NHL Offseason Storylines: What Comes Next for the Ducks, Panthers and Capitals?

The extremely quiet NHL offseason is coming to a close. Thankfully.

With training camps just around the corner and the 2026-27 regular season less than five weeks away, the summer has created more questions than answers.

Here are storylines we are watching from the fallout of that flurry of trades around the draft and underwhelming free-agency period.

What comes next for the Anaheim Ducks?

Having smartly matched the offer sheet rising star forward Leo Carlsson signed with the Philadelphia Flyers (five years, $18-million average value), the Ducks are in a quandary.

Anaheim now lacks salary cap space to re-sign forward Cutter Gauthier, who reportedly passed on a four-year pact worth $14 million per season, let alone add a much-needed top-four defenseman to a young club that has high hopes of building on last season’s success.

Watch for trades to clear space, with the likes of forwards Alex Killorn, Chris Kreider and Frank Vatrano on the block.

Will the Florida Panthers return to Stanley Cup contenders?

Injuries derailed the two-time champions to a non-playoff squad last season, but the Panthers should bounce back provided both Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are healthy.

Florida general manager Bill Zito boldly acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators, adding another power forward to the club, not to mention making it easier for the brothers and their podcast ambitions.

The question marks are the veterans also added: past-their-prime skaters Radko Gudas and Lars Eller and goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Will those players actually help return the Panthers to greatness or are they simply going to fade to retirement like so many others in the state?

Are the Washington Capitals the off-season’s big winners?

Just when it looked like Alex Ovechkin’s days in the NHL would end without much of a whimper, the Capitals decided to swing big and added Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou to bolster their offensive punch, as well as veteran Boone Jenner to add needed depth. In turn, Ovechkin signed for another season.

The Capitals may not be top-tier contenders, but certainly should be in the mix in the Metropolitan Division.

Are more stars on the move?

Around Independence Day, the chatter was rampant that Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin wanted out, albeit with only a few teams on his list of acceptable destinations, while Columbus Blue Jackets star defenseman Zach Werenski would like to move on and Winnipeg Jets standout goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was on the block.

As of now, Larkin is in limbo with his requested destinations — Florida, Vegas, Minnesota and Dallas — all lacking the chips to send to the Motor City, as well as Detroit still on the hunt for a new GM to replace Steve Yzerman.

Meanwhile, Werenski, with two years remaining on his contract, and the Blue Jackets have apparently found common ground and talk surrounding Hellebuyck quieted.

Even so, do not be shocked if Larkin and Hellebuyck are dealt this season.