This week, we will look at teams in the West and see how their starting rosters compare to their rosters at the end of 2023-24.

We will use Dobber Hockey's Depth Chart Tool for the roster breakdowns and use my player ratings to compare each team’s overall rating.

If interested, here are the rosters and ratings for each team broken down into their depth chart (I've only updated the Western teams so far).

At the end of the 2023-24 regular season the playoff threshold was a 6.468 team rating. Currently, it is at around 6.46.

Anaheim Ducks – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.370 (14th in the West)

2024-25 Rating: 6.397 (15th)

The Ducks have improved their roster, mostly from within with the probable progression of Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger. They did the correct thing and signed just two free agents Robby Fabbri and Brian Dumoulin who won't move the bar much.

Because Chicago escalated their rebuild, this has pushed the Ducks from 14th to 15th in the Western Conference and they should get another chance at the draft lottery.

If Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry get back to a point-per-game and all the other young guys progress, they could surprise and move up the standings, but I still don't see a playoff team in 2024-25.

Calgary Flames – ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.434 (11th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.42 (14th)

This will be a rough 2024-25 for the Flames as they have lost their number goalie Jacob Markstrom and have just Anthony Mantha as their lone free-agent signing who could move the needle in a positive direction. They are hoping for continued progression from Connor Zary, Matthew Coronato, Martin Pospisil, Ilya Solovyov and Dustin Wolf.

Unless Jonathan Huberdeau somehow finds the magic that he had in Florida, this team is not even close to a playoff berth.

Chicago Blackhawks – ↑↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.361 (15th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.424 (13th)

The Blackhawks are hoping that Taylor Hall is healthy for 2024-25 which would be a big boost. They added Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Pat Maroon, T.J. Brodie, Alec Martinez and Laurent Brossoit in free agency. They traded for Ilya Mikheyev as well.

They have perhaps improved the most of any roster in the West, but it still won't be enough to get them into the playoffs in 2024-25 unless Connor Bedard explodes as a sophomore.

They have improved their forward depth and given Bedard a few more options to work with. Adding Brodie and Martinez should help the blueline if both can stay healthy, while Brossoit might challenge Mrazek for the number-one role, even though he has never played more than 24 games in a season.

Colorado Avalanche ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.538 (1st)           

2024-25 Rating: 6.513 (3rd)

Colorado is hoping that Gabriel Landeskog might be healthy enough to return to the lineup in 2024-25, but the team will miss Valeri Nichushkin in the top six.

Bringing in Erik Brannstrom could be a good depth move as he is still only 24-years old and the former 15th overall pick in 2017 might still have some offense to give if presented with the opportunity.

Colorado don't have the cap space to make up for the players they lost in free agency, but are hoping that Nikolai Kovalenko can be a regular and Casey Mittelstadt progresses.

The Avalanche should still be a favorite in 2024-25.

Dallas Stars – ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.507 (5th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.482 (6th)

The Stars were buyers at the 2023-24 deadline and were knocked out by Edmonton in the Western Conference Finals.

Joe Pavelski seems to be headed for retirement and the team lost Chris Tanev in free agency.

They will look to replace Pavelski from within with Logan Stankoven and/or Mavrik Bourque.

I don't see the additions of Matt Dumba, Ilya Lyubushkin or Casey DeSmith as improvements on the roster.

Dallas should still be comfortably in the playoff race, but might need to add a piece or two to get back to their 2023-24 level.

Edmonton Oilers – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.523 (4th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.542 (1st)

By re-signing Adam Henrique and signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, the Oilers have improved their forward group over that from 2023-24.

They have kept the defense intact and are going with Stuart Skinner once again.

In my mind, Edmonton has to be the favorites at this point for the Presidents' Trophy in 2024-25 if healthy.

Los Angeles Kings – ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.499 (7th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.456 (10th)

Warren Foegele – F

Tanner Jeannot – F

Darcy Kuemper – G

Kyle Burroughs – D

The Kings are hoping for Quinton Byfield to take even another step in 2024-25 along with the continued progression from Brandt Clarke, Alex Laferriere and Arthur Kaliyev.

The additions of Warren Foegele and Tanner Jeannot should help the depth in the forwards, but Pierre-Luc Dubois had a higher ceiling than either. Dubois just wasn't a good fit on the Kings and was moved to Washington for Darcy Kuemper who will need to improve a lot on his 2023-24 campaign to match what the Kings got from Cam Talbot last year.

Los Angeles needs everyone healthy and having good years to get into the playoffs in 2024-25.

Minnesota Wild – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.439 (10th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.464 (8th)

With the expected return of their captain Jared Spurgeon and the continued improvement from Marco Rossi and Brock Faber, Minnesota should improve on their disappointing 2023-24.

The Wild were very quiet in free agency, adding just Yakov Trenin and Jakub Lauko to bolster their bottom-six forwards.

They do need Filip Gustavsson to be somewhere between his 2022-23 and 2023-24 self or they will be on the outside of the playoffs once again.

Nashville Predators – ↑↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.476 (8th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.52 (2nd)

The Predators addressed their biggest issue after the 2023-24 season, which was scoring. They went out and signed Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos who had 42 and 40 goals respectively in 2023-24. While they might not put up 82 goals in 2024-25 between them, they should get at least 60-70 goals.

Tommy Novak could benefit the most from the addition of Stamkos and Marchessault as there is a good chance he plays with at least one of them. The Predators still have Luke Evangelista and Philip Tomasino to improve from within on the forwards.

Nashville didn't stop there, as they added Brady Skjei on defense. He can put up 35-45 points and kill penalties and average over 20 minutes per game. He gives a huge upgrade on the Predators' top four on defense.

The Predators are still rumored to be in the market to trade Yaroslav Askarov and he could bring some pretty good value in return.

Nashville has gone from being on the playoff bubble to making a run as the top team in the West.

San Jose Sharks – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.335 (16th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.384 (16th)

There is no question that San Jose should be much improved from 2023-24. The problem is that their roster was so depleted that they are still at or near the bottom in the West.

The additions of Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Barclay Goodrow and Jake Walman should make them competitive on most nights, which is something that couldn't be said in 2023-24.

The splash is around the drafting and addition to the lineup of Macklin Celebrini, and they have tried to surround him with a better team, which is commendable.

The team is hoping that William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, Will Smith, Ty Emberson and Henry Thrun all continue to progress sooner than later.

The Sharks are still two or three years away from getting back into playoff contention.

Seattle Kraken – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.415 (12th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.446 (12th)

The Kraken have improved with the additions of Chandler Stephenson at center and Brandon Montour on defense, but they might still be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

If Shane Wright can become a regular and Tye Kartye, Ryker Evans and Joey Daccord all improve from within, this team could challenge. They will need Matty Beniers to bounce back from his sophomore slump and re-establish his role on the number one line.

The team also needs Andre Burakovsky to improve on 2023-24, especially with three years remaining at $5.5 million AAV.

St. Louis Blues – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.394 (13th)        

2024-25 Rating: 6.453 (11th)

St. Louis sold at the trade deadline in 2023-24, when it became very clear that they weren't getting anywhere near the playoffs.

Their roster is improved, but they could still be on the outside looking in at the end of 2024-25.

The additions of Alexandre Texier and Mathieu Joseph have given the Blues a much needed upgrade in their bottom-six while the addition of Joseph's brother Pierre-Olivier gives the Blues a 25-year old defender who might still be able to become a regular in the NHL.

St. Louis will need healthy years from Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou and Justin Faulk to get anywhere near the playoffs in 2024-25.

Utah Hockey Club – ↑

2023-24 Rating: 6.450 (9th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.459 (9th)

Utah made some external moves to get into the mix for 2024-25 by adding Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, Ian Cole and Kevin Stenlund to the roster.

Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, Josh Doan and Jack McBain are all expected to continue to improve from within.

Sean Durzi was extended for four years at $6 million AAV, which indicates that he could still be the number-one PP quarterback in Utah even with the addition of Sergachev.

I think that if Clayton Keller is healthy, Utah has a good chance to get into the playoffs this year.

Vancouver Canucks – ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.504 (6th)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.496 (5th)

The Canucks were going to be hard-pressed to keep their roster intact after 2023-24 and sure enough they lost Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov both to the Boston Bruins in free agency.

They were able to re-sign Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger and Tyler Myers while adding Jake DeBrusk, Kiefer Sherwood, Danton Heinen, Derek Forbort and Vincent Desharnais in free agency.

They might have found a top-six winger who can complement Elias Pettersson in DeBrusk and they have solidified their bottom-six with Sherwood and Heinen.

Across the board, they lost a little ground but not enough to keep them out of the playoffs in 2024-25, if healthy.

Vegas Golden Knights – ↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.526 (3rd)          

2024-25 Rating: 6.497 (4th)

I do like the low-cost additions of Alexander Holtz and Victor Olofsson in the forward group for Vegas, but for the first time in a few years, there are some real question marks with the Golden Knights top-six.

They have lost Jonathan Marchessault and Alec Martinez and haven't really added anyone else that we know can replace those two.

Kaedan Korczak should get a regular role on defense, while Brendan Brisson might get a role in the forwards.

The new backup in goal is either Akira Schmid or Ilya Samsonov.

Vegas has declined a little in terms of roster strength, but they are still a lock for the playoffs, if healthy.

Winnipeg Jets – ↓↓

2023-24 Rating: 6.529 (2nd)         

2024-25 Rating: 6.48 (7th)

The Jets are not close to the same roster who entered the playoffs in 2023-24. They are missing Sean Monahan, Tyler Toffoli, Brendan Dillon and Laurent Brossoit and have done minimal to replace any of them externally.

There are rumors that Nikolaj Ehlers is on the trade block as well, which doesn't bode well for 2024-25 matching the 2023-24 regular season.

It is vital to the Jets that Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Perfetti progress and are healthy for this team to improve from within.

I still have Winnipeg in the playoffs at the moment, but if Ehlers is traded all bets are off.

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Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or players you'd like me to look at please message or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15.