The 2021-22 NHL season included a great deal of highlights, from the dominance of the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers, to the goal-scoring prowess of Auston Matthews and Chris Kreider, to spectacular goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, Frederik Andersen and Jacob Markstrom.

But there can be only one team that gets to raise the Stanley Cup. For the rest, this offseason will be a critical time to restock for another playoff run, make that big free-agent signing to get over the hump, or continue the slow build back to contention. With 14 teams officially eliminated from the playoffs, it's time to identify their biggest needs as well as some solutions that can be explored.

Read on for a look at what went wrong for each eliminated team, along with a breakdown of its biggest keys this offseason and realistic expectations for 2022-23. Note that more teams will be added to this story as they are officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have an ascending star in Troy Terry, and flirted with the playoffs for much of the season. What must they do to get back in the postseason mix? Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Projected 2022-23 cap space: $34,792,500

2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (BOS), 2nd, 2nd (PIT), 4th, 5th, 5th (TOR), 6th (NSH)

What went wrong?

There's a concept in sports called "the rookie wall," in which young players will have extraordinary success for a portion of the season but are unable to sustain it. The Ducks had their share of young players in 2021-22, many of them making an impact to turn Anaheim into a surprising contender. But things changed in early March. The Ducks went winless in 11 straight games, and won only four times in a 23-game stretch.

Before that, Anaheim seemed ahead of schedule in its return to relevance. Forward Troy Terry had a career offensive season. Center Trevor Zegras electrified the NHL with his over-the-net passing and lacrosse-style goals. Defenseman Jamie Drysdale, at age 19 for most of the season, played nearly 20 minutes a night. The Ducks hung tough in the Pacific until that skid.

New GM Pat Verbeek — hired on Feb. 2 to replace Bob Murray, who entered a treatment program for alcohol abuse amid allegations of professional misconduct — moved veterans Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and Rickard Rakell at the trade deadline. That signaled the Ducks were punting on the season as well as beginning a generational shift for the franchise, one that was underscored by the retirement announcement from center Ryan Getzlaf.

Keys to the offseason

The Ducks have some housekeeping to handle, with free agents in forwards Sonny Milano (RFA), Sam Steel (RFA), Isac Lundestrom (RFA), Zach Aston-Reese (UFA) and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (RFA).

Beyond that, it's full speed toward a bright future. Coach Dallas Eakins had his contract option picked up for the 2022-23 season. One question for Verbeek is whether to bring more of the team's prospects — forwards Jacob Perreault and Mason McTavish, defenseman Drew Helleson — into prominent roles or add veterans as stopgaps? Another question for Verbeek: How much of a roster that he didn't build does he see as part of the Ducks' future?

Realistic expectations for 2022-23

It's hard to shake the image of the high-flying Ducks from earlier this season, infused with the energy of their young stars and playing an exciting brand of hockey. That offense dipped as the season went on and their defense — which wasn't all that strong to begin with — spiraled during the long winless streak. Both are indicative of an inexperienced team, and with a season under their belts, the young Ducks may be ready to soar into the playoff picture in the Pacific next season. But there's no rush. They're on the right flight path.

Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes have a big decision to make on defenseman Jakob Chychrun this summer. Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Projected 2022-23 cap space: $38,069,000

2022 draft picks: 1st, 1st (CAR), 1st (COL), 2nd, 2nd (PHI), 2nd (SJ), 2nd (NYI), 3rd, 5th, 6th

What went wrong?

Arizona has had talent problems. The NHL's lowest-scoring team struggled to generate offense and to capitalize on chances when it did. In well over one-third of their games this season, the Coyotes were either shut out or scored a single goal. It wasn't a model for success.

Arizona also missed out on getting a big year from its best player, Jakob Chychrun. After he scored 18 goals and 41 points last season, Chychrun had only 21 points in 47 games in an injury-plagued campaign. That certainly impacted the Coyotes negatively on both ends of the ice, given their constant difficulties keeping pucks out of the net as well.

In the final few weeks and months, though, a tidal wave of injury problems simply capsized the Coyotes. Clayton Keller, Christian Fischer, Lawson Crouse, Chychrun and others missed time with various ailments. It would be nearly impossible for any team to lose that many crucial bodies and carry on with any level of success.

Keys to the offseason

The Coyotes are being evicted from their current lodging at Gila River Arena and will begin playing in a much cozier venue at Arizona State University. That will be quite the transition for Arizona as it is; at the same time, GM Bill Armstrong has to entice more players into the fold. The Coyotes need scoring, dynamic two-way skaters and guys who will sign multiyear deals. Those boxes won't be easy to check.

At the same time, Armstrong must decide on Chychrun's future. He took many calls on the defenseman prior to the March trade deadline but decided to stand pat. Will that hold into the summer as well? Chychrun had a down year, but he's still viewed as a valuable commodity. Is now the time for Armstrong to swap out his elite defender for some firepower?

Realistic expectations for 2022-23

Getting everyone back and healthy will be critical, of course. And deciding whom to lean on in the net (Karel Vejmelka? Harri Sateri? Someone else?) is another key. If the Coyotes pick right, and Armstrong can fill in the other gaps through trades and free agency, it's reasonable to think Arizona will be better than this season. How much better? Not playoff bound. But not a bottom-feeder.