Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin is hoping his club can ride last season's strong finish into a hot start for the 2023-24 campaign.
"It definitely feels different because I feel that we're more aligned from the top to the bottom," Allvin told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre Friday when asked about the organizational changes over the last year. "I think we're all preaching the same message. We know the players. And there was definitely a big momentum boost after last year when we did the coaching change."
The Canucks were a long shot to make the previous postseason after an 18-25-3 start to the 2022-23 campaign under head coach Bruce Boudreau. Vancouver missed the playoffs by 15 points, but Allvin took solace in the club's strong finish, going 20-12-4 after Rick Tocchet replaced Boudreau.
Allvin said he believes that a full training camp under Tocchet will prepare the team better to avoid the poor starts that torpedoed them in past seasons.
"The approach Toc has and how he wants to play the game, you need to be fit to play," he said. "And I think that's what he emphasized to the players - the fitness level in order to be able to play the right way. That's where I give the leadership group a lot of credit because the players came together and sent out the texts, and everybody showed up earlier than ever before."
After the Canucks finished 25th in the league in goals against and owned the NHL's worst penalty kill last season, Allvin made a cognizant effort to improve the club's defensive play for the upcoming campaign.
In addition to signing Carson Soucy and Ian Cole to help shore up the blue line, Vancouver also brought in defensive-minded centers Pius Suter and Teddy Blueger to improve the overall team defense.
Allvin said those additions and a full season under Tocchet will help the Canucks win the close, low-scoring games they couldn't last season.
"You don't need to win games 6-5, 7-5," he said. "You can win games 2-1 by playing the right way and being a very, very consistent team. I think that's what we (strive for), being very consistent in detail."
With Jonathan Toews no longer under contract and taking time away from the sport in 2023-24, the Chicago Blackhawks have a captain vacancy, and defenseman Seth Jones would love to fill the void.
Jones believes playing under some of the game's most respected leaders has helped him prepare to wear the "C."
"I've always wanted to be a captain," Jones said Tuesday, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "I've learned from some great leaders - Shea Weber, Nick Foligno, Jonathan Toews - I mean, I played with some of the greatest captains that we've seen. It would be pretty special."
It's unclear if the Blackhawks will even name a captain. It's not uncommon for rebuilding teams to go without one, and Chicago projects to be one of the NHL's worst clubs yet again.
"I understand where the organization is at," said Jones, who turns 29 in October. "I'm focused on going and just playing my game and leading whether I have a 'C,' an 'A,' or nothing on my jersey. I don't think that should change."
Jones, a 10-year NHL veteran, was traded to the Blackhawks in 2021. He has seven seasons remaining on his contract, which carries a $9.5-million cap hit and a full no-movement clause.
He led all Blackhawks skaters in average time on ice (24:27) last season and finished fourth on the club with 37 points in 72 games. His underlying numbers were strong, too, despite his minus-38 rating.
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The Blackhawks added some veteran leaders this offseason, including Jones' former captain in Columbus, Foligno.
"He's a special guy, a special human," Jones said of Foligno. "He cares so much about the players he plays with, the organization he's on, and the community. Big family guy. He's got beautiful kids and he's just a great guy to have in the locker room. He knows how to lighten the room up a little bit when need be, crack a good dad joke. He's the king of dad jokes. He's just great, a great guy."
But Foligno is 35 and signed a one-year deal. Triple Gold Club member Corey Perry, 38, joined Chicago on a one-year deal as well.
The Blackhawks could also wait it out while eyeing Connor Bedard, 18, as the team's next captain. The 2023 No. 1 pick enters the NHL with a comparable level of hype to Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid as rookies, and they both became captains at age 20.
After analyzing some of the biggest head-scratching moves of the offseason Friday, we're now breaking down some of the savviest. Below is a list of players who aren't household names and signed on the cheap but could vastly outplay their low-cost deals.
Players are listed positionally and then alphabetically.
Connor Brown ➡️ Oilers
Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position: RW Cap hit: $775K Term: 1 year
The Oilers got creative with the Brown signing. Since he played just four games last season due to a torn ACL, he was eligible to sign a deal allowing him to earn $3.225 million in additional performance bonuses. However, he'll count for only $775,000 on the cap. It'll likely result in overages next year, but kicking the can down the road makes sense with the Oilers in win-now mode and the cap set to rise significantly in 2024-25.
It's easy to envision Brown starting the season on Connor McDavid's wing. He's a hard-working, responsible, two-way winger with just enough skill and smarts to shine alongside high-end players. He and McDavid were also teammates for two years with the OHL's Erie Otters. That history will help his case to start the year on the top line.
Jonathan Drouin ➡️ Avalanche
Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: LW Cap hit: $825K Term: 1 year
Continuing the theme of old junior teammates reuniting this offseason, Colorado is the perfect landing spot for Drouin, who desperately needed a fresh start after a tumultuous end to his tenure with the Montreal Canadiens.
Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon were an unstoppable duo with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. It wouldn't be surprising if the Avalanche gave him the first crack at playing on the team's top line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. It'll be on Drouin to seize the opportunity, but he should play like his career depends on it.
There's no denying Drouin's last few years with the Habs were a nightmare. However, some bad luck was involved, as the winger shot a paltry 4.8% since 2020-21. The 2013 No. 3 pick has always been a better playmaker than a shooter, but he's still due for some bounces to go his way at some point.
Daniel Sprong ➡️ Red Wings
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: RW Cap hit: $2M Term: 1 year
Sprong has been one of the game's most efficient scorers over the past three seasons, ranking seventh in goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five since the 2020-21 campaign. He's coming off his best year with 21 goals and 25 assists in 66 games despite averaging just 11:25 per contest.
It's a mystery why the Seattle Kraken didn't issue Sprong a $737,500 qualifying offer to retain his rights considering he's only 26 years old and coming off his best season. But the Red Wings stand to gain.
Scoring efficiency doesn't always translate when a player is bumped up the lineup. Still, it's worth a shot for Detroit to see if Sprong can do more damage with extra opportunities. At the very least, the Red Wings have a bottom-six winger they know can provide offense.
Pius Suter ➡️ Canucks
Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: C Cap hit: $1.6M Term: 2 years
Quality centers were tough to come by in free agency, and the Canucks entered the offseason needing depth down the middle behind Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. They added a solid fourth-line center early in Teddy Blueger but snagged Suter late after his market dried up.
At just 5-foot-11 and 179 pounds, Suter doesn't have the ideal build for a shutdown center. However, he's posted superb defensive metrics throughout his three-year career. He's also excellent on the penalty kill, an area Vancouver ranked last in the league a year ago.
Suter is no slouch offensively, averaging 16 goals and 16 assists per 82 games in his career. He's entering his age-27 season, so there aren't many ways this contract could go poorly.
Filip Zadina ➡️ Sharks
Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: LW Cap hit: $1.1M Term: 1 year
Zadina needed a fresh start as much as anyone on this list. He failed to carve out a clear role in parts of five seasons with the Red Wings, who drafted him sixth overall in 2018.
The fact that Zadina forewent $4.56 million to terminate his contract with Detroit should say a lot about his character. He desperately wanted a change of scenery. Sometimes, that's all it takes to get everything to click for a talented player.
It's a smart gamble by the Sharks, who can afford him the opportunity to play high in the lineup as they continue to rebuild. If he busts, they don't have to issue a qualifying offer to him after the campaign. If the 23-year-old shines, he's under team control until 2027.
Travis Dermott ➡️ Coyotes
Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position: LD Cap hit: $800K Term: 1 year
The signing of Dermott carries no risk. Even if he plays most of the year in the AHL, he's on a two-way deal that pays him only $450,000 in the minors - an important note for the frugal Coyotes.
Dermott played in just 11 games last season due to concussion symptoms, but he posted strong defensive metrics in each of the first five seasons of his career - albeit in sheltered, third-pairing minutes.
While Dermott can play both sides, his path to ice time in Arizona is on the left side. The Coyotes have a glut of right-shooting options. The only lefties are Juuso Valimaki and J.J. Moser. Don't be surprised if Dermott, who's still just 26 years old, establishes himself as a reliable NHL defenseman again.
Erik Gustafsson ➡️ Rangers
Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: LD Cap hit: $825K Term: 1 year
The Maple Leafs used Gustafsson sparingly down the stretch after a deadline trade brought him to Toronto, but he was playing stellar for the Washington Capitals beforehand. He tallied seven goals and 35 assists in 70 regular-season games between the two clubs last campaign. His 42 points ranked 27th among all NHL defensemen.
So he must be a disaster defensively, right? Wrong. While nobody would confuse him for Jared Spurgeon, he proved last season that he's not a liability as long he's used properly. He's on the left in the chart below.
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Who's the chart beside him? That would be John Klingberg, who signed with the Leafs for one year, $4.125 million, despite arguably being the worst defensive defenseman in the NHL. Sure, Klingberg played for the awful Anaheim Ducks, but there's no way he should make more than four times the amount of a similar style of player.
The Rangers are strong defensively on the left side with Ryan Lindgren and K'Andre Miller. If Gustafsson is given easy matchups and lots of offensive zone starts, he should be in for another strong season on New York's third pair alongside youngster Braden Schneider.
Caleb Jones ➡️ Hurricanes
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Position: LD Cap hit: $775K Term: 1 year
It's a mystery why Jones had to wait until August to sign, inked only a near-league minimum deal, and joined a team he's buried on the depth chart.
Jones is just 26 years old, and he posted strong underlying numbers last season while playing top-four minutes on a poor Chicago Blackhawks team. He's not undersized at 6-foot-1 and plays a physical game, dishing out 116 hits last season.
With Jaccob Slavin, Dmitry Orlov, and Brady Skjei making up the left side, Jones' path to playing time is blocked. But if injuries strike, or Skjei - who's in the last year of his deal - is traded, Jones will be an excellent fill-in.
Mike Reilly ➡️ Panthers
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position: LD Cap hit: $1M Term: 1 year
If Reilly's previous contract didn't carry a $3-million cap hit, he almost certainly would've been in the NHL full time rather than logging 36 games in the AHL.
But with a small cap hit, Reilly is poised to become a nice find for the Panthers. Their system benefits defensemen who excel at skating and moving the puck. Look at Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour. Both turned around their careers after arriving in Florida without much expectations.
At 30 years old, it's unfair to expect Reilly to have a similar turnaround. However, there are minutes up for grabs. The Panthers have issues on the left side behind Forsling and will likely be without Montour and Aaron Ekblad on the right side to begin the season. Florida brought in other left-shooting defensemen on low-cost deals - Niko Mikkola, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Dmitry Kulikov - but don't be surprised if Reilly, an analytics darling, shines with Florida's high-powered offensive attack.
Jonas Johansson ➡️ Lightning
Jack Dempsey / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position: G Cap hit: $775K Term: 2 years
Johansson has been less than inspiring throughout his 35 career NHL games, sporting a .887 save percentage across parts of six seasons with three different teams. But Johansson was dialed in last campaign, recording a .920 save percentage in 26 AHL contests and a .932 mark in three NHL appearances.
That playing time could prove valuable for Johansson's development, as he only got into 28 games in the two prior seasons. He's still just 27 years old, which isn't an uncommon age for goalies to breakout. And with a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, the Swede has the physical tools to succeed in the NHL.
Rather than opting for an aging veteran, the Lightning are taking a swing for upside with Johansson. On a two-year deal, they could reap the benefits if he becomes a solid backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy.
St. Louis Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen faces alcohol-related driving charges after an incident in Finland in August, the team confirmed Thursday, per NHL.com's Lou Korac.
"Last month I made an unacceptable error in judgment and take full responsibility for my actions," Kapanen said in a statement. "I offer my apologies to my family, the Blues organization, my teammates, and the fans. I understand the severity of my mistake and am committed to doing everything I can to earn back their trust."
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong also commented on the situation.
"Today we became aware of the incident involving Kasperi and I have spoken with him and his agent," Armstrong said. "We are disappointed in his lapse in judgement and are entrusting him to make the necessary changes to avoid putting himself in a similar situation in the future."
The Blues claimed Kapanen off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He recorded 15 goals and 19 assists in 66 games between the two clubs.
An eight-year veteran, Kapanen has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in his 387-game career.
He has one year remaining on his contract with a $3.2-million cap hit.
The Ottawa Senators locked up cornerstone defenseman Jake Sanderson with an eight-year extension carrying an average annual value of $8.05 million, the team announced Wednesday.
Sanderson is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, so the extension kicks in next season.
"Jake's transition to the pro game has been flawless," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's a very mature young man who demonstrates a routine and skillful ability to play important minutes with poise. An effortless skater who holds himself to a high standard, he has the talent to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL for years to come. We're very pleased to have another significant member of our core group of players under long-term contract."
Sanderson was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team and finished sixth in Calder Trophy voting last season after tallying 32 points in 77 games. The 21-year-old logged the second-most minutes on the team behind Thomas Chabot, averaging 21:55 per contest. He posted decent underlying numbers, highlighted by a strong penalty differential.
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Sanderson will be the third-highest paid player on the Senators when his contract kicks in behind Tim Stutzle ($8.35M AAV) and captain Brady Tkachuk ($8.206M AAV).
The contract is also on track to make Sanderson the NHL's 14th-highest paid defenseman, although he could be knocked down that list by the time the 2024-25 campaign rolls around. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power (RFAs), and Devon Toews (UFA) are among those who could surpass Sanderson's AAV.
The Senators selected Sanderson fifth overall at the 2020 NHL Draft out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Whitefish, Montana, native spent two years at North Dakota before turning pro.
The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed restricted free-agent forward Morgan Frost to a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2.1 million, a source told NBC Sports' Jordan Hall.
He'll be an RFA at the end of the deal and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Frost is coming off a breakout season in which he tallied 19 goals and 27 assists in 81 games while averaging 16:21 per contest.
The 24-year-old is projected to center the top line for the rebuilding Flyers this coming campaign, although a healthy Sean Couturier could eat into his ice time.
The Flyers selected Frost 27th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Aurora, Ontario, native was a standout for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds before turning pro, producing back-to-back 100-point seasons in junior.
Matthew Knies may be biased, but he believes his Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Auston Matthews is the top player in the game.
"He's not just the best goal-scorer in the NHL, but he plays defense, too," Knies said Tuesday at the NHL's rookie showcase, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "He's kind of the best overall player (in the NHL) in my eyes."
The two teammates go way back: Both natives of Arizona, Knies' older brother, Phil, grew up playing with Matthews.
Matthews is coming off a down year with 40 goals and 45 assists in 74 contests. But he led the league in goals in each of the prior two campaigns and won the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2021-22 when he potted 60 goals and added 46 helpers in 73 contests. He also received downballot Selke Trophy votes in each of the last four years.
Knies' opinion runs contrary to the general consensus that Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is the best player in the game. McDavid has won three straight Art Ross Trophies and captured the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award this past season after recording 64 goals and 153 points.
Knies, who's only skated in three NHL regular-season games and seven playoff contests, will get his first taste of McDavid when the Leafs visit the Oilers on Jan. 16.
Danton Heinen is looking to take a second tour of duty with the Boston Bruins. The club announced they signed the veteran forward to a professional tryout on Tuesday.
The Bruins drafted Heinen in the fourth round in 2014 and he spent the first four years of his career in Boston. His most productive season came with the Bruins in 2017-18 when he tallied 47 points in 77 games.
Heinen recorded eight goals and 14 assists while averaging 10:45 per game in 65 contests with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season. He posted decent defensive underlying numbers, though:
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The Bruins are thin up front after losing several key forwards in the offseason, so Heinen, 28, will compete for a bottom-six role.
Calgary Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane is expected to be ready for training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery in April.
"I have to get cleared for kind of the physical contact and doing all that stuff, but as far as on the ice, I'm shooting, passing, practicing like I normally would, and working out like I normally would," Mangiapane said Monday, per NHL.com's Aaron Vickers. "Still have to keep up with the physio and making everything stronger, but it's looking good right now. Everything is going as planned. The medical team and the surgeon is saying it's looking great.
"I'm excited to go back out and just play, and now I'm 100% fully healthy and everything like that. It's just more exciting to go back and be ready for camp and start the ball rolling for me."
Mangiapane said he suffered the ailment in October but gutted it out and still managed to suit up in all 82 games.
"It was kind of a weird injury," Mangiapane said. "I didn't really think anything was going on that was too serious and all that, but it happened early on, and it just kept bugging me throughout the whole season. Some games were worse than others."
The 27-year-old winger's production took a hit as a result. After racking up 35 goals and 20 assists in 2021-22, he managed just 17 goals and 26 helpers this past season.
Mangiapane has no doubt he can return to his previous form.
"I don't see any reason why I can't get back to that or do better," he said. "It's there for me. I've done it in the past. I think for me, I've just got to go out there and play my game, be tenacious and hardworking, and the scoring opportunities and the goals will come for me."
The Flames drafted Mangiapane in the sixth round in 2015 and signed him to a three-year contract carrying a $5.8-milion cap hit during the 2022 offseason. In parts of six seasons in Calgary, he's averaged 23 goals and 19 assists per 82 games.
Any friction between Boston Bruins management and forward Jake DeBrusk appears to be in the past. Entering the final year of his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent, DeBrusk says he's hoping to sign an extension with the only team he's ever played for.
"I'm hoping to stay (with the Bruins). It's the only team that I know and the team that I grew up with," DeBrusk said Tuesday, per NHL.com's Derek Van Diest. "Hopefully, it goes in that direction, and we'll see how it goes. That's why I have an agent, and I told him I wanted to stay out of this one, and in time, it'll be nice when it all gets done."
DeBrusk requested a trade from the Bruins during the 2021-22 campaign, but he rescinded the request the following offseason after inking a two-year deal.
"It's not my first time going through this. It's my third time my contract is up with them," DeBrusk said. "I kind of know what to expect, although it's a little bit different with now being a UFA. I'm not too focused on that. I've kind of tested the waters before, and I'm just going to focus on hockey."
But DeBrusk is line to receive a sizeable raise from his current $4-million cap hit. Evolving-Hockey projects he'd receive an eight-year deal carrying a $7.05-million cap hit if he signed an extension with the Bruins.
The winger, who turns 27 in October, tied his career high with 27 goals last season and posted a new personal best with 50 points in 64 games.
"If I stay healthy, I think I can score 30 this season," he said. "I've knocked on the door twice with 27, and I have 25 in there as well. I think if I stay healthy, that's obviously the goal, to finally get to that 30 mark."
DeBrusk will be counted on even more heavily this coming year after the Bruins lost a glut of forwards this past summer, including Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement, Tyler Bertuzzi to free agency, and Taylor Hall via trade.
The Bruins drafted DeBrusk 14th overall in 2015 with one of the club's three consecutive first-round picks.
