Top 10 moves of the offseason

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; General view of team executives on the arena floor in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

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The NHL offseason was a busy one for player movement. We saw some big trades and big free agent signings. In lieu of that, it’s about the time of year where we can look back and identify what could be the 10 most impactful moves of the summer. To keep things nice and simple, we’re going to try and base this on which players are destined to be most valuable to their respective clubs.

10. G Antti Niemi, Dallas Stars

Apr 9, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Derek Roy (8) tries to get a shot past San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) during the third period at Rexall Place. Sharks won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

The Stars made a statement in the offseason that they wanna win now by acquiring Antti Niemi, Johnny Oduya, and Patrick Sharp. The top 6 looks poised to be one of the most productive next season. The emergence of John Klingberg along with a cast of solid D give the Stars an underrated blue-line. In goal, the Stars look to begin the season with somewhat of a tandem between Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen.

If you were to ask a Sharks fan their opinion of Niemi, more often than not it won’t be too favorable. The truth is, the Sharks back end has been a problem for a long time now. Niemi was set up to fail before he ever put his feet on the ground. He steps into a situation with a more defensively responsible Dallas Stars squad. Kari Lehtonen is coming off a horrible season and is brutally overpaid. Expect Niemi to take hold of that starter role from an inconsistent injury prone Lehtonen. Stars management might be hoping both these guys battle and perform so they can move Lehtonen’s lucrative contract with a no trade clause. Buy-out wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities if Kari has another season like last year.

Niemi comes in at #10 because it’s a little murky and unclear how much he’ll be depended on this upcoming season. He should get the majority of starts, and brings along some valuable playoff experience. This former Cup winner is hoping to bring Lord Stanley’s holy grail down to Texas.

9. RW T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals

Apr 18, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing T.J. Oshie (74) takes a shot against the Minnesota Wild during the second period in game two of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

After another disappointing early exit from the playoffs, St.Louis Blues management felt compelled to shake things up. I think fans we’re expecting more movement, but they decided to move injury prone winger T.J. Oshie to the Washington Capitals in exchange for RW Troy Brouwer. Oshie definitely has the higher upside talent wise, but the Blues have enough talent that they could take a downgrade for a player with much better durability and consistency.

In 13-14, Oshie tallied 60 points in 72 games. While in 14-15 he produced 55 points in 72 games. He will likely step into a first line role alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Young Evgeny Kuznetsov is his only real competition for first line duties.

He’s had some talented linemates during his tenure with the Blues, but never anything like Ovechkin and Backstrom. I mean just see how good they made Alex Semin look. If T.J. Oshie can stay healthy, you can expect him to reach career highs in goals and assists.

Oshie comes in at #9 because lets face it, the chain of command for value starts in goal with Braden Holtby, leading to Alexander Ovechkin, and next Nicklas Backstrom. So although there’s a few guys with more value, Oshie offers top-end talent that could give the Caps one of the most potent scoring lines during the 2015-2016 NHL season.

8. LW Carl Hagelin, Anaheim Ducks

May 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers left wing Carl Hagelin (62) during the second period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps one of the more quiet trades on NHL draft day. The Ducks traded the rights to Emerson Etem to the New York Rangers in exchange for the rights to Carl Hagelin. Since then, the Ducks managed to lock him into a 4 year contract. This was a big win for the Ducks, as the Rangers simply were not going to be able to pay Carl Hagelin his asking price.

The young left winger steps onto a roster that’s relitively thin on left wing. The thought is that one of Patrick Maroon or Jakub Silfverberg are the likely candidates to claim first line duties alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

There’s a good chance he gets time on the first line at some point this season. And wouldn’t be surprised if he found a permanent home there. The young winger has never surpassed 20 goals or 40 points in his short career, but it’s likely he surpasses both this season.

Hagelin comes in at #8 because the heart and soul of the Ducks is Getzlaf and Perry. There’s an excellent supporting cast, which will include Hagelin. He’ll be an extra offensive threat for the Ducks, who could open up some space for other players. His playoff experience will also be a major asset come April.

7. RW Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 28, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) warms up before playing against the Ottawa Senators at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason was the one involving the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Penguins traded Nick Spaling, and prospects Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington plus a conditional 1st round pick in exchange for Phil Kessel and Tyler Biggs.

There were mixed emotions over the trade in the Toronto market, while Pittsburgh fans are almost all unanimously thrilled about the trade. He’s likely to see time with both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin but should start the season with Sid the kid.

This one’s a bit of a double edged sword. Or a careful what you wish for type of situation. While it’s highly likely we could see career highs in goals and assists. One’s gotta what kind of impact his defensive deficiences will have on the team.

As any Leafs fan would know who took the time to center out Phil Kessel and watch him exclusively. There’s some glaring issues in his game. There’s a reason much was made of his physical condition. When you’re one of the most explosive skaters in the game and refuse to play defense, there’s a major problem. Kessel shys away from the physical play and very rarely throws a body check. If he’s in a race for the puck and he’s not going to be the clear winner, he turns away from the play or lets the other player maintain control while he tries to use his stick to poke it out.

He loves to have the puck on his stick. Sometimes for too long as a lot of his shots find shin pads or miss the net. To be fair, he’s not a future 40 goal scorer for no reason, he does some wonderful things with the puck on his stick. But it’s basic hockey knowledge that when you lose control of the puck, you use your stops and starts to retain control of the puck, not to turn away from the play like Kessel.

We’re talking about a guy that 9 times out of 10 is the last man back. He doesn’t necessarily even cover his assigned defenseman on the point very well. The only hope is that a summer of physical torture with Gary Roberts might help improve his all-around game. The question is, can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Kessel comes in at #7 because for reasons that are self-explanatory when you have two of the best players on the planet in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Otherwise, the Penguins only weakness is on defense, and unfortunately Phil Kessel doesn’t do much to help with that.

6. G Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers

Mar 26, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot prior to the start of the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Rangers defeated the Senators 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The buzz going into the offseason was the incredibly strong goalie market. Talbot was long rumoured to be an interest of Edmonton way before the NHL draft when they made the exchange for a draft pick. The Oilers also brought in some competition with the signing of Anders Nilsson. It should be Talbot’s net to lose though heading into training camp.

Cam filled in nicely last season when Henrik Lundqvist went down, posting King Henrik like numbers. But lets be honest, we’re talking about one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. The 34 game sample is not a lot to go on, so this thing could go either way. He may be stellar or he could fall flat on his face. The Oilers still have a few years to figure out their goalie of the future before they’re cup contenders, so no need to panic if Talbot is unable to carry the load.

Talbot comes in at #6 because chances are his numbers won’t be anything too great. But it’ll definitely be an upgrade from Ben Scrivens. A weak defense core is likely to hurt his value, but what he should offer is an upgrade that at the very least should show improvement. Right now all fans in Edmonton want is to see is this team moving in the right direction.

4. LW Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets

Jun 10, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates after scoring a goal against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) in the third period in game four of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

One of the unfortunate casualties of a cash strapped Hawks team. This one was one of those rare hockey deals that benefits both sides. The Hawks traded Brandon Saad and get a dependable second line center in Artem Anisimov, and young Marko Dano who could easily find his way into the top 6. Saad is by no means superstar, but definitely offers Ryan Johansen the most talented winger he’s played with in his short tenure.

The Blue Jackets simply don’t get enough love or credit. Their top 6 isn’t exactly filled with high end talent. But this is an overall deep forward group already. The Blue Jackets will be poised to be playoff contenders as prospects like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Kerby Rychel, Zach Werenski, William Karlsson, and Sonny Milano make the jump to the NHL. Down the road, a Saad – Johansen – Bjorkstrand line could make for a wealth of productivity.

Saad comes in at #4 because he fills a need that could help this team get back to the playoffs. While it’s rather unlikely that Nick Foligno can repeat his 73 point performance from last year , there is a chance that Saad could slide into a consistent 65-75 point range. If this young defense core continues to grow and Columbus can sneak into the playoffs, Saad will be a very valuable asset with his experience.

3. LW Milan Lucic, Los Angeles Kings

Mar 26, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at TD Banknorth Garden. The Anaheim Ducks won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps one of the more unexpected moves of the offseason. The Bruins made some strange trades, seeing Dougie Hamilton go to Calgary and Milan Lucic to L.A. This is more than likely a one year rental since Lucic becomes a UFA at the end of the year. It’s still uncertain if the Kings will have Voynov back, but they’ll get a boost from Christian Ehrhoff regardless.

Some in the hockey world must wonder how a player like Milan Lucic ever became available in the first place. That rare cross of talent and physicality that intimidates the opposition is hard to find, especially this much talent. After going from Cup winners to lottery team, the Kings are hoping Lucic can be that piece to help push them back over the top. That could bode well for them, as he’s built to perform in playoff hockey.

Lucic comes in at #3 because he adds an element to the Kings top-line that every team could only hope for. Lucic is one of those players that you need to be aware of when he’s on the ice. He should easily open up more ice for Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. The Kings may be all-in this year, as getting Anze Kopitar locked down to an extension could prove difficult. We at least know one thing for sure, Milan Lucic is a beast.

2. G Robin Lehner, Buffalo Sabres

Feb 12, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing David Perron (39) scores the winning goal against Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner (40). The Penguins defeated the Senators 5-4 in a shootout at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

No team has seen a bigger roster overhaul over the past 6 months than the Sabres. It started back at last year’s trade deadline when they acquired LW Evander Kane and D Zach Bogosian from the Winnipeg Jets. During the offseason, they acquried Robin Lehner and David Legwand from Ottawa, along with Ryan O’Reilly (who they quickly locked down long-term) from Colorado. Add prospects Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart into the fold with free agent signing Carlo Colaiacovo, and you’ve got a new look Sabres team.

Lehner never got a fair shake in Ottawa. At first, his development in Binghamton progressed along slower than Sens management was hoping. They pulled the trigger on acquiring Craig Anderson, essentially forcing Lehner to stay in Binghamton longer than needed once he did develop.

It’s gotta have some effect on a goalie’s psyche with the situations he went through. It would be unfair to make any assumptions about his ability based off last year’s stats. We’re talking about a guy who’s consistently posted astronomical numbers in the save percentage category.

Lehner comes in at #2 because he fills a void that hasn’t been properly filled since the departure of Ryan Miller. Robin Lehner steps in and immediately makes this team better. He’s the type of young goalie that can step up and steal games. The goals against average won’t be anything to brag about due to a weaker blue-line, but as the back end gets better, so too will Lehner. There’s definitely more than enough reasons to get excited if you’re a Sabres fan.

1. D Dougie Hamilton, Calgary Flames

Mar 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Now to the shocker of the offseason. No one could have predicted the Boston Bruins moving this young stud d-man. Talk about a highly skilled productive defenseman who’s also very responsible in the defensive zone. He joins the Calgary Flames, who overachieved last season making for a fun team to watch. The Flames biggest strength was already their back end so the addition of Hamilton has to put them in the conversation of top defense core in the NHL.

Logic would dictate that Hamilton is likely to partner up alongside Mark Giordano on the top pairing. The Flames now have 4 offensive weapons on the point in Hamilton, Giordano, Wideman, and Brodie. What seemed like a team that might be destined to take a step back after overachieving, may indeed find themselves in an even better position.

The additions of Hamilton and Frolik, along with a healthy Sam Bennett may just be enough to push this team back into playoff contention. They may not be cup contenders until they can find a more suitable replacement for Jiri Hudler. Not that he hasn’t played well or been productive, but he’s not going to take you through four rounds of grueling playoff hockey as your top liner. One also needs to worry about the dreaded sophomore slump and whether or not Johnny Gaudreau can avoid it.

Hamilton comes in at #1 because players of his talent and age almost never become available. Normally teams are locking these guys down long-term. And let’s be the honest, the Flames would have had a hard time overpaying no matter what the price was. Hamilton steps in and offers solid two-way play for the next decade or so. When you include some of their sneaky good picks at the NHL draft (Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington, and Andrew Mangiapane), the Flames had arguably the best summer.