Leo Carlsson is officially the highest-paid player in the entire NHL, and if you're a Ducks fan, you gotta be sweating. General Manager Pat Verbeek got absolutely played this offseason, getting boxed into a corner with an offer sheet situation that forced Carlsson's monster contract. This isn't just a minor misstep; it's a brutal start to July 2026, and it's already blowing up Anaheim's cap situation, both for right now and way down the road.
The Ducks Are Cooked (For Now)
Think about it: Verbeek had to rush an extension for Pavel Mintyukov just to dodge *another* offer sheet. They still owe Cutter Gauthier big time, and all this drama means their salary cap space is evaporating faster than rain in the desert. What's worse? This team's defense was a total sieve last year, letting in a horrendous 2.91 expected goals against per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time. That's awful, plain and simple. And what's been their big fix? Adding A.J. Greer on a four-year, $17 million deal. Seriously? Greer's contract just pours gasoline on the cap headache fire. They haven't improved the blue line one bit, in fact, they've subtracted from it. This offseason has been anything but productive for the Ducks, and their "D" grade feels generous.Bruins and Sabres Still Searching For Answers
Over in Boston, the Bruins are sitting with a C+ grade, mostly thanks to trading for JJ Peterka. Yeah, he's a good offensive upgrade, he can score, and he fits their core's age and contract outlook. Nice. But is he gonna drive a line by himself? Probably not. The real head-scratcher for the B's is their defense. They were a mess defensively in 2025-26, giving up 2.93 expected goals against per 60 minutes. That wasn't just bad, that was 29th in the entire league, and the *worst* among playoff teams. Their solution? Signing Connor Clifton and trading for Will Borgen. C'mon, man. Beyond Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, their defense drops off a cliff. Jeremy Swayman better be ready to be a brick wall again, because these moves aren't fixing anything. Then you've got the Buffalo Sabres, hanging out with a B- and feeling totally unfinished. They *need* a big move. Imagine if they could land Connor Hellebuyck? That would be absolutely massive for the Eastern Conference! But can they actually pull it off? So far, their offseason feels more like subtraction. They traded Bowen Byram and lost Alex Tuch in free agency. The Byram trade might actually be a win long-term, bringing them the No. 4 overall pick (hello, Daxon Rudolph!) and the No. 45 pick (flipped for Olen Zellweger). Plus, they dodged paying Byram an "absurd" contract. Getting Zach Benson signed is good, but you can tell this team is still a few pieces away. There are still a few months left in this NHL offseason, and some free agents are still out there. More trades could happen. But for now, these teams have laid down their early cards. Will the Ducks find a way out of their cap nightmare? Can the Bruins actually shore up that leaky D? And will the Sabres make that seismic move everyone's waiting for? The regular season is coming, and these early grades give us a big hint at what to watch for.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.