As the NHL moves into its conference finals, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers, the focus shifts to the offseason strategies of the teams that have been eliminated. With these four teams showcasing their playoff prowess, the question arises: How can the eliminated franchises regroup and prepare for future successes? Trades play a significant role in refining team rosters, and exploring potential trade possibilities for each eliminated team could yield significant insights.

The Vancouver Canucks, for instance, might consider a high-profile trade involving Elias Pettersson. While it is unlikely that the Canucks would part ways with Pettersson given their public support and his potential, his situation appears precarious. The new front office, led by Jim Rutherford, has shown unpredictability, and a fresh start in Colorado—known for its aggressive approach—could benefit both the player and the team. The Avalanche would be an ideal destination, providing a chance to pair Pettersson with Nathan MacKinnon, addressing their need for a dominant center. Martin Necas, acquired in the Mikko Rantanen trade from the Hurricanes, could serve as a starting point for negotiations.

For the Los Angeles Kings, the need for dynamic scoring is apparent following their first-round exit against the Oilers. An acquisition of Rickard Rakell, who recently recorded a 35-goal season, could bolster their offensive output. Although Rakell has contractual obligations, his reasonable salary cap hit makes him an appealing option. The Kings could offer enticing younger assets, like Alex Turcotte, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Rakell.

The Minnesota Wild are finally poised to enhance their roster after the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. With a need for additional scoring depth, they might target Anders Lee of the New York Islanders. Lee, a consistent 25-goal scorer, could add valuable experience and support to the Wild's lineup, especially on their struggling power play. Minnesota's need for a power forward makes this a mutually beneficial trade.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens have a solid young core, bolstered by a surprising playoff appearance. To continue their upward trajectory, they may pursue a player like Marco Rossi. With Rossi’s young age and recent strong performance, he could slot in well with the Canadiens' roster. As the Canadiens possess ample draft capital, they have the resources to make an impactful move.

Despite their return to the playoffs, the New Jersey Devils were eliminated early, underscoring the need for further depth. A strong offensive addition like Jared McCann from the Seattle Kraken could address this shortcoming. McCann's versatility would allow him to integrate seamlessly into the Devils' top three lines, enhancing their scoring capabilities.

The Ottawa Senators face a challenging decision regarding their defensive core, already contracted heavily. They could benefit from pursuing Rasmus Ristolainen, potentially upgrading their right-side defense. This move might ease concerns over cap space while providing a veteran presence within their lineup.

For the St. Louis Blues, the postseason experience indicates a need for reflection. Trade discussions around captain Brayden Schenn could resurface. While his value remains, the Blues may want to capitalize on his marketability before a decline in production occurs, especially considering their recent performance and cap pressures.

In Arizona, Matias Maccelli's production has dipped, raising questions about his future. A trade to a contender like the Tampa Bay Lightning may be beneficial, providing him with an opportunity to revive his career while simultaneously injecting youthful energy into the Lightning’s roster.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, after another disappointing playoff exit, are in a position to reconsider their core. With key unrestricted free agents, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, decisions must be made regarding their future. If either exits, pursuing Chris Kreider could be a strategic move, offering playoff experience and scoring depth even amidst his recent struggles.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights face the crucial task of re-signing star center Jack Eichel. In anticipation of this, leveraging their center depth to secure a scoring winger may provide the necessary salary cap flexibility. Expanding potential trade discussions to include players like William Karlsson or Nicolas Roy could yield favorable results.

Each of these teams has its unique circumstances that will guide key decisions this offseason. With free agency approaching, targeted trade strategies could be pivotal for reshaping rosters and enhancing competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.