Top 16 Unrestricted Free Agents

[Nucksfansince91]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/top-16-nhl-ufas-unrestricted-free-agents-2016-steven-stamkos-anze-kopitar-dustin-byfuglien-andrew-ladd-staal-okposo-vrbata/

 

1. Steven Stamkos
Age on July 1, 2016: 26
Position: Centre
2015-16 salary cap hit: $7.5 million
Bargaining chip: How many four-time 40-goal guys hit the open market in their mid-20s? A young captain who is nearly a point-per-game over his career.
Contract year report: Stamkos finished his season with 36 goals and 28 assists. He also paced all Tampa forwards in ice time, averaging almost 20 minutes per game. His season ended abruptly with a blood clot that will keep him out one to three months.
Latest dirt: Stamkos “accidentally” stirred up a rumour storm in December when he liked a tweet that speculated if he might end up as a Maple Leaf. The captain later asserted to the Tampa Bay Times that his goal is to win a championship with the Lightning. Elliotte Friedman reported that Yzerman floated an extension offer in January and that the AAV began with an eight. The sides agreed to set aside negotiations until season’s end, fueling speculation that Stamkos will walk.

In addition to Toronto, Montreal, Philadelphia, Detroit, New York and others have been tossed out as potential destinations. Stamkos should have plenty of suitors.

Still, one wonders how dramatically the playoff prowess of young forwards Nikita Kucherov (a pending RFA) and Jonathan Drouin, combined with Stamkos’s injury, will affect Tampa’s willingness to go deep on an offer, and whether it will temper other clubs’ offering price.

2. David Backes
Age on July 1, 2016: 32
Position: Centre
2015-16 salary cap hit: $4.5 million
Bargaining chip: Reliable 50-plus-point captain with a nasty shoulder and a kind heart.
Contract year report: Another solid season for the big pivot. Backes had 21 goals and 24 assists in 79 games, remaining durable and accountable while celebrating his 200th career goal.
Latest dirt: When the Blues decided to re-up with coach Ken Hitchcock, roster change was in the air. T.J. Oshie was dealt to Washington, but in late February GM Doug Armstrong went so far as to say that trading Backes would be an injustice to his teammates. The Blues, however, are Vladimir Tarasenko’s team now. St. Louis will wait to address in the off-season. Term could be a sticking point here.

3. Kyle Okposo
Age on July 1, 2016: 28
Position: Right wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $2.8 million
Bargaining chip: A smart bet for 20 goals whenever healthy. Nice chemistry with franchise centre John Tavares.
Contract year report: Okposo paced the Isles with 42 assists and chipped in 22 goals. He has yet to be named to Team USA’s World Cup roster.
Latest dirt: With the Islanders flush with forwards who can tally up points, there were reports around the 2015 NHL Draft weekend that GM Garth Snow was contemplating making a move. Newsday‘s Artur Staple estimates that Okposo could be looking for as much as $7 million per season on a long-term deal. Okposo was not shopped at the trade deadline and will be counted on to produce in these playoffs. After that… who knows?

“Whatever happens is going to happen. I hope I’m here, and I hope I’m trying to help this team win a Stanley Cup,” Okposo said at the deadline.

4. Andrew Ladd
Age on July 1, 2016: 30
Position: Left wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $4.4 million
Bargaining chip: The two-time Cup winner is just one year removed from his best season. In 2014-15, Ladd scored a career-high 62 points, helped the Jets into the post-season, and got nominated alongside the likes of Ryan Getzlaf and Jonathan Toews for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Contract year report: Ladd’s production has dipped, but only slightly: 25 goals and 21 assists. He is a minus player for the first time in four years and spent time on the Jets’ third line before welcoming a return to Chicago at the trade deadline.
Latest dirt: According to the Free Press, Ladd’s initial ask was for six years and at least $41 million. Extension talks with Winnipeg ended around Christmastime. Ladd says he wants to play well enough in Chicago to make the Blackhawks consider extending him, but with the team so tight to the cap ceiling, that’s highly unlikely. Florida was bidding for Ladd in February and could attempt to sign him as a UFA.

5. Milan Lucic
Age on July 1, 2016: 28
Position: Left wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $6 million
Bargaining chip: A Stanley Cup champion who stays healthy, irritates the opposition and, in a perfect world, is a threat for 30 goals.
Contract year report: The trade from Boston to L.A. has refreshed Lucic, who led all Kings wingers with 55 points (47 at even strength) and a plus-26 rating.
Latest dirt: Lucic and the Kings would like to make an extension work, and the sides have begun exchanging contract proposals. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos says the Edmonton Oilers, a generally soft team, should target Lucic if he hits the open market. Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province figures Canucks fans should give up hope that the East Van native will sign with the Canucks.

“There’s been two or three little talks here and there,” Lucic said. “My plan is to remain a King and hopefully finish off my career here.

“If I could look eight, nine, 10 years down the road, hopefully I play that long. I hope it is right here in L.A. and that something can get done and conversations can get picked up in the near future because I really have enjoyed my time this season and love being a King and living here in L.A.”

6. Eric Staal
Age on July 1, 2016: 31
Position: Centre
2015-16 salary cap hit: $8.25 million
Bargaining chip: Six-foot-four centremen with gold medals and nine 20-goal seasons are difficult to find.
Contract year report: Traded for the first time to New York at the deadline, the declining Staal managed just 39 points but is playoff-bound once again. Unlike most on this list, he is overpaid at his current salary, but he’s defensively responsible, wins faceoffs, and brings leadership.
Latest dirt: “I feel like I’m still a young guy,” Staal said after the trade. He saw the Rangers as an “obvious” fit but maintains his focus is on this season and not his free agency.

7. Jaromir Jagr
Age on July 1, 2016: 44
Position: Right wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $3.5 million
Bargaining chip: Recently surpassed Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s third-overall leading scorer.
Contract year report: Age-defying. With hired gun Jagr again leading his club in goals (27) and points (66), the Panthers jolted to the top of the Atlantic and the Mulleted One was voted an All-Star Game captain by the fans.
Latest dirt: Jagr has spoken highly of his new state and his new teammates, and everyone knows he’s not leaving the game until the game leaves him. One-year deals until death. GM Dale Tallon wants to keep him but is waiting for Jagr to say the word. Ownership wants him back, too.

8. Keith Yandle
Age on July 1, 2016: 29
Position: Defence
2015-16 salary cap hit: $5.25 million
Bargaining chip: Excellent power-play point man with two all-star games and a world championship under his belt.
Contract year report: Led all Rangers defencemen in scoring with 47 points, despite shooting just 3.1%.
Latest dirt: Yandle was taken off the trade table despite plenty of interest from buyers, specifically Dallas. “For the team to want me to stay here is special,” Yandle said on Feb. 29. “I love it here with the Rangers.”

With New York needing to reach agreements with its RFA forwards — Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller — it’ll be interesting to see if there’s enough money/desire to keep Yandle in the fold.

9. Loui Eriksson
Age on July 1, 2016: 30
Position: Right wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $4.25 million
Bargaining chip: An Olympic silver medallist and a winner of every shade of medal at the world championships, Eriksson has already wrapped up his sixth 20-goal campaign.
Contract year report: After concussions and an adjustment to life as a Bruin set him back, Eriksson responded with an excellent contract year: 30 goals, 63 points, and 19:28 average ice time. Boston decided to keep Eriksson at the deadline, but its playoff push failed.
Latest dirt: Extension negotiations opened in late January and heated up in late February. Bruins president Cam Neely told reporters on April 20 that talks picked up this week.

“We’re not quite there on term and dollars,” Eriksson’s agent, J.P. Barry, said on Feb. 26. “We have some work to do.”

The Bruins were willing to offer four years, according to ESPN’s Craig Custance. The Kings and Ducks reportedly expressed interest in trading for Eriksson at the deadline, but Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s ask was too high. Now there are rumblings the Canucks might make a pitch.

“It’s a big decision, where I end up. So, we’ll see what’s going to happen this summer,” Eriksson told reporters after the Bruins missed the playoffs. “I had three great years here, and we’ll see what’s going to happen here this summer. That’s all I can say"

10. Brian Campbell
Age on July 1, 2016: 37
Position: Defence
2015-16 salary cap hit: $7.14 million
Bargaining chip: Stanley Cup champion and Lady Byng winner whose recent play has been overshadowed by Florida’s exciting youngsters and affable oldsters.
Contract year report: The Panthers’ workhorse skates more than 22 minutes a game, runs the power-play alongside young Aaron Ekblad, and contributed 31 points. Fantastic contract year.
Latest dirt: Expect any decision here to come in the off-season. The dependable veteran will find work at reduced pay. Campbell and GM Dale Tallon have both said they’ll try to make contract negotiations work.

“The Florida Panthers are in a position now where they want to pay their players. They’ve signed [Nick] Bjugstad and [Aleksander] Barkov to long-term deals,” analyst Denis Potvin told me.

“It really all depends on Brian Campbell and where he feels he can fit in. Brian was very clear at the beginning of the year: He wants an opportunity to win a Cup and be with a competitive team. I think he’s with that team now—first in the Atlantic. I expect he’ll stay.”

11. Kris Russell
Age on July 1, 2016: 29
Position: Defence
2015-16 salary cap hit: $2.6 million
Bargaining chip: World’s greatest shot-blocker.
Contract year report: The stay-at-home, top-four defender is logging more than 24 minutes a game since being traded to Dallas, chipping in 19 points on the season, and staying out of the box. Russell’s 10 penalty minutes are the fewest among the Stars’ defence core.
Latest dirt: Russell priced himself out of Calgary this year and is the type of defenceman the offence-first Stars would be wise to retain. Dallas also expressed interest in Vancouver’s Dan Hamhuis, a pending UFA, at the trade deadline.

12. Mikkel Boedker
Age on July 1, 2016: 26
Position: Left wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $3.75 million
Bargaining chip: Big, 211-pound wingers who can make plays and stay out of the penalty box are a treat. A Coyotes top-10 draft pick in 2008.
Contract year report: Boedker ranked among Arizona’s leading scorers when he was dealt at the deadline to Colorado. He has 17 goals and 34 assists, but was a minus-33 player. Not great when you consider how much power-play time he sees.
Latest dirt: Boedker, who isn’t exactly a hero in the analytics community, appears to have been a pure rental for Colorado. Even though Joe Sakic said publicly he’d like to have him back, Boedker’s reported asking price is in the ballpark of $5.5 million for five years. Will likely go to the highest bidder.

“There’s no decision as of right now,” Boedker told the Denver Post. “I’ve enjoyed my time here so far and we’ll see what happens in the summer.”

13. Jiri Hudler
Age on July 1, 2016: 32
Position: Right wing/centre
2015-16 salary cap hit: $4 million
Bargaining chip: Won the 2015 Lady Byng Trophy after a career-best, 76-point performance.
Contract year report: Regressed to the norm. It would be in Hudler’s best financial interest to swap his 2014-15 for his 2015-16 — a season hampered by injury, illness and occasional trips to the doghouse. But the winger responded nicely for Calgary in January and February, earning a trade to playoff-bound Florida. Great third-liner.
Latest dirt: The Flames did not make a significant pitch to retain Hudler. Will Florida? Likely depends on how well he performs in the post-season.

14. James Reimer
Age on July 1, 2016: 28
Position: Goaltender
2015-16 salary cap hit: $2.3 million
Bargaining chip: The last goaltender to backstop the Toronto Maple Leafs into the playoffs.
Contract year report: The best goalie on an atrocious team, Reimer’s consistency this season earned him a trade out of Toronto and to San Jose, where he’s backing up Martin Jones. Reimer went 6-2-0 with three shutouts and a .938 save percentage with the Sharks.
Latest dirt: The idea of Reimer returning to the Maple Leafs in the off-season is not out of the question, despite his high asking price — as reported by Sportsnet’s Damien Cox and disputed by Reimer.

“I’m not set on anything, and I have no expectations. A lot can happen between now and July 1,” Reimer told Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. “I’m just focused on getting to that fourth round of the playoffs.”

15. Cam Ward
Age on July 1, 2016: 32
Position: Goaltender
2015-16 salary cap hit: $6.3 million
Bargaining chip: 2006 Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner. Seldom-disputed No. 1 goaltender for Carolina for 11 years running.
Contract year report: Like Anton Khudobin before him, Ward’s play put Eddie Lack in his place. Ward had a respectable 23-17-5 record for a mediocre Hurricanes squad, but a concussion suffered in late January interrupted his season temporarily.
Latest dirt: His high price tag made Ward almost impossible to trade, but he should still garner attention on a thin goalie market. Expect a pay cut come July 1.

“I’ve made it clear that this is where I’d like to be,” Ward said at the end of the season. “I’m proud to have been a Hurricane and to have been here for as many years as I have.”

GM Ron Francis’s response: “We have to do our due diligence. We have to make sure we’re making a decision that makes the organization better. That may be signing Cam; that may be going in a different direction.”

16. Radim Vrbata
Age on July 1, 2016: 35
Position: Right wing
2015-16 salary cap hit: $5 million
Bargaining chip: Returned to his 30-goal, 60-point heights in 2014-15, his first season as a Canuck.
Contract year report: Regrettable. Vrbata got off to a sluggish start and has not seen as much time on the Sedins’ top line as last year. His minus-30 rating was the Canucks’ worst, and 27 points is abnormally low. Still, Vrbata’s 6.5% shooting percentage can’t remain that low, can it?
Latest dirt: The Canucks did not receive a single trade offer for Vrbata at the deadline, and most believe it’s doubtful Vrbata re-signs with Vancouver. Not a $5-million asset anymore, but a change of scenery could result in a bounce back.

 

Thought this might be interesting to discuss. Does any of them fit with our plans? 

 

 

 

[thejazz97]

Ever since the blood clot story came out, I'm less hyped on Stamkos. That being said, if he's signed at a reasonable price (~11.5m AAV), I'd be okay with it.

[ItsMillerTime]

Tbh staal is overrated and could be a big bust. I mean he is a good leader but his points don't add up to any of the other players on the list.

[horseyss]

Brian Campbell if you can get him on a reasonable contract. 

[thejazz97]

Just now, horseyss said:

Brian Campbell if you can get him on a reasonable contract. 

No

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Jaromir Jagr informed Dale Tallon he would like to return to the Panthers next season.

[MayRayDown]

15 minutes ago, thejazz97 said:

No

1 year deal for a vet that can mentor the rookies? Ain't that bad but we don't really have the room for him

[ABNuck]

This is new...

[HC20.0]

Best free agent class in years. Obviously I'd kill for Stamkos, but since that prrrobably wont happen, I'd be happy if we targeted Ladd, Okposo, or Eriksson. Taking a run at Yandle might be a good idea too.

[DoughtysCheck]

We should be targeting Keith Yandle. We already have enough stay at home defensemen (Tryamkin, Pedan, Tanev). We need more offense from our back end. Hoping Yandle can help the development of Hutton and Subban

IMO, we sign Yandle to a 4 year 5.5 mil/season contract

 

Yandle (OD)-Tanev (DD)

Hutton(OD) -Edler (DD)

Tryamkin(DD)-Sbisa (DD)

[Chalky]

[thejazz97]

13 minutes ago, MayRayDown said:

1 year deal for a vet that can mentor the rookies? Ain't that bad but we don't really have the room for him

We already have a problem with about 9 d-men with Edler, Tanev, Hutton, Sbisa, Pedan, Hamhuis, Larsen, Tryamkin, and Biega, not to mention UFAs or if Subban or Stecher or whoever we draft (if we draft a defenseman) surprises.

 

Signing a vet who's been overpaid and kinda helped his team lose the playoff series isn't something we need.

[BertaNuck]

Stamkos 

1 year 12 

3 years  10.5

2 years 9.5

 

 

 

[Laheys Liquor]

Wow, Vrbata made it on that list..? Jeez, there has got to be somebody who played better than him this year lol..

[LaBamba]

Don't want a single one, we need to save our Capspace for high profile RFA's teams cannot afford to resign. A Hamilton, Saad type manoeuvre is the direction I would enjoy, 

[homersexual]

Hamhuis should be on that list.

[Bob Long]

I really hope Toronto overpays for Stamkos and leaves Tyson Barrie and Okposo for us. 

[LordHorvat]

1 hour ago, DoughtysCheck said:

We should be targeting Keith Yandle. We already have enough stay at home defensemen (Tryamkin, Pedan, Tanev). We need more offense from our back end. Hoping Yandle can help the development of Hutton and Subban

IMO, we sign Yandle to a 4 year 5.5 mil/season contract

 

Yandle (OD)-Tanev (DD)

Hutton(OD) -Edler (DD)

Tryamkin(DD)-Sbisa (DD)

I'd love to see Yandle here but  will probably re sign with the Rangers.  It also depends if Benning goes hard after Ericsson and for how much, then it will be tougher to sign Yandle. I can also see Benning try the RFA route on teams that are having cap issues. 

[LordHorvat]

2 hours ago, horseyss said:

Brian Campbell if you can get him on a reasonable contract. 

Won't happen.

[ftmN]

I'd like okposo or yandle if possible. I think it would be a bit hard selling Vancouver to them but if it works then I'm all for it. Outside of those two I'm fine with only depth signings this off season.

 

Edit: didn't include erikkson as I believe he is staying with boston.