With the offseason underway for a number of teams, and the rest 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: A+

It feels good to give out an A+ for a change. And the Ottawa Senators definitely earned it.

What is there left to say about a team that captured the hearts and attention of of hockey fans everywhere? A group that defied all the odds, experts, and naysayers to advance all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final?

Well, Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the world, Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone are elite goal-scorers, and Craig Anderson clearly has what it takes to carry a team all the way.

Ninety-eight points, the sixth-best record in the East, and a Conference Finals appearance should have Guy Boucher's group feeling pretty good heading into golf/cottage season.

That's not to say the club didn't hit its share of rough patches. Ottawa had losing streaks of four or more games three times, including a five-game skid during the final two weeks of the campaign.

The Sens still have some needs to address for next season, but for now, their fans should sit back and enjoy the success their club had in both the regular season and playoffs.

Free Agents

As is the case for many general managers, it'll be an interesting summer for Pierre Dorion as he evaluates his list of restricted and unrestricted free agents.

Most of his attention will likely go to his group of forwards - Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ryan Dzingel, and Viktor Stalberg are all free agents.

The No.1 goalie job in Ottawa is obviously secure with Anderson between the pipes, but after that, the Senators need to lock down a reliable backup.

For the time being, they have one in Mike Condon, but he's a UFA and and a number of teams will be sniffing around for his services.

2017 Draft Picks

Ottawa's second-round pick was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Dion Phaneuf trade last year, and the Sens dealt away their third-round pick in February's exchange with the Carolina Hurricanes for Stalberg.

They still hold a second-round selection (from the Flames), but drafting in the first round at 28th overall and holding only four picks will make this summer even trickier for Dorion and Co.

Summer Priorities

1. Add a top-six forward

Yeah, Ottawa and every other NHL club.

But the Sens averaged the ninth-worst goals-for average per game last season at 2.51. Karlsson is nasty, but he's not good enough to pick up the offensive slack all by himself.

The Senators need help up the middle and players like UFAs Martin Hanzal or Sam Gagner would offer the type of secondary scoring the team is looking for.

2. Re-sign Condon

Few backup 'tenders offer the stability Condon provides. The 27-year-old has proved he can fill in for a spot start, but more importantly, he can also carry a team if injuries - or illnesses - thrust him into the starting role.

In 38 starts last season, Condon posted a respectable record of 19-14 to go along with a goals-against average of 2.48.

The Senators still have the option of using Andrew Hammond in relief of Anderson, but the Hamburglar struggled in his six appearances last campaign to the tune of a 4.88 GAA and .837 save percentage.

3. Give the kids a chance

This is more of a training-camp priority, but Ottawa has a number of intriguing young talents knocking on the NHL door that could soon be cornerstones of the franchise.

Everyone has heard about first-rounders Thomas Chabot and Colin White, but there's a third name you should get familiar with: Logan Brown.

He's another exciting first-round pick that should make an impact with the big club sooner than later. Ottawa would be wise to give these kids a shot at a roster spot come September.

2017-18 Outlook

Aside from the top few teams, the Eastern Conference is as wide-open as it has been in recent memory - a perfect time for Ottawa to bolster its roster and make another serious run at a Cup.

The pieces are in place on the back end and in net to make this group competitive for at least the next couple of seasons, if not more. All that's missing is the depth scoring.

If Dorion can address his lack of offensive punch up front with a top-six forward, the sky is the limit for Boucher's boys.

Offseason Outlook Series

COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WSH
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJS | OTT
STL | EDM | MTL | ANA | MIN
CBJ | CHI | PIT | NAS | NYR
LGK

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis has recorded four goals and seven assists through 16 playoff games, giving him more points than teammates Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Viktor Arvidsson, and James Neal. In fact, his 11 points are second behind Erik Karlsson among defensemen this postseason.

But points don't tell the whole story. Here are three other stats that justify how good Ellis has been this spring:

Giveaway/takeaway ratio

Giveaways and takeaways often get overlooked, but puck management is crucial in the postseason, when one turnover can change a series.

Ellis has put together an impressive ratio of 10 takeaways to 13 giveaways. Here's how that stacks up against the rest of the Predators' defense:

In fact, the only defensemen with more takeaways in the postseason are Karlsson (16), Josh Manson (12), and Dmitry Orlov (11).

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Thru%

Through percentage calculates the number of shot attempts that reach the net. Getting pucks through from the point is even tougher in the playoffs considering players are much more willing to block shots. Ellis, however, has managed to get 43 of his 84 shot attempts on goal, for a Thru% of 51.2. Here's how the rest of the Preds' D has fared:

One reason why Ellis' Thru% is so high is because he's great at one-timing cross-ice passes, which gives opponents less time to get in the shooting lane. And when the big clapper isn't there, he's willing to just throw a wrist shot on goal. Any puck that gets on net from the point can lead to a scoring chance as long as there's traffic in front.

The only defensemen with a higher Thru% in the playoffs than Ellis are Kevin Shattenkirk (57.1), Alex Pietrangelo (54.7), and Brandon Montour (52.1) (minimum 50 shot attempts).

Blocked shots

This one is much more straightforward. Ellis has recorded an impressive 41 blocks, which not only leads his team, but has him ranked fifth overall in the postseason.

Along with his contributions on the offensive end, he's willing to put his body on the line for his teammates on the defensive end. It's safe the say the Predators wouldn't be in the Cup Final without the stellar play of their 26-year-old blue-liner.

(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference)

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The Anaheim Ducks may have the type of veteran leadership most clubs crave, but they also have the young guns required to compete in a league that gets younger with each passing season.

Anaheim executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray acknowledged the youth his team has added while speaking with reporters Thursday.

"I think what's happened here over the last year-and-a-half, and it's starting to be recognized, is we've added some youth to our lineup," Murray said Thursday, according to Adam Brady of NHL.com. "And there is the emergence of Ricky (Rickard Rakell) and Silfvy (Jakob Silfverberg)."

Both Rakell, 24, and Silfverberg, 26, have the youth and talent to contribute for some time and they've already played themselves into top-six roles.

Related: Ducks' Silfverberg proving he belongs in Anaheim, not Vegas

The pair are coming off banner years in which they each posted career highs in points and goals. Silfverberg notched 23 goals and 49 total points, while Rakell finished with 33 and 51.

Don't get it twisted, the Ducks still live and die with veteran All-Stars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. But, as Murray pointed out, Anaheim has some young players that will soon make their names known in the NHL.

"Everyone says we're an old team. We've got some veteran players, yes. But we've got some really good young kids and more kids coming," said Murray. "So we're in a good spot to move forward."

In addition to Perry, Getzlaf, Silfverberg, and Rakell, the Ducks boast some talented lesser-known prospects who are eager for a full-time shot in an NHL lineup.

Theodore, Kase, Montour, and Ritchie are just a few of the young names on Anaheim's roster to keep an eye on next season and beyond.

Montour and Theodore are two under-the-radar players who have top-four potential, Kase and Ritchie both have a nose for the net with never-say-die work ethics, and all four played major roles in carrying the Ducks to the third round this postseason.

All four players are under the age of 24.

Mix in 23-year-old goaltender John Gibson, and Anaheim's stacked back end, and you have a young core that will have the team competing for a Western Conference crown year in and year out.

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In the world of pro sports, you occasionally hear about a team, player, or coach transcending the game. A story so good that it goes beyond the limits of the boxscore or sports section and into our daily lives.

That's exactly what the Ottawa Senators accomplished with their 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs run that ended Thursday night at the hands of the reigning Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The defeat was only a small part of the storyline that made this season special for Guy Boucher's men.

Whether it was Craig Anderson's wife battling a rare form of cancer, Clarke MacArthur returning from four concussions in 18 months, or captain Erik Karlsson playing through multiple fractures in his heel, the 2016-17 Senators were nothing short of inspirational.

Through all the adversity it had to face, the club taught us about a lot more than just hockey.

It taught us that life - much like a career in the NHL - is not only difficult, it's precious, and that it takes courage and perseverance to succeed, no matter what it is you do.

Following Thursday's Game 7 defeat, Boucher offered up a bit of insight that more than just hockey fans can benefit from. Praising his group for its accomplishments as hockey players, and perhaps more importantly, as human beings.

"They gave it their all, they put their soul into it," Boucher said early Friday morning from PPG Paints Arena. "They deserve to get credit for how wonderful these individuals have been and how resilient and together this group was, it was a real special, special group."

Special indeed.

Boucher will be at the helm of a club that will be in the mix for a playoff spot for the foreseeable future, so naturally the coach was asked about whether he felt a sense of pride with how his group has performed.

"I think it's beyond pride to be honest with you," said Boucher. "It was a lot more than hockey this year."

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Results on the ice are obviously paramount in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NHL that we all live in, but this year was different in Ottawa, where being a good teammate off the ice was just as important as succeeding on it.

"Obviously, hockey-wise, a lot of going through adversity, a lot of building, a lot of individuals grew to a level that, I will be honest with you, I never thought they would get there in a few months," Boucher said.

"This was a real team," the head coach added. "The reason why we're here is because it was a team, and every player at some moment or another had a terrific contribution, whether it was on the ice in terms of results, or it was inside of the room or it was off ice."

Uplifting personal stories aside, the Senators earned the right to play in a deciding Conference Finals Game 7 with their season on the line. Despite being underdogs from the jump, Ottawa's playoff run put the league on notice: The Senators will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come in the East.

Hockey is a magnificent game and as a society we can benefit a lot from it, and the Ottawa Senators are the latest example.

Courage, determination, and a will to win.

These are the things that we can learn from a group of men that truly showed the best of what this beautiful sport has to offer.

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The Vancouver Canucks have bolstered their depth on the back end by signing 25-year-old Philip Holm to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman registered a career-high 21 points in 52 games with Vaxjo HC of the Swedish Hockey League. Holm was also a member of Sweden's gold-medal-winning squad at the 2017 World Championship, suiting up for seven games and recording three points (one goal, two assists).

"Philip is a mobile, two-way defenseman who adds depth to our blue line," said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. "He made strides in his development last season with Vaxjo and played a strong series with Sweden at the World Championships. We're pleased to welcome him to the Canucks organization."

Benning's reference to Holm being a strong two-way defenseman is no joke. He led the entire SHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-24 while logging 18:49 per night.

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Matt Murray is close to accomplishing something that has never occurred in NHL history and is unlikely to ever happen again: winning the Stanley Cup twice as a rookie goaltender.

The Pittsburgh Penguins netminder backstopped the team to a championship in 2016, posting a record of 15-6 with a .923 save percentage along the way. However, by virtue of the fact he had appeared in only 13 regular season games prior to the postseason, he maintained his rookie status entering 2016-17.

From the NHL's guidelines on Calder Trophy eligibility:

To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in more than 25 NHL games in any preceding seasons, nor in six or more NHL games in each of any two preceding seasons.

Only four rookie goalies had ever led their teams to a championship pre-Murray: Ken Dryden (1971 Canadiens), Patrick Roy (1986 Canadiens), Cam Ward (2006 Hurricanes), and Antti Niemi (2010 Blackhawks).

None of those players and teams, however, were able to follow up their performances with a repeat Stanley Cup victory.

That's the opportunity presented to Murray, who was handed back the starting job after Marc-Andre Fleury - who had won the team's first nine playoff games - was benched during a rough outing against Ottawa in the Eastern Conference Final.

Since returning from injury, Murray has gone 3-1 with a .946 save percentage, regaining a foothold on the gig, barring any severe dips in health and performance.

The Nashville Predators await, and with four more wins, Murray will set himself apart as a very special rookie goalie.

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Spectacular goals.

Crafty passes.

Flashy saves.

The conference finals had it all, highlighted by these top 10 plays, according to the NHL.

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Decisions loom for Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks as they get set for what should be their first real taste of a rebuild in some time.

The team kick-started the movement this season, trading veterans Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows for draft picks and prospects. However, things might not end there.

The Canucks still has some veteran pieces who could garner further draft picks and assets. The problem, however, is that Benning isn't sold on the idea of throwing his rookies and young stars into the fire without some stability in the lineup. It's one of the few reasons that, despite rumors, the team isn't actively shopping defensemen Chris Tanev or Alex Edler.

"I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t listen and see if it (trade) is worth it, but it’s hard to find good defensemen," Benning said, according to Ben Kuzma of The Province. "Especially defensemen who are mobile and move the puck. I’m not shopping Tanev or bringing his name up in conversations with other GMs. They bring up his name.

"Unless it would make sense for our future, I’m not trading Chris. He means so much to our team. And we’re not looking to do anything with Alex (Edler)."

Benning's feelings regarding team stability, especially on the back end, is also why he remains open to bringing back goaltender Ryan Miller even if it's to serve as backup to emerging No. 1 Jacob Markstrom.

"As we’re transitioning these young players into our lineup, I feel that if we have solid goaltending on a night-to-night basis, we can be competitive," Benning said.

"There's no worse feeling than trying to develop young players and get them up and going when you know you don’t have a chance to win. Ryan and Jacob have a healthy relationship because they're competitive and respect each other.

"We have something to offer Ryan that he already knows. We’ve got some positives for him and if that’s the route we go, that’s why we’re doing it."

Miller is coming off a three-year, $18-million contract and can expect to take a sizable pay cut, especially as prospect Thatcher Demko enters the picture.

Suffice to say the Canucks could be a busy team in the coming months.

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