End to End Hockey’s top 40: Free Agency Board.
%20(1280%20%C3%97%20720%20px).png)
Now Free Agency is only a week and a half away so with that in mind I am going to have my second UFA board and this is a 40 player free agent board, now the board will grow as we get closer to free agency and I am only starting with players who were on teams who missed the playoffs or were eliminated in round 1 which is why guys like Marner and Ehlers aren’t on this second 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 second free agent board of the offseason and the 40 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.) Vladislav Gavrikov
Stats: 5-25-30 in 82GP
Position: LD
Age: 29
Current Team: Kings
Quick Analysis: now maybe one of the best UFA’s defenders on the market this year and a guy who can easily fit into a lot of teams top 4’s would be Vladislav Gavrikov, now Gavrikov has spent the past 2.5 seasons in the LA organization and had really been frowning as a solid defender, he isn’t the best point producer and only had 30 points this year, but he is a stellar defensive guy and can put up at least some points and even though he isn’t overly young, if he isn’t back with the Kings I could see him get a 5-7 year deal and I think k a few teams may go $7+ million if they could get Gavrikov in free agency.
4.) Andrei Kuzmenko
Stats: 11-26-37 in 66GP
Position: LW
Age: 29
Current Team: Kings
Quick Analysis: now probably one of the highest ranked UFA’s on this years open market is Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko, now Kuzmenko spent time with Calgary, Philly and LA last year and did alright but really picked up the pace toward the end of the year when he was in LA and was a great fit there, and I think for the right price could stay in LA, but I feel there are teams out there who view him as a solid top 6 forward and even though he is a class down from the top UFA’s, I could see a ton of teams be open to paying him a multi year deal in the $4-5 Million range and I could definitely see Kuzmenko sign in free agency.
5.) 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.
6.) Claude Giroux
Stats: 15-35-50 in 81GP
Position: WIN
Age: 37
Current Team: Senators
Quick Analysis: now a player who scheduled to hit free agency but one who I think is highly unlikely to actually hit free agency is Claude Giroux, now Giroux who has been with Ottawa the past 3 seasons had his lowest point total over that time as he only had 50 points this year but that is still pretty good for a aging veteran, now I feel Ottawa will resign him but if he hits the open market then any team who could use some more veteran help in the middle six I think could sign Giroux to a 1-3 year contract.
7.) 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.
8.) 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.
9.) 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.
10.) Nick Perbix
Stats: 6-13-19 in 74GP
Position: RD
Age: 27
Current Team: Lightning
Quick Analysis: now a solid young blueliner who I feel will have quite a market for him in free agency is Nick Perbix, now over the past few years Perbix has raised up in the depth charts on Tampa to the point this year where he was a solid 4-5 defenseman on the Bolts blueline and put up nearly 20 points in 74 games and worked out well, but with Perbix probably being able to get $2-3 Million on the open market and the Bolts pressed for cap space, I feel he will hit the open market and any teams in need of a rather cheap 4-5 defensemen would try and target Perbix.
11.) Jonathan Drouin
Stats: 11-26-37 in 43GP
Position: LW,C
Age: 30
Current Team: Avalanche
Quick Analysis: now a solid middle six forward who has basically resurrected his career over the past few years is Jonathan Drouin, now Drouin this past year spent a lot of time out due to injuries but was almost a point per game forward in Colorado this year and since leaving Montreal has played a lot better and I feel that if he doesn’t stay in Colorado then any team in need of a middle six goal scorer will go after Drouin in free agency.
12.) 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.
13.) 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.
14.) Ryan Lindgren
Stats: 4-18-22 in 72GP
Position: LD
Age: 27
Current Team: Avalanche
Quick Analysis: now a solid top 4 defender who might hit free agency and is on the younger side entering free agency is Ryan Lindgren, now Lindgren started the year in NYR and finished in Colorado and had a pretty solid season this past year putting up 20+ points in 70+ games and although he doesn’t put up much points, he is a solid defensive minded top 4 D who plays a fantastic playoff style of hockey, so any team looking to beef up their defence should target Lindgren.
15.) 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.
16.) Christian Dvorak
Stats: 12-21-33 in 82GP
Position: LW,C
Age: 29
Current Team: Habs
Quick Analysis: now one of the Canadiens players who was mentioned in the rumour mill over the past few years but will now leave via free agency is Christian Dvorak, now Dvorak was acquired a few years back to be a solid 2C for the Habs behind Suzuki after they lost Kotkaniemi, but that never wound up being the case and Dvorak never fit in that role but did wind up being a solid 3C and had a solid 33 points in 82 games this year, and I feel any team who needs some 3rd line help from someone who can play the Center position would try and target Dvorak in free agency.
17.) Tanner Jeannot
Stats: 7-6-13 in 67GP
Position: WIN
Age: 28
Current Team: Kings
Quick Analysis: now when it comes to a solid and hard hitting bottom six forward who a lot of teams may have some interest when free agency hits is former Kings forward Jeannot, now Jeannot was acquired by LA last offseason after a subpar season with Tampa and he did alright but only had 13 points in 67 games and finished the season injured, now even though he hasn’t got anywhere close to his rookie point total he is still a tough to play against forward and any team who needs some help in their bottom six and could use some physicality I think would target Jeannot.
18.) 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.
19.) Jake Allen
Stats: 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 31GP
Position: G
Age: 34
Current Team: Devils
Quick Analysis: now maybe one of the best goalies in what is going to be a rather weak free agent class for goalies is Devils tandem goalie Jake Allen, now Allen had pretty good stats when it comes to UFA goalies this year as he had a .908 SV% and sub 2.75 GAA, now over the past few years in Montreal and New Jersey Allen has shown that while he isn’t a clear cut starter, he can be a tandem goalie who came play 30-40 games a year and my guess is any team who needs goalie help but doesn’t want to pay the price of a trade could look to sign Allen in free agency and I feel he could be one of the highest paid UFA goalies this offseason.
20.) 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.
21.) 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.
22.) Gustav Nyquist
Stats: 11-17-28 in 79GP
Position: WIN
Age: 35
Current Team: Wild
Quick Analysis: now a guy who is coming off a down year but over the past few seasons has been a decent middle six forward at the NHL level who needs a new deal is Gustav Nyquist, now after a 70+ point season two years ago, Nyquist only mustered just under 30 point this year with the Preds/Wild, but I think on most teams would be a guy who can play 2nd or 3rd line minutes and be a 40-50 point player for them so I could see some teams offer Nyquist a short term deal with a reasonable AAV.
23.) 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.
24.) 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.
25.) Adam Gaudette
Stats: 19-7-26 in 81GP
Position: C,RW
Age: 28
Current Team: Senators
Quick Analysis: now a breakout season from a bottom six forward this past year which will definitely allow him to get a pay raise this offseason is Adam Gaudette, now Gaudette HD been bouncing around the past few years going from team to team, but he signed in Ottawa and got a NHL opportunity and did great nearly having a 20 goal season which was his best in a while, so any team who is looking to add someone under $2 Million and could potentially put up 15-20 goals I think could target Gaudette in free agency.
26.) 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.
27.) Brian Dumoulin
Stats: 3-19-22 in 80GP
Position: LD
Age: 33
Current Team: Devils
Quick Analysis: now another veteran in line to get a new contract this offseason is former cup champion Brian Dumoulin, now Dumoulin was dealt to Anaheim last offseason where he played this year before being dealt to the Devils at the deadline, now he had a decent year putting up 20 points and he isn’t the best offensive guy, but he is a solid defensive defender and at his age wouldn’t cost too much for teams to sign and play on their 3rd pair so Domoulin in another interesting name to watch.
28.) 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.
29.) 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.
30.) Justin Brazeau
Stats: 11-11-22 in 76GP
Position: WIN
Age: 27
Current Team: Wild
Quick Analysis: now Justin Brazeau is another name entering free agency who I feel some teams could try and target, now Brazeau had a decent season this year splitting time between Boston and Minnesota where he had 20+ point in 76 games, now there was a ton of interest in him at the deadline and I feel that teams in need of some bottom six help with a physical bite to his game could actually offer Brazeau a pretty good deal in free agency.
31.) 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.
32.) 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.
33.) Daniel Sprong
Stats: 2-5-7 in 30GP
Position: WIN
Age: 28
Current Team: Devils
Quick Analysis: now a guy who for a few years looked like one of the best bottom six forwards in the NHL but is now coming off a pretty poor season is former Kraken and Wing Daniel Sprong, now after a few solid seasons in Seattle and Detroit Sprong had a terrible start to the year with Vancouver which lead to him being dealt to Seattle and then to New Jersey where he finished the season and only posted 7 points in 30 NHL Games and also had stints in the AHL, so it definitely was a bad year but teams who could use a solid 4th line forward like Sprong going forward and could see him bounce back I think could wind up giving him a contract.
34.) 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.
35.) 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.
36.) Jimmy Vesey
Stats: 5-2-7 in 42GP
Position: LW
Age: 32
Current Team: Avalanche
Quick Analysis: now when it comes to another bottom six forward who seems to be heading to free agency it is depth forward Jimmy Vesey, now Vesey has bounced around a lot over the past few years as he has been on multiple teams and started this year with NYR before being moved to Colorado where he finished the year, now due to injuries he didn’t get into a ton of games this year but I still feel a lot of teams could look at him as a solid 4th line player so I could see Vesey get a deal at some point in free agency as a depth forward.
37.) 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.
38.) Marc Del Gaizo
Stats: 2-7-9 in 44GP
Position: LD
Age: 25
Current Team: Predators
Quick Analysis: now one of the younger UFA’s on the free agent market right now is a low end defender in the Nashville organization and that is Marc Del Gaizo, now over the past few years Del Gaizo has been mostly a AHL player for the Preds but got into a decent amount of games this year and didn’t look out of place as a 3rd pair defensemen, so I am thinking anyone who could use some younger players and are looking for a 6-7 defender in free agency could try and sign Del Gaizo to a cheap contract to be a depth defender in the NHL.
39.) 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.
40.) Alex Georgiev
Stats: 3.63 GAA and .874 SV% in 49GP
Position: G
Age: 29
Current Team: Sharks
Quick Analysis: now another goalie who is probably on the lower end of the free agency spectrum after a terrible season is Alex Georgiev, now Georgiev started the year in Colorado but had a bad start and was dealt to San Jose where he finished the season with some really bad stats, now I feel Georgiev won’t be a starter in the NHL next season but could still be a serviceable backup who can play 20-30 games in the NHL and although I don’t think he is the goalie he was a few years ago, I could see teams in need of some backup help target Georgiev this offseason.
So those are my top 40 free agents as we are about a week and a half 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 more players on it from the final 8, 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.
Comments
Post a Comment