24. Winnipeg Jets
Losing Pieree-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler are by no means small departures for the Jets roster. Heading into the 2023-24 season this team still believes they can be in the mix for the Stanley Cup playoffs. It will be interesting to see how things unfold with Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck both unsigned past this season.
23. Washington Capitals
The Capitals said goodbye to Conor Sheary, Matt Irwin, Connor Brown and Craig Smith this offseason but they added Joel Edmundson and Max Pacioretty. This team finished outside of the playoff mix in 2023, and it seems likely they will again this season, but it is all just about getting Alex Ovechkin goals at this point anyway. Less than 75 goals away from taking the record!
22. Nashville Predators
Andrew Brunette, Barry Trotz and Ryan O’Reilly all are stepping into Nashville with big new roles. O’Reilly will be the team’s new number one center, Trotz the GM and Brunette will get another opportunity to coach an NHL team. This should be a fun season in Nashville.
21. St. Louis Blues
The Blues said goodbye to Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko last season, now in 2023-24 it is all about getting used to a new era in St. Louis headlined by new captain Brayden Schenn. This probably will be another year stuck in the middle for the Blues.