Ahead of the NHL draft and free agency - which opens July 1 - we're looking at three teams from each division facing integral summers. Next up, the Western Conference's Central Division.
Dallas Stars
(109 points)
Needs: Assess goaltending, shore up defensive situation
Dallas scored more goals than any team in the NHL, averaging 3.23 tallies per game, but inconsistent goaltending did the Central Division champions in.
The tandem of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi was solid, but neither could prove to be a difference maker for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
| Goalie | GP | W | L | OT | GAA | Sv% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehtonen | 43 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 2.76 | 0.906 |
| Niemi | 48 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 2.67 | 0.905 |
Both goalies have been reliable starters in their careers, but the Stars don't need the combination. Perhaps general manager Jim Nill can eye a trade, or even buy one out.
The Stars also have problems on their blue line. Kris Russell, Jason Demers, and Jordie Benn are all unrestricted free agents, and the experience level of the rest of the D-corps is less than comforting.
Depth defenseman are much easier to find than starting goalies, but either way, Nill will have to pull some strings to take the Stars to the next level.
St. Louis Blues
(107 points)
Needs: Find reasonable contracts for pending free agents
St. Louis shed its reputation as playoff failures by advancing to the Western Conference Final, but the Blues' habit of sitting back defensively ultimately was the difference against the speedy San Jose Sharks.
On top of a few adjustments to their style of play - which should come under new assistant coach Mike Yeo - the Blues need to address the expiring contracts of some key offensive pieces.
| Player | Position | Status | G | A | P | Previous cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Brouwer | RW | UFA | 18 | 21 | 39 | $3.6m |
| David Backes | C | UFA | 21 | 24 | 45 | $4.5m |
| Jaden Schwartz | LW | RFA | 8 | 14 | 22 | $2.35m |
| Kyle Brodziak | C | UFA | 7 | 4 | 11 | $900k |
With Backes likely to hit the market, retaining Brouwer will be key for general manager Doug Armstrong. Schwartz - who's vital to the club's success - is qualified for a raise, and a bridge deal would make sense for the 23-year-old, who was limited to only 33 games last season. Brodziak, meanwhile, is a reliable centerman that should come at an affordable price.
Time will tell whether Armstrong will be able to keep everybody, but it's imperative he does his best to do so.
Colorado Avalanche
(82 points)
Needs: Add defenseman, fill out forwards
Colorado struggled to score last season, but had even greater problems keeping the puck out of their net.
The Avalanche scored 2.57 goals per game (21st) and allowed 2.93 (24th). Add those totals to a miserable corsi for percentage of 44.20 (corsica.hockey) and it's no wonder Patrick Roy's club struggled.
Up front, the Avalanche have several game-breaking talents, but apart from a new contract for Nathan MacKinnon, their depth needs to be addressed.
Mikkel Bodeker, Shawn Matthias, and Mikhail Grigorenko need contracts, and should all be looked at by general manager Joe Sakic.
Colorado has three reliable defenseman in Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson, and Francois Beauchemin, but the bottom three could use some tweaking. Nikita Zadorov is promising, but still developing. Luring a dependable rearguard to Mile High City should be a priority for Sakic.
