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With the 2023 NHL offseason at its halfway point until the opening of training camps and the free agent market having being open for three weeks, NoVa Caps does its annual mid-offseason power rankings. (⬆️Up, ⬇️Down, ➡️No Change represent spaces moved since final 2022-23 standings).

LOTTERY CONTENDERS

32. Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia has taken a step back this offseason, trading Ivan Provorov, James Van Riemsdyk, and Kevin Hayes, in attempt to undergo a roster reset. Will Travis Konecny and Carter Hart be next out the door? ⬇️6

31. San Jose Sharks

Getting Anthony Duclair will definitely help San Jose’s offense but it is difficult to see any scenario of this team improving with Erik Karlsson’s days in teal numbered. ⬇️2

30. Montreal Canadiens

Montreal did not make any particular improvements over the offseason after finishing last season in the bottom seven in goals- and goals-against per game. ⬇️2

29. Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard, Taylor Hall, Corey Perry, and Nick Foligno were good grabs for Chicago, who parted ways with long-time captain Jonathan Toews. While they have definitely made progress in their rebuild, this team is still a ways out. ⬆️1

28. Anaheim Ducks

Adding Alex Killorn will definitely help with Anaheim’s scoring woes after the team disappointed and took a step backwards in 2022-23. ⬆️4

27. Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg already lost Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler this offseason but got Rasmus Kupari, Alex Iafallo, and Gabriel Vilardi to make up for the loss. However, more moves could be in the queue as Mark Schiefele and Connor Hellebuyck both want out. ⬇️13

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN BUT NOT GOD AWFUL

26. Arizona Coyotes

Arizona is looking to take a step forward after acquiring Jason Zucker, Sean Durzi, Alexander Kerfoot, and Travis Dermott. Clayton Keller is coming off of a breakout season as he set career-highs in goals (37), assists (49), and points (86). ⬆️1

25. Columbus Blue Jackets

Improving their defense with the additions of Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson in addition to better health should boost Columbus to an improvement this season. ⬆️6

24. St. Louis Blues

St. Louis took a major step back last season but Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou still kept going. Jordan Binnington as the starting netminder will not likely get this team anywhere. ⬇️1

23. Calgary Flames

Improvement from Jonathan Huberdeau, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jacob Markstrom would be huge after each had a down season but will Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin still be on the roster come training camp? Losing their leading goal-scorer from last season in Tyler Toffoli also hurts. ⬇️7

22. Washington Capitals

Better health, especially with John Carlson, is going to help Washington but betting on Max Pacioretty to help their scoring woes carries some risk. A bounce back campaign from center Evgeny Kuznetsov (assuming he is on the roster) is going to be critical if this team is going anywhere. ⬆️3

21. Detroit Red Wings

Acquiring Alex DeBrincat gives Detroit a legitimate scoring threat and the addition of Daniel Sprong definitely fulfills their need of more offense. Can they count on Ville Husso to be their No. 1 in net? ⬆️3

BUBBLE TEAMS

20. Boston Bruins

Potentially losing Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci would be detrimental as Boston has no internal replacements. Trading Hall and losing Tyler Bertuzzi also hurt Boston’s offense. With Brad Marchand getting older and a weak prospect pool, this team’s window could be closing. ⬇️19

19. Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver won four of its last five and went 20-12-4 (.611 points percentage) under head coach Rick Tocchet last season. Elias Pettersson also had a monster year where he set career-highs in goals (39), assists (63), and points (102). However, the defense could have used more help than just Carson Soucy and Ian Cole and the hole vacated by Bo Horvat’s departure in February remains. ⬆️3

18. Ottawa Senators

Losing DeBrincat is a blow but Ottawa still has Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle, who is coming off of a 39-goal, 90-point campaign. Will Joonas Korpisalo follow up his strong 2022-23 season? ⬆️3

17. Pittsburgh Penguins

Reilly Smith should provide secondary scoring behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin but Pittsburgh still has the oldest roster in the league. ⬆️2

16. Nashville Predators

Nashville got Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist, and Denis Gurianov to spark their offense as well as Luke Schenn on defense. With Roman Josi and Jusse Saros, they should be in the mix for a wild-card spot in the West. ⬆️2

15. Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo appears ready to take the next step and end the NHL’s longest postseason drought with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch leading a bright young core. Could they use more experience than Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi have in goal, though? ⬆️5

SHOULD SNEAK IN

14. Seattle Kraken

Seattle’s only major add over the offseason was Brian Dumoulin, which should improve their defense, and Kailer Yamamoto could make up for the loss of Sprong. Will Vince Dunn, Jared McCann, Eeli Tolvanen, and Brandon Tanev come close enough to replicating their career seasons? Will they need more from Philipp Grubauer this time around? ⬇️2

13. Tampa Bay Lightning

The salary cap continues to burn Tampa Bay as they were forced to part with Killorn and Ross Colton. Conor Sheary should help provide secondary scoring behind Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Point. As long as Andrei Vasilevskiy is in goal, this team is going to be dangerous. ➡️

12. New York Rangers

Losing Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko would hurt but New York will be a threat with Igor Shesterkin in goal and Adam Fox on defense. Breakout seasons from Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere would go a long way. ⬇️3

11. New York Islanders

New York has one of the best systems and goaltenders in Ilya Sorokin. A full season with Horvat should help them move up the standings. ⬆️4

CONTENDERS

10. Florida Panthers

Florida will likely start the season without Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad but the additions of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, and Mike Reilly should help patch the hole until they return. A core with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov should still lead a team to a postseason spot even if they have to go without a couple of top blueliners for a bit. ⬆️7

9. Minnesota Wild

Minnesota, who had a .726 points percentage (fifth) from February 10 onward, did not undergo a lot change this offseason and are still missing a No. 1 center. Will Filip Gustavsson build off of his breakout season and solidify his role as the full-time starting goaltender? ⬆️2

8. Vegas Golden Knights

The defending Stanley Cup Champions lost Smith, which will hurt offensively but they should have enough depth to make up for it. With Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Jonathan Marchessault, they should remain one of the top teams in the West. Will Adin Hill build off of his terrific postseason? ⬇️3

7. Colorado Avalanche

Colorado may have a hole at second-line center after losing Rodrigues and Compher but Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Nathan MacKinnon still lead the way. Will they be able to get Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Drouin’s respective careers back on track? ➡️

TOP STANLEY CUP THREATS

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto added Bertuzzi and Max Domi to round out their top-six forward group as well as some toughness in Ryan Reaves. Will they finally be able to break through? If not, what happens with Auston Matthews and William Nylander approaching unrestricted free agency next summer? ⬇️2

5. Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles went out and got Dubois after Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl burned them in the postseason for two straight years. They are deep at both forward and defense but is Cam Talbot going to do it in net? Though, that could depend on how much the team in front of him helps. ⬆️5

4. Dallas Stars

Dallas could very well have the deepest team in the Western Conference and has a rock in goal in 24-year-old Jake Oettinger. Will Jamie Benn keep it up after having a Renaissance year? Will Tyler Seguin return to his old self? If they both do, look out. ⬆️4

3. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina is looking strong at every position but will Michael Bunting be enough to solve their goal-scoring concerns? They could very well have the most balanced blueline in the NHL after adding Dmitry Orlov. Was running it back with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta in goal the right move? ⬇️1

2. Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton added Connor Brown to an already lethal offense, led by the back-to-back 110-plus point scorers in McDavid and Draisaitl. Though they have the depth around their two stars to compete, will Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman replicate their big seasons? Can their goaltending deliver in the postseason? ⬆️4

1. New Jersey Devils

New Jersey has one of the best top-two center duos in the NHL with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier and the depth around them, especially after adding Toffoli. Their defense is as strong as anyone’s. New Jersey’s goaltending is mediocre but the product in front of them should be enough to offset that. ⬆️2

By Harrison Brown