In this week's Eastern Edge, we'll continue our review of the 'Core Four' for every team in the East. Check out part one over here. 

As we work through the Eastern, Grant Campbell is working through the Western Conference. Make sure to check out his coverage here. As Grant established, 'The Core Four' are players who should be the foundation for their team to build on over the next three to five years.

Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin (Forward) (26 years old) – On contract for the next eight years, Larkin is an undeniable piece of Detroit's current core. Although there's been an exciting infusion of young talent recently, he's been the face of the franchise for some time now, leading the Red Wings in scoring across five of the past six seasons. For most of his career in Detroit, Larkin has been the team's greatest offensive threat, lifting up players around him. It'll be interesting to see if he can reach new offensive heights now that Alex DeBrincat is in the fold.

Alex DeBrincat (F) (25) – The Red Wings acquired DeBrincat from the Senators last week, securing the greatest goal-scorer this team has had in a long time. Since he entered the league in 2017-18, DeBrincat has racked up 187 goals in 450 games. Across the league, only 13 players have scored more goals during that span.

Lucas Raymond (F) (21) – The fourth overall pick of the 2020 draft burst onto the scene with 57 points in his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, he couldn't take a step forward during his sophomore season last year, but he still posted a respectable 50-point pace. Raymond's best seasons are still ahead of him. With continued development over these next few years, he should cement himself as part of the core group. On a side note, it'll be interesting to see how Detroit's lines change with DeBrincat in the mix. I think an ideal scenario for Raymond would include a top line role beside Larkin and DeBrincat. However, a more realistic outcome might see him bumped off his usual spot beside Larkin, ending up in a second line role beside a center like J.T. Compher or Andrew Copp.

Moritz Seider (Defenseman) (22) – Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2022. Not only was he excellent defensively during his debut season, but he posted 50 points. Drafted sixth overall in 2019, Seider is the star of Detroit's blueline and will likely be paid as such when he signs his next contract. The Red Wings recently signed offensively focused blueliner Shayne Gostisbehere to a one-year deal. It's worth monitoring whether Ghost eats into any of Seider's offensive opportunity this season.

Florida Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk (F) (25) –Tkachuk had a dream debut with the Panthers. His 109 points during the regular season ranked first on the team and seventh in the league. He carried that momentum into the playoffs, posting 24 points in 20 games. That was good enough to lead the team in scoring again, but he also finished third in the league scoring race. Tkachuk and Barkov form a tenacious tandem in Florida that'll be vital to any success the team has going forward. Fortunately, both players are locked up for the next seven years.

Aleksander Barkov (F) (27) – Although Tkachuk's immense value was highlighted this past season, Barkov has been the face of the franchise for years now. He's one of the game's best two-way forwards, boasting an elite level of offense that most defensively responsible players can't achieve. His contributions have been recognized by the team as he's currently Florida's team captain and highest paid skater. It's still kind of early, but when it's all said and done, I think there will be a real argument for Barkov as the greatest Panther of all time.

Given their elite performance, as well as the magnitude and duration of their contracts, Barkov and Tkachuk are easily identifiable pieces of Florida's current core. However, it's hard to find that same combination elsewhere in the roster. Sergei Bobrovsky has the contract, but his overall performance over the past few years hasn't been good enough to justify calling him an integral part of the core. The fact that he's 34 and will likely be on the decline in the coming years reinforces that point. Many other players have performed well but aren't signed to long-term deals so their future in Florida isn't guaranteed. I ultimately chose Ekblad and Verhaeghe for this list, but you can make an argument for a few other players as well.

Aaron Ekblad (D) (27) – Although he was outperformed by Brandon Montour this past season, I think Ekblad's contract and years of service make it more likely that he stays with the team going forward. Montour only has one year left on a cheap deal, so it's entirely possible he's priced himself out of Florida with his strong play recently. Although Ekblad is only signed for two more years, the fact that he was drafted by the team and has played there for nine years creates a deeper sense of loyalty.

Carter Verhaeghe (F) (27) – Although I wanted to give this spot to Sam Reinhart, I'm concerned that a lack of cap space will prevent the Panthers from re-signing Reinhart after this last year on his deal is complete. Carter Verhaeghe has been excellent during his three years in Florida, pacing for 69 points in year one, 58 in year two, and 74 in year three. He capped off that 74-point pace during the regular season with an incredible playoff performance that saw him tally 17 points in 21 appearances. Verhaeghe is being paid just over $4 million for each of the next two years. Although he's earned a raise that Florida may not be able to afford, the Panthers will probably have more cap flexibility when it comes time for him to sign a new deal.

Montreal Canadiens

Nick Suzuki (F) (23) – At present, many would say that Nick Suzuki is the most important piece of Montreal's roster. Top center and team captain, Suzuki saw 21 minutes of action per game last season. Across the league, only eight forwards averaged more ice time. He's scored at or above a 60-point pace in three of his four NHL seasons – the lone exception being his rookie campaign when he paced for 47 points. Suzuki was instrumental in Montreal's run to the Cup Final in 2021 and will likely play a key role in any success this team has in the coming years.

Cole Caufield (F) (22) – The small sniper has 48 goals in 83 games since Martin St. Louis took over as coach in February of 2022. His 0.58 goals per game during that span ranks 10^th in the league. Although a shoulder injury brought an abrupt end to his 2022-2023 campaign, the Canadiens recognized both his past contributions and future potential when they signed him to an eight-year deal last month. He and Suzuki are the dynamic duo that headline this era of the Montreal Canadiens. 

Juraj Slafkovsky (F) (19) – The young Slovak's first year in the NHL wasn't exactly ideal. After posting 10 points in his first 39 outings, he suffered a lower-body injury that forced him to sit out the rest of the campaign. We often say that bigger players take more time to develop. At 6'3" and 238 pounds, Slafkovsky certainly qualifies as a bigger player. The first overall pick of the 2022 draft is undoubtedly a prominent piece of Montreal's future, but patience will be key. 

Kirby Dach (F) (22) – We'll likely look back at the 2022 draft as an important one for this iteration of the Canadiens. Not only did they add pieces through the actual draft, but they traded for a player that could end up being a big part of their group going forward. Once a part of Chicago's core, Kirby Dach – a former third overall pick – is now a key piece of Montreal's group. In his first year with the Canadiens, Dach posted a career-high 54 point and was often recognized for making highly skillful, intelligent plays. This past season was the first time that Dach saw sustained opportunity on the man advantage, and he made the most of it, tallying 16 power-play points over 58 appearances. That translates to a team-leading 0.28 PPP/game.

New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes (F) (22) – Although he's currently the brightest star in New Jersey, it took Hughes some time to shine. After he was selected first overall in 2019, he posted a modest 28-point pace in his rookie campaign. His sophomore season saw him take a step forward, pacing for 45 points. However, it was year three when he really came into his own, registering a 94-point pace. The Devils wisely signed him to an eight-year deal just two games into that season, before he'd properly broken out. He also happened to be sidelined with a separated shoulder when that contract was finalized. Both of those factors likely contributed to the reasonable $8 million AAV Hughes signed for. If that deal was done today, I imagine he'd be getting eight figures a year. This past season, Hughes scored at a 104-point pace and averaged a whopping 4.3 shots per game, establishing himself as one of the top offensive assets in fantasy formats.

Timo Meier (F) (26) – A few weeks ago, the Devils signed Meier to an eight-year deal that comes with a cap hit of $8.8 million per season. In doing so, they turned last year's trade deadline acquisition into an integral piece of their current core. After posting 52 points in 57 appearances with the Sharks last year (0.91 points/game), it was disappointing to see Meier post just 14 in 21 with the Devils (0.67 points/game). I wouldn't read into those numbers too much because players often need time to adjust to new surroundings. Now that he's had some time to acclimate, it'll be important to see what Meier can accomplish in a full season this year.

Nico Hischier (F) (24) – The first overall pick of the 2017 draft is emerging as one of the league's top two-way centres. While he's always been solid at both ends of the ice, there's been more emphasis on his offensive game in recent years. After averaging roughly 2.2 shots per outing through the first five years of his career, he posted 3.2 per game this past season. An increased willingness to shoot the puck led him to a career-high 31-goal, 80-point campaign. Although Hischier only has four more years on his current deal, his role as team captain suggests he'll be a part of this core for a long time.

Dougie Hamilton (D) (30) – For the final spot in New Jersey's 'core four', I had a hard time choosing between Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt. I think the main argument for Bratt is that the team recently made a long-term commitment to him, signing him to an eight-year deal that pays him just under $8 million each year. Although Hamilton is only on contract for five more years, he's the team's highest paid player with an AAV of $9 million. Hamilton is currently the Devils' top defenseman, fresh off a career-high 74-point season. Sure, Bratt is six years younger, and his best seasons are likely ahead of him, but as a forward, his best season saw him post 73 points. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that New Jersey has more talent up front than they do on the blueline. Bratt's absence wouldn't hurt as much as Hamilton's would, so I'd consider Hamilton a more integral part of the core. While Luke Hughes may usurp Hamilton at some point in the future, I think Hamilton will play a prominent role in any success the Devils have in the coming years.