Ranking the NHL's top pending unrestricted free agents
Even with Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury off the board, this summer's crop of potential NHL unrestricted free agents is one of the deepest in years.
The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche provide a handful of impact players to this list and have already all but said goodbye to one of them.
Numerous stars and many more solid contributors could sign with new clubs, though some big names may elect to stick with their current squads. Patrice Bergeron has reportedly elected to do just that, and others could do the same, especially given the fact that the salary cap is only going up by $1 million for next season. However, the stars listed here are still candidates to join the frenzy unless things change in the days ahead.
Here are the league's top pending UFAs who could test the market beginning Tuesday:
Goals saved above expected figures are at five-on-five
1. Johnny Gaudreau| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 40 | 75 | 29 on Aug. 13 | $6.75M |
There's no question "Johnny Hockey" will be the biggest name out there if he and the Calgary Flames can't agree on a new deal, but that's the biggest "if" of this offseason. Either way, Gaudreau is in line for a hefty raise after he tied for second in the NHL in points and finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting, helping the Flames win the Pacific Division title and a playoff series this spring.
The New Jersey-born winger has said he loves being in Calgary, and Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy called an extension a "done deal" in February. There'll clearly be an abundance of teams lining up to lure Gaudreau away from Alberta if those talks don't result in an agreement.
2. Nazem Kadri| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 28 | 59 | 31 | $4.5M |
No one made a bigger jump on this list over the course of this past campaign than Kadri. The Avalanche center set career highs in assists and points while eclipsing his personal-best average ice time by over 90 seconds at 19:14. He further boosted his value in the playoffs with clutch performances and gutted it out en route to the championship after having thumb surgery during Round 3.
Peaking after 30 is rare, and with Kadri turning 32 in early October, giving him term and a large raise would definitely carry some risk. He's likely to regress - especially if he departs Colorado - but Kadri has undoubtedly earned a pay bump and will be highly coveted if he tests the market.
3. Claude Giroux (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 21 | 44 | 34 | $8.28M ($4.14M after trade) |
Giroux and the Ottawa Senators reportedly agreed to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $6.5 million Wednesday.
Teams are reportedly already lining up for Giroux; the Edmonton Oilers are apparently eyeing him as a backup plan if Evander Kane departs. Giroux had a very good 2021-22 season despite his age and the fact he played for the lackluster Philadelphia Flyers for most of it before they traded him to the Florida Panthers.
4. Evgeni Malkin (signed)
Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / Getty| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 20 | 22 | 36 on July 31 | $9.5M |
Malkin and the Penguins agreed to a four-year deal with an AAV of $6.1 million on Tuesday.
Malkin's negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins haven't gone as swimmingly as the Letang talks, and the Russian forward is now reportedly expected to test free agency for the first time after 16 seasons with the club. Malkin showed this past season he can still perform at a high level when healthy, but his age and injury history have made his next contract far less cut-and-dried than the previous ones.
5. Evander Kane (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 22 | 17 | 31 on Aug. 2 | $2.1M |
Kane and the Oilers agreed on a 4-year extension carrying an AAV of $5.125 million Wednesday.
Kane fit in seamlessly with the Oilers after signing a one-year contract in late January, and he's clearly looking for more money and term now. However, his numerous transgressions should give other teams pause if Edmonton doesn't bring him back. It's also unclear how Kane would play without Connor McDavid now that the former San Jose Sharks winger is nearing the wrong side of 30.
6. Valeri Nichushkin (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 25 | 27 | 27 | $2.5M |
Nichushkin and the Avalanche agreed on an 8-year extension carrying an AAV of $6.125 million Monday.
Much like Kadri, Nichushkin significantly improved his stock while playing for the Avalanche in a contract year. The 10th overall pick in 2013 finally provided consistent offense in his sixth full NHL campaign before going off with 15 points in 20 playoff games. While Nichushkin - like Kadri - owes some of his success to his situation in Colorado, his strong two-way game and impressive underlying numbers suggest he'd succeed elsewhere.
7. Darcy Kuemper| Record | SV% | GSAx | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37-12-4 | .921 | 4.95 | 32 | $4.5M |
For the second straight year, the Avalanche are letting their No. 1 goaltender walk out the door. Kuemper will follow in Philipp Grubauer's footsteps and hit the market after the champs traded for Alexandar Georgiev at the draft. Kuemper had a difficult postseason despite winning the Cup, but he performed commendably during the regular season and is undoubtedly the best netminder available.
8. John Klingberg
Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 6 | 41 | 30 on Aug. 14 | $4.25M |
Things have been fairly quiet on the Klingberg front since the Dallas Stars tried to trade him in the winter. The experienced blue-liner was a defensive liability last season, but he can still contribute offensively while authoring favorable possession numbers.
9. David Perron| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 27 | 30 | 34 | $4M |
Perron has long been one of the most underrated players in the NHL. The Quebec-born winger will be entering his 16th season, but he allayed wear-and-tear concerns with a strong 2021-22 campaign. Though Perron posted a sub-50 expected goals for percentage this past season, it'd be unwise to bet against him while he's consistently producing.
10. Andre Burakovsky| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 22 | 39 | 27 | $4.9M |
Burakovsky, another key piece of Colorado's championship run who's up for a new contract, is among the best secondary scorers available. The Austrian-born Swede had a career year this past season and, much like Nichushkin, is only now entering his prime. The question is whether he can duplicate his 2021-22 success.
11. Vincent Trocheck (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 21 | 30 | 28 on July 11 | $4.75M |
Trocheck and the New York Rangers reportedly agreed to a seven-year contract with a $5.625M AAV on Wednesday.
Trocheck has been a rock-solid second-line center for the Carolina Hurricanes since they acquired him from the Panthers in 2020. The Hurricanes have lots of other players to sign, so there's no guarantee Trocheck sticks around. He'd be an underrated addition for a club that needs help down the middle.
12. Mason Marchment
Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 18 | 29 | 27 | $800K |
Marchment was one of the NHL's biggest surprises in 2021-22. The former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect repeatedly made his old organization regret trading him for Denis Malgin in 2019 by notching nearly a point per game for the Panthers.
13. Andrew Copp (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 21 | 32 | 28 | $3.64M |
Copp and the Detroit Red Wings reportedly agreed to a five-year contract carrying a $5.625-million AAV on Wednesday.
Like several others on this list, Copp is hoping to parlay a career year into a sizeable raise. The skilled defensive forward discovered his offensive game this past season. Copp, who can play all three positions up front, stated his case with strong play for both the New York Rangers and the Winnipeg Jets in 2021-22.
14. Ondrej Palat| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | 18 | 31 | 31 | $5.3M |
Palat has been one of the Tampa Bay Lightning's unsung heroes for years, and he certainly picked a good time to have the best postseason of his career. The veteran forward known for his reliable two-way play erupted for 11 goals and 10 assists over 23 playoff games. The Bolts want to bring him back, but Palat reportedly appears set to explore the market.
15. Ryan Strome| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 21 | 33 | 29 on July 11 | $4.5M |
Strome has been decent as the Rangers' second-line center, but playing with Artemi Panarin padded his numbers and masked some of his deficiencies. Strome somehow failed to drive possession despite his enviable situation this past season. That said, while he's not elite, Strome would still be one of the better players available at his position.
16. Jack Campbell (signed)
Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | SV% | GSAx | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-9-6 | .914 | -10.78 | 30 | $1.65M |
Campbell and the Oilers agreed to a five-year contract carrying a $5-million AAV on Wednesday.
Campbell was the biggest reason Toronto's goaltending was so concerning for the club this past season. The Leafs' pre-playoff success inflated his 2021-22 counting stats, and the underlying numbers proved he was among the NHL's worst netminders. But because the goalie market is extremely thin, he'll be one of the most coveted puck-stoppers.
17. Dylan Strome| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 22 | 26 | 25 | $3M |
This Strome brother was initially a pending restricted free agent, but the Chicago Blackhawks chose not to issue him a qualifying offer before Monday's deadline, so he'll now be testing the UFA waters.
Strome had a streaky season and benefited from playing alongside Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat in the latter half of the campaign. But Strome notched as many even-strength goals as Kane (17) while playing nine fewer games and logging 4:23 less in average ice time.
18. Ilya Mikheyev| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 21 | 11 | 27 (28 on Oct. 10) | $1.64M |
Mikheyev may have priced himself out of Toronto due to the Leafs' cap constraints. The Russian winger enjoyed a mini-breakout in scoring during an injury-shortened 2021-22 season. However, his 14.3 shooting percentage more than doubled from the previous campaign, so some regression's likely in order, particularly if he joins a team with a less potent offense.
19. Josh Manson (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 6 | 10 | 30 | $4.1M |
Manson and the Avalanche agreed to a four-year contract extension carrying an AAV of $4.5 million Wednesday.
Manson doesn't light up the scoresheet, but the Avalanche rearguard is a dependable top-four defenseman whose gritty style makes him an effective penalty killer. Manson's subpar 2021-22 xGF% with the Anaheim Ducks got worse after they traded him to Colorado, but it rose to an excellent 56.24 in the playoffs as he helped his new squad win the Cup.
20. Nino Niederreiter
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 24 | 20 | 29 (30 on Sept. 8) | $5.25M |
Teams needing a dependable forward who won't break the bank will likely look at Niederreiter if he becomes available. The Swiss winger scored at least 20 goals in six of his 11 NHL seasons and has great underlying numbers.
21. Ben Chiarot| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 9 | 17 | 31 | $3.5M |
The analytics community doesn't love Chiarot, but the metric-driven Panthers wanted him enough to give the Montreal Canadiens a first-round pick and other assets at last season's trade deadline. Chiarot could be sought after due to his special-teams prowess and size at 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds. The defenseman isn't known for piling up points, but he collected eight over 20 games with the Presidents' Trophy winners.
22. Paul Stastny| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 21 | 24 | 36 | $3.75M |
Stastny's second go-around with the Jets worked out pretty well for both parties, and perhaps his one-year deal had something to do with that. Even at his age, the grizzled vet can still center a team's second or third line next season.
23. Rickard Rakell (signed)| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 20 | 21 | 29 | $3.79M |
Rakell and the Penguins agreed on a 6-year extension carrying an AAV of $5 million Monday.
Rakell is still a bit streaky, injury-prone, and not the 30-goal-scorer he was in his prime. But the veteran winger drove possession in 2021-22 while playing most of the season with the retooling Ducks before they dealt him to the Penguins. He can still make plays, but teams will surely be wary of signing him long term.
24. Nick Leddy| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 3 | 21 | 31 | $5.5M |
Leddy is heading into his 13th NHL season and won the Cup in 2013. The reliable defenseman got traded last July and then again in March. Leddy is also entering the point of his career when players usually decline, but he's worth a look as a third-pairing option if he reaches free agency.
25. Phil Kessel
Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty| GP | G | A | Age | 2021-22 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 8 | 44 | 34 | $8M |
Kessel will be entering his 17th season, and he's certainly not an $8-million player anymore. However, he managed more than half an assist per game for an awful Arizona Coyotes squad last season and suited up for all 82 contests. Kessel also had more individual expected goals than Malkin, Mikheyev, and Marchment while posting a career-low 4.6% shooting rate. The latter's bound to get closer to his career mark of 10.8% in 2022-23, especially if he lands with a better team.
(Salary source: CapFriendly)
(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)
Copyright (C) 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.