The Definitive NHL Offseason Thread for *ALL* Offseasons!

[Sohel]

Simply too much goes on during offseasons not to have this thread. We have the draft, trades, UFAs and RFAs, folks getting fired and hired all over the place. Things that influence the following season.

So the Wings are probably on their final year of rebuilding-on-the-fly as our "kids" return with last season's experience under their belt. The overpaid dead weight accumulated by Kenny is being discarded, and I hope Alfie has one more year of hockey left in him. Top scoring prospects Mantha and Pulkinnen are likely to be the last two pieces in our offense, as our top defensive prospects try to win jobs. How ready are Sproul, Ouellet, Almquist, Backman and Marchenko? Can we land Niskanen or Iginla without overpaying? Our top draft pick Dylan Larkin is a local guy like Legwand, but a better skater with time on his side. His skillset is limited at this point but hard work and a few years with the Wolverines can change that pronto. How soon will he be NHL ready remains to be seen.

The Pens have new GM and a defense-first coach looking to get them back in serious Cup contention. It would be fascinating to see what they do next year. The acquisition of Hornqvist is a good sign. He's likely to thrive playing with two of the finest players in the world.

Can the Rangers sustain their success this year and build on it? If so, then how?

The Blackhawks-Kings dynastic scenario is very similar to the Red Wings-Avalanche from the mid 90s to the first half of the new century. Who will come out on top? Can the Ducks (now with Ryan Kesler), Sharks, Avs and Minny seriously challenge their domination of the West next season?

Has the decline already started for the Bruins? Some dynasty!

The Leafs have drafted well. Nylander may be small, but he's skilled and gutsy like a mini-Zetterberg. Will the Leafs trade him for a bigger, more "established" local player who too will crumble under the pressure of playing in the most hostile, unsettling, rumor-infested hockey market in the hockey universe? What will the Asgardian genii do with Phaneuf or Rebound Reimer? Will they trade JVR for more Clarksons of the world? The 50 year milestone is just around the corner guys! Tick-tock, tick-tock ...

Fire away.