The top-15 UFAs who remain available as we approach August
As we enter the doldrums of the summer and with the NHL's free agent frenzy in the rearview mirror, we take a look at the best players remaining on the open market.
After NHL clubs spent over 1.2 billion dollars on 185 deals during the first day of free agency, the rumour mill has quieted down and come to a standstill. Most of the top UFAs have found new homes and signed lucrative deals but as the calendar turns from July to August next week, Matt Larkin from the Daily Faceoff reminds us that there are still some valuable UFAs available on the open market.
Amongst them include defesenmen Tony DeAngelo, Oliver Kylington, Justin Schultz, John Klingberg, and Tyson Barrie. Forwards include James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Johnson, Kevin Labanc, Mike Hoffman, Max Pacioretty, Jakub Vrana, Nick Cousins, Filip Zadina, and Cal Clutterbuck and goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
It's definitely not the most appealing list but at this stage in the off-season many of them would be willing to sign for a lot cheaper than they initially held out for when the free agent window opened. Amongst them are a myriad of top-9 veteran forwards who at one point in time scored well above 25-30 goals in a season, offensive-minded defensemen who can quarterback a power play, and pest-like fourth liners who can pack a punch.
Larkin has also provided projected contracts - courtesy of AFP Analytics - and if any team was looking for a veteran middle-of-the-lineup player who can add tertiary scoring they could sign van Riemsdyk for 1.2 million, Labanc at just 893,000$, Hoffman for just 1.15 million, or Vrana for 845,000$. If teams want to take a chance on a younger player with potential they could look for Zadina who is projected at just 1.21 million.
If clubs are desperate for power play quarterbacks Barrie, DeAngelo, and Schultz would be perfect options and could slide in nicely on the second unit. Barrie is projected at just 1.75 million, DeAngelo is projected for the same cap hit but for 2 years, and Schultz would come in for slightly more at 2.4 million per season on a 2-year deal.
The most surprising duo to still be without new homes would be Clutterbuck and Cousins, especially with how NHL teams and GMs covet fourth-line spark plugs nowadays. Cousins is coming off a Stanley Cup winning season and can provide close to double-digit goals and 20+ points while being able to get under the opposition's skin. Clutterbuck is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons but can give you similar offensive production as Cousins and led the league in hits for most of his prime. His veteran leadership would be a boon for any contending club.
Of the 16 UFAs mentioned in his list, one already signed in Alex Nylander who agreed to terms with the Toronto Marlies. As for the rest, they are a solid group of players who would fill in nicely for most contending teams looking for more depth or even rebuilding teams looking for veteran presence and leadership. If they remain on the open market as we inch closer to training camp, expect many of them to sign PTOs and fight for a job with the regular season on the line.
Source for Matt Larkin's story:Top remaining free agents: The best 2024 UFAs still on the board
| POLL | ||
28 JUILLET | 1608 ANSWERS The top-15 UFAs who remain available as we approach August With the Maple Leafs not having addressed their offense, who would you want them to sign? | ||
| James van Riemsdyk | 376 | 23.4 % |
| Mike Hoffman | 136 | 8.5 % |
| Filip Zadina | 133 | 8.3 % |
| None of them, let the kids play | 963 | 59.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
