End to End Hockey’s top 25: Free Agency Board.
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Now Free Agency is only a few weeks away and we are just over a month from the opening of free regency so with that in mind I am going to start off with a 25 player free agent board, now the board will grow as we heavy gloser to free agency and I am only starting with players who were on teams who missed the playoffs which is why guys like Marner and Ehlers aren’t on this first free agent board, but I will have a few more posts over the next few weeks expanding the list of players from more and more teams, but for the time being here is my first free agent board of the offseason and the 25 players that are starting on it.
1.) Brock Boeser
Stats: 25-25-50 in 75GP
Position: RW
Age: 28
Current Team: Canucks
Quick Analysis: a solid top 6 winger who is not too far removed from a 40 goal season, most likely going to test free agency and will be a very likely target for any teams in desperate need of some top 6 goal scoring and is one of the best free agents for this year.
2.) Ivan Provorov
Stats: 7-26-33 in 82GP
Position: LD/RD
Age: 29
Current Team: Jackets
Quick Analysis: a solid top 4 defender who has resurrected his career in Columbus and has been a very fantastic 2nd pair guy, is probably one of the top UFA defenders in this years class and while it is not ruled out of him staying in Columbus, the offers he could get in free agency could lead him to sign elsewhere in free agency.
3.) Matt Grzelyck
Stats: 1-39-40 in 82GP
Position: LD
Age: 31
Current Team: Penguins
Quick Analysis: another solid D player that may test free agency is Matt Grzelyck, coming off a 1 year deal in Pittsburgh where he was on of the better defensive players on that Penguins team, is probably going to get a multi year deal in free agency and Grzelyck who can be a 4-5 defender on most teams should be able to be one of the higher paid defensemen in this years free agent class.
4.) Pius Suter
Stats: 25-21-46 in 81GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 29
Current Team: Canucks
Quick Analysis: one of maybe the more surprising players on this first free agent board is Pius Suter, Suter who can play wing but also Center is coming off a career season last year and for any team who could use a versatile middle six forward who can put up 20+ goals a year, I feel they will target him and I think Suter will get a massive pay bump this offseason.
5.) Ryan Donato
Stats: 31-31-62 in 80GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 29
Current Team: Blackhawks
Quick Analysis: now a guy who I think is a little less likely to hit free agency but someone who could be a top free agent if he was to hit the open market is Ryan Donato, as he had a breakout season this past year hitting 30 goals and 60 points and if he doesn’t remain with the Hawks, any team who needs a 2nd or 3rd line player who can put up around 50 points and has about $3-4 Million in space would probably be all over trying to sign Donato.
6.) Patrick Kane
Stats: 21-38-59 in 72GP
Position: RW
Age: 36
Current Team: Red Wings
Quick Analysis: now another top end UFA in the years class is veteran forward Patrick Kane, now Kane has had a few good season in Detroit and is still a very fantastic and dynamic top 6 forward and if he does hit free agency, teams who could use a veteran in a top 6 role might look to sign Kane to a 1-2 year deal and I feel he could be one of the more intriguing players in free agency this year.
7.) Dante Fabbro
Stats: 9-17-26 in 68GP
Position: RD
Age: 26
Current Team: Jackets
Quick Analysis: next up is Fabbro o who on this first list is one of the top D UFA’s, now Fabbro is a solid 3rd or potentially 2nd pair defensemen and while he won’t put up a lot of points, he is really good in his own zone and I feel that any team who needs another solid defensive defender on their team might be willing to sign Fabbro for maybe between $2-3.5 Million on the open market.
8.) Kyle Palmieri
Stats: 24-24-48 in 82GP
Position: RW
Age: 34
Current Team: Islanders
Quick Analysis: now here we have another player I am not sure is going to hit free agency and that is Palmieri, now he has been a solid forward in the Islanders organization the last few years and there was some recent reports he would extend with the Islanders instead of hitting free agency, but if he does I think there would be a few teams who would like to add him to their middle six and for a decent cap hit and he could get a solid deal.
9.) Henri Jokiharju
Stats: 3-7-10 in 60GP
Position: RD
Age: 25
Current Team: Bruins
Quick Analysis: now another defender who is heading for free agency is Jokiharju, now Jokiharju who was a former first round pick from a few years ago has turned into a solid defensive defensemen and can be a 4-5 defender on almost any team and I feel like if there are teams out there who could try and add Jokiharju to their 2nd or 3rd pair and Jokiharju could get a bit of a pay bump so keep your eye on him.
10.) Antony Mantha
Stats: 4-3-7 in 13GP
Position: WIN
Age: 30
Current Team: Flames
Quick Analysis: now a guy who just hit free agency last year and will probably again this year is Mantha, now Mantha signed a 1 year deal with Calgary last offseason but missed most of the year due to injuries, so even though he is coming off of a long injury I feel like teams could still sign him to a shorter term deal to have him play in their middle six and I still feel that Mantha should be able to get a solid deal in free agency.
11.) Dan Vladar
Stats: 2.86 GAA and .895 SV% in 29GP
Position: G
Age: 27
Current Team: Flames
Quick Analysis: now one of the better goalie free agents this year is Flames goalie Vladar, now Vladar showed this year he can be a solid backup or tandem goalie and if the Flames don’t bring him back to play with Wolf I think he will hit the free agent market and be one of the better goalies on the market and I think he could get a short term deal to be a teams backup.
12.) Nick Bjugstad
Stats: 8-11-19 in 66GP
Position: C, RW
Age: 32
Current Team: Mammoth
Quick Analysis: another decent and versatile bottom six forward is Bjugstad as he had a decent season over in Utah this year, and he has shown he could be a decent bottom six forward and I don’t feel that it would take too much to sign him so for a team who could use some more bottom six help and needs a veteran presence they may try and go after Bjugstad.
13.) James Reimer
Stats: 2.90 GAA and .901 SV% in 24GP
Position: G
Age: 37
Current Team: Sabres
Quick Analysis: now another top goalie in this years free agent class is James Reimer, now Reimer is beyond his prime and not the goalie he once was, but showed this year in Buffalo that he can still be a serviceable backup and play maybe 15-20 games on a team, and while I think there are better goalies out there, I could see 1-2 teams take a flyer on him to be their backup.
14.) James Van Riemsdyk
Stats: 16-19-35 in 69GP
Position: LW
Age: 36
Current Team: Jackets
Quick Analysis: now a solid 3rd line forward that is once again entering free agency is JVR, now Van Riemsdyk signed a 1 year deal with Columbus last year and did alright getting 15 goals and 35 points and I feel that there would definitely be a few teams out there that would pay JVR between $1-2 Million on a short term deal to help their team out on the 3rd line so keep your eyes on JVR.
15.) Robbi Fabbri
Stats: 8-8-16 in 44GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 29
Current Team: Ducks
Quick Analysis: now another solid middle six forward for free agency is Robbi Fabbri, now after a injury riddled season with Anaheim where he only played in 44 games, I don’t see many teams offering a long term deal to Fabbri, but he is still a very effective 3rd line player who can put up some solid goal totals, so even though I don’t think he will get a big deal, I feel that Fabbri will be a name to watch in free agency.
16.) Michael Carcone
Stats: 7-12-19 in 53GP
Position: LW, C
Age: 29
Current Team: Mammoth
Quick Analysis: now a solid and very effective bottom six forward from over the past few years in Arizona/Utah who is hitting the free agent market is Carcone, now Carcone is coming off a very team friendly deal, but had another solid season last year having nearly 20 points in only 53 games played and I feel he will double his AAV in free agency and any team who needs a player with speed and who can produce I think would be all over Carcone in free agency.
17.) Tyler Motte
Stats: 4-5-9 in 55GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 30
Current Team: Red Wings
Quick Analysis: now another intriguing bottom six player that will most likely enter free agency this year with Tyler Motte, now Motte over the past few years had been bouncing around but is a solid 4th line/depth player in the NHL and I don’t feel it would take much to sign him, so I think there would be a few teams interested in signing Motte for some forward depth.
18.) Jeff Petry
Stats: 1-7-8 in 44GP
Position: RD
Age: 37
Current Team: Red Wings
Quick Analysis: now a solid 3rd pair defensemen who is about to hit free agency is Jeff Petry, now Petry was on a really bad contract over the past few years and Detroit in my opinion played him too high in the lineup, but I still feel that on a cheap $1-2 AAV and being a teams 6-7 D instead of a 4-5 Defender he could be a valuable pieces for a team, so while I do t think he is the best Free Agent Defender out there, I do think some teams would want him as a depth defender.
19.) Sean Kuraly
Stats: 6-11-17 in 82GP
Position: C, LW
Age: 32
Current Team: Jackets
Quick Analysis: now a solid 4th line player who is scheduled for free agency is Jackets bottom six forward Sean Kuraly, now Kuraly isn’t the same player he was when he hit free agency 4 years ago, so I am not too sure he will get more then $2 Million on a AAV and it will probably be a shorter term deal, but Kuraly has shown he can be a solid 4C in the NHL and I do feel there are a few teams out there who could use some bottom six help who would target Kuraly.
20.) Cole Koepke
Stats: 10-7-17 in 73GP
Position: WIN
Age: 27
Current Team: Bruins
Quick Analysis: now yet another solid bottom six forward who is scheduled to hit free agency is Bruins bottom six forward Koepke, now after starting his career with Tampa, Koepke signed a 1 year deal in free agency with Boston last year and did great as he was a consistent NHL player, very hard to play against and nearly had 20 points, so with all of this in mind and the fact he is on the younger side, I think there are teams out there who may give him a multi year deal to be a decent bottom six forward so we will have to wait and see.
21.) Luke Kunin
Stats: 11-7-18 in 75GP
Position: C, RW
Age: 27
Current Team: Jackets
Quick Analysis: now another solid bottom six forward that is heading to free agency is Luke Kunin, now Kunin has been with the Sharks the last few years and was dealt at the deadline to Columbus where he continued to be a very good bottom six forward and even though he had a down year this season, I still feel that Kunin can be a solid bottom six forward and any team in need of some bottom six help I think could go after Kunin.
22.) Craig Smith
Stats: 9-9-18 in 59GP
Position: C, RW
Age: 35
Current Team: Red Wings
Quick Analysis: now we have yet another bottom six forward here and that is Craig Smith who signed a 1 year deal in Chicago and finished off the year in Detroit, now Smith is one of the older players entering free agency, but has shown over the past few years he can still be a very serviceable 4th line/depth forward and I feel teams in need of some forward depth and experience and don’t have too much money could go after a guy like Smith.
23.) Tony DeAngelo
Stats: 4-15-19 in 35GP
Position: RD
Age: 29
Current Team: Islanders
Quick Analysis: now we have a very interesting pending UFA and that is Tony DeAngelo, now after a few years playing with NYR, CAR and PHI, DeAngelo signed over in the KHL but was brought in by NYI midway through the year, and actually found a home on the 2nd pair for the Islanders this year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if NYI brought him back but if they don’t I could see a handful of teams try and bring in DeAngelo on like a short term deal to play 2nd or 3rd pair minutes in free agency.
24.) Michael Eyssimont
Stats: 9-7-16 in 77GP
Position: C,LW
Age: 28
Current Team: Kraken
Quick Analysis: now another interesting UFA that might head to UFA status on July 1st is Eyssimont, now Eyssimont had carved himself out a decent bottom six role in Tampa and was traded to and finished the year in Seattle, now Eyssimont is on the younger side of most UFA’s and I feel that there would be a few teams out there who would pay for a decent bottom six forward like Eyssimont in free agency.
25.) Jakub Vrana
Stats: 8-5-13 in 37GP
Position: WIN
Age: 29
Current Team: Predators
Quick Analysis: and another intriguing UFA is Jakub Vrana, now Vrana had a solid start to the year with Washington but was then waiver claimed by Nashville who he finished the year with, now he didn’t play in too many games this year but I feel could still be a solid bottom six forward for a lot of teams out there, so although I don’t feel that he will get very much on the AAV, I think he will be a decent UFA for a lot of teams.
So those are my top 25 free agents just a couple of weeks away from free agency, so for now that is my list of top free agents and I will hopefully have another one coming in the next week or two with more players on it, and I would love to hear your opinion on who I have too high, too low and who you would put on it in the comments section below.
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