It’s August. Hockey’s only true dead period. The silly summer season is coming to an end. Management is on vacation and players are hopefully getting in shape for training camps that begin next month.
I’m taking this time to hand out my summer grades. Remember in the summer I grade tougher than an angry nun. Reason being, summer is the greatest chance a franchise has to improve itself. 
ATLANTIC
TORONTO – C
The Leafs caught the biggest free agent. Superstar center John Tavares gives the Leafs the 1-2 center combination that wins Cup. New GM Kyle Dubas did nothing to improve team’s Achilles heel, defense. The Leafs need at least two top six defensemen. The Leafs lost leadership on the ice (James Van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak) and off it (Lou Lamoriello).
BOSTON – C-
The Bruins have a young and ever improving defense core but gave free agent John Moore a five-year deal. They should have put that money into a scoring winger.
MONTREAL – D
The Habs turned Alex Galchenyuk into Max Domi. Marc Bergevin or the next GM has a ton of work to do. Shea Weber is out until January, but Tomas Plekanec is back.
TAMPA BAY – C
GM Steven Yzerman got Nikita Kucherov to take a hometown discount. He is a master at keeping superstars. Unfortunately, Yzerman also gave Ryan McDonagh a ridiculous contract extension. It was the summer’s biggest mistake. I don’t know what’s worse the seven years or the $6.75 million dollars.
FLORIDA – B+
The Panthers get Mike Hoffman from Ottawa. Great move if Hoffman can control his girlfriend.
BUFFALO – B+
The Sabres may have finally found their goaltender. Carter Hutton is an upgrade in net. Patrick Berglund and Vlad Sobotka for Ryan O’Reilly is a fair trade. Conor Sheary will score goals in Buffalo.
OTTAWA – D
Erik Karlsson is still a Senator. Mike Hoffman is not.
DETROIT – B +
The Red Wings hope Jonathan Bernier will between the pipes after signing a three-year deal. He just needs to beat out the mercurial Jimmy Howard. Andreas Athanasiou signed a two-year deal for only $2 million a year. The Red Wings drafted well. Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno will give the Wings more offense. Henrik Zetterberg’s back injury maybe a blessing as it speeds up the new era in Detroit.
METRO-
PITTSBURGH – B –
The Penguins signed Jack Johnson to shore up their bottom pair defense. They also resigned all the key restricted free agents including Mr. Elimination, Bryan Rust. I would not have brought Matt Cullen back.
NEW YORK RANGERS – C
The Blue Shirts are in total rebuild mode. Signing Brady Skjei to a long-term deal was smart. Vladislav Namestnikov is part of the future. Kevin Hayes will be not be. Hayes will be a top deadline rental.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS – C-
The Islanders lost their franchise superstar center John Tavares. New GM Lou Lamoriello brought Matt Martin back to Long Island to soothe fans post Tavares angst. I don’t think losing Tavares is the end of the world. Robin Lehner in goal is.
PHILADELPHIA – A
The Flyers signing Share James van Riemsdyk was the best move of the summer. Christian Folin will help their porous defense.
COLUMBUS – C+
Riley Nash will improve center depth. The Artemi Panarin contract negotiation is hanging over franchise head.
NEW JERSEY – B
GM Ray Shero is staying on point with the long game.
WASHINGTON- B+
Capitals dumped Stanley Cup winning coach Barry Trotz for his assistant Todd Rierden. Michal Kempny resigning at four years for $2.5 million is a steal. Tom Wilson was signed for a long time and at a very reasonable price.
CAROLINA –
Rod Brind’Amour is the new Hurricane coach. Don Waddell the new GM. Petr Mrazek gets another chance to be a number one goaltender. Calvin de Haan adds another solid defenseman on their blueline. Micheal Ferland is a hidden gem in the Dougie Hamilton for Noah Hanifin trade.
CENTRAL
CHICAGO – C-
The Blackhawks opened cap space by dumping Marian Hossa’s dead contract and Vinnie Hinostroza. Brandon Manning will not help their defense. Why did Chris Kunitz sign there?
MINNESOTA – B+
The Wild signed defenseman Matt Dumba to a long-term deal. They also signed forward Jason Zucker long term. Dumba and Zucker are already solid pros while still being young with upside. The Greg Pateryn signing was another good move. He’s a defenseman who can move the puck and is physical. The Wild also signed a bunch of gritty third and fourth liners.
ST LOUIS – B+
The Blues traded for Ryan O Reilly. They also signed center Tyler Bozak for three years at a paltry $5 million a year. The Blues now have three top six centers, when added to Brayden Schenn. An A grade was lost when underachieving David Perron was handed a four-year contract worth 4 million a year. Perron was a healthy scratch in the Finals.
NASHVILLE – C-
Total goon Zac Rinaldo was signed to replace Austin Watson. Watson can actually play hockey if he’s allowed to after domestic violence charges. Dan Hamhuis returns to Nashville for a one-year Cup chase.
COLORADO – A
Last summer I thought Joe Sakic was toast. This summer I think is he’s GM of the Year candidate. Only paying Ian Cole $4.25 million for three years was shrewd. Essentially swapping Matt Calvert for Blake Comeau was even shrewder.
DALLAS – C+
Valeri Nichushkin is back in North America and will play for the Stars.
WINNIPEG – C-
Jacob Trouba will stick around the Jets blueline for another year at $5.5 million. Paul Stastny unfortunately left for Vegas.
PACIFIC-
LOS ANGELES – B-
The Kings had to resign the superstar defenseman Drew Doughty. Doughty’s eight-year, $11 million a year makes sense. Giving Ilya Kovalchuk $6 million for three years doesn’t. I wouldn’t give Kovalchuk six million rubles.
ANAHEIM – D+
Patrick Eaves is healthy and will play for the Ducks next season. Ryan Kesler is not and might not. When your big summer signings are Carter Rowney and Luke Schenn are you admitting your Cup window has closed?
SAN JOSE – B-
Logan Couture, Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl have been locked up for long time. Joe Thornton has been given one more lap around the NHL. Thornton has a no trade clause, so it probably won’t be a victory lap.
CALGARY – A-
I will take Noah Hanifin over Dougie Hamilton any day. James Neal’s contract is team friendly. Neal is easily worth $5.75 million for five years. Derek Ryan gives the Flames another center at a reasonable price.
EDMONTON – C-
Kyle Brodziak is a fourth-line center. Kevin Gravel is a bottom pair defenseman. Both will help but where is McDavid’s winger?
VEGAS – A-
The Golden Knights signed Paul Stastny for three years and for under $20 million. A great move. Not only is Stastny a top second line center they took him away from Winnipeg. Nick Holden is an underrated defenseman. He will give the Knights options on the blueline. Ryan Reaves was retained.
ARIZONA – B-
The Coyotes swapped Max Domi for Alex Galchenyuk. Michael Grabner signed at a decent price for three years. I like Vinnie Hinostroza but taking dead contracts has a stench to it. Oliver Eckman Larsson signing an eight-year deal finally gives the franchise some stability.
VANCOUVER – D+
How does signing Antione Roussel and Jay Beagle for four years help the Canucks rebuild? Beagle brings leadership and face offs. But four years? Roussel brings chaos. One step forward two steps back.
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