First, a disclaimer: This isn’t all about the first 48 hours of free agency.

If we’re going to raise hell about context when it comes to something like the General Manager of the Year Award, then it’s only fair that we extend the analysis of the NHL’s 30 teams and their offseasons back a week to the trades, buyouts and other transactions around the NHL Draft.

So keep that in mind when reading the 2014 NHL Free Agent Report Card, as we factor in some of the key transactions (Kesler, etc.) for these teams.

Who won? Who lost? Who signed John Scott?

Here … we … go.

Anaheim Ducks

The addition of Ryan Kesler gives Anaheim that second elite center they need to compete in the loaded Western Conference. Obviously they had some good fortune in that Kesler limited his trade market to Anaheim and … well, Anaheim. The Ducks fared a little worse in free agency, handing Clayton Stoner a 4-year, $13-million contract to a defenseman who saw his ice time cut by nearly 5 minutes on average last season. They also snagged Jason LaBarbara as a veteran depth goalie. GRADE: B+

Arizona Coyotes

They decided to buy out Mike Ribeiro due to “behavioral problems,” turning that signing from last summer into a disastrous one. Sam Gagner is rescued from buyout as a replacement; is this is spot to shine? They couldn’t convince Radim Vrbata to take term over money. They signed Joe Vitale and Andrew Campbell, and it’ll be fun to see how Sean Burke transforms the career of Devin Dubnyk. GRADE: C-

Boston Bruins

The Bruins did a heaping plate of nothing in adding players, but smartly chose to let Jurassic Shawn Thornton leave for Florida and to not give Jarome Iginla the term he was seeking, given the other contracts due in the next two years. Will they trade a defenseman for another scoring winger? GRADE: B

Buffalo Sabres

We turn the mic to GM Tim Murray for his analysis of free agency:

Thanks Tim.

The Sabres signed Brian Gionta (3 years, $12.75M); Matt Moulson (5/$25M); Andrej Meszaros (1/$4.125M); and former Sabre Cody McCormick (3/$4.5M). They re-signed Marcus Foligno for 2 years and $3.75 million, and flipped a second-round pick for Montreal Canadiens salary dump Josh Gorges.

The Moulson signing was a good one that’ll help when the Sabres turn the corner. Gorges and Gionta are good mentors. They’re over the salary floor. But nothing they’ve done here should subvert the Dishonor For Connor and/or Sack For Jack draft lottery campaigns and for that they get a GRADE: A-

Calgary Flames

Jonas Hiller at 2 years and $9 million is an upgrade, but at this point he’s a quality tandem guy rather than a legit No. 1. Mason Raymond is a nice signing at 3 years and $9.5 million, uniting him with Brian Burke. Deryk Engelland is … a terrible signing. Everyone who saw the $2.9 million next to his name assumed that was the full ticket for three years; nope, that’s his average salary, meaning he’s making more against the cap in three years than Tom Gilbert is in two years for Montreal. But the Flames clearly needed more truculence and pugnacity … oh, wait, they already traded for Brandon Bollig? Hey, it got them to the cap floor. They also let Mike Cammalleri walk. GRADE: C-

Carolina Hurricanes

Ron Francis’s first offseason as GM was spent raking Leafs: Jay McClement (1/$1M), Tim Gleason (1/$1.2M) and Drew MacIntyre (1/$600K) head to Raleigh. He re-signed Ron Hainsey and Nathan Gerbe. They lost Manny Malhotra to Montreal and Justin Peters to Washington. Still waiting on that big, roster changing move, if it in fact ever arrives. GRADE: C-

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have a cap problem. They also had a center depth problem. So getting Brad Richards in at $2 million for one season was pretty much perfect: At best, he’s Patrick Kane’s center; at worst, he’s a solid vet with a low salary down the lineup, who well eventually be a healthy scratch by the Cup Final. They also inked Peter Regin for peanuts. GRADE: A-

Colorado Avalanche

Letting Paul Stastny walk was a necessity, given his contract demands; and like he said, it’s not as if the Avs don’t have other options at center. The Jarome Iginla signing gives Colorado someone that’ll go to the net hard and get his mitts dirty; the only issue is his skating ability, considering how the Avs fly. The make-or-break might be Brad Stuart, who’s a terrible possession defenseman but one that’s only signed for next season, in case this was a blunder. Jesse Winchester was added for depth and/or healthy scratches. GRADE: B