Nemcsak a Keleti, a Nyugati Főcsoportban is jelentős mozgás volt nyáron. A bajnok Chicagót Blackhawkst például 15-en hagyták el, és közel ugyanennyien érkeztek más klubból. Szinte alig változott a keret Columbusban és Los Angelesben. Mike Modano, aki húszéves NHL-karrierje során ugyanabban a franchise-ban hokizott és 1459 meccset játszott a Minnesota North Stars és a Dallas Stars csapataiban, nem kapott szerződést a következő szezonra, így Detroitba igazolt. Hajtás alatt átigazolások ömlesztve.

Anaheim Ducks
Érkezett: Jason Jaffray (Calgary), Toni Lydman (Buffalo), Trevor Smith (New York Islanders), Aaron Voros (New York Rangers), Ryan Hillier (New York Rangers), Josh Green (MoDo), Tomas Zaborsky (New York Rangers), Danny Syvret (Philadelphia), Andy Sutton (Ottawa Senators).
Távozott: Steven Kampfer (Boston), Mattias Modig (Pittsburgh), Scott Niedermayer (visszavonult), Mike Brown (Toronto), Logan MacMillan (Calgary), Joey MacDonald (Detroit), Brennan Evans (St. Louis), Steve Eminger (New York Rangers), Nathan Oystrick (St. Louis), Matt McCue (New York Rangers), James Wisniewski (New York Islanders), Aaron Ward (visszavonult).
Hoszabbított: Teemu Selänne (2011), Brendan Mikkelson (2011), Nick Bonino (2011), Saku Koivu (2012), Jean-Philippe Levasseur (2011), Kyle Chipchura (2011), Sheldon Brookbank (2012).

Calgary Flames
Érkezett: Logan MacMillan (Anaheim), Alex Tanguay (Tampa Bay), Olli Jokinen (New York Rangers), Tim Jackman (New York Islanders), Raitis Ivanans (Los Angeles), Ryan Stone (Edmonton), Stefan Meyer (Phoenix).
Távozott: Brad Cole (még nincs csapata), Jason Jaffray (Anaheim), Eric Nystrom (Minnesota), Christopher Higgins (Florida), David Van Der Gulik (Colorado), Brett Palin (Nashville), Jamal Mayers (San Jose), Colin Stuart (Buffalo), Nigel Dawes (Atlanta).
Hosszabbított: Craig Conroy (2011), Brett Sutter (2011)

Chicago Blackhawks
Érkezett: Mathias Olimb (Frölunda), Marcus Krüger (Djurgarden), Jeremy Morin (Atlanta), Marty Reasoner (Atlanta), Jimmy Hayes (Toronto), Chris DiDomenico (Toronto), Philippe Paradis (Toronto), Viktor Stalberg (Toronto), Ivan Visnyevszkij (Atlanta), John Scott (Minnesota), Igor Makarov (Dinamo Moszkva), Jeff Taffe (Florida), Hugh Jessiman (Nashville), Marty Turco (Dallas), Fernando Pisani (Edmonton), Ryan Potulny (Edmonton).
Távozott: Brent Sopel (Atlanta), Dustin Byfuglien (Atlanta), Akim Aliu (Atlanta), Ben Eager (Atlanta), Colin Fraser (Edmonton), Kris Versteeg (Toronto), Joey Crabb (Toronto), Andrew Ladd (Atlanta), Adam Burish (Dallas), Danny Richmond (Toronto), Richard Petiot (Edmonton), Kyle Greentree (Washington), Marty Reasoner (Florida), Mark Cullen (Florida), John Madden (Minnesota), Antti Niemi (San Jose).
Hosszabbított: Nick Boynton (2011), Jordan Hendry (2011), Bryan Bickell (2013), Jack Skille (2011).

Colorado Avalanche
Érkezett: Jonas Holös (Färjestad), Daniel Winnik (Phoenix), David Van Der Gulik (Calgary), David Liffiton (Columbus), Greg Mauldin (New York Islanders), Julian Talbot (St. Louis), Ben Walter (New Jersey).
Távozott: T. J. Hensick (St. Louis), Brett Clark (Tampa Bay), Brian Fahey (Washington), Tyler Weiman (Vancouver), Brian Willsie (Washington), Chris Durno (Tampa Bay), Ruszlan Szalej (Detroit).
Hosszabbított: Chris Stewart (2012), Brandon Yip (2012), Daniel Winnik (2012), Kyle Quincey (2012), Kevin Porter (2011), Philippe Dupuis (2011), David Koci (2011), Peter Budaj (2011).

Columbus Blue Jackets
Érkezett: Gustaf Wesslau (Djurgarden), Ethan Moreau (Edmonton), Nate Guenin (St. Louis), Kyle Wilson (Washington), David LeNeveu (EC Salzburg), Ben Guite (Nashville).
Távozott: David Liffiton (Colorado), Nathan Paetsch (Florida), Greg Moore (Philadelphia).
Hosszabbított: Michael Blunden (2011), Anton Stralman (2011), Grant Clitsome (2011), Jared Boll (2012), Derek MacKenzie (2012).

Dallas Stars
Érkezett: Philip Larsen (Frölunda), Severin Blindenbacher (Färjestad), Adam Burish (Chicago), Andrew Raycroft (Vancouver), Brad Lukowich (Vancouver), Jonathan Cheechoo (Ottawa).
Távozott: Warren Peters (Minnesota), Matt Climie (Phoenix), Garrett Stafford (Phoenix), Andrew Hutchinson (Pittsburgh), Dan Jancevski (Philadelphia), Marty Turco (Chicago), Mike Modano (Detroit), Jere Lehtinen (visszavonult).
Hosszabbított: Nicklas Grossman (2012), Fabian Brunnström (2011), Maxime Fortunus (2011), Krys Barch (2012).

Detroit Red Wings
Érkezett: Joakim Andersson (Frölunda), Jiri Hudler (Dinamo Moszkva), Ilari Filppula (TPS), Joey MacDonald (Anaheim), Jamie Johnson (Florida), Chris Minard (Edmonton), Mike Modano (Dallas), Ruszlan Szalej (Colorado).
Távozott: Jason Williams (még nincs csapata), Brett Lebda (Toronto), Jeremy Williams (New York Rangers).
Hosszabbított: Kirk Maltby (2011), Justin Abdelkader (2012), Jamie Tardif (2011), Darren Helm (2012), Derek Meech (2011), Patrick Eaves (2011), Drew Miller (2011), Todd Bertuzzi (2012), Doug Janik (2012), Tomas Holmström (2012), Nicklas Lidström (2011).

Edmonton Oilers
Érkezett: Linus Omark (Dinamo Moszkva), Teemu Hartikainen (KalPa), Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson (Timra), Colin Fraser (Chicago), Jim Vandermeer (Phoenix), Kurtis Foster (Tampa Bay), Richard Petiot (Chicago), Steve MacIntyre (Florida), Alexandre Giroux (Washington), Brad Moran (Skelleftea), Ben Ondrus (Toronto), Shawn Belle (Montréal), Gregory Stewart (Montréal), Martin Gerber (Atlant).
Távozott: Patrick O'Sullivan (Phoenix), Ethan Moreau (Columbus), Chris Minard (Detroit), Ryan Stone (Calgary), Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Tampa Bay), Robert Nilsson (Szalavat Julajev), Dean Arsene (St. Louis), Fernando Pisani (Chicago), Aaron Johnson (Nashville), Mike Comrie (Pittsburgh), Ryan Potulny (Chicago).
Hosszabbított: Sam Gagner (2012), Liam Reddox (2011), Jeff Deslauriers (2011), Gilbert Brule (2012), Theo Peckham (2011), Jean-Francois Jacques (2011), Devan Dubnyk (2012), Jason Strudwick (2011), Colin Fraser (2012).

Los Angeles Kings
Érkezett: Johan Fransson (Lulea), Alekszej Ponyikarovszkij (Pittsburgh), Willie Mitchell (Vancouver).
Távozott: Sean O'Donnell (Philadelphia), Raitis Ivanans (Calgary), Drew Bagnall (Minnesota), Alekszandr Frolov (New York Rangers), Randy Jones (Tampa Bay), Fredrik Modin (Atlanta), Jeff Halpern (Montréal).
Hosszabbított: Corey Elkins (2011), Rich Clune (2011), Trevor Lewis (2011), Brad Richardson (2011).

Minnesota Wild
Érkezett: Brad Staubitz (San Jose), Matt Cullen (Ottawa), Eric Nystrom (Calgary), Drew Bagnall (Los Angeles), Warren Peters (Dallas), Joel Broda (EC Salzburg), John Madden (Chicago).
Távozott: Derek Boogaard (New York Rangers), John Scott (Chicago), Andrew Ebbett (Phoenix), Jaime Sifers (Atlanta), Andy Hilbert (New York Islanders).
Hosszabbított: Anton Khudobin (2011), Mikko Koivu (2018), Josh Harding (2011), Robbie Earl (2011), Guillaume Latendresse (2012), Nate Prosser (2011), Brad Staubitz (2011), James Sheppard (2011).

Nashville Predators
Érkezett: Linus Klasen (Södertälje), Kelsey Wilson (EC Salzburg), Anders Lindbäck (Timra), Roman Josi (HC Bern), Atte Engren (TPS), Ryan Parent (Philadelphia), Matt Halischuk (New Jersey), Szergej Kosztyicin (Montréal), Jonas Andersson (Dinamo Minszk), Matthew Lombardi (Phoenix), Brett Palin (Calgary), Jamie Lundmark (Toronto), Aaron Johnson (Edmonton), Grant Lewis (Atlanta).
Távozott: Jason Arnott (New Jersey), Dustin Boyd (Montréal), Triston Grant (Florida), Nolan Yonkman (Phoenix), Hugh Jessiman (Chicago), Gyenyisz Grebeskov (SZKA Szentpétervár), Dave Scatchard (St. Louis), Mike Santorelli (Florida), Ben Guite (Columbus), Ian McKenzie (Atlanta).
Hosszabbított: Cody Franson (2012), Patric Hörnqvist (2013), Ryan Parent (2012), Teemu Laakso (2011), Andreas Thuresson (2011), Francis Bouillon (2012).

Phoenix Coyotes
Érkezett: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand), Makszim Goncsarov (CSZKA Moszkva), Patrick O'Sullivan (Edmonton), Ray Whitney (Carolina), Andrew Ebbett (Minnesota), Nolan Yonkman (Nashville), Matt Climie (Dallas), Garrett Stafford (Dallas), Kyle Wellwood (Vancouver).
Távozott: Daniel Winnik (Colorado), Jim Vandermeer (Edmonton), Zbynek Michalek (Pittsburgh), Matthew Lombardi (Nashville), Sean Sullivan (San Jose), Stefan Meyer (Calgary), Francis Lessard (Ottawa), David Spina (St. Louis), Petteri Nokelainen (Jokerit), Shaun Heshka (EC Salzburg).
Hosszabbított: Lee Stempniak (2012), Alexandre Picard (2011), Derek Morris (2014), Sami Lepistö (2011), Wojtek Wolski (2012), Taylor Pyatt (2012), Adrian Aucoin (2012), David Schlemko (2013), Ryan Hollweg (2011), Scottie Upshall (2011).

San Jose Sharks
Érkezett: Harri Säteri (Tappara), Antero Niittymäki (Tampa Bay), Sean Sullivan (Phoenix), Jamal Mayers (Calgary), Antti Niemi (Chicago).
Távozott: Dwight Helminen (Pelicans), Brad Staubitz (Minnesota), Manny Malhotra (Vancouver), Brett Sterling (Pittsburgh), Jevgenyij Nabokov (SZKA Szentpétervár), Joe Callahan (Florida).
Hosszabbított: Derek Joslin (2011), Devin Setoguchi (2011), Jason Demers (2013), Jay Leach (2011), Niclas Wallin (2011), Scott Nichol (2011), Joe Pavelski (2014), Patrick Marleau (2014).

St. Louis Blues
Érkezett: Nyikita Nyikitin (Avangard Omszk), Jaroslav Halak (Montréal), T. J. Hensick (Colorado), Vladimir Sobotka (Boston), Brennan Evans (Anaheim), Nathan Oystrick (Anaheim), Stefan Della Rovere (Washington), Graham Mink (Washington), Dave Scatchard (Nashville), Dean Arsene (Edmonton), David Spina (Phoenix).
Távozott: Keith Tkachuk (visszavonult), Lars Eller (Montréal), Chris Mason (Atlanta), Nate Guenin (Columbus), Julian Talbot (Colorado), Darryl Sydor (visszavonult), D. J. King (Washington), Mike Weaver (Florida), T. J. Fast (Florida), Paul Kariya (betegség miatt kihagyja a szezont).
Hosszabbított: Erik Johnson (2012), David Perron (2012), Cam Janssen (2011), Carlo Colaiacovo (2012), Brad Winchester (2011), Vladimir Sobotka (2011), Alexander Steen (2014), Matt D'Agostini (2011).

Vancouver Canucks
Érkezett: Lee Sweatt (TPS), Anton Rödin (Brynäs), Keith Ballard (Florida), Victor Oreskovich (Florida), Joël Perrault (Zug), Manny Malhotra (San Jose), Dan Hamhuis (Pittsburgh), Jeff Tambellini (New York Islanders), Tyler Weiman (Colorado), Raffi Torres (Buffalo).
Távozott: Ryan Johnson (még nincs csapata), Andrew Raycroft (Dallas), Nathan McIver (Boston), Pavol Demitra (Lokomotiv Jaroszlavl), Brad Lukowich (Dallas), Matt Pettinger (Kölner Haie), Willie Mitchell (Los Angeles), Kyle Wellwood (Phoenix),
Hosszabbított: Mario Bliznak (2011), Mason Raymond (2012), Jannik Hansen (2011), Tanner Glass (2011), Shane O'Brien (2011), Alexandre Bolduc (2011), Aaron Rome (2012), Cory Schneider (2012).