The ONE RENTAL EVERY NHL Team, has their New Years Resolution on.
This year, I thought I’d do something a little different. With the rumor chart about to launch, I went through all 32 teams, looked at what they’re actually searching for based on conversations I’ve had, and then made a resolution for each of them — identifying the one rental UFA they should be targeting.
Of course, not every team is going to go out and acquire a rental. In some cases, you’ll notice the players listed are younger UFAs than you might normally expect. That’s intentional. Those are players I believe could be extended or could play a meaningful role in a team’s rebuild.
So, with that perfectly clear… here we go.
Perfect — here it is with your original needs/resolution text kept exactly as-is, followed immediately by one added sentence on the player underneath each team.
Boston Bruins – High-End Young Skill: Nick Schmaltz
Resolution: Find a franchise talent to kickstart the rebuild. The Bruins’ pipeline has been depleted after years of contention, and they need an injection of elite young skill to build around for the future.Schmaltz brings high-end puck skills, creativity, and versatility that could quickly make him the offensive focal point of Boston’s next core.
Buffalo Sabres – Right-Shot Defenseman: Darren Raddysh
Resolution: Add a quality right-handed defenseman to pair with Dahlin and Power. The Sabres have plenty of left-shot talent on the blue line but need balance on the right side.Raddysh is a steady right-shot defender who moves the puck efficiently and would help stabilize Buffalo’s defensive structure.
Detroit Red Wings – Elite Top-Line Forward: Alex Tuch
Resolution: Acquire a true game-breaking scorer to complement their young core and take pressure off Dylan Larkin.Tuch’s size, speed, and scoring touch make him an ideal power winger to elevate Detroit’s top six immediately.
Florida Panthers – Depth Defenseman: Luke Schenn
Resolution: Find a reliable third-pairing or seventh defenseman for insurance. As back-to-back champs with limited cap space and assets, they just need to maintain depth.Schenn brings playoff-tested toughness and reliability, giving Florida a trusted depth option when injuries hit.
Montreal Canadiens – Veteran Top-Six Forward: Kiefer Sherwood
Resolution: Add an experienced scorer to complement the young core of Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, and Hutson and help them take the next step.Sherwood provides energy, forechecking, and secondary offense while allowing Montreal’s kids to grow without being overexposed.
Ottawa Senators – Proven Goaltender: Cam Talbot
Resolution: Secure a reliable netminder to stabilize what has been an inconsistent position and help the young team make a playoff push.Talbot offers calm, veteran consistency in goal—something Ottawa has sorely lacked behind its talented roster.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Secondary Scoring Forward: Jaden Schwartz
Resolution: Find middle-six scoring depth. The top end is still elite with Kucherov and Point, but they need more production beyond the first line.Schwartz’s playoff pedigree and ability to score timely goals fit Tampa’s win-now mindset perfectly.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Top-Four Defenseman: Jamie Oleksiak
Resolution: Add another quality defenseman to shore up the blue line and finally get over the playoff hump.Oleksiak’s size and defensive presence would give Toronto a different look when games get heavy in the postseason.
Carolina Hurricanes – Complementary Depth Piece: Jordan Eberle
Resolution: With an already excellent roster, they just need role players around the edges to maximize their championship window.Eberle’s experience and smart offensive instincts make him an ideal plug-and-play piece for a deep Carolina lineup.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Veteran Leadership Forward: Viktor Arvidsson
Resolution: Use their cap space and draft capital to add an experienced player who can guide their promising young core through the next phase of development.Arvidsson brings work ethic, speed, and accountability to a young Columbus group learning how to win.
New Jersey Devils – Two-Way Center Depth: Scott Laughton
Resolution: Add reliable center depth that can play in all situations and take defensive pressure off the offensive stars.Laughton is a trusted matchup center who thrives in tough minutes and playoff-style hockey.
New York Islanders – Youth Movement: Eeli Tolvanen
Resolution: Accept reality and trade aging veterans for young assets and draft picks to rebuild around their core rather than chasing a fading window.Tolvanen provides youth, upside, and legitimate goal-scoring ability—exactly what a reset should target.
New York Rangers – Left-Shot Defenseman: Logan Stanley
Resolution: Figure out what went wrong and add a mobile left-handed defenseman to improve their blue line after an existentially lost season. Stanley’s skating and puck-moving ability would help modernize a Rangers defense that looked stuck in neutral.
Philadelphia Flyers – Top-Line Center: Claude Giroux
Resolution: Bring back a franchise favorite to teach the young prospects how to play every shift and lead their young prospects into contention.Giroux’s leadership, versatility, and hockey IQ would instantly elevate the Flyers’ culture and competitiveness.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Young NHL-Ready Talent (Offer Sheet): Jason Robertson
Resolution: Convert some of their massive draft pick stockpile (30 over three years!) into younger NHL players who can contribute while Crosby still plays.Robertson would become the Penguins’ offensive cornerstone for the post-Crosby transition—without fully closing the window.
Washington Capitals – Third-Line Center Upgrade: Boone Jenner
Resolution: Add depth down the middle and secondary scoring to complement what has surprisingly become one of the NHL’s best teams.Jenner’s physicality and leadership would strengthen Washington’s center depth for playoff hockey.
Chicago Blackhawks – High-End Center: Christian Dvorak
Resolution: Or…..Draft another elite center at #3 to give Connor Bedard a running mate for the next decade.Dvorak offers structure and reliability while Chicago continues its long-term elite-center plan.
Colorado Avalanche – Middle-Six Scoring Winger: Alex Tuch
Resolution: Add secondary scoring depth to balance out their top-heavy roster and address whether Landeskog will return.Tuch’s power game would diversify Colorado’s attack and punish teams beyond the top line.
Dallas Stars – Defensive Depth: Rasmus Andersson
Resolution: Continue adding defensive pieces to support their deep forward group and maintain their championship window.Andersson is a minutes-eating defender who fits seamlessly into Dallas’s contender-ready blue line.
Minnesota Wild – Puck-Moving Defenseman: Nick Blankenburg
Resolution: After acquiring Quinn Hughes, they’re set—but they could always use more offensive blue-line talent.Blankenburg adds speed and offensive instincts that complement Minnesota’s evolving defensive identity.
Nashville Predators – Something with Leadership: Boone Jenner
Resolution: Find a missing piece that puts their current pieces into place.Jenner’s leadership and edge could be the glue that makes Nashville’s roster finally click.
St. Louis Blues – Forward Depth: Erik Haula
Resolution: Add scoring forwards to complement their deep prospect pool, which is already loaded with defensive talent.Haula’s versatility and pace give St. Louis lineup flexibility without blocking young players.
Utah Hockey Club – Established Goaltender: Anthony Stolarz
Resolution: Find a proven netminder to stabilize the position for their young, developing team.Stolarz provides dependable NHL minutes while Utah’s long-term solution develops.
Winnipeg Jets – Blue-Chip Defenseman Prospect: Andrew Peek
Resolution: After years of trading picks, use the draft to add a high-end defensive prospect to replenish a depleted pipeline.Peek projects as a future top-four defender capable of anchoring Winnipeg’s next blue-line core.
Anaheim Ducks – Center Depth: Alex Wennberg
Resolution: Even with a loaded pipeline, depth down the middle wins championships—keep building at hockey’s most important position.Wennberg’s playmaking and defensive awareness would quietly stabilize Anaheim’s center group.
Calgary Flames – Game-Breaking Forward: Carl Grundstrom
Resolution: Add an elite offensive talent who can be the focal point of their attack as they try to build around Zayne Parekh on defense.Grundstrom’s combination of strength and offensive upside gives Calgary a potential identity piece up front.
Edmonton Oilers – Young Talent: Eeli Tolvanen
Resolution: Get younger. As the NHL’s oldest team and back-to-back Cup finalists who came up short, they desperately need an infusion of youth.Tolvanen adds age, shooting ability, and cost-controlled offense to a top-heavy Oilers roster.
Los Angeles Kings – Quality Defensive Prospect: Timothy Liljegren
Resolution: Rebuild the defensive pipeline with high-upside blue-liners after their forward prospects haven’t panned out as hoped.Liljegren offers skating and puck skills that fit LA’s long-term defensive reset.
San Jose Sharks – Patiently Build: Ryan Shea
Resolution: Don’t rush it. Keep building through the draft, let their young players develop, and resist the urge to accelerate the timeline.Shea is a low-risk piece who fits San Jose’s slow-and-steady development approach.
Seattle Kraken – Top-Six Scoring Forward: Anthony Mantha
Resolution: Add offensive firepower to take pressure off their solid defensive core and make a push back into playoff contention.Mantha’s size and scoring touch could reignite Seattle’s offense quickly.
Vancouver Canucks – Internal Stability: Michael Bunting
Resolution: After trading J.T. Miller, focus on chemistry and getting Pettersson back on track rather than making external additions.Bunting brings edge, emotion, and net-front presence that can help reset Vancouver’s identity.
Vegas Golden Knights – Middle-Six Goal Scorer: Kiefer Sherwood
Resolution: As always, Vegas will find a way to add scoring depth despite cap constraints—because that’s what Vegas does.Sherwood is exactly the kind of high-motor depth scorer Vegas turns into a playoff weapon.
