Believe it or not, there is less than one month left in the NHL season. I feel it’s a good time to breakdown this summer’s NHL free agent class. The upcoming unrestricted NHL free agent class, which kicks off on July 1st, is strong at forward, below average in terms of defenseman and weak in regards to the goalies. As the late, great Jackie Gleason once said “And away we go”.
Previewing This Summer’s NHL Free Agent Class
Forwards
The prized player in this year’s UFA class is without a doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, who just turned 26, is a franchise goal scorer, and has already scored more than 300 goals in his career. Given Stamkos’ talent and age, if he hits free agency come July 1st, he will be the best player ever to do so in the history of the league. The Lightning have huge cap issues which has many prognosticators believing the electrifying winger winds up with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
#NHL #Lightning Maple Leafs complicate Steven Stamkos contract situation with Dion … https://t.co/RVZ6aQFk5E pic.twitter.com/lpcBRy7LM7
— Lightning Fan Zone (@Lightning_FZ) February 12, 2016
The top forwards available via free agency after Stamkos are Milan Lucic, Kyle Okposo, Loui Eriksson and Frans Nielsen. The soon to be 28-year-old Lucic will probably be deemed the second best forward on the market by most because of everything he brings the table. There are hardly any players in the league that have Lucic skill, size, physical prowess and experience playing on top teams. The L.A. Kings want Lucic back and Milan loves L.A.. But with the Kings already having $64.6 million cap dollars committed to next year, bringing back Lucic will be very challenging.
The New York Islanders have two top six forwards hitting the market in Okposo and Nielsen. Okposo will break 60 points for the second time in the last three years, and has a number of prime years ahead of him as he turns 28 next month. Nielsen is a complete player that can give a team offense, defense and is a great special teams player on both the power play and the penalty kill. Nielsen does turn 32 next month which is the only red flag against him. I fully expect Nielsen, who was drafted by the Isles in 2002, to re-sign with New York. However, expect Okposo to be heading elsewhere.
The Bruins have a dilemma regarding Loui Eriksson, who has been a major disappointment for them until this season. If Boston gives Eriksson a lucrative long term deal, will they get the performance from this season or from the last two? Also, Eriksson turns 31 in Jul,y so how many prime years does he have left?
Other forwards to watch in free agency are: David Backes, Mikkel Boedker, Andrew Ladd, Jiri Hudler, Jamie McGinn, David Perron and Eric Staal. I did not forget about the ageless one Jaromir Jagr. I feel with 99.9% certainty Jagr will re-sign with the Florida Panthers well before July 1st.
Defenseman
In terms of blue liners in this upcoming NHL free agent class, there is Keith Yandle and everyone else. The puck moving, offensively gifted Yandle turns 30 come next year’s training camp. Since he is the only sure fire top four defenseman in this NHL free agent class, Yandle will score a very lucrative long-term contract from someone. Given the cap crunch the New York Rangers are under it would be a huge surprise to see Yandle stay with the blue shirts.
Keith Yandle is going to get PAID this summer. #NYRangers
— Jeff Capellini (@JCapGLJ) February 27, 2016
In terms of the top two defenseman after Yandle, you have to head to Dallas. Jason Demers and Alex Goligoski will both be sought after this summer. Since Demers is three years younger than Goligoski (turns 28 in June), he will be ranked higher on most teams free agent boards. The remaining top blue liners are Brian Campbell, Dan Hamhuis, Kyle Quincey, Roman Polak, Kris Russell and Luke Schenn. All should be viewed as depth defenseman.
Goalies
There is not a sure fire number one goalie in this year’s NHL free agent class. As good of a year Al Montoya is having for the Florida Panthers (9-5-3, 2.10 goals against average & .922 save percentage), keep in mind that the 31-year-old net-minder has only started 17 games so far this season. Also, Montoya has never been a teams number one goalie. There will be strong interest in Montoya this summer, but in all likelihood he will be viewed as a great back-up.
In terms of the remaining top free agent options between the pipes, teams will be looking at: Jhonas Enroth, Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo, James Reimer,Ben Scrivens and Cam Ward. Teams looking to land a top goalie will have to do so via the trade route. This summer Frederick Anderson of the Anaheim Ducks, Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues and Ben Bishop of the Lightning all could be available in the trade market.
Free Agent Spenders to Watch
This can be a whole article in itself in terms of which teams will be the big spenders this summer and why. Here a few observations to consider. The Panthers only have $47.2 million committed to next years cap, and that is with 16 players signed. After potentially re-signing Jagr and restricted free agent Erik Gudbranson, Florida will have plenty of room to add one of the top forwards from this year’s NHL free agent class. Another team to keep in mind is the New Jersey Devils. The Devils only have $39.3 million committed to next year’s cap, with 12 players under contract. New Jersey, who is currently last in the league in goals scored per game at 2.19, could easily add two of the top forwards from this year’s free agent class.
Any of the seven Canadian teams could be making a splash in the summer. With the likelihood of no Canadian teams in the playoffs for the first time since 1970 becoming greater, all seven teams could go deep in their pockets and spend right to the cap. Toronto, who is in rebuilding phase, will have plenty of space after trading Dion Phaneuf, while the Canadiens will be looking for the much-needed top-six forward.
Three other teams to consider are the Carolina Hurricanes ($38 million cap dollars committed to next year, with 13 players under contract), Buffalo Sabres ($46.9 million cap dollars committed to next year, with 14 players under contract) and the Islanders ($54.2 million cap dollars committed to next year, with 15 players under contract).
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