The 2024 NHL offseason saw numerous franchises strategically utilizing their salary-cap space to enhance their rosters for the 2024-25 season. Early signs indicate that some of these moves are yielding positive results. Winger Jake Guentzel has made an immediate impact with the Tampa Bay Lightning, averaging a point per game in his first seven contests. Notably, veterans Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev have brought essential experience and skill to the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive unit, while Mikhail Sergachev has similarly bolstered the Utah Hockey Club's blue line. However, not all clubs are reaping the rewards of their offseason activities; the Nashville Predators, for instance, have not seen the anticipated results following their significant engagements in free agency. Others may struggle with the missed opportunity to rectify roster issues despite having ample cap space. Although there remains plenty of time in the season for improvement, some organizations may already be regretting their offseason decisions.

The Boston Bruins are traditionally a dominant force in the Eastern Conference but have stumbled out of the gate this season, currently holding a record of three wins, four losses, and one overtime loss, placing them in the lower tier of the conference. Factors contributing to their challenges include subpar performances from key players such as David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy. Additionally, starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman is still regaining his rhythm after being sidelined during training camp due to contract negotiations. Compounding these issues, the Bruins have exhibited a lack of discipline, leading the league with 110 penalty minutes as of October 25. Their offseason acquisitions have also been linked to their inconsistent play throughout October. Elias Lindholm was signed to a seven-year, $7.8 million-per-year contract on July 1, aiming to fill the role of a reliable first-line center. While he recorded five points in his first three games, he went scoreless in the subsequent five, despite playing alongside Pastrnak and Marchand. The Bruins also invested in defenseman Nikita Zadorov, signing him to a six-year deal at $5 million annually, seeking to add physicality to their blue line. Zadorov's presence has been noted for the wrong reasons, as he leads the team with 21 penalty minutes. The absence of Linus Ullmark, who was traded to the Ottawa Senators to create salary-cap space, is also felt; Ullmark could have aided Swayman's transition back into the lineup. Joonas Korpisalo, obtained in exchange with the Senators, has participated in only two games so far. While Lindholm, Zadorov, and Korpisalo are not solely to blame for the Bruins’ struggles, their performances thus far have not met expectations, leaving management potentially facing buyer’s remorse if the team does not improve considerably as the season progresses.

The Buffalo Sabres, aiming to end an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought, entered the 2024-25 season with hopes of significant improvement. Early indications, however, suggest limited progress despite the return of Lindy Ruff as head coach. General manager Kevyn Adams has put trust in a deep pool of young talent to elevate the team to postseason contention. Having narrowly missed the playoffs by just one point in 2022-23, the Sabres regressed last season, finishing seven points short of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. In an attempt to shake things up, Adams bought out Jeff Skinner and allowed Victor Olofsson and Zemgus Girgensons to leave via free agency. With considerable cap space available, expectations were high for the Sabres to strengthen their roster, potentially adding an experienced scoring forward. Instead, Adams made minimal depth moves, which have yet to show tangible results. The most notable addition was veteran winger Jason Zucker, while Sam Lafferty, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Ryan McLeod, and Beck Malenstyn also joined the fold. While it might have been justifiable if the team were operating under financial constraints, the Sabres currently hold $6.9 million in cap space. This has led to questions regarding Adams’ choices in the offseason; perhaps he faced challenges attracting skilled free agents or felt the price for a top scorer was prohibitively high in the trade market. Adams might be strategically holding off for better opportunities ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. Regardless of the reasoning, the Sabres’ poor start is reminiscent of past seasons, with fans likely feeling frustrated by the underutilization of over $6 million in cap space that could have secured a significant acquisition to transform the team into a genuine playoff contender.

Defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway were pivotal in the Edmonton Oilers' journey to the Cup Final, with Broberg being the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. After splitting time between the Oilers and their AHL affiliate over three seasons, he saw limited action, playing just ten games in the 2024 postseason but proved to be solid during the final series. Holloway, selected 14th overall by the Oilers in 2020, also transitioned between the NHL and AHL but made notable contributions, participating in 25 playoff games and securing five goals and seven points as a third-line winger. Entering the offseason, both players were restricted free agents without arbitration rights, granting significant leverage to Oilers management, who focused on retaining veteran forwards Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, and Mattias Janmark while adding wingers Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. It was expected that both Broberg and Holloway would sign affordable short-term deals, but an unexpected turn occurred when the St. Louis Blues offered Broberg a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.6 million and Holloway a two-year deal at an AAV of $2.3 million on August 13. The Oilers were unable to match these offers, resulting in both players joining the Blues. Broberg has found his footing, achieving seven points in his first eight games alongside veteran Justin Faulk, while Holloway is contributing regularly on the third line with three goals and four points in the same number of contests. Meanwhile, the Oilers have struggled to begin the season with a 2-4-1 record. The absence of Holloway's speed has been felt, and the team's thin defensive corps could greatly benefit from Broberg's physicality and well-rounded skills. The loss of these promising young talents may prove detrimental if they flourish in St. Louis.

The Nashville Predators made significant waves during the offseason, securing prominent signings such as forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, along with defenseman Brady Skjei, on the first day of free agency. These moves positioned them among the offseason winners, yet the anticipated on-ice success has been elusive. The Predators started the season with a dismal 0-5 record before finally securing a victory with a commanding 4-0 shutout over the Boston Bruins. In that match, Skjei was the only one of the three high-profile acquisitions to register on the scoresheet with an assist and a +3 plus-minus rating. Among the new signings, Marchessault has posted the best early stats, recording one goal and three assists across six games, while Skjei contributed one goal and one assist but has found it challenging to adapt to the Predators’ defensive structure. Stamkos, recognized as one of the premier goal scorers of his generation, has yet to find his stride with just one goal through the initial stretch of games. Signing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million, the 34-year-old Stamkos, along with Marchessault's four-year deal at an AAV of $5.5 million and Skjei's commitment of $7 million per year, represents a significant financial investment by the franchise. The results thus far, given the Predators' combined investment of $20.5 million, have been lackluster. Despite the season being in its early stages, expectations are that Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei will improve as they acclimate to their new roles and teammates. While general manager Barry Trotz may not harbor regrets regarding these acquisitions yet, the poor start might be a cause of concern for some fans and possibly even the front office. If this trend continues, the offseason moves could have significant ramifications, potentially undermining the original intentions behind the acquisitions.

The New York Islanders have not boasted a goals-per-game average exceeding 3.00 since their seventh-place finish during the 2017-18 season, where they averaged 3.18 goals. From 2018-19 through 2023-24, their offensive performance has struggled, ranking 25th overall with a goals-per-game average of 2.83. In an effort to remedy this problem, general manager Lou Lamoriello signed former 30-goal scorer Anthony Duclair to a four-year contract with a modest average annual value of $3.5 million during the offseason. The signing was required to be budget-friendly due to the limited salary-cap space available to enhance the team’s scoring capabilities, a situation worsened by some of Lamoriello’s previous questionable signings, such as Pierre Engvall’s seven-year deal at $3 million annually. The Islanders also carry aging contracts on their books, including Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, both of whose deals exceed $5 million and come with limited no-trade protection, restricting trade opportunities. While Lamoriello demonstrated creativity with the Duclair signing, he has yet to create additional cap space to procure another scoring option if circumstances necessitated it. The early results are telling; Duclair registered two goals and one assist in five games before suffering a significant leg injury. Consequently, the Islanders find themselves reverting to their previous state with a core group that managed a 2.99 goals-per-game average last season, ranking 22nd in the league. Statistics referenced are sourced from NHL.com, with salary information derived from Puckpedia, while line combinations were obtained from Daily Faceoff.