Best fits for the NHL's top remaining UFAs
The NHL's free-agent hot stove is basically unplugged at this point of the summer, but there's still plenty of talent available on the open market.
Below, we play matchmaker for 10 of the best players currently unsigned.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / Getty2022-23 stats: 69 GP, 18 G, 32 A
Previous cap hit: $7.5M
Best fit: Ottawa Senators
The Senators are seemingly in limbo until they find a solution for Alex DeBrincat. If Ottawa trades the two-time 40-goal man as expected, Tarasenko would be an excellent replacement. The veteran winger is the top goal-scorer still on the market and could come close to replicating DeBrincat's offense in the Sens' top six at a reduced cost. Tarasenko's 2.6 points per 60 minutes were slightly better than DeBrincat's last season, and the 31-year-old choosing Ottawa could be big for morale in the dressing room when it's clear DeBrincat wants out.
Keeping term down is the key to making this deal a win for the Senators, but there's a clear fit here at the right price.
Patrick Kane
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022-23 stats: 73 GP, 21 G, 36 A
Previous cap hit: $10.5M
Best fit: Buffalo Sabres
Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was given a four-to-six-month timeline. Given that his recovery could cut into the season's first quarter, Kane might not sign until autumn. Teams may want to see how his rehab is going considering Nicklas Backstrom underwent the same surgery during the 2022 offseason and didn't look quite like himself this past campaign. Kane might also want a better idea of the standings before he commits to signing with a club.
But if the Sabres get off to a solid start, it'll be awfully tempting for Kane, a Buffalo native, to sign with his hometown team. They're an ascending club with $6.7 million in projected cap space. And while Buffalo bolstered its blue line in free agency, it didn't add a single player up front. Sure, the Sabres' forward group is deep with young talent, but they could still use a veteran presence who can elevate their offensive attack. Imagine Kane setting up Tage Thompson on the power play - that'd be fun.
Tomas Tatar
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022-23 stats: 82 GP 20 G, 28 A
Previous cap hit: $4.5M
Best fit: Nashville Predators
Tatar has bounced around plenty since his seven-year tenure in Detroit ended in 2018. However, he's proven to be a serviceable depth winger at each stop along the way. The 32-year-old is still a 20-goal threat and boasts impressive defensive metrics to boost his stock. Nashville looks to be embarking on a full-scale rebuild and is sorely lacking talent up front. Signing Tatar would make the Predators just a little bit deeper. If they can lure him to Music City on a one-year deal, it would be tidy business to flip him at the 2024 trade deadline.
Mathew Dumba
David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022-23 stats: 79 GP, 4 G, 10 A
Previous cap hit: $6M
Best fit: San Jose Sharks
Dumba got squeezed out of the right-handed defense market. Seemingly every contender looking to bolster the right side of its blue line already addressed the need on Day 1 of free agency. It's understandable considering injuries have slowed Dumba in recent years. Also, 2021-22 represented his least productive campaign (on a per-game basis) since he played 13 contests as a 19-year-old in 2013-14.
But if Dumba is looking to rebuild his value, potentially get traded at the deadline, and then cash in next offseason, San Jose could be a perfect landing spot. Matt Benning is the Sharks' top right-handed defense option behind Erik Karlsson, so there's plenty of room for opportunity. If Karlsson gets traded, Dumba immediately becomes the club's No. 1 D. San Jose still has some firepower up front with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, setting the table for Dumba to put up some points.
Jonathan Toews
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty2022-23 stats: 53 GP, 15 G, 16 A
Previous cap hit: $10.5M
Best fit: Edmonton Oilers
"So if it's not a hell yeah, then it's a hell no," Toews said in April about continuing his NHL career. The uncertainty surrounding his health is a huge caveat, but we think the Oilers are an excellent match if Toews opts not to retire. There's a clear fit on the depth chart, with Ryan McLeod and Lane Pederson currently listed as Edmonton's third- and fourth-line centers. Additionally, with over $115 million in estimated career earnings, Toews doesn't need to stretch the tight Oilers' salary cap constraints. Above all else, Toews is a serial winner. His pedigree could go a long way for a team trying its hardest to win a championship.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / Getty2022-23 stats: 75 GP, 5 G, 11 A
Previous cap hit: $3M
Best fit: Arizona Coyotes
As the 2017 No. 4 pick, Puljujarvi's game was always under the microscope in a passionate Canadian market like Edmonton. After a deadline deal to Carolina, he couldn't carve out a clear role on a deep Hurricanes squad.
Puljujarvi needs an opportunity to play a regular middle-six forward role for a team far away from the spotlight, making Arizona the perfect landing spot. The rebuilding Coyotes have plenty of room for Puljujarvi to play big minutes and help regain his confidence. Arizona is slowly trying to improve, and Puljujarvi is a strong defensive player, even if his offense has lagged. If he can finally break through offensively, both sides could benefit greatly.
Denis Gurianov
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022-23 stats: 66 GP, 7 G, 10 A
Previous cap hit: $2.9M
Best fit: Calgary Flames
The Flames are looking to reignite their offense, and Gurianov is a versatile winger who can play either side of the ice while bringing top-end speed. He struggled to produce last season in Dallas and Montreal but was a solid depth contributor for three campaigns beforehand. It would be a low-risk, high-reward move for Calgary, which only has nine forwards signed to its NHL roster at the moment.
Ethan Bear
Derek Cain / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022-23 stats: 61 GP, 3 A, 13 A
Previous cap hit: $2.2M
Best fit: Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have one of the worst blue lines in the league. They added Radko Gudas to play a shutdown role on the right side, so Bear could be a nice fit on a different pairing to help transport the puck up ice. Plus, with fellow righty Jamie Drysdale coming off a major shoulder injury, limiting his workload wouldn't be the worst idea. For Bear, there are worse things than playing consistent minutes on a team in sunny California.
Pius Suter
Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / Getty2022-23 stats: 79 GP, 14 G, 10 A
Previous cap hit: $3.25M
Best fit: Vancouver Canucks
Suter's offensive numbers don't jump off the page. But the 27-year-old dominates defensively at five-on-five, and his contributions could help the Canucks cut down on goals against in a big way. He's an upgrade over Vancouver's current bottom-six options down the middle and is unlikely to get a raise from his previous salary after going this long without signing. The Canucks would have to clear money to make it work, but Suter is a player they should have circled from the start of free agency.
Max Comtois
Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022-23 stats: 64 GP, 9 G, 10 A
Previous cap hit: $2.04M
Best fit: Minnesota Wild
The Wild still have some pressing business to handle, notably new deals for restricted free agents Filip Gustavsson, Calen Addison, and Brandon Duhaime. But the team should still have the flexibility to make an addition up front, and Comtois could be an interesting buy-low option.
General manager Bill Guerin seems to covet the type of power forward like Comtois. He scored 16 goals in 55 games in 2020-21, signaling the 24-year-old still has untapped potential. With Minnesota's tight cap situation, its forward depth is thin enough that there's an opening for him to come in and compete for a middle-six role.
(Cap source: CapFriendly)
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