The 2023-24 NHL regular season was full of excitement, with tight races for playoff spots, top point and goal leaders, and prestigious trophies all the way to the end. However, not every fan base had a smooth ride.
As teams face eliminations, the focus now shifts to the offseason. Those teams that fell short this season will be looking to improve through the draft, free agency, and trades in hopes of being more competitive in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Let’s take a closer look at what went wrong for each eliminated team, their key areas for improvement in the offseason, and realistic expectations for the next season. More teams will be added to this analysis as they are eliminated from playoff contention.
Please note that analysis for the Atlantic and Metro teams was done by Kristen Shilton, while Ryan S. Clark covered the Central and Pacific teams. Statistical data was collected from sources like Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and Evolving Hockey. Projected cap space information was sourced from Cap Friendly. Dates mentioned with each team indicate when the analysis was published.
For more detailed information on specific teams, you can jump directly to the team of your choice: ANA, ARI, BUF, CGY, CHI, CBJ, DET, MIN, MTL, NJ, OTT, PHI, PIT, SJ, SEA, STL, WAS.