The 2023-24 NHL offseason has been a whirlwind. Even before the Florida Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup, the frenzy of player movement had already begun. Recently, the wave of signings and trades has started to taper off.
Most of the significant moves are now complete, leaving just a few notable veterans like Daniel Sprong, James van Riemsdyk, and Kevin Shattenkirk unsigned. With many major decisions made, it’s time to assess the offseason’s impact. Using last season’s goals above replacement (GAR) totals, we’ll evaluate which teams gained the most net value through trades, free agent signings, retirements, and other moves since the end of the 2023-24 regular season.
This analysis won’t consider rookies—so No. 1 draft pick Macklin Celebrini won’t factor into the San Jose Sharks’ calculations—but it will highlight which teams bolstered their talent base and which will need to replace lost production from last year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a prime example, having acquired Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes while also bidding farewell to captain and franchise icon Steven Stamkos. These and other moves left the Bolts with an even net GAR, placing them 16th out of 32 teams.
Let’s delve into the teams that stand out at both ends of the spectrum and then reveal the full rankings:
Top Additions (GAR):
- G Anthony Stolarz (11.1)
- D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (10.0)
- D Chris Tanev (5.7)
- D Jani Hakanpaa (3.4)
Top Losses (GAR):
- LW Tyler Bertuzzi (7.2)
- D TJ Brodie (5.4)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have consistently faced issues with defense and goaltending, and this offseason was no exception following their latest playoff disappointment.
Stolarz is a statistical upgrade over the departed Ilya Samsonov, who had a subpar .896 save percentage in the playoffs. Stolarz will share the net with Joseph Woll. Meanwhile, Ekman-Larsson, Tanev, and Hakanpaa will bolster a Toronto defensive corps that struggled for contributions outside of Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe. The Leafs are the best team from 2023-24 on our most improved list.
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