Northeast offseasons: Start with an 'A' for B's

Say this much about the teams in the Northeast -- at least the three residing north of the border -- they keep things interesting. The Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs have all managed to generate reams of headlines throughout the summer, sometimes even for the high profile player moves that imply more than really mean they will be better next season.

Restricted free agent Phil Kessel has limited options. (Getty Images)

At the same time, the Buffalo Sabres have spent much of the offseason looking mostly inward and for economical ways to close the small gap that exists between them and the others in the Northeast other than Boston. The Bruins have been low key this offseason, focusing mainly on bringing back the players who put together an outstanding season for the organization.

In order of last season's finish, here's a midsummer report card on the teams in the Northeast Division:

Boston Bruins

The Bruins were in a class by themselves as far as Northeast teams went last season, and in some ways maybe too much so for their own good. After running away with the conference title, Boston had it too easy sweeping division rival Montreal out of the first round and ended up with a nine-day break that sucked all the life of them. The Bruins couldn't re-start the engine for the second round against a momentum-charged Carolina team, but all the key pieces are back in place for another run. Well almost all.

Boston has yet to come to terms with its top goal scorer, Phil Kessel, and is already pushing the salary cap. But many other teams are as well, so Kessel, a restricted free agent, has limited options. Meanwhile, the Bruins have been busy locking up several other important contributors, including youngsters David Krejci, Byron Bitz and Matt Hunwick, and ageless wonder Mark Recchi. And they've added some offense to their defense with Derek Morris and depth with Steve Begin.

GM Peter Chiarelli still has some tweaking to do to add some payroll flexibility, if not for Kessel but to prepare for Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler becoming restricted free agents next summer. For now though, Boston still looks like one of the true elites of the Eastern Conference. Grade: A

Montreal Canadiens

This 100th anniversary year has not been all it cracked up to be for an organization. In fact, the Canadiens probably can't wait for 2009 to be over because they really started unraveling in January when rumors of a trade to acquire native son Vincent Lecavalier hit a fever pitch, then died a slow death over the next few months. Since then Montreal has gone through an overhaul that is as hard to define as it is to understand. The team is in the process of being sold, but GM Bob Gainey has been able to still spend gobs of money in his effort the recast the team's chemistry.

Gainey raised some eyebrows by hiring Jacques Martin to coach, but more when he traded for Scott Gomez and signed free agent Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, committing $19 million a season to three forwards who make the team smaller rather than bigger up front.

Montreal added some grit through the free agent market as well with defensemen Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill and Paul Mara and forward Travis Moen, but it said goodbye to long time captain Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev and Mike Komisarek in a process that has looked like a shifting of the deck chairs more than anything else. Grade: C

Buffalo Sabres

Remember when everything seemed to be coming up roses for the Buffalo Sabres? It was after the lockout, when the Sabres emerged with aggressive, fast and budget-conscious team that got to the conference finals two years in a row and were hailed as a model for the new NHL. Seems so long ago now that Buffalo has missed the last two playoffs, doesn't it? Lately, the Sabres have reverted back to their old form, defining themselves again as a small-market team that struggles to put together enough talent to be more than a playoff bubble team.

In theory, the core here isn't bad. Ryan Miller in goal, Tomas Vanek, Derek Roy and Jason Pominville up front, Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder on the back end and a few youngsters who are less expensive but can play the game provide a nucleus, but Buffalo hasn't added any significant pieces during the offseason, and isn't likely to moving forward.

Coach Lindy Ruff recently suggested the Sabres would be fine starting the season with the current lineup, which is true if the team believes the status quo is acceptable. Grade: C-

Ottawa Senators

Will Dany Heatley be with the Senators next season? It's the question of the summer in Ottawa and maybe a couple of other places in the aftermath of Heatley's very public demand to be traded. Thing is he only wants to go someplace of his choosing. Heatley has a no-trade clause, and despite signing a very lucrative and long extension a couple of years ago, has decided that Ottawa isn't for him anymore because the new coach demands star players make an effort even when they don't feel like it. That attitude, not to mention his contract, hasn't inspired teams to bust down the door for Heatley, even if he is a potential 50-goal scorer. And Heatley rejected a trade to the Edmonton Oilers, who put together a pretty decent package for him.

Still, GM Byran Murray was able to sign free agent Alex Kovalev and bring back Chris Neil, and despite being cap strapped now, says he can still accommodate Heatley if they all kiss and make up. Goalie Pascal Leclaire, who didn't play after being acquired at the trade deadline, will be there from the outset as well, which for Murray will be like adding a high-end free agent. Not a bad job for someone functioning with one hand tied behind his back this offseason. Grade: B-

Toronto Maple Leafs

With Brian Burke running the offseason show for the first time, there had to be a lot of noise coming out of Toronto. It started with a very public declaration from the Leafs GM on his attempt to acquire the first overall draft pick from the Islanders, and continued with his efforts to trade with Boston for restricted free agent Phil Kessel, although both efforts failed. Still Burke still managed to get the impressionable local minions excited about a team that has missed four consecutive playoffs with a series of other moves that have moved Toronto closer to being the big, tough and meaner team the GM prefers.

Toronto will be better and more physical along the blue line with the additions of defenseman Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin and Garnett Exelby and better protected up front with the presence of newcomer Colton Orr. If hotshot Swedish free agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson lives up to his hype, he could make a big difference in goal for the Leafs on his own or by pushing Vesa Toskala. But the Leafs didn't have a credible offense last season, and haven't done much to change that over the summer. Grade: B