Divisions: Metropolitan | Central (Sept. 21) | Pacific (Sept. 22) | Atlantic (Sept. 23)

With the NHL offseason all but wrapped up, we're handing out grades for all 32 teams. The four-part series begins with an in-depth look at each club in the Metropolitan Division.

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted.

Carolina Hurricanes

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Hurricanes had an absurdly eventful offseason, easily the busiest in the NHL. We've done our best to break it down into a few separate parts.

The good

Carolina signed Svechnikov to a max-term deal at an affordable rate, which was a tidy piece of business. The 21-year old is a superstar in the making and an integral part of Carolina's attack.

Bear is a nice addition to a defensive corps that lost a huge piece.

The bad

The Hurricanes traded Nedeljkovic, a Calder Trophy finalist and seemingly the stable future in goal for a pick and player the club ultimately let walk. It was a peculiar decision at best.

They also let Hamilton hit the open market, which could prove to be a costly mistake. He joined a division rival at a cheaper cost than several inferior blue-liners signed this offseason. Not only is Hamilton elite at shot suppression, he's one of the league's best offensive defensemen.

The uncertain

Bringing in Andersen and Raanta aboard carries a lot of risk. Both goalies have been capable starters in the NHL but are injury prone and a few years removed from their best work. Retaining Nedeljkovic and finding a cheaper backup would have been the more sensible approach.

The Hurricanes insist they didn't give an offer sheet to Kotkaniemi out of spite for Montreal's attempt to poach Sebastian Aho a few years back, but the hockey world isn't convinced. Why else would you give a low-ceiling offensive player $6.1 million per season? If Kotkaniemi doesn't pan out, this could be remembered as an all-time blunder.

The unnecessary

Signing DeAngelo after the Rangers bought him out drew plenty of ire from fans across the league. What has the controversial blue-liner done to prove he deserves another chance?

Grade: D+

Columbus Blue Jackets

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

* Extension beginning in 2022-23

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Blue Jackets weren't big players in free agency but were still active throughout the offseason. Columbus got a great haul in trading Jones to Chicago and added three projected impact players in the first round of the draft. Its top prospects won't be in the NHL lineup in October but could join for a late-season showcase.

Werenski's extension is pricey, but it was important for Jarmo Kekalainen to secure a core player to a long-term deal after losing so many in recent years. Laine will need a new contract next year, but a fresh start under a new head coach could provide the spark he needs.

Bringing Voracek back seems like a lateral move, but it saves the organization money during its rebuild. Perhaps the veteran playmaker can be the one to feed Laine's lethal one-timer on the power play.

Grade: B

New Jersey Devils

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Devils took significant strides toward contending with a slew of shrewd moves. Hamilton, of course, was the biggest splash of the summer and he'll anchor New Jersey's top defensive pairing for several years to come. Adding Graves for a second-round pick and a prospect is another move that significantly bolsters the Devils' back end, which has been a weakness for years.

New Jersey also pounced on Tatar, who was somehow available after the initial wave of free-agent signings. His presence on the wing, likely alongside Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, provides the Devils a veteran presence with strong play-driving and offensive ability. Scoring depth was an area Tom Fitzgerald needed to address in order to progress his rebuild this year.

Last but not least, Jonathan Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood form a formidable duo in goal. The Devils strengthened their lineup at every position this summer, and it should pay major dividends for a team on an upward trajectory.

Grade: A

New York Islanders

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Most of the Islanders' work this summer was to retain restricted free agents, and, as usual, general manager Lou Lamoriello managed to keep the cost to a minimum. Some were surprised at Pelech's eight-year contract, but he's an underrated rock on New York's top pairing and a tremendous fit in Barry Trotz's system.

Six years for Cizikas is a lot, but the cost is low and he plays a significant role as well. Everywhere else, the deals are fair for an Islanders team that's missed the Stanley Cup Final by a hair in back-to-back seasons.

Lamoriello's reunion with Parise was the flashiest move New York made this offseason. He's a low-risk, high-reward project and should be motivated as ever to gun for a ring after his stunning buyout from Minnesota.

Grade: B+

New York Rangers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Rangers have a terrific core in place and are poised to benefit from Gerard Gallant's hiring as head coach. However, Chris Drury's first offseason in charge was a weird one. The rookie GM overpaid for a depth piece in Goodrow, then dealt a third-round pick for Reaves. Ownership wanted to get tougher after last season's Tom Wilson debacle, so Drury's hand might have been forced, but prioritizing an enforcer for a high-octane team that needs defensive help isn't the wisest course of action.

Hauling Blais and a second-rounder for Buchnevich was also underwhelming. Blais is only under contract for one season and Buchnevich was an underrated piece of New York's offense in a breakout 2020-21. His demands as a restricted free agent may have priced some teams out of the trade market, but it feels like the Rangers could have done better in moving on from the talented winger.

Drury's best work this summer was locking up Shesterkin. His deal is team-friendly and should pay off immediately.

Grade: C-

Philadelphia Flyers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Like the Hurricanes, the Flyers occupied plenty of the spotlight this offseason. Philadelphia made a handful of blockbuster trades while also retaining several key in-house pieces with contract extensions. And also like the Hurricanes, some of Philly's moves were good, while others were head-scratchers.

Ellis is a star and will help stabilize a defensive unit that struggled last season. Moving on from Patrick only four years after drafting him second overall is disappointing for the organization, but Philly came away with the best player in the three-way trade that ultimately sent Patrick to Vegas.

The Ristolainen trade is where the Flyers' offseason vision becomes murky. The former Sabres blue-liner is one of the league's worst defenders by several metrics, and Philly gave up a first- and second-round pick to acquire one year of his services. Shipping Gostisbehere and two picks to Arizona for future considerations was another puzzling trade by Chuck Fletcher. Surely, he could have gotten something in return for a player of Gostisbehere's stature.

Fletcher does deserve credit for locking up Couturier and Farabee to long-term deals at fair prices. Hart's contract will provide strong value as well if the young netminder rediscovers his form.

Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Penguins

Key arrivals

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

It was a quiet offseason in Pittsburgh, as the perennially cap-strapped Penguins had little financial flexibility to make any moves of significance. Losing McCann and Tanev hurts the Pens' depth, but Ron Hextall managed to scoop up some cheap replacements and remain cap compliant. Role players will be of the utmost importance early in 2021-22, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be sidelined to start the year.

Pittsburgh's biggest need heading into the summer was goaltending, as Tristan Jarry's dismal playoff performance sunk the club in the first round. There were lots of reliable netminding options available, but the Penguins stayed the course and hired a new goalie coach instead of signing someone new. How that decision pans out will likely determine the fate of the club's season.

Grade: C

Washington Capitals

Key arrivals

Vanecek was re-acquired after being claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft.

Key departures

Re-signed

Rookies who could crack the lineup

The Capitals were another team with a subdued offseason. Rumors swirled about the club potentially trading Evgeny Kuznetsov, but nothing materialized. A deal involving the Russian pivot could have awarded Washington some much-needed cap space, but the club ultimately allocated its dough toward Ovechkin's shiny extension. Hard to fault them for that.

Ovi's new deal, though expected, was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. Five more years of the captain in Washington means Wayne Gretzky's goal record is officially in danger, and with nothing else of theirs to grade, we commend the Capitals for providing the hockey world with the opportunity to witness history.

Grade: C+

(Salary source: Cap Friendly)

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