NHL low season grades: Atlantic Division

School’s nonetheless out, however for NHL golf equipment, it’s report card season. 

As we enter August, the main focus begins to shift to the marketing campaign forward. But earlier than it does, we’re trying again on the summer time and the transactions made by every franchise. Although we received’t actually understand how these strikes pan out till gamers are again on the ice, these low season dealings give us a glimpse of what to anticipate. 

With that in thoughts, we’re taking a look at every division and assigning a grade to each membership’s low season. On Monday, we kicked issues off by inspecting the Metropolitan Division.

Today, we flip our consideration to the Atlantic, the place a former champ is loading up, some high quality younger groups try to take the following step and a staff that completed close to the underside of the convention final yr is attempting to get again on its ft.

(Teams are listed alphabetically)

Key arrivals: JJ Peterka, W; Will Borgen, D 

Key departures: Viktor Arvidsson, W; Joonas Korpisalo, G

Things have been actually popping off across the NHL on the exact second Boston acquired Peterka from Utah, and there’s an opportunity, when the mud settles, we’ll look again and suppose we should always have talked extra about that transfer.

This, in fact, is the second straight summer time that Peterka moved. And when Utah acquired him from the Sabres in 2025, many predicted an offensive breakout that didn’t materialize throughout his single go-round with the Mammoth.

However, a surge may nonetheless be coming in Boston, particularly if the German strains up throughout from stud winger David Pastrnak on the highest line.

As it occurs, Arvidsson scored the very same variety of objectives Peterka did final yr (25), so the Bruins will certainly be relying on their shiny new toy for not less than that many strikes once more. This is a participant individuals noticed 35-goal potential in, although, and if Boston can tease that out, the deal is a big win.

Borgen helps stabilize the defence as a six-foot-three righty, whereas Korpisalo’s departure means the backup duties may fall to unproven Michael DiPietro.

Key arrivals: Olen Zellweger, D; Louis Crevier, D 

Key departures: Alex Tuch, W; Bowen Byram, D

This is a tough one. On one hand, the Sabres have misplaced some critical gamers — one up entrance in Tuch, one on the blueline in Byram — and haven’t acquired gamers of commensurate skills from outdoors the group to instantly fill the holes.

On the opposite, you might see why Tuch’s contract calls for — he finally acquired a $10.5-million AAV on an eighth-year contract from the Washington Capitals — have been a bit too wealthy for the franchise. As for Byram, the Sabres despatched him to Chicago for a bundle headlined by the fourth-overall choose and have been universally lauded for the transaction. 

But it’s onerous to say — even in the event you can perceive why each gamers are gone — that Buffalo is healthier off subsequent fall with out them.

The key right here shall be inner development from the likes of 21-year-old Zach Benson (who inked a brand new, seven-year take care of the membership) 22-year-old Noah Ostlund and 20-year-old Konsta Helenius. All three forwards, to various levels, may very well be vital items for the Sabres subsequent season.

On the again finish, Byram’s departure is offset by the acquisition of Zellweger, a younger puck-mover picked up from the Anaheim Ducks. Also, the Sabres acquired the six-foot-eight Crevier from Chicago within the Byram commerce and he may very well be an ideal match on the appropriate facet of the third pair. 

The query that can grasp over Western New York till there’s clear decision is, can the Sabres swing a deal for Connor Hellebuyck, if the adorned goalie is certainly moved by the Winnipeg Jets? We know Buffalo has thrown its hat within the ring and pulling that one off would make this an low season to recollect.

Key arrivals: Viktor Arvidsson, W; Daniil Tarasov, G; Keegan Kolesar, W

Key departures: Patrick Kane, W

The Wings’ low season was thrown into chaos after we realized captain Dylan Larkin had requested a commerce. Then, simply as we have been wrapping our heads round how Larkin’s demand may play out, it was introduced Steve Yzerman could be coming off his submit as normal supervisor and shifting upstairs.

Now, with the calendar having flipped to August and the beginning of coaching camp principally six weeks away, it simply feels as if Detroit is in an enormous holding sample. The GM search has but to yield a alternative for Yzerman and, so far as we all know, nothing the group does between now and the tip of the summer time goes to vary the way in which Larkin sees his NHL future.

Add to that the very fact burgeoning defenceman Simon Edvinsson wants a brand new contract and that sniper Alex DeBrincat is getting into the ultimate yr of his deal, and there’s simply uncertainty in all places you look within the Motor City.

Maybe a brand new GM will land on the scene and deftly transfer to deal with all the problems. But it positive seems like — with the staff now 10 years faraway from its most up-to-date playoff look — momentum is shifting the improper manner in Detroit. 

Key arrivals: Brady Tkachuk, W; Jacob Markstrom, G; Radko Gudas, D; Akira Schmid, G; Garnet Hathaway, W; Lars Eller, C. 

Key departures: Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Mackie Samoskevich, W; Evan Rodrigues, W; A.J. Greer, W

The Panthers acquired the low season going with a bang once they acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators for a bundle constructed across the ninth-overall choose within the 2026 NHL Draft. That draft choose was solely in Florida’s possession by advantage of an injury-plagued marketing campaign that noticed the two-time defending champs miss the playoffs whereas enjoying your complete season with out captain Aleksander Barkov, to say nothing of quite a few different high-profile gamers who missed enormous chunks of the marketing campaign.

Now, the Cats add a hungry Brady Tkachuk to a staff that options his brother, Matthew, and a number of different adorned vets who’re wholesome, rested and able to take one other run on the high prize.

Certainly, Florida could have some inquiries to reply within the crease, the place the Panthers are turning to Jacob Markstrom — a Florida draft choose 18 years in the past, in 2008 — after the departure of Bobrovsky through free company.

With Brady Tkachuk within the combine, although, this top-nine ahead group is terrifying.

Key departures: Brendan Gallagher, W; Joe Veleno, C/W

It seems like essentially the most applicable grade for the Habs could be “incomplete” as a result of — regardless of their finest efforts — they weren’t capable of land the difference-making top-six ahead they covet. 

It’s been a quiet low season in Montreal when it comes to new gamers coming to the group, however the one massive little bit of enterprise GM Kent Hughes executed did reinforce the general robust standing of the ascendant staff. That got here on July 1, when Calder Trophy runner-up Ivan Demidov — on the primary day he was eligible — inked an eight-year extension that carries an AAV of simply over $9 million by 2034-35. With Demidov within the fold long-term, the Canadiens have basically locked down their whole younger core on contracts that may be described as very team-friendly. 

So whereas nothing earth-shattering has occurred in Montreal this summer time, Demidov’s new deal — and the expansion potential he has within the early years of the contract — characterize extra regular progress for the Canadiens.

If it may nonetheless handle to swing a significant deal for a ahead to play with Demidov on the second line earlier than coaching camp, Montreal will really feel unbelievable concerning the low season. 

Key arrivals: William Eklund, W; Andre Burakovsky, W; Samuel Ersson, G

Key departures: Brady Tkachuk, W; Lars Eller, C 

When the preliminary shock of the Tkachuk commerce wore off, it shortly gave approach to a deep understanding that this was one thing that needed to occur for Ottawa. With the advantage of hindsight, it’s clear the previous Sens captain wasn’t lengthy for Canada’s capital and it was finest to maneuver on and convey that chapter to a detailed.

The countermove to accumulate Eklund — a 23-year-old winger with upside — from San Jose would really feel rather a lot higher if Ottawa didn’t must burn the No. 9 choose it acquired from Florida for Tkachuk to do it, however that’s not how issues performed out.

If Eklund makes good on his potential and jumps up from being a 55-point participant to one thing extra, the Senators ought to really feel simply advantageous concerning the transfer.

The vibe round city could be extra gloomy if native boy Claude Giroux adopted Tkachuk out the door, however Giroux’s determination to remain seems like each a tangible and symbolic victory for the staff.

If, by probability, the Sens can lock up pending-UFA Drake Batherson on an extension earlier than the season begins, the summer time will formally really feel like a hit. 

Key arrivals: John Carlson, D; Dennis Hildeby, G

Key departures: Darren Raddysh, D; Nick Paul; W; Corey Perry, W

The Bolts are in a little bit of a rut, having failed in 4 straight years to get previous the primary spherical of the playoffs. Still, the low season was by no means more likely to deliver large turnover — not with so many good gamers nonetheless locked into long-term offers — and, certainly, the story with Tampa is restricted to a swap of right-shot, PP1 defencemen. 

Raddysh had a breakout yr for the Lightning with 70 factors in his age-29 season, however the two sides weren’t going to make it work on an eight-year deal. Instead, veteran John Carlson — the longtime Washington Capital — comes again east on a two-year pact after a quick sojourn with the Anaheim Ducks.

Even if Carlson is 36 years outdated, Tampa certainly feels it is aware of what it’s getting within the sensible, offence-first blue-liner. The intrigue — and potential upside — is available in aim, the place Hildeby was acquired from Toronto within the hopes he can spell starter Andrei Vasilevskiy extra reliably than Jonas Johansson did final season. If the six-foot-seven, 24-year-old Hildeby is usually a high quality No. 2, Vasilevskiy — the reigning Vezina Trophy winner — is perhaps more energizing for the playoffs, the place he’s struggled the previous couple springs. 

On stability, although, it’s a case of “drive on” in Tampa. 

Key arrivals: Gavin McKenna, W; Sergei Bobrovsky, G; Darren Raddysh, D; Nick Paul, W; Emil Andrae, D; Jack Roslovic, W; Colton Sissons, C; Teddy Blueger, C; Brandon Duhaime, W

Key departures: Joseph Woll, G; Brandon Carlo, D; Nick Robertson, W; Simon Benoit, D; Mattias Maccelli, W; Dennis Hildeby, G

Honestly, what didn’t occur in Toronto because the Leafs performed Game 82? New GM John Chayka made everybody arise and take discover when he swooped in to accumulate Raddysh — probably the most coveted gamers set to hit a barren UFA market — from Tampa and inked him to an eight-year deal earlier than July 1. Then, when the market did open, Toronto signed everybody on it. OK, that’s a slight exaggeration — and a lot of the Buds’ strikes have been for bottom-six guys — however you’ll be able to’t ignore including a chunk just like the Hall of Fame-bound Bobrovsky, even when he’s going to be 38 when the season begins.

We can’t actually credit score Toronto grade-wise for successful the draft lottery, however the finish outcome continues to be the Leafs placing what they hope shall be a difference-making winger on the highest line within the type McKenna, an 18-year-old puck wizard. 

A tandem of Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz has robust potential, the ahead group figures to be a lot harder to play in opposition to below new coach Jim Hiller and, if the Raddysh transfer pays off, the membership has a brand new top-four, right-shot defenceman who can breathe new life right into a wheezy energy play. 

The Maple Leafs nonetheless have inquiries to reply, however the group has finished all it probably may to prop the staff again up this low season.