While the playoff races head down the final stretch, it’s never too early to ponder the moves that teams are going to be making this offseason. Whether it’s decisions on which pending free agents to re-sign, trades to make or personnel changes behind the bench or in the front office, all 32 teams have some big questions to answer.
For this week’s edition of the NHL Power Rankings, we identify those big summer questions for each club.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the most recent edition, published March 17. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1 Points percentage: 80.99% Next seven days: vs. TB (March 25), @ CAR (March 26), vs. NSH (March 28), vs. CBJ (March 30)
Boston’s big summer decisions likely hinge on what happens in the next two months. If the Bruins go on a long playoff run, will that satisfy Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci into retirement? If Boston doesn’t, will those veterans return for another season? And, after giving up a first-round pick to acquire Tyler Bertuzzi, will Boston attempt to — or be capable of — keeping him long term? The future isn’t always so clear when a team’s present is this exciting.
Previous ranking: 2 Points percentage: 71.43% Next seven days: vs. TOR (March 25), vs. BOS (March 26), vs. TB (March 28), @ DET (March 30)
Carolina has a choice to make in net. Both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta are pending unrestricted free agents. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov is signed to a four-year, $8 million deal that kicks in next season. Is Kochetkov the Hurricanes’ starter-to-be? If not, who is? And will GM Don Waddell look outside of Andersen and Raanta for that answer?
Previous ranking: 3 Points percentage: 69.01% Next seven days: @ BUF (March 24), vs. OTT (March 25), @ NYI (March 27), vs. NYR (March 30)
New Jersey swung for the fences getting Timo Meier at the deadline. But what’s next? Meier is a pending restricted free agent owed $10 million on his qualifying offer. Can New Jersey lock Meier up on an extension instead? Or are the Devils prepared to pay such a high price for one more season — with the same long-term status question looming down the road?
Previous ranking: 4 Points percentage: 66.90% Next seven days: @ CAR (March 25), @ NSH (March 26), vs. FLA (March 29)
Toronto’s GM Kyle Dubas is on an expiring contract. The most defining decision of the Leafs’ offseason will be whether to renew Dubas’ pact or bring on a new GM to take his place. It’s no secret that how Toronto fares in the upcoming playoffs will play a major role in that outcome.
New York has three key pending RFAs: Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller. That triumvirate stands to play a critical role in the Rangers’ future. But how will each negotiation be handled? Does New York go long or short term on potential new deals? Will a single-year qualifying offer make more sense for one, but not another? How each scenario unfolds could reveal a lot about how the organization views each young star.
Previous ranking: 7 Points percentage: 63.89% Next seven days: vs. VAN (March 25), @ CHI (March 28)
Dallas has done well handling its business. The NHL roster is solid, but GM Jim Nill has also inked key prospects eyeing a jump to the pros. Identifying who’s ready could dictate the direction Nill goes this offseason. Does Dallas add from the outside again? Or will the Stars start counting on players from their prospect pool to step up?
Previous ranking: 6 Points percentage: 64.79% Next seven days: vs. WPG (March 25), vs. STL (March 26), @ CGY (March 28), @ EDM (March 30)
Los Angeles projects to have two key offseason negotiations: one with RFA Gabriel Vilardi, and the other with UFA goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The 23-year-old Vilardi is having a career-best season; what is he worth to the Kings moving ahead? And after acquiring Korpisalo at the deadline — while trading Jonathan Quick away — do the Kings see a slot for him in the future, possibly in tandem with Pheonix Copley? Would Korpisalo want that type of role?
Vegas has rising star Logan Thompson under contract for next season, but who will be the Golden Knights’ second goaltender? Robin Lehner is under contract through 2024-25 but hasn’t played this season following hip surgery. Can he make a comeback? The Golden Knights acquired Jonathan Quick at the trade deadline; is the pending UFA a veteran they’ll want to retain?
Previous ranking: 12 Points percentage: 62.50% Next seven days: vs. VGK (March 25), @ ARI (March 27), @ VGK (March 28), vs. LA (March 30)
Edmonton has a budding blue-line star in Evan Bouchard, who is also a pending RFA. Bouchard has built off last season’s 43-point effort with another strong campaign, and has blossomed further since Tyson Barrie was traded. How will the Oilers reward Bouchard’s standing as one of their top defensemen? Is there a bridge deal to come, or do they go all-in with a multiyear extension?
Previous ranking: 11 Points percentage: 62.86% Next seven days: vs. ARI (March 24), @ ARI (March 26), @ ANA (March 27), vs. MIN (March 29)
Colorado has only 20 players signed for next season — and about $13 million in cap space to use. How will the Avalanche wield their limited resources to remain a top competitor? Forwards J.T. Compher and Evan Rodrigues are playing significant roles this season, and both are pending UFAs; can Colorado retain them? Or will the Avalanche be seeking more economical options?
Previous ranking: 10 Points percentage: 63.19% Next seven days: vs. CHI (March 25), vs. SEA (March 27), @ COL (March 29)
Minnesota must find common ground with pending RFA goaltender Filip Gustavsson. The Wild have just over $11 million in projected cap space to work with, to spread among several players. But Gustavsson has been excellent this season, posting some of the league’s best numbers. Does Minnesota lean into that and offer him a long-term extension? Or can the club only afford something shorter? And how much cash will be left to fill gaps elsewhere if UFAs Matt Dumba and John Klingberg walk off the blue line?
Previous ranking: 9 Points percentage: 61.64% Next seven days: @ BOS (March 25), @ CAR (March 28), vs. WSH (March 30)
Tampa Bay’s commitment to win-now mode has left the Bolts’ with zero cap space and sparse draft capital over the next two seasons. When the offseason hits, GM Julien BriseBois will have to get real about whether the Lightning’s current pattern remains sustainable. Can they afford to keep patching in players and attempt another run? Or is it time to start rebuilding with the long-term future in mind?
Previous ranking: 13 Points percentage: 60.56% Next seven days: @ NSH (March 25), @ MIN (March 27), vs. ANA (March 30)
Seattle will need to address its goaltending. Philipp Grubauer is signed through 2026-27 but has sporadically played a backup role this season to Martin Jones — who’s a pending UFA. Neither netminder has been an ace for the Kraken. Is Chris Driedger — inked through next season — the guy? Can Grubauer regain his form? And how might GM Ron Francis secure Seattle in net going forward?
Previous ranking: 15 Points percentage: 58.22% Next seven days: @ LA (March 25), @ SJ (March 28)
Winnipeg could have a tough decision to make with Pierre-Luc Dubois. The pending RFA is one year out from being a UFA, and if he doesn’t intend to sign a long-term contract with Winnipeg, is this the offseason he’s traded? It happened with Matthew Tkachuk in Calgary. The Jets will have to get honest about Dubois’ status — and value on the trade market — sooner than later.
Previous ranking: 18 Points percentage: 54.86% Next seven days: vs. NYR (March 25), @ OTT (March 27), @ TOR (March 29), @ MTL (March 30)
Florida did literally nothing at the trade deadline. That seemed to indicate its focus was on the future — as in, this coming offseason. What will GM Bill Zito have up his sleeve, and how much will his decision-making be impacted by whether or not Florida sneaks into the playoffs? Do the Panthers require an overhaul? Or will sliding into a postseason slot prove Zito was right to stand pat?
Previous ranking: 14 Points percentage: 55.56% Next seven days: vs. WSH (March 25), @ DET (March 28), vs. NSH (March 30)
Pittsburgh has to see how this regular season plays out. If the Penguins don’t make playoffs, their biggest offseason decision should be whether to start dismantling the roster. Pittsburgh is among the NHL’s oldest teams. If the veteran-heavy roster can’t drive success, getting younger — via trades or free agency — has to be a priority.
Previous ranking: 16 Points percentage: 56.94% Next seven days: @ CBJ (March 24), vs. BUF (March 25), vs. NJ (March 27), @ WSH (March 29)
New York’s critical offseason decision — and possible negotiation — will be with goaltender Semyon Varlamov. He and Ilya Sorokin have been an excellent tandem for the Islanders. Obviously the Islanders would want Varlamov to stay, but at what cost? New York needs cap space to shore up other parts of the lineup, too. Will that preclude the Islanders from keeping pace with other offers Varlamov might receive?
Previous ranking: 17 Points percentage: 57.14% Next seven days: vs. SEA (March 25), vs. TOR (March 26), @ BOS (March 28), @ PIT (March 30)
Nashville has Barry Trotz coming in as GM. Will that lead to a new head-coaching hire too? Trotz will want to evaluate the Predators from top to bottom and put his own stamp on the club. And if Nashville fails to make playoffs under current bench boss John Hynes, could Trotz opt to make a quick switch to give the Predators a fresh voice to get behind?
Previous ranking: 19 Points percentage: 54.11% Next seven days: vs. SJ (March 25), vs. LA (March 28)
Calgary could face an offseason coaching conundrum. Will Darryl Sutter stay put if the Flames don’t make playoffs? GM Brad Treliving did his best stacking up Calgary last summer with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri, but is Sutter still the right guy to get the most of out this roster?
Washington has to rebuild its defense. The Capitals have four current NHL blueliners under contract for next season, and it was clear once John Carlson went down last December with injury that their back-end depth is lacking. That combination should lead to some seriously high-profile free agency adds from GM Brian MacLellan. That is, if Washington intends to keep its potential contending window open, which is a whole other discussion.
Previous ranking: 22 Points percentage: 52.08% Next seven days: @ NJ (March 25), vs. FLA (March 27), vs. PHI (March 30)
Ottawa has a looming saga on its hands with pending RFA Alex DeBrincat. GM Pierre Dorion turned heads acquiring DeBrincat last July, and while the winger hasn’t produced like he did in Chicago, Dorion didn’t attempt to trade DeBrincat at the deadline either. Now the 24-year-old will be an arbitration-eligible RFA owed $9 million on his qualifying offer. To afford that, Ottawa would have to clear cap space elsewhere. Is DeBrincat worth that for one more year? Do the Senators sign him long term or just let him go? It’s a pivotal choice.
Previous ranking: 21 Points percentage: 51.43% Next seven days: vs. NJ (March 24), @ NYI (March 25), vs. MTL (March 27)
The Sabres’ primary offseason objective could be simple as this: How much do we lean into our youth? Captain Kyle Okposo is a pending UFA. Ditto veteran Zemgus Girgensons. GM Kevyn Adams didn’t do a ton of adding at trade deadline. Will he opt to keep these familiar faces in the fold come summer to complement the Sabres’ rising core? Or does Buffalo target new additions instead?
Previous ranking: 23 Points percentage: 50.00% Next seven days: @ PHI (March 25), vs. PIT (March 28), vs. CAR (March 30)
Detroit needs a reliable No. 2 behind goaltender Ville Husso. The Red Wings leaned on him too often this season, to their own detriment. Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg are both UFAs. Who will GM Steve Yzerman target to give Husso the support he deserves?
Previous ranking: 24 Points percentage: 49.30% Next seven days: @ ANA (March 25), @ LA (March 26), vs. VAN (March 28), @ CHI (March 30)
St. Louis must address its defense corps. GM Doug Armstrong didn’t boost the back end last offseason, and this disappointing 2022-23 campaign has only highlighted how much St. Louis needs a blue-line revamp. The Blues have nearly $24 million tied up in Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug and Colton Parayko, though. Armstrong might have to seriously work the trade market to make needed defensive improvements.
Previous ranking: 25 Points percentage: 48.59% Next seven days: @ DAL (March 25), @ CHI (March 26), @ STL (March 28)
Vancouver has to point itself in one direction. Are the Canucks retooling, rebuilding or trying to make the playoffs? This offseason is a time to decide. New coach Rick Tocchet is in place. He’ll be able to really put a stamp on this team. Vancouver must sort through an abundance of wingers and figure out whether veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson — signed through 2026-27 at $7.26 million per season — can still play a role. But it all starts with how the Canucks approach a critical crossroads and define where the franchise is headed.
Previous ranking: 26 Points percentage: 45.83% Next seven days: @ COL (March 24), vs. COL (March 26), vs. EDM (March 27)
Arizona is stacked with draft capital. What is it going to do with it? The Coyotes want to be a competitive team and have even exceeded expectations this season. With seven picks in the first three rounds of this upcoming draft, is there an opportunity for Arizona to use that as leverage in acquiring players to make them better now? The Coyotes’ cupboards have been stocked; is this the offseason they start taking a big step forward?
Previous ranking: 28 Points percentage: 46.48% Next seven days: vs. DET (March 25), vs. MTL (March 28), @ OTT (March 30)
Philadelphia already made a major in-season decision, replacing fired GM Chuck Fletcher with interim GM Daniel Briere. The Flyers’ offseason focus will revolve around restructuring the front office in full. Will a hockey operations guru come into the mix? They also must figure out a path forward — via total rebuild or something on a smaller scale. Trades and free agent acquisitions should take a back seat until then.
Previous ranking: 27 Points percentage: 43.06% Next seven days: vs. CBJ (March 25), @ BUF (March 27), @ PHI (March 28), vs. FLA (March 30)
Montreal must get Cole Caufield signed long term. The pending RFA is a face of the franchise now and was arguably the Canadiens’ best player before having season-ending surgery. GM Kent Hughes knows what value Caufield brings, and Caufield’s next contract should reflect that. But in a salary cap world — with highly paid veterans on the Canadiens’ payroll — it’s easier said than done getting negotiations over the line.
Previous ranking: 29 Points percentage: 38.03% Next seven days: @ MIN (March 25), vs. VAN (March 26), vs. DAL (March 28), vs. STL (March 30)
Chicago’s biggest decision will be whom they select in the draft if that No. 1 overall pick doesn’t fall to them in the lottery. It would be a devastating blow for the Blackhawks’ rebuilding prospects not to come away with Connor Bedard. If the top selection lands with another team, does Chicago try to trade up anyway to pick at No. 1? Or settle on someone else? It’ll be fascinating to see what happens.
Previous ranking: 31 Points percentage: 36.81% Next seven days: @ CGY (March 25), vs. WPG (March 28), vs. VGK (March 30)
San Jose could be stepping into an optimal offseason to trade Erik Karlsson. The veteran blueliner is a Norris Trophy front-runner after years of struggling through injuries. Karlsson has four years remaining on his contract at a $11.5 million average annual value, which is not an easy burden for any team to absorb, but the Sharks must know to strike when the iron — and Karlsson — are hot.
Previous ranking: 30 Points percentage: 38.89% Next seven days: vs. STL (March 25), vs. COL (March 27), @ SEA (March 30)
Anaheim’s primary concern of the summer should be how much to pay pending RFA Trevor Zegras. That’s not a terribly tough decision; the Ducks need their star player in place for seasons to come. A major issue is what Anaheim’s blue line will look like. With a landslide of defenseman becoming UFAs, what path will GM Pat Verbeek take in putting those units back together? Are there internal options to grow? Or does Verbeek fast track with free agent signings to accelerate the Ducks’ process?
Columbus is purposefully waiting for the offseason to retool a lackluster blue line. The Blue Jackets failed to reel in Jakob Chychrun via trade, but there will be more options available on the market come summer. How GM Jarmo Kekalainen rebuilds that unit will be a big deal for the Blue Jackets’ competitive prospects next season and beyond.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers is dealing with a disk injury in his lower back that has limited his production since joining his new club.
Manager Bob Melvin is hopeful Devers won’t require a stint on the injured list given the upcoming time off for the All-Star break.
Devers has begun anti-inflammatory medication for the irritation symptoms he is experiencing and is playing through the issue. He underwent an MRI exam Thursday.
“He went on some medication, feels a little bit better today. We’ll see how he responds to that,” Melvin said Friday. “I’m glad we got the MRI done so we know what’s going on.”
Acquired last month from the Red Sox, Devers entered the series opener Friday against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers batting .245 with 23 strikeouts, four doubles, a home run and six RBIs over his past 14 games dating to June 26. He was hitting .261 with 17 homers and 67 RBIs overall.
The Giants took on Devers’ mega contract when they traded for him June 15 to boost their offense after the slugger made it known he didn’t want to play first base for Boston. But he arrived in the Bay Area insisting he would do anything asked of him to help San Francisco win.
A three-time All-Star, Devers signed a $313.5 million, 10-year contract with the Red Sox in 2023.
On Friday, he was in the lineup as DH batting third. He isn’t ready to play the field, including first base, where he has been doing regular fielding work.
“He feels it mostly running, probably a little bit at the plate, but not as much as when he’s running bases,” Melvin said. “I think with the break hopefully [he’ll be OK]. I think he’s been playing through it for a little bit, basically since he’s been here. It’s the reason he’s not out in the field right now.”
Arenado, who was 1-for-3, was replaced in the seventh inning by Thomas Saggese. While it was unclear how Arenado hurt the finger, it is the same injury that kept him out of two games last week during a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arenado has 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games this season.