Central Division Off-season Outlook

Chicago Blackhawks

Roster Outlook…
UFA:
Jordan Hendry
Ryan Johnson
Tomas Kopecky
Fernando Pisani
Marty Turco
RFA:
Troy Brouwer
Chris Campoli
Jake Dowell
Michael Frolik
Viktor Stalberg

Salary Committed…
$54.29 million (16 under contract)
Off-season Needs…
Depth forwards
Depth goaltender
Possible Trade Bait…
Viktor Stalberg

Burning Questions with Tab Bamford (Committed Indians)…
1. What is GM Stan Bowman's top priority this summer?
Firmly grasp the value & NHL readiness of the kids in the system. Last summer, the team added a number of solid prospects to the organization and the Hawks now have the choice between adding through free agency or potentially filling holes from within. In a thin free agent year, will Bowman overpay for a free agent or take a chance with a kid.

2. I assume you expect a calmer off-season than last summer?
It might be impossible to be more frantic than last summer. The reality now, though, is that Chicago's core is locked up and now it's managing the fringes. If Chris Campoli or Viktor Stalberg gets traded before the Draft, nobody's going to be sending hate mail to the United Center.

3. If you were Bowman, who would you bring in to back up Corey Crawford?
The guy they've got to back him up - Alexander Salak. He was acquired from Florida with Michael Frolik and dominated the SEL last year. He signed a two-year, one-way deal, and his skills are good enough that he could/should be a legit NHL goalie. The Blackhawks have two competent, young goalies.
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Columbus Blue Jackets

Roster Outlook…
UFA:
Chris Clark
Mathieu Garon
Jan Hejda
Ethan Moreau
Andrew Murray
Craig Rivet
Scottie Upshall
RFA:
Sami Lepisto
Marc Methot
Anton Stralman
Jakub Voracek

Salary Committed…
$36.33 million (13 under contract)
Off-season Needs…
Top-six forward
Top-four defenseman
Backup goaltender
Possible Trade Bait…
Kristian Huselius

Burning Questions with Mike MacLean and Matt Wagner (The Cannon)…
1. What is GM Scott Howson's top priority this summer?
Mike: Scott Howson's top priority is to rebuild the defense. Currently only Kris Russell and Fedor Tyutin are under contract for next season, but expect Marc Methot (an RFA) to be offered a new deal. There are no sure things with the other UFA/RFA blueliners however, so look for Howson to be active in free agency and/or trade.

A free agent to keep an eye out for is Kevin Bieksa – he is familiar with Ohio from his days at Bowling Green. He will be highly sought-after by many clubs, but I expect Columbus to be very much in the mix for his services.

2. Do UFA's Jan Hejda or Scottie Upshall have futures with the Blue Jackets?
Matt: Hejda, though he's been a good soldier, I suspect is done. While he's a great positional defender, he's had consistent issues with his speed, and he really didn't seem to click well in the Arniel system. I think Jan enjoys playing and living in Columbus, but his lack of an extension was telling.

Upshall is an interesting question. On the one hand, he's exactly the kind of player that Arniel would like to have on his second or third line to drive offense and play hard and physical against opponents, but such a successful season might well price him above what Scott Howson is willing to offer to keep him here - particularly depending on what other moves he makes. Still, I wouldn't be shocked to see him return if Howson and Upshall's agent can agree on a pricetag.

3. True or false: Ryan Johansen will be wearing a Blue Jackets uniform next year.
Mike: True. Ryan Johansen will be a Blue Jacket, at least to start next season. He has nothing left to prove in the WHL. His Portland Winterhawks will likely not be as successful next season, so if he were to return there is a risk of taking a step backward competitively, and some players can lose confidence in this scenario. He also doesn't qualify for the AHL next season, leaving Columbus as his likely destination. He has the ability to step right in to the Jackets' lineup, and could be in the running for the Calder trophy.

Matt: True. While I'm sure there are people who will be concerned about the Jackets rushing another prospect (See: Filatov, N; Brule, G; Russell, K), Johansen has been so dominant at the Junior level that I can't see him really developing that much more in Portland. Unless he really takes a step back in training camp, I think we'll be seeing his NHL debut in October.
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Detroit Red Wings

Roster Outlook…
UFA:
Kris Draper
Patrick Eaves
Jonathan Ericsson
Nicklas Lidstrom
Joey MacDonald
Drew Miller
Mike Modano
Chris Osgood
Ruslan Salei
RFA:
None

Salary Committed…
$40.8 million (14 under contract)
Off-season Needs…
Depth forward(s)
Top-pairing defenseman
Depth defenseman
Backup goaltender
Possible Trade Bait…
None

Burning Questions with George Malik (Kukla’s Korner)…
1. What is GM Ken Holland's top priority this summer?
Without a doubt, Holland wants to find a player to take Brian Rafalski's place. There's no way that any of the top-flight free agent defensemen available on July 1st can "replace" Rafalski's savvy, veteran leadership or adaptability, but the Wings at least need a #3 defenseman.

2. If Nick Lidstrom happens to retire, what would you expect Holland and company to do without he and Rafalski?
My best guess is that the Wings would both sign a top unrestricted free agent defenseman and make a trade to bring in a youngster from another team. Retaining Jonathan Ericsson's services and bringing Brendan Smith into the fold won't cut it; the Wings would have to go after a Zach Bogosian or the like.

3. With some money to spare now, where should it be spent?
The Wings' budgetary whims depend on whether the team chooses to bring Chris Osgood and/or Kris Draper back, and whether Jonathan Ericsson's willing to take less than he could earn on the open market to remain a Wing.

If the Wings choose to make a break with Osgood, they'll need to bring in a back-up goalie of some sort, even if they decide to employ Joey MacDonald as Howard's back-up; after addressing Rafalski's departure and possibly Ericsson's, the team will both re-sign Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller and will, if you believe Mike Babcock, either move salary (in the form of Jiri Hudler) to bring in a top-six forward in the first two weeks of July, or they'll wait until the end of July or early August to pluck a reclamation project with top-six potential out of the UFA bargain bin.

The Wings won't be stingy in terms of attracting top-flight coaching talent to replace Brad McCrimmon and/or Paul MacLean, either. The Wings are currently targeting Bob Boughner and former Minnesota Wild coach Todd Richards, and they'll do their best to bring in one of the crop of coaches who are currently looking for a head coaching job.
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Nashville Predators

Roster Outlook…
UFA:
Marcel Goc
Shane O’Brien
Steve Sullivan
Joel Ward
RFA:
Matt Halischuk
Sergei Kostitsyn
Cal O’Reilly
Nick Spaling
Shea Weber

Salary Committed…
$40.83 million (17 under contract)
Off-season Needs…
Top-six winger
Possible Trade Bait…
J.P. Dumont

Burning Questions with Amanda DiPaolo (Inside Smashville)…
1. What is GM David Poile's top priority this summer?
Poile needs to sign RFA Shea Weber to a new contract. Signing Weber is as important for the Predators off the ice as it is on it. It's no secret that Weber has become the face of the franchise. If the team can't lock him in to at least a mid-range deal, the negative media spin that will result could undo some of the positive attention Nashville received during their playoff run from the national media both in the United States and in Canada.

2. Of the four big UFA's, who is the most important to re-sign?
Marcel Goc. While it looks like the cupboards are stocked at the position of center, this is only true if Matthew Lombardi is ready to go come fall – and it is a pretty big ‘if.’ Given the amount of injuries at center sustained by the Predators this season, Goc is cheap, retains depth the team can't really afford to lose and is an excellent two-way forward with chemistry playing between Sergei Kostitsyn and Martin Erat.

While Joel Ward's historic playoff run makes him the popular player of the moment in terms of who should return, Matt Halischuk could step in and play his role if Ward doesn't come to terms with the Predators. Nashville is solid on the blue-line, making Shane O'Brien a luxury rather than a necessity. And all Predators fans want Steve Sullivan re-signed, but it's more sentimental than a matter of importance to the team.

3. The Preds need a goal-scorer... where do they find one?
Good question. The Predators have been trying to answer this question since Alex Radulov jumped ship to play in the KHL. Barring his return to the Nashville organization, and given the lack of big scorers hitting free agency this off season, the Predators will either have to package up some of their back-end talent and make a trade or continue to believe in the development of their own prospects.

While Blake Geoffrion and Halischuk made a name for themselves in Nashville down the stretch, neither prospect is expected to light the lamp on a consistent basis. Offensive defenseman Ryan Ellis will play his first professional year of hockey next season, but almost certainly in Milwaukee. This leaves putting the pressure on the shoulders of current young Predators like Colin Wilson to step up and play consistent every night. The best bet for Nashville is to continue to rely on scoring by committee, which makes the return of Goc even more key.
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St. Louis Blues

Roster Outlook…
UFA:
Ty Conklin
Cam Janssen
Kevin Porter
RFA:
B.J. Crombeen
Matt D’Agostini
T.J. Oshie
Ryan Reaves
Vladimir Sobotka

Salary Committed…
$38.01 million (14 under contract)
Off-season Needs…
Bottom-six forward
Depth defenseman
Backup goaltender
Possible Trade Bait…
T.J. Oshie

Burning Questions with David Rogers (Frozen Notes)…
1. What is GM Doug Armstrong's top priority this summer?
Armstrong's goal for the summer is the same as any other GM's: attempt to improve his team. Unfortunately, Armstrong will be greatly limited with what he can do given the team's unresolved ownership. They may be able to re-sign their free agents, but it'd be quite a stretch to think the Blues will be actively involved in the open market.

2. Is there any concern that RFA T.J. Oshie won't be re-signed?
I wouldn't call it concern, but there are definitely fans who believe the team will choose not to re-sign him due to his seemingly growing issues off the ice. He's still a fan-favorite, but everyone is now well aware of the negatives surrounding his character. It's hard to imagine the Blues not bringing him back with a new deal, but given his absence last year, you really can't rule anything out.

3. What is that one missing piece to make the Blues a playoff team?
The Blues simply need to keep building around their core. They have the talent, but they have surrounded their talent with numerous players that rarely make an impact the past few seasons. It's all about depth. Too often the Blues have ran out lineups consisting of mostly role-players, not difference makers . Add depth and some assistance for the scorers (Stewart/Backes) and you find your way back into the playoffs.

4. We all know about the team's youth. Is it just a matter of gaining experience/maturity now?
The youth is fantastic but it needs to keep progressing as expected. A few players have exceeded our expectations but guys like Patrik Berglund need to take that next step for this team to truly advance to the next level. David Perron needs to be healthy and the team needs to place additional talent around the youngsters in order to crack the top-8.

All salary cap numbers via CapGeek.com

Photos credit: Getty Images