Several additions made during the NHL summer undoubtedly strengthened rosters, but will these players be sufficient to help their new teams advance to the Stanley Cup Final? The start of the regular season is Tuesday, so here are five guys that might make a big difference for their new teams.
The Toffoli acquisition is heralded as one of the best offseason moves of 2023, and for good reason.
The Devils are an up-and-coming team that is generating buzz because their young corps is so fun to watch. What that young corps needed was a veteran or two, and you don’t get a better mix of skill and experience than the 31-year-old Toffoli, who’s entering his 12th NHL season.
Toffoli, who hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings, registered 73 points (34 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-16 for the underwhelming Calgary Flames last season. Think about what he can do on a team with major talents such as Jack Hughes and Timo Meier.
Pierre-Luc Dubois | Los Angeles Kings center
This SoCal squad’s veteran corps that won it two Stanley Cups in three years has slowly given way to a younger team. During that transition, the Kings lacked forward depth, which they hope Dubois will provide.
The Kings snuck into the playoffs the past two seasons only to be eliminated each time by the Edmonton Oilers, a team that finally has the forward depth to support Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Dubois is coming off a career-high 63-point campaign with Winnipeg, and L.A. hopes he’ll help the Kings gain the depth of the Oilers.
Dmitry Orlov | Carolina Hurricanes defenseman
The Hurricanes have been knocking at the Stanley Cup door for a few seasons — they most recently got the boot from the playoffs by the overachieving Florida Panthers. Orlov, a veteran defenseman with a Stanley Cup title on his résumé, could be a key to a deep playoff run.
Orlov is coming off a career-high 36-point season split between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. He should be a fine complement on the back end for two-way blue-liner Brent Burns, who was a plus-19 for the Hurricanes last season.
With Orlov and Burns on the blue line, Frederik Andersen’s job in net will be easier.
Corey Perry | Chicago Blackhawks forward
Acquiring Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins to help shape Connor Bedard’s rookie season should be huge. However, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft also needs protection on the ice, and nobody will stand up for a young teammate like Perry. The veteran forward already flexed his muscles in a preseason tune-up against the St. Louis Blues.
