With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder set to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.

2016-17 Grade: D

The Winnipeg Jets were among the most exciting teams this season, playing a lineup that featured rookie sensation Patrik Laine, youngster Nikolaj Ehlers, and emerging top center Mark Scheifele.

It made for a team that could score but lacked structure. Winnipeg allowed the fourth-most goals this season as the team's netminders struggled, while the blue line had challenges of its own, from defenseman Tyler Myers missing most of the season with a lower-body injury to Jacob Trouba's month-long absence due to a contract dispute.

Free Agents

Six Jets regulars are free agents this summer, with Marko Dano the most notable among them. The 22-year-old appeared in 38 games this season and remains an important piece for Winnipeg.

Between the pipes, the Jets can wash their hands of veteran netminder Ondrej Pavelec, a pending unrestricted free agent who split the season between the NHL and the minors.

2017 Draft Picks

Winnipeg will select 13th overall in the entry draft. The Jets were set to pick at No. 12, but were leapfrogged by the Philadelphia Flyers at the draft lottery, who moved from 13th to second overall.

Summer Priorities

Add a goalie to share duties with Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck is a promising young netminder, but the Jets need insurance in the crease in order to make measurable progress.

While Winnipeg could consider bringing in a top name to handle No. 1 duties, with Hellebuyck making spot starts, getting a veteran 'keeper to share the crease may be more realistic.

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury be a reasonable target? If Pittsburgh is prepared to move on from Fleury and grant its top job to Matt Murray, he could be an option for the Jets. Fleury is signed for just two more seasons, which should be the ideal time frame for Hellebuyck to grow into the No. 1 spot.

Resolve Jacob Trouba's long-term future

After missing a month due to a contract holdout, Trouba agreed to a modest two-year deal to stay in Winnipeg. The first season of that pact is now burned up, meaning the Jets and Trouba will soon be back to the bargaining tables.

But the issue Trouba raised hasn't changed - the blue-liner feels he cannot reach his potential as a right-shot defenseman given Winnipeg's depth on that side of the ice. Dustin Byfuglien and Myers both play right defense in Winnipeg.

Moving forward, the Jets will need a long-term commitment from Trouba, who becomes a restricted free agent after next season. If they can't reach a deal, Winnipeg will need to revisit trade possibilities for the 23-year-old.

Continue along the growth path

There's no need to rush in Winnipeg. Rather, the team should grow from within and watch as its young talent develops. Laine scored 36 goals as a freshman, and has the potential to do even more as he becomes more familiar with the league and the North American game.

Related: Matthews, Laine, Werenski named Calder Trophy finalists

Laine wasn't the only Jets skater to have a breakout season. Scheifele, 24, reached a new career high in goals and assists, as did Ehlers, while Byfuglien and captain Blake Wheeler maintained their consistency.

The Jets are likely to introduce more young talent to their offensive ranks next season, with their top pick in 2015, Kyle Connor, a prime candidate to take a regular shift. Connor scored five points in 20 games with the Jets this year.

2017-18 Outlook

Winnipeg was in the playoff mix for much of this season, falling short of the postseason cutoff by just seven points.

If the Jets have a healthy lineup, their young players take the next steps, and they add some stability between the pipes, Winnipeg could challenge for a playoff spot in 2017-18.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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The Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and are now a win away from advancing to the Western Conference Final.

But they'll have to go through the Anaheim Ducks to do it, a team which has proven that it doesn't go away easily. That was most evident in Game 5, when Anaheim rallied for a 4-3 double-overtime win after trailing by three goals with less than four minutes left in regulation.

Here's the tale of the tape after six games:

Cast your vote:

The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET.

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The Dallas Stars acquired the rights to goaltender Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick in 2017.

The Stars now have the opportunity to sign Bishop to a contract extension. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1.

Bishop, 30, split last season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Kings. He was dealt to Los Angeles at the March trade deadline.

"Ben has proven that he is one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement.

The Stars used a tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi in net last season, and they combined for a league-worst .893 save percentage.

The fourth-rounder headed to Los Angeles was originally acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Jordie Benn.

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Fans will soon know who was this season's most valuable player.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid are this year's finalists for the Hart Trophy.

Bobrovsky was the NHL's top goaltender this season, owning a league-best 2.06 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, leading the Blue Jackets to their best season in franchise history, as they finished with 108 points.

Crosby ended the season as the NHL's leading goal scorer, as the Penguins center finished with 44 goals. He was second in league scoring with 89 points, behind only McDavid. Crosby is a two-time winner of the Hart Trophy, last capturing the award in 2013-14.

McDavid was the league's top scorer, finishing the season with 100 points, doing so in only his second NHL campaign. The Oilers captain led the team to a 47-26-9 record, as Edmonton qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2006.

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Sidney Crosby has come out on top where it matters most, but you can't blame Alex Ovechkin for trying.

The Washington Capitals captain has been a force in the two previous series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, outpacing Crosby in both 2009 and 2016:

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Crosby and Ovechkin reconnected Thursday for their third playoff head-to-head series since entering the NHL as rookie sensations in 2005. The Penguins again came away with the victory in Game 1, defeating the Capitals 3-2.

No series would be complete without the two captains chipping in. Crosby opened the scoring for the Penguins, and netted his second just 52 seconds later. Ovechkin added a tally of his own late in the middle frame.

In all, the two have now squared off 14 times in the postseason, with Ovechkin coming up with 22 points to Crosby's 17. Still, Crosby has the edge in the category not shown on the scoreboard: 2-0 for Stanley Cups.

The two superstars will renew hostilities in their 15th playoff contest Saturday in Washington.

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Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won't win the Stanley Cup this season, but their coach could soon take home a little hardware of his own. He's one of four key bench bosses to make headlines this week:

▲ Mike Babcock

Babcock's trophy case is well decorated. From two Olympic golds, a world junior win, a World Cup, and a Stanley Cup during his time with the Detroit Red Wings, there's just one thing missing.

The Maple Leafs bench boss has never captured Coach of the Year honors, but has a chance to do so this season. Babcock was nominated for the Jack Adams Award alongside Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Babcock's best selling point may be the quick turnaround he pulled off with the Maple Leafs. After finishing dead last a year ago - and earning the top odds to draft Auston Matthews first overall - Toronto rebounded in a big way this season, qualifying for the playoffs for just the second time since 2004.

No team has gone from last place to the dance in less time since the Philadelphia Flyers did so in 2008.

▼ Bruce Boudreau

Boudreau dominates in the regular season. It's spring hockey that continues to be a hurdle for the Minnesota Wild coach.

After piecing together a 106-point season for the best finish in franchise history - including a 12-game win streak through December - the Wild face-planted in the opening round of the playoffs, losing out to the St. Louis Blues in five games.

The elimination ended another season abruptly for Boudreau, who - despite his regular-season success (his teams have won their divisions in eight of 10 seasons) - hasn't quite figured out how to win in the postseason.

Through stints with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and now the Wild, Boudreau has advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs just once.

▲ Bruce Cassidy

Win and you're in.

The Boston Bruins made a change behind the bench this season, relieving veteran bench boss Claude Julien - the longest-tenured coach at the time of his firing - replacing him with Cassidy, who previously led the Bruins' farm team in Providence.

The adjustment paid off, as the Bruins went 18-8-1 under their new coach, putting together a performance that snapped a two-year skid where Boston was on the outside of the playoff picture.

Despite falling to the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, Cassidy earned his keep, and the Bruins were quick to drop the interim tag from his title and grant him the full-time gig.

▼ Joel Quenneville

Nobody saw this coming.

Knocked out of the playoffs in a four-game sweep to the Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks were quick to evaluate their early exit. While general manager Stan Bowman noted his longtime coach was safe, changes quickly followed behind Quenneville's bench, much to his chagrin, as the team fired his longtime assistant Mike Kitchen.

After capturing three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, it's hard to find fault with Quenneville's performance in Chicago. Still, he wasn't able to get his top players going against the Predators to reverse the tide, as the Blackhawks netted just three goals in the four-game set.

It marked the first playoff sweep against Quenneville since 2008 when he coached the Colorado Avalanche.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Travis Green has been named the next head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

Green spent the past four seasons as head coach of the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.

"Travis is a talented head coach who's played a key role in the development of our young players through four seasons with the Comets," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement.

Before joining the AHL, Green spent one season as a head coach in the WHL, guiding the Portland Winterhawks to the championship.

"(Travis) has an intense desire to win and build a team identity that is hardworking, responsible on both ends of the ice and competitive," Benning added. "He has an excellent understanding of where we are as an organization and we're confident in his ability to help build our team and develop a winning culture."

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Memories are made in the playoffs.

While superstars often garner the hockey headlines, depth proves invaluable in the postseason, where players around the league have the opportunity to rewrite their story.

Here are five lesser-knowns who will play key roles in the second round of the playoffs:

Kevin Bieksa

The Anaheim Ducks defenseman is a dying breed - a blue-liner who plays a hard-nosed game and who isn't afraid to mix it up in defending his crease.

On a young and deep blue line that boasts the likes of Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler, and rising stars in Shea Theodore and Josh Manson, Bieksa's name is often shuffled to the back. But that's where he does his best work.

His game is simple: Bieksa helps keep pucks out of his own net, as his proficiency in the opposition's zone has waned in recent years - he finished with just 14 points in the regular season (To note, he tallied four points in the opening-round sweep of the Calgary Flames).

He certainly has the support of his coach. As Ducks bench boss Randy Carlyle told Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times on April 18, critics don't see the value Bieksa brings, noting, "We like Kevin Bieksa. I don't care what anybody else says about him, personally."

Bieksa's shutdown abilities were invaluable in Round 1, and the Ducks hope he can put together a similar performance in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers.

Nick Bonino

Bonino, Bonino, Bonino!

Introductions aside, the Pittsburgh Penguins center may have the most difficult task of the second round: keeping the scoring prowess of the Washington Capitals in check.

After eliminating the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1, Bonino will need to be up to the task in taking down the Presidents' Trophy winners. For a group that boasts the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and more, that's no easy task.

As for Bonino, the 29-year-old played a key role in last year's Stanley Cup win, putting up 18 points in 24 games. He had just one point in the opening round against the Blue Jackets, but where the Penguins truly need Bonino to contribute is in shutting down the opposition.

A strong two-way player, Bonino is regularly relied upon by Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, leading the team in important but less flashy categories, like defensive zone faceoff wins and short-handed time on ice.

Mattias Ekholm

It's a crowded blue line in the Music City, which leaves little spotlight for one of the Nashville Predators' most valuable defenders.

Behind the likes of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, and Ryan Ellis, Ekholm is the behind-the-scenes blue-liner that keeps the machine roaring in Nashville. While Josi led the group in ice time through its opening-round sweep over the Chicago Blackhawks, the separation wasn't all that different:

Playing a simple and mistake-free game, Ekholm's value in the opening round came in shutting down the opposition's best, knocking out the highly-favored Blackhawks in a quick four-game sweep. Ekholm was a primary piece in stifling Chicago's scorers, as the Blackhawks exited the playoffs having scored just three goals.

The next challenge: a repeat performance in the second round against the St. Louis Blues, where the rival music town has no shortage of offensive support of its own in the likes of Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and Alex Steen, among others.

Mike Hoffman

The Ottawa Senators rely on scoring by committee to get ahead of the opposition, and there's no more underrated producer than Hoffman.

The 27-year-old made his full-time debut with the Senators three years ago, and in the ensuring campaigns has put together consecutive 20-goal seasons. In all, he's amassed 82 goals in 231 games. Not bad.

Hoffman was somewhat quiet in the club's opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, scoring twice in Game 3, but held off the scoresheet in four other contests. Going back to the team's scoring-by-committee approach, that left the likes of Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard to carry the mail for the Senators.

But now it's Hoffman's turn. Finishing second to Kyle Turris in goals this season, and behind only star defenseman Erik Karlsson in points, the Senators will need Hoffman to be a key contributor in their second-round matchup against the New York Rangers.

Here's the good news: Hoffman has saved some of his best performances when going toe-to-toe against the Broadway Blueshirts, having scored seven points in 12 career games against the Rangers.

Nate Schmidt

A healthy scratch to begin the postseason, Schmidt has made it a difficult decision for coach Barry Trotz to put him back on the sidelines.

Schmidt seized his opportunity when the Capitals lost top-pairing defender Karl Alzner to an upper-body injury after Game 2 in their opening round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But Schmidt has held his own since becoming a regular, averaging more than 18 minutes a night. He's also picked up two assists, pulling even in points from the back end with more offensive producers like John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov.

Where Schmidt lands once Alzner is set to the return to the lineup is unknown, but he's no doubt made his case to stick around.

After knocking off the Maple Leafs in Round 1, Schmidt's extended audition will carry through to the second round as the Capitals look to take down the rival Penguins.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Compliments all around from the coach of the Washington Capitals.

Barry Trotz opened his postgame press conference Sunday by paying respect to his opponent, congratulating the Toronto Maple Leafs and their management staff on the season that was.

"You've got a hell of a team," Trotz told Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.

The Maple Leafs were a surprise playoff entry this season after finishing in last place a year ago. That earned the Maple Leafs the top pick in the 2016 draft and the right to select Auston Matthews, who led the club with 40 goals this season.

One year later and the Maple Leafs took the Presidents' Trophy winners to six games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with five of the six games decided in overtime.

Matthews led a crop of rookies in Toronto this season, flanked by fellow freshmen Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

On Thursday, Matthews was named a finalist for Rookie of the Year honors, alongside Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.

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Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau, Minnesota Wild center Mikael Granlund, and Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues are this year's nominees for the Lady Byng Trophy, the league announced Sunday.

The Lady Byng recognizes the player who best demonstrates sportsmanship combined with exceptional playing ability.

Each of this year's nominees would be a first-time winner. Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings captured the trophy last season.

Gaudreau appeared in 72 games with the Flames this season, recording 18 goals and 43 assists. He was whistled for just four penalty minutes.

Granlund had a breakout season with the Wild, finishing with 26 goals and 43 assists in 81 games, alongside 12 penalty minutes.

Tarasenko appeared in all 82 games for the Blues, registering 39 goals and 36 assists. He recorded 12 penalty minutes on the season.

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