Top 50 pending UFAs: 50-41

With July 1 less than two months away, theScore takes a look at the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the start of free agency.

Stats Legend:
GV = Giveaways
TK = Takeaways
ATOI = Average time on ice per game
CF% = Percentage of shot attempts team took while player was on ice at even strength
(Rel) = CF% of player compared to when he's not on the ice

50. Kevin Bieksa

Position: Defense
Age on July 1: 37
2017-18 cap hit: $4M
2017-18 team: Ducks

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
59	0	8	8	41	12	18:01	44.3 (-6.0)

Bieksa is still tough in the corners but the game has caught up to him. He's a sixth defenseman at best, and he better be paired with someone who can skate and move the puck.

49. Chris Kunitz

Position: Left Wing
Age on July 1: 38
2017-18 cap hit: $2M
2017-18 team: Lightning

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
82	13	16	29	29	38	11:57	50.2 (-1.7)

A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Kunitz's leadership is immeasurable. However, at this stage of his career, he's nothing more than a fourth-liner. But, despite a lack of foot speed, he can still play that role adequately due to his grit and ability to finish.

48. Matt Cullen

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 41
2017-18 cap hit: $1M
2017-18 team: Wild

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
79	11	11	22	17	14	11:54	40.5 (-8.1)

Like Kunitz, Cullen brings championship pedigree and leadership with his three Stanley Cup rings. If he decides to play another year, he can still be a decent fourth-line center.

47. Cam Ward

Position: Goaltender
Age on July 1: 34
2017-18 cap hit: $3.3M
2017-18 team: Hurricanes

GP	Rec.	GAA	SV%	SO
43	23-14-4	2.73	.906	2

We've seen enough of Ward to know he's not a starter, but he could still be a serviceable backup for a team in the market for a solid No. 2.

46. Antoine Vermette

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 35
2017-18 cap hit: $1.75M
2017-18 team: Ducks

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
64	8	8	16	17	14	13:45	45.3 (-2.9)

Vermette has remarkably won at least 60 percent of his faceoffs in each of the last two seasons. Puck possession is so valuable in today's NHL, so even at 35, he will have no problem finding himself a one-year deal to be a team's fourth-line center.

45. Jay Beagle

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 32
2017-18 cap hit: $1.75M
2017-18 team: Capitals

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
79	7	15	22	10	25	12:27	39.2 (-10.8)

Beagle's possession numbers appear dreadful, but it's important to note he started nearly 75 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone. He's an elite faceoff man and penalty killer, and though he provides virtually no offense, he's still a valuable player in the right role.

44. Greg Pateryn

Position: Defense
Age on July 1: 28
2017-18 cap hit: $800K
2017-18 team: Stars

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
73	1	12	13	38	5	19:27	49.8 (-1.7)

Pateryn was probably miscast as nearly a 20-minute-per-game defenseman, but he managed to post bearable possession numbers despite an offensive-zone start percentage of just 38.6. With his size (6-foot-3, 224 lbs), relative youth, and right-handedness, Pateryn shouldn't have an issue finding a home as a bottom-pairing blue-liner.

43. Derek Grant

Position: Center
Age on July 1: 28
2017-18 cap hit: $650K
2017-18 team: Ducks

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
64	12	12	24	13	18	11:06	46.3 (-1.0)

A late bloomer, Grant had a breakout season for the Ducks. He's 6-foot-3 and 215 lbs, only 28 years old, and is skilled in the faceoff circle (53.1 percent) - qualities that should make him attractive to several teams for a bottom-six role.

42. Jaroslav Halak

Position: Goaltender
Age on July 1: 33
2017-18 cap hit: $4.5M
2017-18 team: Islanders

GP	Rec.	GAA	SV%	SO
54	20-26-6	3.19	.908	1

It's actually impressive that Halak's save percentage was only four points below the league average (.912) considering he had one of the worst defensive teams of all time in front of him. Regardless, if he's a starter, that team probably isn't postseason bound. He would be a good platoon goalie for a team trying to bring along a young starter.

41. Antoine Roussel

Position: Left wing
Age on July 1: 28
2017-18 cap hit: $2M
2017-18 team: Stars

GP	G	A	P	GV	TK	ATOI	CF% (rel)
73	5	12	17	32	16	12:26	52.4 (+1.5)

Roussel scored between 12 and 14 goals the previous four seasons but struggled mightily in 2017-18. While enforcers are a thing of the past, having a player such as Roussel who will willingly drop the mitts is extremely valuable considering he's also effective in a bottom-six role.

(Salary information courtesy: Cap Friendly)
(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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