Most Improved Team?

[Kin]

So does anyone have a choice for the team they think has helped themselves the most this off-season?

I think there are several good choices. Columbus finally added a legit #1 option at centre and improved their blue-line, Washington may very well have turned their biggest weakness last year into a major strength and New York probably added the best piece available.

Personally, I can't help but think that the prize may end up going to the Sabres. I think they've built a pretty good looking blue-line and added a pretty good forward. Looking ahead, it's hard for me not to see some Boston comparisons. A goalie who could steal it all, a very good defense and a lot of depth up front.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Buffalo would get my vote.  It's strange to see them at the top of the salary cap charts.  And the best part is Toronto only plays them like 79 times this season.

 

[maplesyrup]

Washington. HM: Columbus.

 

[oldrugbyguy]

The Peg as they have to be better then not having a team last year. I win lock the thread!

 

[nutman]

columbus, they look good.

 

[Deebo]

I like what Washington did in goal.

Traded Varlamov for what could be a very high 1st rounder, turned around and upgraded the position with Vokoun for a little over half of what Colarado signed Varlamov for.

They also added some depth on D and up front.

 

[AvroArrow]

I'd be voting for LA if they got a better goalie...

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I like what Washington did in goal.

Traded Varlamov for what could be a very high 1st rounder, turned around and upgraded the position with Vokoun for a little over half of what Colarado signed Varlamov for.

They also added some depth on D and up front.

Yeah, I have to go with Washington as well. I'm not convinced that Buffalo or even Philly are any better, despite their numerous moves. Pittsburgh is going to have trouble if Crosby and Malkin don't recover to the point they were. Columbus will be interesting, but like the Leafs, goaltending has to be consistent and chemistry will dictate what happens there I think.

The Leafs will be in the running I think if their goaltending is the same as Reims provided last season. If Connelly can stay healthy and we get a good bottom center, I think this team could land a spot and of course I'm hoping that the stars align.

 

[Madferret]

I'd be voting for LA if they got a better goalie...

LA has great goaltending!


On paper yeah the Sabres get my vote. Minnesota has made some impressive moves too.

 

[bustaheims]

Washington.

They're my pick as well. They may not have made many big moves this offseason, but, they addressed a couple areas where they needed help (toughness, competitiveness and goaltending) and they're really in a position to do some serious damage throughout the season and into the playoffs.

 

[Deebo]

Washington.

They're my pick as well. They may not have made many big moves this offseason, but, they addressed a couple areas where they needed help (toughness, competitiveness and goaltending) and they're really in a position to do some serious damage throughout the season and into the playoffs.

They could win the cup and be drafting in the top 5, I think Colorado could be that bad this year.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, I quibble with the Ward signing but Washington did well this year overall.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, I quibble with the Ward signing but Washington did well this year overall.

The dollar value of the contract wasn't great, but the addition of Ward to their line-up was a very good move.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'll go with the LA. They finally added some secondary scoring to their team, it won't all revolve around Kopitar now. Gagne and Richards will make for 2/3s of a terrific 2nd line.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, I quibble with the Ward signing but Washington did well this year overall.

The dollar value of the contract wasn't great, but the addition of Ward to their line-up was a very good move.

Yup, like the guy but not the number for the Caps.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm not yet convinced that Vokoun is going to push Washington over that hump, but we'll see.  Maybe Washington made their goalies look better than they were and they just couldn't get the big save, or maybe not.

 

[McPwnage]

I would say washington but you really can't improve from 1st place. 

 

[Kin]

I would say washington but you really can't improve from 1st place.

You can improve on getting knocked out of the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning though.

 

[Darryl]

Really no one blows me away with improving by leaps and bounds. I like Columbus getting Carter to take some pressure off Nash. Same token I like the addition of Richards to LA to team with Kopitar.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I would say Buffalo, for sure, and Philadelphia.  Why the Flyers?  They added (and thereby took a 'risk') Jaromir Jagr; obtained Wayne Simmonds & prospect Brayden Schenn ( both from L.A. Kings in the Mike Richards trade);  signed Maxime Talbot;  signed former Coyotes' goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov to a monstrous contract; signed defencemen Andreas Lilja (Anaheim) and Voracek (from Columbus), plus having made some surprising moves in offloading their star forwards Jeff Carter (to Columbus) and Mike Richards (to L.A.).

Some may not consider Philadelphia to be a much-improved team especially taking into light Jagr's age and whether he will still have it to play in the NHL.  But, should all go according to plan, I'd hate for the Leafs to face a more aggressive Flyers team.

Another team worth a mention in this group is the Florida Panthers with their signings & tradings for players such as -- Thomas Fleishmann (Washington); Tomas Kopecky; Kris Versteeg (Philadelphia);
Scottis Upshall; Sean Bergenheim (Tampa Bay); defencemen Brian Campbell & Ed Jovanovski; Matt Bradley; Marcel Goc; goalkeeper Jos? Theodore. The Kopecky and Campbell contracts are deemed large.  Of course, the free-spending Panthers's goal was to reach the cap floor ($48m).