NHL: Post-Stanley Cup Final offseason rankings

The Vegas Golden Knights have won the Stanley Cup, which only means one thing. The on-ice hockey season is now officially over. However, the off-ice NHL season is only just beginning.

Over the next few weeks, the NHL landscape will change drastically. Star players will be traded as they fail to come to contract agreements with their current teams. Non-playoff teams will go for broke in an attempt to take that next step. We've already seen this, to some extent.

The NHL Entry Draft begins on June 28, which is sure to create chaos as well. After that, unrestricted free agency begins on July 1, which certainly could make or break a team.

With that in mind, let's take stock of where each team is at as of now. Here are your post-Stanley Cup Final NHL power rankings.

1) Vegas Golden Knights

2022-23 outcome: Stanley Cup champions

Notable UFAs: F Ivan Barbashev, G Adin Hill

The Vegas Golden Knights proved their worth as the best team in the NHL. Vegas dominated the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. And their dominance in the playoffs went beyond the final round.

Vegas has major decisions to make regarding a couple of impending free agents. Ivan Barbashev and Adin Hill are set to hit the open market after remarkable playoff performances.

In any event, the Golden Knights are not shy about making tough decisions. Their ruthless approach to roster building has won them a Cup. Expect them to continue that philosophy this summer.

2) Florida Panthers

2022-23 outcome: Stanley Cup Finalist

Notable UFAs: G Alex Lyon, D Radko Gudas

The Panthers came so close to completing the most impressive playoff run in NHL history. Things didn't work out, but there is reason to believe Florida could run things back next season.

The Panthers aren't losing a ton of pieces off their roster. Radko Gudas is the biggest impending free agent, so they'll need to figure that out. Florida's main core is intact and remains intact for the foreseeable future.

3) Carolina Hurricanes

2022-23 outcome: Eastern Conference Finalist

Notable UFAs: G Frederik Andersen, F Jordan Staal

The Hurricanes played extremely well through the regular season and the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They ran into a white-hot Sergei Bobrovsky, however, preventing them from a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Carolina still has an incredibly talented roster that can compete with the best teams in the NHL. They'll get Andrei Svechnikov back, too, which is a massive help. The Hurricanes need to figure out their goaltending situation, but they are more than deserving of their ranking here.

4) Dallas Stars

2022-23 outcome: Western Conference Finalist

Notable UFAs: F Max Domi, F Evgenii Dadonov

The Stars were toyed with at times in the Western Conference Finals. But there is still a lot to like about this team. Jake Oettinger had a fantastic playoff campaign, while Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson emerged as, well, stars.

Dallas has around $7.3 million in cap space to operate this summer. Lucky for them, they don't have any pressing unrestricted free agent business outside of Domi to work through. The Stars do need to re-sign Ty Dellandrea, though, who is a restricted free agent on July 1.

5) Edmonton Oilers

2022-23 outcome: Second-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Nick Bjugstad, F Mattias Janmark

The Oilers ran into the eventual Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights in the playoffs. On paper, however, there may not be a team in the NHL with more star power. They at least have the two best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The challenge facing general manager Ken Holland is putting together the right supporting cast. He only has around $5 million in cap space though. It's a dollar-in, dollar-out situation for the Oilers. Let's see how they approach this summer's flurry of activity.

6) Toronto Maple Leafs

2022-23 outcome: Second-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Ryan O'Reilly, D Luke Schenn

The Maple Leafs finally won a playoff series for the first time in 19 years. Toronto fans rejoiced while others braced themselves for what this could mean for the NHL. However, the Maple Leafs were set aside in short order, and all was essentially forgotten.

The Maple Leafs enter the offseason with around $9.1 million in cap space. Questions surround the “core four,” and a few spots down the lineup seem likely to change. Toronto is certainly one of the more interesting teams to watch in the NHL this offseason.

7) New Jersey Devils

2022-23 outcome: Second-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Erik Haula, F Tomas Tatar

The Devils came off their best season in franchise history entering the playoffs. They have a solid core together to help them continue to contend for the playoffs in the near future. Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton are your stars, with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier poised to take that next step.

The Devils have $26 million or so to spend this summer. However, most of that is going to be spent on their RFAs. Bratt recently received an extension, and Meier is probably next in line. Beyond those two, New Jersey has six restricted free agents to deal with this offseason.

8) Seattle Kraken

2022-23 outcome: Second-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Ryan Donato, D Carson Soucy

The Kraken had a much better sophomore campaign, making the playoffs and taking out the defending Stanley Cup champions. Seattle, like New Jersey, has the pieces in place to keep itself in the playoff hunt for years to come.

The Kraken have $20 million in cap space to take care of their summer business. Outside of the two listed UFAs, Seattle has five restricted free agents in need of a contract before next season. Seattle should continue to make noise in the NHL for years to come.

9) Colorado Avalanche

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F J.T. Compher, F Darren Helm

Colorado failed in their quest to defend their Stanley Cup championship. It was a rough season filled with injury and overall disappointment. Gabriel Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 NHL season, and will also miss the 2023-24 season.

However, Colorado still has talent up and down the roster. Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen lead a team that can absolutely still compete if the right moves are made.

The Avalanche have nearly $20 million in cap space and no significant UFAs outside of Compher to work with. Perhaps general manager Chris MacFarland has a big move or two up his sleeve.

10) Boston Bruins

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Tyler Bertuzzi, D Dmitry Orlov

The Boston Bruins of 2022-23 are the greatest regular season team in NHL history. They proved that much with their play before the playoffs. However, in the playoffs, everything fell apart.

The Bruins will probably look dramatically different next season. Boston doesn't have a ton of cap space and are likely to lose players like Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov. The futures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are also still up in the air.

The Bruins still have enough to potentially make the playoffs next season. But don't be surprised if this team takes a major step back next season. Also, don't forget that Boston doesn't own their first-round pick next season unless it lands within the top 10.

11) Tampa Bay Lightning

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Alex Killorn, F Corey Perry

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been the model organization of the NHL for nearly a decade now. Eventually, they were going to take a step back, and we saw that this season. Tampa failed to advance past the first round for the first time since 2018-19.

And we could have seen this coming even before the playoffs. The Lightning simply weren't their usual dominant selves. Sure, they were good. Of course, this team was good. But it just wasn't the same.

Now, Tampa enters the offseason with less than $500K in available cap space. This team will also look dramatically different next season. Tampa will likely return their core players. Despite that, the Lightning have one of the more interesting offseasons in the NHL ahead of them.

12) New York Rangers

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Patrick Kane, F Vladimir Tarasenko

The Rangers looked as if they'd roll through the Devils to begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That was until they couldn't figure out how to score on a 23-year-old rookie goaltender.

New York has a new head coach behind the bench in Peter Laviolette. He won't get the opportunity to coach Patrick Kane this season, but there is more than enough for him to work with on Broadway.

13) Los Angeles Kings

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: D Alexander Edler, G Joonas Korpisalo

The Kings fell in the first round to the Oilers for the second year in a row. This season was punctuated by a highly controversial decision to trade franchise legend Jonathan Quick to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Los Angeles has just two unrestricted free agents left to take care of after re-signing Vladislav Gavrikov earlier this offseason. The Kings look primed to make a big move this summer, though it remains to be seen if they can pull it off.

14) New York Islanders

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Pierre Engvall, F Zach Parise

The New York Islanders do not own their first-round pick this season. The Detroit Red Wings do, thanks to a separate trade with the Vancouver Canucks. After a first-round exit in the playoffs, that likely stings a little bit.

The Islanders have around $5 million to work with this offseason. With five unrestricted free agents hitting the market, Lou Lamiorello has a few decisions to make ahead of July 1.

15) Minnesota Wild

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: D Matt Dumba, D John Klingberg

The Wild fell in the first round to the Dallas Stars in six games. After a rather impressive season from players such as Matt Boldy, it's certainly a disappointing result for Minnesota and its fan base.

The Wild have a little over $9 million in available salary cap space to work with. Outside of the two defensemen, Minnesota has three other unrestricted free agents to bring back. Minnesota has been linked to a few names on the trade market, as well. Let's see what Bill Guerin has up his sleeve.

16) Winnipeg Jets

2022-23 outcome: First-round exit

Notable UFAs: F Vladislav Namestnikov, G David Rittich

The Jets won the first game of their playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. After that, however, they lost four straight to the eventual Stanley Cup champions to fall out of the postseason.

Winnipeg's biggest roster decisions won't come down to pending free agents, at least not this summer. Rather, those big decisions will lie within their core, including Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Connor Hellebuyck.