NHL superstars on new teams

It happens at the start of every NHL season. You tune into the first hockey tilt in months and are almost instantly thrown for a loop when you remember a few key players are sporting different sweaters.

That late-summer lull between the opening of free agency and the start of training camp is just long enough for many of us to briefly forget some of the league's biggest stars have been traded to different teams. (Well, it's unlikely anyone forgot about John Tavares going to Toronto. But we'll get to that in just a moment.)

Here's a look at big-name players who will be on new teams for the 2018-19 campaign.

Erik Karlsson - San Jose Sharks 

New contract: TBA, in the final season of a seven-year, $49 million deal 

2017-2018 stats: 62 points (nine goals, 53 assists) in 71 games played

The two-time Norris Trophy winner isn't just regarded as one of — if not — the greatest defenseman in the league. He's considered one of the NHL's most coveted players. So naturally, the former Senators captain gained a fair amount of attention when there was speculation he would leave Ottawa.

All that came to an end when it was announced that Karlsson had been traded to the San Jose Sharks less than 24 hours before Team Teal reported for training camp. While Karlsson admitted in his press conference with Bay Area media that he was "shocked" by the trade, he also said he's excited to join such a competitive team. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, on the other hand, told the media the move to acquire Karlsson started back around the trade deadline. After the criticism San Jose endured after a quiet offseason, the Sharks no doubt enter camp on a high note.

The move also boosts San Jose's defense tremendously, as the 29-year-old Swede joins elite defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and fellow Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns. "All I have to do is give (Burns) the puck and, you know, usually it takes care of the rest," Karlsson said.

Max Pacioretty - Las Vegas Golden Knights 

New contract: four-year, $28 million extension, which kicks in after 2018-19 season 

2017-2018 stats: 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 64 games

The former Montreal Canadiens captain was a big name in trade talks for the better part of last season. And even though the winger previously said he would've signed an extension with Montreal, he was introduced as the newest member of the Las Vegas Golden Knights just ahead of the start of training camp.

After shouldering the weight of the Habs' problems for a few seasons, Pacioretty has an opportunity to make a fresh start with the Golden Knights. Vegas has made a couple of changes to its roster ahead of its sophomore season, which gives Pacioretty wiggle room to find where he fits on the squad for the 2019 campaign. Surely having experience playing for Gerard Gallant will help that process along.

Although, according to Vegas general manager George McPhee, Pacioretty should have no problem fitting in. "He fits the personality of this club," McPhee said of Pacioretty during a press conference following the trade with Montreal. "He brings speed, he brings some size and he fits our club."

James Neal - Calgary Flames 

New contract: five-year, $28.75 million  

2017-2018 stats: 44 points (25 goals, 19 assists) in 71 games 

It's hard to remember the last time James Neal wasn't a big-name player when it came to trade talks. Now, after being a key piece to Las Vegas' astounding inaugural season, he joins Mark Giordano, Johnny Gaudreau and a scrappy Flames contingent up in Calgary.

From a scoring standpoint, Neal appears he will bring a lot to the Flames' forward attack. The 31-year-old has scored over 20 goals every season he's been in the league. He found the back of the net 25 times last season for Las Vegas, including six game-winners and five markers on the power play. (For a team that struggled with scoring last season, the addition could be huge.)

But Neal also brings playoff experience to the table, thanks to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final runs with the Golden Knights in 2018 and the Nashville Predators in 2017. Not surprisingly, this is something his new Flames teammates are eager to learn from him.
"I’m going to ask a lot of questions to Nealer over the year in different situations,” captain Giordano told The Province. "He going to be a big leader on our team because
he’s been there and he’s done it, especially most recently the last couple of years he's been right to the Final." 

James van Riemsdyk - Philadelphia Flyers 

New contract: five-year, $35 million  

2017-2018 stats: 54 points (36 goals, 18 assists) in 81 games 

James van Riemsdyk spent his first couple of seasons in the league playing for the Flyers. Now, after a six-year stint with the Maple Leafs, he returns to Philadelphia as one of the best pickups from the 2018 offseason.

As NBC Philadelphia points out, bench boss Dave Hakstol has more depth to work with this season with JVR in the mix. The 29-year-old New Jersey native is coming off a career-best, 36-goal season and could pack a powerful punch on Philly's second line with Claude Giroux holding down left wing responsibilities on the first string. He also has the potential to give the Flyers' power play — which ranked 15th overall last season — a nice pick-me-up.

John Tavares - Toronto Maple Leafs 

New contract: seven-year, $77 million  

2017-2018 stats: 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists) in 82 games 

Of course, there was no bigger move during the offseason than the one that brought former New York Islanders captain John Tavares to Toronto. Several teams clambered over him before he chose to play for his hometown squad. And now that the Islanders have made it clear they've moved on from their breakup this summer, we can finely focus on what Tavares is going to bring to this Maple Leafs team.

The current roster in Toronto gained plenty of attention a couple of seasons back when the Auston Matthews-led rookie class not only made the Leafs a playoff contender, but also fun to watch in the process. The young team then got some seasoned help in 2017 when veteran Patrick Marleau joined it. And although Toronto was booted from the first round of the playoffs both of those years, it has clearly improved.

Now with the addition of Tavares, the Leafs are a preseason favorite to make a deep Cup run — a run that Tavares himself is ready to make sooner rather than later.

"Getting into the dance is what it’s all about,” Tavares told Postmedia News. “It’s about giving yourself that opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup."