Biggest Offseason Question for Every 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Team

Although these 16 teams made the playoffs, they still have questions heading into the 2019-2020 season. Here are each of the 2019 playoff teams' biggest question heading into the offseason.

16. Pittsburgh Penguins: Who Will Be Moved to Free Up Cap Space?

The Penguins enter their first offseason in what feels like forever in which they did not advance past the first round in the Playoffs. Will the Penguins be able to move Phil Kessel? If not, who will they move to free up cap space for next season? The Penguins must answer these questions this offseason.

15. Tampa Bay Lightning: What Will Be the Price of Keeping Brayden Point?

Point made $686,667 last season and is due for a massive increase this summer when he becomes an RFA. Unfortunately for Tampa, signing Point means losing out on some other good players, as we could see Ryan Callahan, Anthony Cirelli and others depart the Bolts lineup.

14. Nashville Predators: What Will the Offense Look Like Next Year?

After not being able to score more than three goals in a game during their first round exit against the Dallas Stars, the Preds must revamp their offense. They currently have six free agents on their offense, headlined by Wayne Simmonds, and we could see the Predators make some moves in order to increase the depth of their forward corps.

13. Winnipeg Jets: Should They Lock up Patrik Laine Long-Term?

Patrik Laine is an RFA this summer and after scoring 30-plus goals in each of his three NHL seasons, the winger is expecting a big extension. However, after posting a -24 in what seemed like an off year, the Jets appear reluctant to invest a large sum of money into Laine, especially when over half of their roster is unsigned as of July 1.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Jake Gardiner Be a Leaf Next Season?

Maple Leafs fans have been on Gardiner for his lackluster defensive plays during the big moments of the postseason, but the UFA will still command a large contract due to his offensive abilities. The Leafs need to improve their blue line if they plan on making that Cup run next year, but will that defense have Gardiner on it or will they choose to look elsewhere is the burning question.

11. Calgary Flames: Who Will be The No. 1 Goaltender Next Year?

The Flames had a phenomenal regular season but fell short in the playoffs when they were upset by the Avalanche in the first round. Mike Smith was their starter, but he is a UFA at 37 and he is not the long-term answer. David Rittich is an RFA, and although he looked good at points he also struggled throughout the season. Seregei Bobrovsky and Semyon Varlamov are both free agents, and the Flames could potentially go after them to back stop their team.

10. Washington Capitals: Should They Lock Up Holtby and Backstrom Now?

The Capitals have a lot to manage contract wise this offseason, but their biggest question has to do with two contracts that have one more year left on them. Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom will both be free agents at the end of next season, and the Capitals have to decide if they want to extend their top goaltender and top-line center before the season or risk losing them in free agency next year.

9. Vegas Golden Knights: What to Do With Their Free Agent Forwards?

William Karlsson is an RFA, and he will be due a salary upgrade from the $5.25 million last season as well as more years added to his deal. On top of that role player Pierre-Edouard Bellmare is a UFA and the Golden Knights have to decide whether to keep him or move on. Tomas Nosek, Ryan Carpenter, Brandon Pirri and Nikita Gusev all are free agents as well.

8. New York Islanders: Is Anders Lee Worth a Seven-Year Contract?

Islanders captain Anders Lee is a UFA this offseason and has requested a contract of seven years from New York. Lee's career high is 62 points, which he reached in 2017-2018, but the winger was a key component as to why the Islanders were able to overcome the odds and make the playoffs this year. Is the 28-year-old worth that length or do the Islanders lose a captain for the second year in a row?

7. Colorado Avalanche: Do You Re-Sign Free Agents or Open the Door to Youth?

The Avalanche have an exciting young corps, but have an even more exciting crop of young prospects ready to make the next step. Alexander Kerfoot, J.T. Compher, Colin Wilson and Derrick Brassard are all free agents, but do the Avalanche re-sign all of those players or give their prospects the chance to play in the big leagues? Martin Kaut and Shane Bowers headline their top forward prospects while Connor Timmins could fill in the back end, making the Avalanche younger and even more dangerous.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets: Which Stars Leave and Who Remains?

The Blue Jackets will most likely lose two of their three big name free agents this offseason. Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene all will be on the open market come July 1. Duchene seems to be the one who could remain, but how will Columbus replace the loss of the other two All-Stars, especially when they have to re-sign Ryan Dzingel and Zack Werenski.

5. Dallas Stars: Will They Give Mats Zuccarello What he Wants?

The 31-year-old forward who will have turned 32 by the time the next season begins will be looking for a four-or-five year contract worth between $5-6 million a year. Will the Dallas Stars be willing to give that contract to the aging winger? If they don't, where will they find his offensive production on the market? Those questions are at the top of the Stars to-do list.

4. San Jose Sharks: Will Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, and Erik Karlsson be Back?

The three big names are all free agents this summer and their futures are all up in the air. Joe Thornton may retire, Karlsson will most likely be moving somewhere else and Joe Pavelski is 34, and will want a multi-year deal. Will the Sharks be able to pay that price tag when they have eight other free agents? Time will tell, but the Sharks have a long offseason ahead.

3. Carolina Hurricanes: Who Will Be The Netminder Next Year?

The Hurricanes surprised everyone reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Both Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney saw time during the run, but both will be UFAs this summer. Mrazek is the younger of the two at 27 years old, but his inconsistency raises some questions.

2. Boston Bruins: What to Do With Marcus Johansson?

Johansson is coming off of a three-year, $13.75 million contract and will be a UFA this summer. If the Bruins choose to keep him they will essentially have the same roster that has produced so well this season. But they can choose to let him walk and use the money to lock up Noel Acciari, Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, giving his roster spot to a younger player like a Trent Frederic.

1. St. Louis Blues: Can They Sign Craig Berube Long Term?

When Craig Berube took over as the Blues interim head coach they were in last place in the NHL, but since they have sky rocketed up the NHL standings and cruised through the NHL playoffs. The Blues have a solid roster that seems to respond to Berube's coaching style, but will they be able to agree to terms on a long-term deal after winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history?