa Bay become too easy to play against? Maybe. Did the Lightning lean too heavily on their stars -- Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy -- to be spectacular every single night and struggle when they weren't? Perhaps. Were Brayden Point's post-injury limitations a factor in the Final? Definitely.
When faced with handling the speed and skill of Colorado after all that, it just felt like Tampa Bay ran out of steam, and all out of runway.
Keys to the offseason: Once again, Tampa Bay doesn't have much of an offseason. GM Julien BriseBois will have to quickly step back, take a breath and assess where his team is at. We already know the Lightning will be up against the salary cap, and as of now they have just two picks in the first four rounds of the 2022 draft. An easier place to start is with decisions to be made on pending UFAs Nick Paul (who was added at the deadline), Ondrej Palat and Jan Rutta.
The key here for the Lightning though is figuring out how they're going to pivot. Are there major adjustments to look at, or just minor ones? Stamkos is coming off a career season at 32 -- will that continue into next year? After the postseason exit, is BriseBois satisfied with Tampa Bay's depth, particularly on the back end? Having limited cap space will prevent any sort of big overhaul -- not that the Lightning need it -- so BriseBois will need to be creative in maximizing his bargaining power.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23: Tampa Bay could need a season to regroup. But it feels more likely it will be back and ready to contend. Brendan Hagel, who was added at the deadline, is 23 and full of potential; Ross Colton is 25 and making strides. Any team boasting the likes of Hedman, Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Stamkos, Point and Anthony Cirelli is going to be better than mediocre, you know? Will the Lightning be a Cup contender, though? I wouldn't bet against them.
Conference finalists
New York Rangers
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $14,883,532
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 4th (WPG), 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
They ran out of rallies. The Rangers were 5-0 when facing elimination through two rounds. They came back to win three times when down 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins -- thanks in no small part to an ill-timed injury to Sidney Crosby and the Penguins' goaltending problems -- and down 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes, winning in Game 7 in both series. But against the Lightning, they couldn't force a final game back at Madison Square Garden, bowing out in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals after an undeniably impressive playoff run.
Not a lot went wrong for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin continued to make the case that he's the best goalie in the world. Center Mika Zibanejad showed once again that he's one of the NHL's most underappreciated stars with an outstanding three-round effort. Defenseman Adam Fox was a smooth-skating difference-maker, especially on the power play. GM Chris Drury's trade deadline acquisitions clicked. If there was a flaw in their game, it was underwhelming production at 5-on-5, which was underscored when facing a terrific even-strength team like the Lightning; as well as an underwhelming road record that was indicative of the team's overall lack of playoff experience.
But now they have that experience, and that's going to make all the difference in the years to come.
Keys to the offseason
The Rangers have some intriguing pending free agents, specifically to how this team will look in 2022-23.
Ryan Strome and trade deadline pickup Andrew Copp are unrestricted free agents. Copp does more things better than Strome, but Strome can boast of being Artemi Panarin's effective linemate. It would take some financial hocus-pocus to keep them both on multiyear deals -- such as a low-average-annual-value bridge contract for pending RFA Kaapo Kakko and a backup netminder making less than what Alexandar Georgiev will make as a restricted free agent this summer -- but the Rangers would be better for it. Frank Vatrano has played well enough to earn a low-cost extension, while one imagines Tyler Motte and Justin Braun will walk away after coming over at the deadline.
What they could use, if the money permits: a veteran defensive defenseman with a championship pedigree.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
This was New York's first proper playoff appearance since 2017, and thus the first real taste of the postseason for many of its young stars. The Rangers are going to be fine. Better than fine. Their window for contention stretches for the next few seasons -- although we're side-eying the ages of Panarin (30), Chris Kreider (31) and Zibanejad (29).
If they can improve their 5-on-5 play, and coach Gerard Gallant had better hope they can, the Rangers are likely back in a conference championship round within the next two seasons. They're going to look back at these three rounds as the foundation for what comes next.
Edmonton Oilers
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $7,814,538
2022 draft picks: 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
The Oilers met the best team in the Western Conference and couldn't match Colorado's depth or firepower -- especially with star forward Leon Draisaitl hindered by a lower-body injury that rendered him ineffective in two critical games down the stretch. There was little chance Edmonton could have advanced past Colorado without Draisaitl and Connor McDavid leading the way. Those slim chances basically evaporated when the Oilers couldn't locate their defensive game in front of a shaky Mike Smith in goal.
It was an unfortunate end to a tremendous run for Edmonton: a comeback seven-game win over the Los Angeles Kings followed by a five-game evisceration of their archrivals from Calgary. McDavid and Draisaitl took them as far as they could.
Keys to the offseason
Coach Jay Woodcroft is serving on an interim basis. There was talk around the league before the playoffs that Woodcroft was in line for an extension that could run three years. The Oilers' performance in the playoffs, and in particular the Calgary series, should clinch that for him.
Beyond that, the team has 11 unrestricted and restricted free agents. What will they do with winger Evander Kane? He signed with them after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract, scored 39 points in 43 games and then lit up the postseason with 13 goals before getting suspended for Game 4 after an injurious hit to Nazem Kadri of Colorado. He meshed well with McDavid, but do they like him with a much higher cap number, potentially at a long term?
Forwards Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan McLeod and Jesse Puljujarvi, who is becoming a pariah in the Edmonton media, are restricted free agents. Defensemen Kris Russell and Brett Kulak are UFAs, as is (finally) goalie Mikko Koskinen.
Then there's the Mike Smith question. A more than respectable regular season (.915 save percentage). Moments in the playoffs that were equal parts historic -- a Game 7 shutout against Los Angeles -- and hapless. He's under contract for one more season and turns 41 next March. What do they do? What can they do?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Until the supporting cast improves, especially in goal, more of the same. Connor and Leon are good enough to drag any incarnation of this team into the playoffs. They're good enough to keep the Oilers in any series. But for Edmonton to finally break through as a contender, they can't do it alone.
Second-round exits
Carolina Hurricanes
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $19,250,583
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 3rd (CHI), 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th (ANA), 7th, 7th (CBJ)
What went wrong?
The Hurricanes entered Game 7 on one of the oddest postseason streaks in NHL history: In their first 13 games, the home team won every time. That worked out nicely in the first round against the Boston Bruins. But against the New York Rangers, the Hurricanes broke that streak at the worst time: Game 7 at home, after playing their worst game in the series in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden with the chance to eliminate the Rangers.
Their previous wins in Raleigh weren't exactly blowouts -- heck, the Rangers had Game 1 in their hands under Sebastian Aho's tying goal with less than three minutes left in regulation. The Rangers finally got their breaks on the road, and the Hurricanes' squandered opportunities -- from the disastrous power play to their road losses -- finally cost them the series. And now that it's the end, some decisions must be made.
Keys to the offseason
The Hurricanes have several key free agents. Forwards Nino Niederreiter and Vincent Trocheck are unrestricted free agents, as is trade deadline pickup Max Domi. Forward Martin Necas is a restricted free agent. On defense, veterans Ian Cole and Brendan Smith are unrestricted free agents, while Ethan Bear and Tony DeAngelo are restricted free agents.
Trocheck is a tricky one: There are times he's a real force offensively and other times he can be pedestrian. DeAngelo's next contract should be fascinating too. He signed a bargain-basement $1 million deal with the Hurricanes after he was bought out by the Rangers. He was their highest-scoring defenseman with 51 points in 64 games. Do they commit long-term to the divisive D-man?
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have Frederik Andersen -- who missed the playoffs with an injury -- as well as Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov under contract in goal for next season.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Look, this elimination hurts. The Hurricanes were picked to win the Stanley Cup by some of the punditry thanks to their offensive flourish and suffocating defense, in front of solid goaltending. But the window to win remains wide open. Sebastian Aho is 24. Andrei Svechnikov is 22. Brilliant rookie Seth Jarvis is 20. Necas is 23. The core of their defense is in their prime. As long as Rod Brind'Amour is coaching this team, they'll remain a top Stanley Cup contender.
St. Louis Blues
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $8,995,834
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
Well, the goaltending. St. Louis thought that would be an area of strength in the postseason. After Ville Husso usurped Jordan Binnington as the Blues' regular-season starter, Husso finished out the season on a heater (9-1-2, .913 save percentage, 2.88 goals-against average) and looked prime to carry St. Louis in the playoffs. That did not come to pass.
Husso recorded a single postseason victory -- in Game 1 of the first round against Minnesota -- and then he lost his next two starts. Binnington came in for Game 4 against the Wild, won three straight and the Blues punched their ticket to the second round against Colorado. When Binnington was injured in Game 3, Husso returned with more average play. Granted, the Avalanche have a potent offensive attack, but St. Louis has enough forward talent to keep up. What the Blues couldn't weather was the downgrade in net.
Tied into the goaltending drama was what the injury to Binnington sparked from his teammates. Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri took the heat for running into Binnington, and the Blues were more focused on exacting revenge than actually stopping Kadri from ringing up a Game 4 hat trick. Losing that contest put St. Louis behind the eight ball, down 3-1. It's tough to know what would have happened had the incident with Kadri and Binnington not occurred, though. Would St. Louis have gotten past the Avalanche with Binnington in net? Was the defense at fault for Husso's struggles too? Would the Blues' depth have held up with Colorado's? One way or another, St. Louis' season ended with a thud.
Keys to the offseason
Despite how ordinary Husso was in the playoffs, it's likely St. Louis will -- and should -- re-sign him. The 27-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and a return to his regular-season form would be a nice complement in the crease going forward with Binnington.
Vladimir Tarasenko had previously requested a trade out of St. Louis, but that process took a back seat once the Blues started heating up around midseason. Does Tarasenko still want out? If so, general manager Doug Armstrong will have to find the right return for his star forward.
David Perron is another pending UFA who has upped his value with a terrific postseason, but how the 33-year-old veteran fits in the Blues' future plans must be determined. And of course, St. Louis won't soon forget the early-season struggles on defense. Shoring up that group for the long term has to be a priority, not just with potential new contracts for pending restricted free agents Scott Perunovich and Niko Mikkola but by adding veterans who can play substantial roles.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
It really felt like this postseason could have been extended for St. Louis if not for its goalie issues. Assuming that position is stabilized next season and emerging stars like Jordan Kyrou take another step forward, there's no reason to think St. Louis won't be contending again. Keeping Tarasenko in the fold helps there too. Armstrong will have to swap in some new players to keep chugging along, but there's a lot to like about where the Blues are.
Calgary Flames
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $25,097,500
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 5th, 7th
What went wrong?
After surviving a seven-game scare against the Dallas Stars, the Flames entered the Battle of Alberta vs. the Edmonton Oilers with home-ice advantage, a hot goaltender in Jacob Markstrom, and an offense looking to flex now that Jake Oettinger was out of the way.
What Calgary found in that Battle: Connor McDavid playing like a human cheat code, willing his team to the conference final for the first time since 2006. What the Oilers found in that Battle: Markstrom looking tired, making mistakes and continuing his long-standing troubles against Edmonton; the defense in front of him playing porous hockey; the Flames' presumed advantage in roster depth not making the difference many assumed it would; and home ice mattering not.
It all added up to a massive disappointment for Calgary, which many had tabbed as the second choice behind Colorado to win the West.
Keys to the offseason
Two words: Johnny Gaudreau. The Flames' star winger had a career-high 115 points this season with a career-high 40 goals, just in time to become an unrestricted free agent.
But Calgary also has two other huge free-agent forwards, although they're restricted free agents who are arbitration-eligible: Matthew Tkachuk, coming off a 42-goal season, and Andrew Mangiapane, who scored 35 goals. Tkachuk's next contract will be fascinating.
The Flames have a bunch of depth forwards hitting free agency. They also have three unrestricted free agents on defense in Erik Gudbranson, Michael Stone and Nikita Zadorov, and a restricted free agent in Oliver Kylington. One other name to keep front of mind: Center Sean Monahan, who had hip surgery during this third straight season of diminishing stats. He has one more season with a $6.375 million cap hit on his contract.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Calgary actually has only 12 players under contract for next season. If it tinkers with this group, it should be on the back end, because the forward group is deep and talented. Overall, the Flames are a good team with a great coach in Darryl Sutter that got caught flat-footed by an opponent they should have handled. They need to figure out what happened here and act accordingly. But again, much will depend on what Gaudreau decides to do this summer.
Florida Panthers
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $3,566,666
2022 draft picks: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th (TOR), 7th
What went wrong?
Florida ran out of offense against a red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning team. More concerning was that it also seemed to run out of resolve.
The Panthers relied on their league-leading offense (averaging 4.11 goals per game) to earn a franchise-record 122 points in the regular season and capture the organization's first Presidents' Trophy. That ability to score at will came in handy, as the "Cardiac Cats" also paced the NHL in wins when trailing after a period. And in the Panthers' first-round series win over the Washington Capitals, they battled back from early deficits to come out on top. Perhaps it wasn't a strong omen for Florida's prospects overall in the playoffs, but at least in that series the Panthers never seemed to lose faith in themselves.
That wasn't always as apparent in the second round. The Lightning held the Panthers to just one goal in each of their first three games, and the more Florida couldn't crack the brilliant Andrei Vasilevskiy, the more resigned to defeat their whole team became. It's a hard issue to explain away. There were also clear defensive problems cropping up for Florida in the regular season that they couldn't outscore come the playoffs. The team hadn't been in a second-round series since 1996, whereas the Lightning had made it that far in six of the past eight postseasons. Tampa knew how to slow Florida down and the Panthers didn't have good defensive habits on which to fall back; they hadn't needed them much before.
It's back to the drawing board now for Florida, to figure out how to balance a better defensive structure with their elite offensive attack. The intangible stuff that was missing? That will be its own challenge worth addressing.
Keys to the offseason
The first big decision for general manager Bill Zito will be deciding on a permanent head coach. Andrew Brunette still has the interim tag. He was 51-18-6 over 75 regular-season games after replacing Joel Quenneville, but did Brunette show the Panthers enough to earn a long-term extension? Or will Florida explore its options given some of the other names -- Barry Trotz and Rick Bowness among them -- looking for new jobs?
Then there are the roster questions. Florida swung for the fences acquiring pending unrestricted free agents Ben Chiarot and Claude Giroux at the trade deadline to help with its playoff run. It's unlikely either player re-signs with the Panthers long-term, so the team will have those holes to address.
The Panthers' blue line will be a priority. Expect Zito to be busy upgrading there. It will be on the next coach -- whether that's Brunette or someone else -- to get better defensive play out of Florida's talented forwards.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
A return to the playoffs, certainly. Another Presidents' Trophy banner? Probably not. But if Florida can recapture its goal-scoring prowess, this time with a side of 200-foot balance, then the Panthers might make it past the second round next spring.
First-round exits
Dallas Stars
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $17,957,499
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
When scoring is at a 26-year high around the league, it's tough being a team that doesn't score very much. Dallas averaged the fewest goals per game in the regular season among playoff teams (2.84) and struggled to score in the playoffs, too. Granted, Dallas was also among the stingiest clubs defensively, but when push came to shove the Stars simply couldn't generate enough output.
Their top line of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson was among the NHL's best in the regular season and carried Dallas again in the first round, a big task that clearly took its toll. Dallas had too many passengers and not enough game-changers up front -- Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn were unreliable in that respect -- which put a lot of pressure on their capable defense and excellent goaltender, Jake Oettinger, to pick up the slack.
It just wasn't an overall recipe for success. There wasn't enough dimension to Dallas' game, and it became too easy to wear them down. Which was a shame in Oettinger's case, because he was truly fantastic giving the Stars a great chance against Calgary.
Keys to the offseason
The good news for the Stars is that they made the playoffs. Battling down the stretch and achieving that goal gives everyone a boost and maybe some added energy going into next season. Before Dallas gets there though, general manager Jim Nill has work to do. First up is extending Robertson, a pending RFA. There's no question, after Robertson's 79-point regular season, that he's a star in the making and due to be paid accordingly.
Then there's pending UFA John Klingberg -- is he staying or going? The veteran blueliner had a strange series against Calgary, ramping up his physicality and leading the playoff field in penalty minutes. Klingberg is a staple on Dallas' back end though and Nill clearly didn't trade him for a reason; now it's time to see if both sides can meet in the middle. Which leads to the goaltending situation. Braden Holtby's contract is expiring. Oettinger is an RFA and projects to be the team's starter moving forward. What does his next deal look like and who is the backup if Holtby leaves? All that has to get settled before Nill can even start to address the depth scoring issues. Busy, busy offseason ahead.
And that's before we get to the coaching search, as the team announced on May 20 that Rick Bowness would be stepping down, and that all of his assistants would be leaving the club as well.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Pavelski is 37 and coming off the highest season point total (81) of his career. If Pavelski, Robertson and Hintz can maintain what they did on the top line, and if Nill can add around them with more consistent and effective help, Dallas could be more than a wild-card team. That's the best-case scenario, though.
Can Seguin and Benn can return to form? Can Hintz and Robertson can take another dramatic step forward? There are a lot of questions in Dallas.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $28,790,658
2022 draft picks: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
Injuries, injuries and more injuries. The roughly five periods the Penguins were without captain Sidney Crosby turned the series, allowing the New York Rangers to rally for back-to-back wins and force a Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden.
But the injuries went beyond that. The Louis Domingue story was heartwarming, and he was an absolute hero for winning Game 1 after Casey DeSmith's injury. But his flub on Chris Kreider's goal in Game 6 was a killer. They missed Rickard Rakell and Brian Dumoulin, who were injured in Game 1. They missed Brian Boyle on their penalty kill.
The Penguins have admirably played through injuries in the regular season. It's an annual tradition. A few hit at the wrong time in this series. Beyond that, the Penguins may have won the 5-on-5 battle against the Rangers, as the analytics portended before the series. But the Rangers emphatically won the special teams battle. And, in the end, the series.
Keys to the offseason
Crosby has openly discussed how this could be the last ride for the Penguins core. Evgeni Malkin, 35, is an unrestricted free agent. So is Crosby's winger Bryan Rust and his trusted defenseman, Kris Letang. There's little chance all three will return.
Among the other unrestricted free agents: Rakell, whom they acquired from Anaheim at the deadline, Evan Rodrigues, Game 6 GOAT, Boyle, DeSmith and Domingue. They have restricted free agents in Kasperi Kapanen and Danton Heinen. With 15 players under contract and over $28 million in open cap space, GM Ron Hextall has a chance to remake a good portion of this roster if he chooses to do so.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Prediction: Of the three big free agents, only Letang returns. With him, Crosby, Tristan Jarry in goal and Mike Sullivan behind the bench, the Penguins will remain in the playoff picture, but not the championship one. Crosby's not getting any younger, but he's still putting up incredible numbers and exerted his influence on this series when he was healthy. There's still time to surround him with a different supporting cast and make a go of it, but the Penguins may have to take a slight step back to take a leap back towards contention.
Los Angeles Kings
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $21,083,333
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
Saying "Connor McDavid happened" would be accurate but a little myopic.
The fact is that the Kings weren't yet ready for this moment, with such a young supporting cast surrounding the veterans who all brought it in this series -- Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Alex Iafallo and especially Phillip Danault. Would things have been different if defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Viktor Arvidsson weren't sidelined for the entire series? Undoubtedly, especially when it comes to Doughty, whom they could have deployed against McDavid or Leon Draisaitl (or both).
But as it stands, the Kings gave the Oilers a heck of a series, and one that will benefit players like Sean Durzi, Mikey Anderson, Arthur Kaliyev, Carl Grundstrom and Quinton Byfield going forward.
Keys to the offseason
Goodbye to Dustin Brown, the 37-year-old winger who skated into retirement after this series. His contract coming off the books helped contribute to the Kings having over $20 million in open cap space, but only 14 players under contract for next season.
Among the unrestricted free agents: Forward Andreas Athanasiou, defensemen Alex Edler, Olli Maatta and Troy Stecher. Among the restricted free agents: Forwards Adrian Kempe, Brendan Lemieux, Gabe Vilardi and Grundstrom; as well as Anderson and Durzi on D.
GM Rob Blake has some negotiating ahead of him. But he also has some decisions to make. The Kings were aggressive in signing Danault last offseason, as their veteran stars wanted help. Will Blake add more veteran reinforcements in the offseason? Could Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun return to their radar as a trade option?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
The Kings are a playoff team, and there's no going back. That sweet spot where the veteran players are still viable and the young supporting cast is hitting its stride is very much still where the franchise will be next season. With a few additions to the defense corps, and a few players like Byfield and Rasmus Kupari leveling up, the Kings could make more than a cameo appearance in next season's playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $9,456,884
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd (WPG), 7th
What went wrong?
Toronto is its own worst enemy. Even when everything seems to be going right, the team finds a way to fall short. The Leafs had a terrific, record-setting regular season. They battled adversity and showed more resiliency than years past. They can claim one of the league's most prolific stars in Auston Matthews. And the list goes on from there.
Toronto channeled all those positives into its first-round series with Tampa Bay, and were arguably the better team from start to finish. Plus -- get this -- it was the core of Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares actually leading the way.
So why has the offseason still come early for the Leafs? A lack of killer instinct has plagued them before. Failing to close out a team twice in a row, like they did against Tampa, suggests that's still a problem. The mental makeup of a team is harder to analyze than shoddy on-ice play. Toronto didn't fail because of the latter, which makes it that much more difficult to explain. How the Leafs justify and respond to yet another letdown when they repeatedly showed themselves capable of getting the job done will say a lot about what their next chapter looks like.
Keys to the offseason
There have to be changes coming in Toronto. It seems likely those will start in the front office. President Brendan Shanahan and general manager Kyle Dubas will be first to answer for another first-round blow. How does that end? Both execs have doubled (and tripled) down on the Leafs and their core over the past two years in particular. The plan hasn't worked. Has the time come to go in a new direction? Toronto didn't play badly in the postseason. It was a better series than any other they've played under Shanahan and Dubas. And it'll be difficult to make massive alterations considering the Leafs have little cap space with which to maneuver.
Combine all those factors and it's safe to say everything is on the table for Toronto. What will it do with pending unrestricted free-agent goalie Jack Campbell, who covets a big payday the Leafs might be unable to accommodate? And if it's not Campbell in net, where does Toronto go next? If the Leafs continue going younger on defense and hand more responsibility to Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren, what will that mean for Jake Muzzin?
So many questions for the Leafs to answer. So much disappointment that needs to be overcome.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Toronto won't be completely dismantled so Matthews, Marner and company will keep them in the playoff conversation. Will they be a contender, though? What to expect from the Leafs long term hinges on how they address the goaltending situation, first and foremost. But Toronto should go into next season believing it can get back to the postseason.
Boston Bruins
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $5,370,834
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 3rd (CGY), 4th, 6th, 7th (OTT), 7th
What went wrong?
The Bruins have talent. They just didn't get enough consistency out of it. And too often, Boston's best players were out of the lineup. The Bruins were hammered by injuries from start to finish of the regular and postseason, losing Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Brandon Carlo, Hampus Lindholm and others at the worst times. It never felt like Boston could get in a rhythm with regular lines and pairings, or that the team could truly establish an identity this postseason -- losing Charlie McAvoy to the COVID protocol for a game didn't help.
It would be easy to blame the Bruins' aging core, but in the postseason, reuniting Brad Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak gave Boston its biggest spark. A lack of depth scoring was likely the Bruins' bigger problem. Only five players generated 20 or more goals this season, and there was too much disparity between the organization's top and bottom. As more injury issues piled up down the stretch, it felt like the Bruins simply ran out of gas into the playoffs.
Keys to the offseason
Boston needs to know what's next for Bergeron. The 36-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent who, as mentioned, dealt with a number of injuries this season. It's unlikely Bergeron would want to sign elsewhere after spending his entire career in Boston, but the direction this team is headed could influence his decision making as well.
Jake DeBrusk is a question mark as well. His trade request was never rescinded; is this the summer general manager Don Sweeney finds DeBrusk a new home?
Once those immediate concerns are addressed, Sweeney has to figure out how to fill out his roster with more scoring. Boston swung big on Lindholm at the trade deadline and signed him to a long-term extension; now Sweeney has to find similarly impactful pieces that will contribute on the scoresheet and fit the Bruins' mold of playing physical, intimidating hockey.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
The Bruins will be a playoff contender again. Whether they'll be more than a one-round wonder will depend heavily on how well Sweeney takes care of summer business.
Washington Capitals
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $7,289,167
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd (WPG), 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
The Capitals had them -- twice.
It was Game 4 in D.C. After T.J. Oshie sent Sam Bennett into Northern Virginia with an open-ice hit, Evgeny Kuznetsov went the other way and scored to give Washington a third-period lead. Win that game, and it's a 3-1 series. Instead, the Panthers tied the game and Carter Verhaeghe won it in overtime.
Then came Game 5 in Sunrise. The Capitals built a 3-0 lead and could have flown back to Washington with a chance to close the series ... only to have the Cardiac Cats rally for a 5-3 win. These missed opportunities -- and an injury to top-line winger and series disruptor Tom Wilson -- led to their eventual demise, and into an intriguing offseason.
Keys to the offseason
The Capitals already have 18 players under contract for next season, including core players who are all 30 years old (or older) next season. They were a 100-point team thanks primarily to a 50-goal, 90-point season by the Russian Machine Alex Ovechkin. Players like Nicklas Backstrom and Oshie were limited by injury, and didn't have their usual offensive outputs, but they fared well in the postseason. Hence, the Capitals feel like one of those late-stage contenders that just needs to secure an invitation to the party and then will see how long they can dance. It's possible that, given the contracts on the roster, they run it back with much of this roster in 2022-23.
But not all of this roster. Trade deadline forward pickups Marcus Johansson and Johan Larsson are unrestricted free agents, as is defenseman Justin Schultz.
The goaltending situation is most interesting. Both Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov are restricted free agents. Vanecek had a solid regular season and a lousy postseason; Samsonov had a below-replacement-level regular season but played well in the playoffs, despite the series result. Do the Capitals seek an upgrade here? Do they see anything in third-stringer Zach Fucale? And if they do return Samsonov and Vanecek, at what cost and for how long?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Ovechkin continues to be Ovechkin, which means the Capitals are still going to be a team sniffing around a playoff berth. He's 22 goals away from passing Gordie Howe for second all-time in goals and just 115 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's seemingly unbreakable mark of 894 goals. But the team could use some upgrades on the blue line and in goal, as the Eastern Conference should have a bit more balance in 2022-23 compared with this season's leisurely stroll to the playoffs.
Minnesota Wild
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $9,719,745
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd (VAN), 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
When it mattered most, Minnesota's stars did their job. The Wild simply didn't get enough out of their depth players. That wasn't a glaring issue for Minnesota in the regular season, but was a defining factor in their first-round loss to St. Louis. And it wasn't just an offensive problem either; it was all over the ice.
Minnesota needed more defensive buy-in, more confidence on special teams, and more key saves from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. That's why general manager Bill Guerin acquired Fleury at the deadline, to make Minnesota a true Cup contender with rock-solid, reigning Vezina Trophy winner level goaltending. Fleury was shaky when the Wild needed him to be inspiring. And since coach Dean Evason gave the crease to Fleury over Cam Talbot, despite the latter's excellent play all season, Minnesota couldn't switch goalies so late in a playoff series. They needed Fleury to rebound along with his teammates, and the bet didn't pay out.
Keys to the offseason
To be honest, the Wild are in pretty good shape roster-wise. The largest hurdle ahead is that starting in 2022-23, Minnesota is carrying $12,743,588 in dead cap space from the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts. That's around 15% of their space, and will absolutely impact what the Wild can do moving forward.
Guerin's most high-profile negotiation projects to be with pending restricted free agent Kevin Fiala. The forward tallied 85 points in 82 games and, is arbitration-eligible again after playing on a one-year, $5.1 million contract in 2021-22. Is this when Guerin makes a long-term with Fiala?
After that, the biggest question mark for Minnesota might be -- surprise, surprise -- goaltending. Fleury will be a free agent this summer, but Talbot is signed for another season. The Wild have a solid option at starter, but who supports Talbot? Also, what's the next contract for pending RFA defenseman Jacob Middleton? He was brought in from San Jose at the deadline and moved all the way up to Minnesota's top pairing in the playoffs. Another deal for Guerin to get done.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Depending how Minnesota navigates its cap-space concerns, the Wild could retool and take another shot at a long playoff run. They have sensational talents in Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello and others. There are strong pieces on the back end, including Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon and Middleton. The Wild should learn from disappointment and build off of it.
Nashville Predators
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $27,270,255
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 3rd (LA), 4th, 5th, 7th
What went wrong?
There's no way to sugarcoat this one: The Predators went as far as Juuse Saros could take them. That's nothing against Roman Josi, Matt Duchene or any of Nashville's other top performers. It was Saros who kept Nashville afloat during tough stretches of the regular season; and once he was ruled out to start the postseason due to a high ankle sprain, it was clear how much goalie depth was a problem for the Predators. David Rittich was quickly usurped by Connor Ingram after a poor Game 1 performance, and there was simply no way Nashville could go goal-for-goal with Colorado without Saros manning the crease.
Keys to the offseason
First and foremost, general manager David Poile has to work things out (or not) with upcoming free agent Filip Forsberg. Poile opted not to trade Forsberg before March's deadline, believing he would be a valuable asset in the Predators' playoff push and that there was time to get a deal done over the summer. But Forsberg turned up zero points in four postseason contests, and how much that impacts his value after a 42-goal, 84-point regular season remains to be seen. After Forsberg, the Predators have to examine their defense and decide if it's strong enough behind Josi. Rookie Alexandre Carrier should be able to make strides in the future, but Nashville's blue-line depth could use some veteran additions.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Nashville has a good core in place. Saros is an outstanding No. 1 goaltender, while Duchene, Josi and Ryan Johansen are around the prime of their careers. Forsberg is the true question mark. With him in the fold and a healthy Saros, there's no reason Nashville can't be in the playoff picture again next season. However, if Forsberg moves on, that's a massive hole Poile will need to fill in order for Nashville to stay on pace.
Non-playoff teams
Anaheim Ducks
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $34,792,500
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (BOS), 2nd, 2nd (PIT), 4th, 5th, 5th (TOR), 6th (NSH)
What went wrong?
There's a concept in sports called "the rookie wall," in which young players will have extraordinary success for a portion of the season but are unable to sustain it. The Ducks had their share of young players in 2021-22, many of them making an impact to turn Anaheim into a surprising contender. But things changed in early March. The Ducks went winless in 11 straight games, and won only four times in a 23-game stretch.
Before that, Anaheim seemed ahead of schedule in its return to relevance. Forward Troy Terry had a career offensive season. Center Trevor Zegras electrified the NHL with his over-the-net passing and lacrosse-style goals. Defenseman Jamie Drysdale, at age 19 for most of the season, played nearly 20 minutes a night. The Ducks hung tough in the Pacific until that skid.
New GM Pat Verbeek -- hired on Feb. 2 to replace Bob Murray, who entered a treatment program for alcohol abuse amid allegations of professional misconduct -- moved veterans Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and Rickard Rakell at the trade deadline. That signaled the Ducks were punting on the season as well as beginning a generational shift for the franchise, one that was underscored by the retirement announcement from center Ryan Getzlaf.
Keys to the offseason
The Ducks have some housekeeping to handle, with free agents in forwards Sonny Milano (RFA), Sam Steel (RFA), Isac Lundestrom (RFA), Zach Aston-Reese (UFA) and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (RFA).
Beyond that, it's full speed toward a bright future. Coach Dallas Eakins had his contract option picked up for the 2022-23 season. One question for Verbeek is whether to bring more of the team's prospects -- forwards Jacob Perreault and Mason McTavish, defenseman Drew Helleson -- into prominent roles or add veterans as stopgaps? Another question for Verbeek: How much of a roster that he didn't build does he see as part of the Ducks' future?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
It's hard to shake the image of the high-flying Ducks from earlier this season, infused with the energy of their young stars and playing an exciting brand of hockey. That offense dipped as the season went on and their defense -- which wasn't all that strong to begin with -- spiraled during the long winless streak. Both are indicative of an inexperienced team, and with a season under their belts, the young Ducks may be ready to soar into the playoff picture in the Pacific next season. But there's no rush. They're on the right flight path.
Arizona Coyotes
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $38,069,000
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (CAR), 1st (COL), 2nd, 2nd (PHI), 2nd (SJ), 2nd (NYI), 3rd, 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
Arizona has had talent problems. The NHL's lowest-scoring team struggled to generate offense and to capitalize on chances when it did. In well over one-third of their games this season, the Coyotes were either shut out or scored a single goal. It wasn't a model for success.
Arizona also missed out on getting a big year from its best player, Jakob Chychrun. After he scored 18 goals and 41 points last season, Chychrun had only 21 points in 47 games in an injury-plagued campaign. That certainly impacted the Coyotes negatively on both ends of the ice, given their constant difficulties keeping pucks out of the net as well.
In the final few weeks and months, though, a tidal wave of injury problems simply capsized the Coyotes. Clayton Keller, Christian Fischer, Lawson Crouse, Chychrun and others missed time with various ailments. It would be nearly impossible for any team to lose that many crucial bodies and carry on with any level of success.
Keys to the offseason
The Coyotes are being evicted from their current lodging at Gila River Arena and will begin playing in a much cozier venue at Arizona State University. That will be quite the transition for Arizona as it is; at the same time, GM Bill Armstrong has to entice more players into the fold. The Coyotes need scoring, dynamic two-way skaters and guys who will sign multiyear deals. Those boxes won't be easy to check.
At the same time, Armstrong must decide on Chychrun's future. He took many calls on the defenseman prior to the March trade deadline but decided to stand pat. Will that hold into the summer as well? Chychrun had a down year, but he's still viewed as a valuable commodity. Is now the time for Armstrong to swap out his elite defender for some firepower?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Getting everyone back and healthy will be critical, of course. And deciding whom to lean on in the net (Karel Vejmelka? Harri Sateri? Someone else?) is another key. If the Coyotes pick right, and Armstrong can fill in the other gaps through trades and free agency, it's reasonable to think Arizona will be better than this season. How much better? Not playoff bound. But not a bottom-feeder.
Buffalo Sabres
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $42,114,166
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (FLA), 1st (VGK), 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th (NJ), 6th, 6th (CGY), 7th
What went wrong?
In a word: goaltending. Buffalo actually started the season fine, winning five of its first seven games. Then starting goaltender Craig Anderson got hurt Nov. 2 and wouldn't return until Jan. 29. The Sabres went 8-19-6 without him and averaged the third-most goals against (3.76) while cycling through five other options in the crease. The lack of consistency at such an important position undoubtedly hurt the Sabres' prospects. Same goes with defense. Rasmus Dahlin came into his own this season but it was a process. The early-season growing pains for that entire blue line in finding a rhythm took its toll as well.
There also was the Jack Eichel trade in November, which removed a top talent from Buffalo's ranks but brought Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs in return. Eichel, of course, would not play until February following surgery on a herniated disc, but losing contributions like his from your lineup -- at any point -- is going to be an adjustment.
Keys to the offseason
Again: goaltending. Who is Buffalo going to tap for next season? In a perfect world, the Sabres could re-sign Anderson and have him be half of a one-two tandem with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. That would give Buffalo a known veteran commodity in Anderson to mentor the up-and-coming Luukkonen, who was the team's second-round pick in 2017 and -- the Sabres hope -- is Buffalo's goaltender of the future. If that scenario doesn't appeal to them, then GM Kevyn Adams will have to work the trade market and/or free agency to find a reliable goaltending duo so Buffalo doesn't run into the same troubles it experienced this season.
The Sabres' other priorities will revolve around their burgeoning core. Owen Power has arrived. Ryan Johnson is on the horizon. Dahlin is a rising star. Adams should be on the lookout for potential veteran additions for the blue line to maximize that group's potential. Up front, Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Tuch, Krebs & Co. project to build on a solid final third of this campaign.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Playoffs? Playoffs! There is no reason -- if Buffalo can get its goaltending settled -- that this team won't push for its first postseason appearance since 2010-11. The Sabres have played some great hockey since March. Coach Don Granato can see the chemistry emerging and will keep nurturing it. Buffalo should relish coming into next season with more than a hint of swagger.
Chicago Blackhawks
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $24,741,667
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 2nd (MIN), 3rd (VGK), 3rd (EDM), 3rd (TOR), 6th, 6th (CBJ), 7th
What went wrong?
Well, let's begin with Jeremy Colliton. Chicago went 1-9-2 to start the season before Colliton was relieved of his duties as coach. Derek King stepped in as the interim coach, and there was a requisite bump of better play that wouldn't last. Chicago could never find consistency offensively or defensively.
Outside of Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Hagel (prior to his being traded), the Blackhawks were continuously looking for more players to contribute. Some would, in spurts, but never for long enough to give Chicago the momentum it needed. Defensively there was little cohesion at times, whether due to an apparent adjustment period for Seth Jones early on or just a lack of chemistry among teammates.
Then there was the simple matter of unexpectedly difficult seasons for some players, such as Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach. And once Marc-Andre Fleury was traded at the deadline, the goaltending suffered (the Blackhawks were in the bottom five in goals against following Fleury's departure) and it was a slow slide to the regular-season finish line.
Keys to the offseason
Chicago is rebuilding. That's rarely a simple process.
GM Kyle Davidson will have to assess the organization top to bottom and figure out who's staying and who's going. That starts with King behind the bench. Will he remain or will Davidson start a broader search for his replacement?
There has been talk about whether it's time for the Blackhawks to move on from Kane and Jonathan Toews and hand the keys to the next generation. Moving Hagel was already a sign Davidson won't be shy about making changes. Is this a tear-down operation? Or are there veteran pillars in place that can support Chicago's new wave of talent? Those are heavy questions, and the Blackhawks' path ahead hinges on how they're answered.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Keep them low. It will be some time before Chicago is back to its former glory. The team's primary goal for next season should include becoming tougher to play against. Too often this season the Blackhawks were an easy out. Rebuilding can be a grind mentally on players, but whoever comprises this roster in the coming years will have to persevere.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $27,203,272
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (CHI), 2nd, 3rd (TB), 4th, 4th (TOR), 7th (ANA)
What went wrong?
It was a transitional season for the Blue Jackets. In the past year, they traded disgruntled No. 1 center Pierre Luc-Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets for Patrik Laine; traded defenseman David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning; traded star defenseman Seth Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks before he could walk away as a free agent; and replaced head coach John Tortorella with assistant Brad Larsen, who vowed to give some players a chance to shine in bigger roles in 2021-22.
Shine, some of them did. Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov saw an increase in ice time and a jump in points. Cole Sillinger, 18, had a promising rookie season. Best of all, Laine became Laine again with a point-per-game season that earned him increased ice time.
But a lineup in transition meant it was a rough ride at times. The Blue Jackets went through a 2-10-1 stretch from December to January that torpedoed their record. Important players such as Laine, Boone Jenner, Alexandre Texier, Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist missed chunks of time. Most of all, the Blue Jackets were one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, near the bottom of the league in 5-on-5 expected goals against.
That defense was in front of goaltending that saw Elvis Merzlikins' save percentage decline for the third straight season and Joonas Korpisalo become one of the league's most mediocre goaltenders -- although obviously this critique of the position comes with the caveat that the Blue Jackets were missing the late Matiss Kivlenieks in every sense of the word.
Keys to the offseason
Priority No. 1 is Laine. He's a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who made $7.5 million against the cap on a one-year deal. This season should be enough proof of concept to earn him a long-term contract as one of the Jackets' franchise pillars, although that hasn't materialized yet.
In terms of roster construction, the Blue Jackets could use a couple of veterans to help out on the defensive end, potentially through free agency, and preferably ones who could bring the lineup the size and physicality that was lacking this season. Merzlikins begins a new five-year contract in 2022-23; assuming Korpisalo is gone, will Columbus pair Merzlikins with promising Daniil Tarasov or bring in another veteran?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
The Blue Jackets scored more (13th in the NHL in goals per game) than their underlying numbers would have indicated (23rd in expected goals per 60 minutes). That said, their offensive is going to be OK. The bigger problem is on the other side of the ice. If Larsen can find solutions tactically or GM Jarmo Kekäläinen can find some externally, the Jackets could be back in wild-card contention -- provided they're healthy.
Detroit Red Wings
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $35,376,944
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (WSH), 3rd, 4th, 4th (VGK), 4th (COL), 5th, 7th, 7th (LA)
What went wrong?
Inconsistency is a hallmark of rebuilding teams. The Red Wings were no exception. Their first 25 games (with a 13-9-3 record) this season wound up being a microcosm of what would unfurl the rest of the way, with strings of great performances punctuated by too-long runs of cringe-worthy losses. After that initial burst over .500, the Red Wings won only 17 of their next 52 games.
Detroit's team defense was the major problem, and made the Red Wings among the league's worst clubs in high-danger chances allowed. Outside of rookie phenom Moritz Seider, Detroit didn't have many standouts on the back end. The poor habits being exhibited just seemed to permeate everywhere else over time and hampered any progress Detroit was able to make.
The Red Wings also were lacking in secondary contributors. Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi and Lucas Raymond were electric at times, but Filip Zadina, Givani Smith and Adam Erne failed to take flight. It became a matter of too many passengers and not enough helpers.
Keys to the offseason
First and foremost, Detroit's defense must be addressed. Filip Hronek and Jordan Oesterle are the only veterans signed for next season. To improve their execution defensively, the Red Wings will need the right personnel leading the way.
After that are bigger-picture issues. Is GM Steve Yzerman still committed to this extended rebuild? Who will he trust in as his next coach? Those questions need answering -- and not with words but actions. Larkin and Bertuzzi, in their mid-20s, are signed for one and two more seasons, respectively; are they willing to play more of their prime years for a non-contending team? Blashill had been at Detroit's helm since 2015-16. Who will take over next?
There are some great contributors in place on the ice -- Seider, Raymond and Alex Nedeljkovic among them -- so the key will be figuring out how best to support that young core going forward.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Until Yzerman starts working his magic in the offseason, it's tough to proclaim that the Red Wings will be markedly better next year. There are some impressive prospects in Detroit's pipeline, including Simon Edvinsson and Jonatan Berggren, who could find their way into the big club's roster conversation. If the Red Wings intend to ride with their young core again and see how far it can take them, there could be another spring with no playoffs on their horizon.
But if the payoff for that is crafting an identity and foundation for the team that will sustain it for years to come, well, maybe that's worth pursuing.
Montreal Canadiens
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $3,359,524
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (CGY), 2nd, 2nd (EDM), 3rd, 3rd (ANA), 3rd (CAR), 4th, 4th (TB), 4th (NYR), 5th, 6th, 7th, 7th (STL)
What went wrong?
It took Montreal 50 games to hit 10 wins. What didn't go wrong for this team?
Within months of having played Tampa in the Stanley Cup Final, Montreal had fired GM Marc Bergevin (on Nov. 29) and coach Dominique Ducharme (on Feb. 9). It wasn't any one glaring issue that made the Canadiens so hapless, either. Carey Price being unavailable because of injury and a stint in the NHL's player assistance program was not ideal, but hardly insurmountable. Montreal was just a disjointed team. Exciting talents such as Cole Caufield were floundering. The defense was atrocious. One thing after another made attempts at improvement feel more and more futile.
GM Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis stepped in along the way and gave Montreal a pulse; it was just too late to salvage much in the standings. But St. Louis got Caufield firing, Price returned to game action and the Canadiens played with appreciably more pride.
Keys to the offseason
It should go without saying that St. Louis deserved to have the interim tag removed and sign a long-term deal as Montreal's coach. They made it official on June 1, making him the 32nd head coach in franchise history.
From there, Montreal has to determine what's next for Price. So much of how Hughes navigates the coming months will hinge on his starting goaltender. Can Price step back into that elite, full-time role Montreal is accustomed to getting from him? Given Price's recent injury issues, does Hughes have to address the goaltending position either way, even with Jake Allen signed for another year? Figuring out who'll be manning the crease is job one.
After that, Hughes will need to put his defense back in order following Ben Chiarot's trade and with Shea Weber out indefinitely with lingering injuries. Trading Jeff Petry has long been on the table, and Montreal doesn't have a deep swatch of veterans signed after him. Hughes will have to restock the shelves. What decisions he makes will push Montreal in its next direction, likely leaning into the youth movement brought by Caufield, Nick Suzuki and others while balancing veteran contributions.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Montreal responded well to St. Louis. Over his first two months, the Canadiens were better than .500 at 12-11-4. Montreal did begin to fall off again later in April -- losing Allen to injury didn't help -- but that shouldn't reflect poorly on St. Louis. Give him an offseason and training camp to really get a feel for this team, and there will be plenty of reasons for optimism.
Depending where Montreal falls in the draft lottery and how Hughes can wield the many picks he has -- including seven in the first three rounds of July's draft -- the Canadiens could avoid a full rebuild and come back as a retooled group.
New Jersey Devils
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $24,334,168
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th (NYI), 4th (EDM), 5th (CBJ), 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
The goaltending. For the second straight season, the Devils' best-laid plans for their netminders went awry. In 2020-21, it was veteran Corey Crawford retiring after signing as a free agent. In 2021-22, it was another veteran in Jonathan Bernier playing just 10 games after the Devils signed him to pair with Mackenzie Blackwood. To their chagrin, Blackwood regressed to a .894 save percentage and played barely above replacement level ... when he played. The Devils ended up using seven goaltenders this season because of injuries, finishing near the bottom of the league in save percentage for the second straight season.
Injuries were the story among the skaters too. Jack Hughes, having his best NHL season, was limited to 49 games, scoring 56 points. Free-agent prize Dougie Hamilton missed 17 games because of a jaw injury in an underwhelming first season in New Jersey. Nico Hischier also missed time.
Keys to the offseason
Goaltending is the whole ballgame. The Devils were 12th in expected goals against per 60 minutes in all situations and 28th in goals-against average. They have to make a decision on Blackwood, figure out what they have in Nico Daws, then see if Bernier can return from his hip ailment or if the Devils need to find a veteran solution for the third straight offseason.
Beyond that, the Devils will have considerable salary-cap space to address a few other vital needs: replacing veteran defenseman P.K. Subban, who is an unrestricted free agent; adding skilled size to Hughes' line; and re-signing leading scorer and restricted free agent Jesper Bratt, who leveled up considerably this season.
The other issue to address is coach Lindy Ruff, who has a .398 winning percentage in two seasons with the Devils and is signed through next season. Will New Jersey make a change in the offseason or will Ruff have a chance to coach under better goaltending conditions (in theory)? If he stays, it wouldn't be surprising to see a change in assistant coaches given the Devils' special team struggles.
Meanwhile, the Devils are back in the draft lottery, where they've had some luck. Given their depth at center, would they opt for Slovak winger Juraj Slafkovsky or his countryman, defenseman Simon Nemec?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Devils won't be doing anything except wallowing in the draft lottery again if they can't get better goaltending. There's a lot to like here: New Jersey should be a top-10 scoring team next season, given its talent. If the Devils use their considerable cap space smartly, they could finally circle back to playoff contention.
New York Islanders
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $10,630,833
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd (COL), 3rd, 5th, 6th
What went wrong?
After two straight trips to the NHL's penultimate playoff round, the Islanders had the most disappointing season of any team in 2021-22, digging themselves an early-season hole from which they could never escape.
They started with 13 straight road games as the finishing touches on their new arena were completed, going 5-8-0. When they finally played at UBS Arena, it was not a happy homecoming: The Islanders went winless in their first seven games in the new barn, as part of an 11-game winless streak overall. On Dec. 5, the Islanders were 5-10-5. They never recovered to enter the playoff picture.
They went from being the 12th-ranked defensive team at even strength (per expected goals against) over the previous two seasons to being 25th this season. Typically dependable players like Anthony Beauvillier and Kyle Palmieri didn't hit their offensive marks, while forward Oliver Wahlstrom couldn't build on his promising rookie season.
There were personal highlights, such as Brock Nelson's best goal-scoring season, Noah Dobson's breakout year and Ilya Sorokin's Vezina-caliber goaltending. But it didn't add up for the Islanders, who looked slow and old in a fast and young league.
Keys to the offseason
GM Lou Lamoriello must address the team's blue line. Dobson needs a new contract. Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara are both free agents and past their prime, while free agent Sebastian Aho was generally ineffective. Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov -- who will be in the final year of his contract next season -- can only paper over so much of the Islanders' troubles on defense.
After that, Lamoriello has to determine whether the team's struggles were anomalous or systemic. Will he try to trade off some of his 30-and-older players on long-term contracts? Or does he run it all back next season with hopes that the pieces he's assembled still can click for a Cup run?
One thing we do know: Barry Trotz will not be backed, as he was fired on May 9.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Bringing back Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise on new contracts would indicate that Lamoriello is willing to keep this core together for another kick at the can. With a few tweaks, especially on defense, perhaps the Islanders have another run in them, especially with their goaltending. A better start and some new bodies in the lineup should mean they'll be a heck of a lot closer to the postseason than they were this season.
Ottawa Senators
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $23,303,929
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (TB), 3rd, 3rd (BOS), 4th, 5th, 5th (WPG), 5th (BOS), 6th, 7th (NYI)
What went wrong?
The Senators thought the rebuild was over. They thought wrong.
Why? Let's start with goaltending. Matt Murray was hardly the Senators' savior there, losing seven straight to start the season and six straight in the back half of his campaign before exiting in early March with an injury. That's not what Ottawa needed from its supposed starter. And with his own subpar play, Filip Gustavsson didn't fill the void effectively.
Murray wasn't the only one who fell below expectations, though. Tim Stutzle also came out slowly (on the score sheet anyway), notching only one goal in his first 21 games, epitomizing a lineup that struggled to score as a whole. Ottawa just never got the leaps and bounds from some of its younger stars early on, then couldn't overcome its deficiencies later. That became especially true after Drake Batherson, the Sens' leading point-getter, was lost to an injury right before the All-Star break.
Then there were the defensive inconsistencies: odd-man rushes, sloppy in-zone coverage, bad decision-making with the puck. All the little negative habits that add up to negative results.
Keys to the offseason
Murray hasn't played an NHL game since March 5. How is GM Pierre Dorion going to address that position for next season? Anton Forsberg has had a solid final third of the season and signed a three-year deal to stick with the Senators. If Murray can get healthy, will Ottawa trust him to stay that way and be part of a tandem with Forsberg? Do the Sens have any other choice? Shoring up the goaltending, one way or another, will be critical to Ottawa's hopes for a turnaround.
Dealing with their defensive problems will also be key. Dorion added Travis Hamonic at the trade deadline, but he'll need to do more work to help Ottawa keep the puck out of its own net. The Senators have cap space available to rectify these issues; it's on Dorion to find the right mix.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
At this stage, it's hard to think of Ottawa in the playoff conversation next season. Unless, of course, Dorion takes some big swings in free agency and can get some difference-making defensive players. The Senators have great talent up front in Stutzle, Batherson and Brady Tkachuk. Even if all three improve upon this campaign, more tweaks are necessary before we can say Ottawa realistically moves the needle next season.
Philadelphia Flyers
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $8,803,143
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
This season was a debacle for the Flyers. Coach Alain Vigneault was fired after an 8-10-4 start and replaced by assistant coach Mike Yeo on an interim basis. Under the former Wild and Blues head coach, the Flyers would win just 16 of their next 56 games. They missed key players to injury in center Sean Couturier (29 games played), forward Kevin Hayes (44 games) and defenseman Ryan Ellis (4 games), a significant offseason acquisition who was expected to solidify the defensive corps. A slight uptick in goaltending quality by maligned franchise netminder Carter Hart was undercut by a penalty kill that saw the Flyers finish near the bottom of the league.
It was a season also marred by tragedy, as Hayes lost his brother, former NHL player Jimmy Hayes, last August. It was also overshadowed by the saga of captain Claude Giroux, the career Flyer whose time with the team ended after a deadline trade to the Florida Panthers.
Too many injuries, too many ineffective performances and not enough impact from GM Chuck Fletcher's offseason additions in Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, Keith Yandle and Martin Jones (although Cam Atkinson played well in his first season in Philly).
Keys to the offseason
Fletcher has spoken about an "aggressive retool" in the offseason, believing there are enough pieces on the roster, with some augmentation, to contend next season. That retool is going to have to be quite aggressive: The Flyers need to replace Giroux's offense and probably add another established scorer beyond that.
Will they seek to move forward James van Riemsdyk, who carries a $7 million cap hit into the final year of his contract? Will those rumors about Ivan Provorov's availability result in a trade? There are plenty of directions to take the retool.
Obviously, an NHL draft lottery win would help. The Flyers could certainly use a Shane Wright or a Logan Cooley at center, or Simon Nemec on defense.
But beyond the roster, Fletcher will need to hire a new head coach. There has been a lot of speculation that the Flyers will seek out TNT commentator and Philly fan favorite Rick Tocchet to take over the bench. Or does a team seeking better fundamental 5-on-5 play make overtures to another coach-turned-commentator in John Tortorella?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
If they're healthier. If their offseason acquisitions are uniformly more impactful than last season's were and don't detract from other areas of the team. If they choose the right coach. If some of the younger players getting time this season -- Noah Cates, Ronnie Attard, Bobby Brink, Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett -- level up, and Hart continues to trend back to his previous standards. If all of this -- or at least most of it -- happens, the Flyers could return to playoff contention. But that's a lot of ifs.
San Jose Sharks
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $13,003,333
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th (BUF), 6th, 7th, 7th (ARI), 7th (MIN)
What went wrong?
Not much was expected from the Sharks this season, but they improved incrementally.
They were a .438 points percentage team last season; they had a .468 points percentage through 77 games this season. Their goaltending improved from 29th last season to 20th this season, thanks to the acquisitions of James Reimer, Adin Hill and eventually goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, whom they acquired from Minnesota in a trade for defenseman Jacob Middleton.
But their offense dropped from seventh in expected goals per 60 minutes in all situations last season to 27th this season. Part of that could be attributed to the loss of forward Evander Kane, as the Sharks terminated Kane's deal for what they said was a breach of contract and for violating COVID-19 protocols. He was their leading scorer last season, but it was clear that the relationship had run its course.
Keys to the offseason
The first is finding the next general manager after Doug Wilson stepped down this season. Joe Will is the team's interim GM and may end up running their draft as they meticulously comb through candidates to succeed Wilson, who was with San Jose for 19 seasons.
Whoever takes over inherits a veteran roster filled with long-term contracts. The Sharks have $42.6 million in salary committed to the 2024-25 season for Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and now Tomas Hertl, whom they signed before the trade deadline. That's an expensive core with ample trade protection. Unless something dramatic changes, the Sharks will have to find ways to build around that talent thriftily.
To that end, they have some interesting free agents: productive forward Alexander Barabanov (UFA), center Jonathan Dahlen (RFA), defenseman Mario Ferraro (RFA) and Kahkonen (RFA).
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Another season in hockey purgatory, as the Sharks hope an affordable supporting cast can solidify around their talented but aging core. They need more players like center Thomas Bordeleau, the University of Michigan product who made his debut this season. They could have another one in forward William Eklund, the seventh overall pick in last year's draft, but he had a rough season in the Swedish Hockey League. The regular-season ceiling for this team feels like a wild card.
Seattle Kraken
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $21,135,834
2022 draft picks: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (NSH), 2nd (TOR), 2nd (FLA), 3rd, 4th, 4th (WSH), 4th (CGY), 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
The Kraken weren't the Vegas Golden Knights. That much was clear. Our expectations for Seattle, based on the Knights' recent expansion success and Seattle drafting under the same rules, were inflated. Given the talent on the roster, the Kraken should have been better than a points percentage under .400, even if they inevitably became a seller at the trade deadline anyway.
At the very least, they should have been a team that established a discernible identity in their inaugural season; yet in the end, Seattle's style and direction are as mysterious as their namesake sea monster.
Their goaltending was supposed to help define them. Instead, Philipp Grubauer gave up more than 18 goals below expectations and cost his team at least three wins, per Evolving Hockey. Through 76 games, the Kraken had the worst team save percentage in the NHL. Whatever gains they made at 5-on-5 during the season were undermined by the league's most porous goaltending.
But the Kraken didn't give their netminders much goal support, either. They were near the bottom of the goals per game rankings, watching players like Joonas Donskoi struggle and others like Jaden Schwartz and Brandon Tanev limited by injuries.
Keys to the offseason
The arrival of No. 2 overall pick Matty Beniers gives the Kraken a potential No. 1 center next season and a glimpse of the future. How to achieve that future will involve the NHL draft, where the Kraken will have five picks in the first two rounds. But the short-term prospects for Seattle will rise or fall on GM Ron Francis' moves this offseason.
They have 10 free agents, three of them unrestricted. They'll have around $21 million in open cap space. They can see what worked and what didn't this season and adjust accordingly. That goes for the players and the coaches, whose player usage and systems contributed to the team's offensive malaise.
But mostly, they need to find a way for Grubauer to shake off this season and become the goalie they thought they signed last summer -- the one who was going to be the foundation for what they're building in the Emerald City.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
The Kraken found some franchise foundations in their first year. Jared McCann was the goal-scoring ace that the analytics portended. Yanni Gourde was as solid as expected. Jamie Oleksiak had a strong season. So consider the inaugural season as the opening draw in a card game; they'll keep some, give some back, take new ones and hope the hand turns out better. This is clearly a slow build for Seattle. Another season outside the playoffs, considering what's in the 2023 draft, wouldn't hurt.
Vancouver Canucks
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $12,373,333
2022 draft picks: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
The Canucks waited too long to make significant changes. GM Jim Benning and coach Travis Green were fired on Dec. 6, 2021. Benning had been at the helm since 2014, and the Canucks made the playoffs just twice during his tenure. One of those times was a second-round exit in the 2020 bubble playoffs that proved to be an anomalous tease.
After a .446 points percentage in 2020-21, this clean sweep probably could have happened in the offseason. Instead, the regime returned, with Benning having made overly aggressive moves in an effort to save his job -- like the Oliver Ekman-Larsson deal, for a future contract headache he figured wouldn't be his -- and augment a roster that had already proven not to be championship-caliber.
Green was fired after the Canucks stumbled to an 8-15-2 start, months after Vancouver handed him a two-year contract extension. Enter miracle worker Bruce Boudreau, who has gone 31-15-9 as head coach and pushed this roster as far as it could go. Enter team president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin as well, who were charged with evaluating that roster in another lost season.
On the ice, the team got outstanding goaltending from Thatcher Demko, star Elias Pettersson regained his form, it was another big offensive season from defenseman Quinn Hughes and a career year from forward J.T. Miller, whom the Canucks decided to hang onto rather than move at the trade deadline despite next season being the last one on his contract. But the team's problems, like their penalty kill, were solved too slowly for the Canucks to make the cut. Too much, too late.
Keys to the offseason
The first key is bringing back Boudreau. His contract has a team option for a second season, although it's been reported that he could walk away from that option. As long as the term is right, bringing back Boudreau is a no-brainer: He cracked the code on this team and changed the vibe of the franchise.
They'll have calls to make on Miller, who makes $5.25 million against the cap next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent; it's hard to imagine he's not part of the solution in Vancouver, given his breakout season. Forward Brock Boeser is a restricted free agent whose name continues to circulate in the trade rumor mill. Captain Bo Horvat, like Miller, goes UFA in summer 2023.
They have upwards of seven UFAs on a roster that Allvin and Rutherford would no doubt like to reshape a bit more in their image, while figuring out which pieces of the core they'll retain.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
It feels like Boudreau just ran out of runway this season. Given a full offseason, training camp and 82-game campaign, we have faith that he can get the Canucks back to the playoffs. They have some foundational pieces in place -- you could do a lot worse than starting with Pettersson, Hughes and Demko -- and a very smart managerial team to add more. The long-overdue end of the Benning Era should lead to prosperity next season.
Vegas Golden Knights
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $2,673,334
2022 draft picks: 2nd, 3rd (NYR), 5th, 5th (CHI), 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
While there were things that impacted the Golden Knights beyond their control this season, they missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history due to unforced errors, cap mismanagement and straying too far from their identity.
Having selected Robin Lehner as their primary goalie and needing the cap space, they shipped beloved Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury to the Blackhawks last offseason. That ended up destabilizing their goaltending: The Knights went from 2nd in team save percentage to 20th, and Lehner didn't finish the season after opting for shoulder surgery. The Knights used much of that cap space to acquire winger Evgenii Dadonov ... whose cap hit they desperately tried to unload with a deadline trade to the Ducks, only to have the move canceled by the NHL after it turned out Anaheim was on his no-trade list.
Vegas tried to move Dadonov because it was a capped-out team attempting to bring back players from long-term injured reserve. This underscored a two-fold problem this season: The financial constraints of their own making, which were only exacerbated when the Knights traded for Jack Eichel in a November 2021 blockbuster; and the incredible number of injuries they dealt with in the second half of the season, from star winger Mark Stone to defenseman Alec Martinez to key forward Reilly Smith to Lehner.
Eichel was the latest in a series of high-profile player acquisitions that turned the "Golden Misfits" into a roster crushed under the weight of its payroll and expectations. That was evident in the final games of the season, when the Knights stumbled to their elimination with home losses to New Jersey and San Jose; a de facto playoff game loss at Dallas; and then a loss in Chicago. Outside of the Devils, the other three defeats were in the shootout, where Vegas went a stupefying 0-for-17.
After that, it was goodnight for these underwhelming Knights.
Keys to the offseason
How does owner Bill Foley react to this? He's spent the last three seasons collecting star players like they're Pokémon. The Knights were a Stanley Cup favorite -- and they didn't even make the postseason. The key to the offseason is the scope of that reaction. The ball started rolling on May 16, when the team fired head coach Peter DeBoer. Do they make any more changes? Does it mean another aggressive offseason acquisition of high-priced veteran talent? Or do the Knights write off this injury-plagued season and run it back with much of the same roster, including a sharper Jack Eichel for 82 games?
Aside from those philosophical discussions, there are some immediate questions to be addressed. Smith is an unrestricted free agent that's likely gone. Do they revisit a Dadonov trade? Could they seek to move Max Pacioretty one year before unrestricted free agency? Perhaps most importantly: What's the status of Robin Lehner?
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Challenging for the Stanley Cup. Injuries were a huge factor this season. As anyone in Vegas knows, sometimes your luck is rotten. But the other issues that impacted the Knights were self-inflicted, and many of them can be corrected in the offseason with better cap management and some tweaks to the roster. They have enough talent on this roster to win the Cup. They just have to find the right mix, the right flexibility and, above all else, the right direction.
Winnipeg Jets
Projected 2022-23 cap space: $16,271,310
2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (NYR), 2nd (STL), 3rd (CBJ), 4th (ARI), 6th, 7th
What went wrong?
Some teams don't have enough talent to compete with the NHL's best. Winnipeg has top players, but too many of them had a tough season at the same time. So much so, coach Paul Maurice didn't think he could get enough out of the group anymore, leading him to resign in December.
It's not often that a coach just up and quits on a team that's underperforming. Did that have a residual effect on the Jets' overall confidence? Maybe. But the club's struggling stars were the real issue.
Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler both missed time early in the season and didn't find an offensive groove until later. Nikolaj Ehlers was one the Jets' best forwards, but he too was felled by injury midseason, and that hurt the Jets' chances of making a run up the standings. It felt like one thing after another took Winnipeg's assets out of the lineup, and the more they fought to stay above water, the harder another wave of adversity would land.
Eventually that roller coaster seemed to take a mental toll on the entire team, effectively ending any last-ditch hope of contending for a wild-card spot.
Keys to the offseason
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will need to decide on his next coach. Dave Lowry stepped in for Maurice, but is that a long-term slot for him? Probably not.
Whoever fills the role will face arguably the next most important task for the Jets: putting this wasted year behind them and starting fresh. It's not as if the Jets' require a massive overhaul. They have good players and good prospects. Connor Hellebuyck is a strong goaltender. This was just a nightmare season in nearly every regard.
Inevitably, Cheveldayoff will swap some personnel or make alterations here and there. He'll have to manage Pierre Luc-Dubois' next deal as well, which will be a priority negotiation between the club and its pending restricted free agent.
Realistic expectations for 2022-23
Winnipeg should enter training camp with a massive chip on its shoulder. This was not the year the Jets intended to have, and there are far too many good players in this lineup to have it happen again. There should be high expectations for the Jets going forward, both inside and outside the organization.