In what has turned into Christmas in July for NHL fans, the sheer chaos that free agency creates can quickly transform a team's odds to win the Stanley Cup.
Sure, many few teams made gigantic splashes on July 13, but those additions aren't likely to end with a shiny new star hoisting Lord Stanley's mug.
The Columbus Blue Jackets snatched up the most coveted free-agent prize in Johnny Gaudreau, but they're still a few pieces away from contention. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators added Claude Giroux to a surprisingly potent top-six group that includes newly acquired sniper Alex DeBrincat. But the Sens remain more of a fringe playoff squad than a serious contender.