The Eastern Conference received a major shakeup Wednesday, with two blockbuster trades and a surprise signing affecting the balance of power.
Taylor Hall, an elite left winger, shockingly was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the New Jersey Devils for only second-pairing defenseman Adam Larsson. The Montreal Canadiens foolishly dealt elite defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators in exchange for past-his-prime defenseman Shea Weber. Steven Stamkos also re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on an eight-year contract extension amid rumors he would return home and join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If you need a minute to process all of that information, we understand. It was one of the NHL’s busiest days of the last decade-plus.
So, how does it all impact the Eastern Conference?
New Jersey Devils
Let’s start with the New Jersey Devils.
They struggled mightily to score last season, finishing dead last in offense with 2.2 goals per game. They also were the second-worst puck possession team at 5-on-5, controlling just over 46 percent of all shot attempts.
Adding Hall to the mix will change that. He’s the second- or third-best left winger in the game and has the talent to score as many as 30 goals and between 70 and 80 points per season. He also brings a physical game and leadership qualities to the ice.
Any boost in goal production should help the Devils compete for a wild-card playoff spot. They finished 12 points out of a playoff spot last season, but they were in the race for most of the campaign before struggling when superstar goalie Cory Schneider missed most of March with an injury.
Schneider helped the Devils finish eighth in goals against average despite the team getting pounded in puck possession. His .929 save percentage at even strength was an incredible mark when you factor all of their defensive issues.
Expect the Devils, who have the salary cap space to make more moves and an excellent head coach in John Hynes, to make great strides next season and compete for a postseason berth.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens really screwed up this situation. They were a pair of wins from the Stanley Cup Final just two years ago, and they got off to the best start in team history last season before reigning MVP goalie Carey Price suffered an injury.
Montreal had a good young core led by Price, Subban, Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk, but now that’s ruined. Subban is an incredible skater, a top offensive player and drives puck possession at a high rate. He’s in the prime of his career and is signed through age 33. Weber is three years older than Subban, and his contract, which runs longer than P.K.’s, doesn’t end until he’s 40.
Weber still is a good defenseman, but he’s no longer a Norris Trophy-level player. He faces tough competition, but the results aren’t pretty.
Montreal didn’t have to play much defense when Subban was on the ice. He skated out of trouble and ignited the transition game with good passes out of the defensive zone, among other things. The five players he skated most often with at 5-on-5 all saw a decrease in puck possession when they were on the ice without him.
Even if Price is healthy, it’s going to be tough for the Canadiens to make the playoffs without an elite defenseman. Jeff Petry is a quality blueliner, but the drop in talent after him and Weber is significant. This team also finished 16th in goals scored and had the 25th-ranked power play last season, both of which should be negatively affected with Subban gone.
Montreal also plays in a tough division in which the Tampa Bay Lightning are elite, the Florida Panthers are legit contenders, the Detroit Red Wings always are tough and the Buffalo Sabres rapidly are improving. The Boston Bruins also are a threat given their excellent goaltending and coaching.
Expect the Habs to miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01.
Tampa Bay Lightning
There’s not much to be said about the Lightning that we didn’t already know before Stamkos re-signed. They clearly are a top Stanley Cup contender.
General manager Steve Yzerman still has to re-sign restricted free agents Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov, but Stamkos signing for $8.5 million per season instead of the $10 million he probably would have received from other teams gives Tampa Bay some cap flexibility.
This roster is loaded with high-end skill and depth at forward, the blue line has two top players in Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, and Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy are one of the best goalie duos.
This team came within one game of the Stanley Cup Final this year, despite the fact Stamkos and Stralman both missed most of the 2016 playoffs with injuries. The Lightning are going to be really good for a long, long time.
Thumbnail photo via Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports Images
