NHL offseason grades: Metropolitan Division

Divisions:
Pacific | Central
Atlantic | Metropolitan

There were only a few big-name signings from Metro Division teams this offseason, but clubs and players still made franchise-altering decisions.

Here's how each Metropolitan squad fared this offseason:

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value does not include bonuses.

Carolina Hurricanes

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Dougie Hamilton D 3 years $17.25M (trade with Flames)
Micheal Ferland LW 1 year $1.75M (trade with Flames)
Petr Mrazek G 1 year $1.5M
Calvin de Haan D 4 years $18.2M

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Noah Hanifin D Traded to Flames
Elias Lindholm C Traded to Flames
Derek Ryan C Signed with Flames
Cam Ward G Signed with Blackhawks
Jeff Skinner LW Traded to Sabres

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
Andrei Svechnikov RW 2018 1st-round pick
Valentin Zykov LW 2013 2nd-round pick (Kings)
Martin Necas C 2017 1st-round pick
Warren Foegele LW 2014 3rd-round pick

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Valentin Zykov LW 2 years $1.35M
Trevor van Riemsdyk D 2 years $4.6M

It was a busy offseason in Raleigh to say the least. Hamilton and de Haan were added to one of the league's best blue lines. Losing Skinner's scoring punch up front will hurt, but he's on the last year of his contract and was unlikely to re-sign.

Overall, the Hurricanes are headed in the right direction, but their failure to appropriately address goaltending and center woes will likely keep them out of the playoffs again.

Grade: B

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Riley Nash C 3 years $8.25M
Anthony Duclair LW 1 year $650K

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Thomas Vanek LW Signed with Red Wings
Matt Calvert LW Signed with Avalanche
Jack Johnson D Signed with Penguins
Ian Cole D Signed with Avalanche

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
Gabriel Carlsson D 2015 1st-round pick

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Boone Jenner LW 4 years $15M
Ryan Murray D 1 year $2.825M
Oliver Bjorkstrand RW 3 years $7.5M

The Blue Jackets didn't address the two big elephants in the room: Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, who are both unrestricted free agents after this season. Bobrovsky and the club are far apart in negotiations, and Panarin has halted extension talks until next offseason. The Jackets can't afford to lose their two most valuable players for nothing.

Unless general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has some tricks up his sleeve, failing to sign or trade at least one of those players this offseason is a colossal misstep, especially since the Blue Jackets aren't realistic Stanley Cup contenders in 2018-19.

On the bright side, signing Riley Nash was a very savvy move.

Grade: D+

New Jersey Devils

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Eric Gryba D 1 year $700K

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Patrick Maroon LW Signed with Blues
Michael Grabner RW Signed with Coyotes
John Moore D Signed with Bruins
Jimmy Hayes RW Signed with Penguins
Brian Gibbons LW Signed with Ducks

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
John Quenneville RW 2014 1st-round pick

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Stefan Noesen RW 1 year $1.725M
Blake Coleman LW 3 years $5.4M
Miles Wood LW 4 years $11M

The Devils' quiet offseason made it easy to forget they exist. They didn't add anyone who will be a lineup regular.

Instead, they'll rely on internal depth to replace veterans who departed. GM Ray Shero is likely saving his cap space for next summer, but that could result in the Devils falling short of returning to the playoffs this season.

Grade: C-

New York Islanders

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Valtteri Filppula C 1 year $2.75M
Leo Komarov LW 4 years $12M
Tom Kuhnhackl RW 1 year $700K
Robin Lehner G 1 year $1.5M
Matt Martin LW 2 years $5M (trade with Maple Leafs)
Jan Kovar C 1 year $2M
Luca Sbisa D 1 year $1.5M

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
John Tavares C Signed with Maple Leafs
Nikolai Kulemin RW Signed in KHL
Jaroslav Halak G Signed with Bruins
Calvin de Haan D Signed with Hurricanes
Shane Prince LW Signed in Swiss league

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Thomas Hickey D 4 years $10M
Ross Johnston LW 4 years $4M
Ryan Pulock D 2 years $4M
Brock Nelson C 1 year $4.25M

It was a dark offseason for the Islanders. They lost Tavares, their franchise player, and signed a bunch of misfit veterans up front in an attempt to replace him. The Isles may have been better off turning the page with a youth movement, allowing Josh Ho-Sang, Kieffer Bellows, and Michael Dal Colle to make the team.

The team's biggest offseason acquisitions came in the front office (Lou Lamoriello) and behind the bench (Barry Trotz). But that won't be enough to heal the wounds from Tavares leaving.

Grade: D

New York Rangers

Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Adam McQuaid D 1 year $2.75M (trade with Bruins)

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
David Desharnais C Signed in KHL
Ondrej Pavelec G Retired

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
Brett Howden C 2016 1st-round pick (Lightning)
Filip Chytil C 2017 1st-round pick
Vinni Lettieri C Undrafted
Alexandar Georgiev G Undrafted

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Vladislav Namestnikov LW 2 years $8M
Jimmy Vesey LW 2 years $4.5M
Brady Skjei D 6 years $31.5M
Kevin Hayes C 1 year $5.175M
Ryan Spooner C 2 years $8M

The Rangers didn't do much to improve, which is fine because the club is clearly rebuilding. They also didn't really have much of a choice with just a little over $1 million in cap space.

For the first time in a while, the Rangers won't head into the season expecting to make the playoffs, but their youth movement is starting.

Grade: C-

Philadelphia Flyers

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Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
James van Riemsdyk LW 5 years $35M
Christian Folin D 1 year $800K

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Valtteri Filppula C Signed with Islanders
Petr Mrazek G Signed with Red Wings
Brandon Manning D Signed with Blackhawks

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
Oskar Lindblom LW 2014 5th-round pick

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Samuel Morin D 3 years $2.1M
Robert Hagg D 2 years $2.3M

The Flyers made one huge splash this offseason, bringing back a familiar face in James van Riemsdyk. He'll immediately help the team's offense - specifically in front of the net on the power play - but his long-term deal might not age well because of his one-dimensional skill set and lack of foot speed.

Philly's offense might be one of the league's best, but - stop us if you've heard this before - shaky goaltending could prohibit a deep playoff run.

Grade: B-

Pittsburgh Penguins

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Key arrivals

Player Position Contract Length Total Value
Matt Cullen C 1 year $650K
Jack Johnson D 5 years $16.25M
Derek Grant C 1 year $650K

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Conor Sheary LW Traded to Sabres
Matt Hunwick D Traded to Sabres
Tom Kuhnhackl RW Signed with Islanders

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
Riley Sheahan C 1 year $2.1M
Bryan Rust RW 4 years $14M
Daniel Sprong RW 2 years $1.5M
Dominik Simon LW 2 years $1.5M
Jamie Oleksiak D 2 years $6.4125M

Pittsburgh's biggest move of the offseason was handing out an egregious five-year contract to 31-year-old Jack Johnson, who's coming off arguably the worst season of his career.

However, the Pens managed to keep most of the core contributors to their 2016 and 2017 championship-winning teams, giving them another shot at competing for a title.

Grade: C

Washington Capitals

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Key arrivals

N/A

Key departures

Player Position Transaction
Philipp Grubauer G Traded to Avalanche
Jay Beagle C Signed with Canucks
Alex Chiasson RW Signed with Oilers

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Player Position Drafted
Travis Boyd C 2011 6th-round pick

Re-signed

Player Position New Contract Length Total Value
John Carlson D 8 years $64M
Devante Smith-Pelly RW 1 year $1M
Michal Kempny D 4 years $10M
Brooks Orpik D 1 year $1M
Madison Bowey D 2 years $2M
Tom Wilson RW 6 years $31M

Against all odds, Caps GM Brian MacLellan brought back nearly his team's entire 2018 Stanley Cup champion roster, minus fourth-line center Jay Beagle. It took some shrewd maneuvering, dumping Brooks Orpik's $5.5-million cap hit into Colorado's lap and dangling backup goalie Philipp Grubauer as the incentive. The Avs then bought out Orpik, who returned to the Capitals on a contract worth $4.5 million less.

Carlson's massive extension deservedly drew headlines. But retaining Kempny, his defense partner, on a reasonable contract flew under the radar.

Many balked at Wilson's big extension, but if he can become a consistent 20-goal scorer while remaining an imposing physical presence, his deal will turn out just fine.

Grade: A-

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