Every hockey team has a “shopping list” when the offseason comes around. They spend the entirety of the regular season and possibly the playoffs formulating their list so by the time the actual frenzy begins, they know where they stand and where they want to be by the time October rolls around.
The items on each checklist can vary greatly. For example, some teams might need a forward to help round out their offense. But what kind? A top-six scorer? Or a bottom-six grinder? When it comes to defensemen, does the team want a superstar who can play top two minutes?