The NHL Free Agency Season is just days away now and the orgy of spending will be dizzying this year, as in every year.
It’s time to take a look at some of the top free agents in the league.
Kevin Shattenkirk was an object of desire by many clubs at the trade deadline this past season and the St Louis Blues worked a deal with the Washington Capitals.
Washington was looking to get past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs and that did not work out as planned.
Shattenkirk was had for cheap by the Caps but his free agency value will be stratospheric on July 1. His cap hit in 2016-17 was $4.25 million. The New York Rangers were hoping to have made a deal ahead of the Caps and most likely will be flashing cash Saturday with the buyout of Dan Girardi and trade of Derek Stepan freeing cap space.
At 28-years of age, Shattenkirk is still young enough to sustain his 20-minutes per game ice time. And he can lead a power play to success, something the Rangers really could use.
Alexander Radulov wants a lot of money this free agency period. And he wants a long-term deal. The Montreal Canadiens took a chance on him after his return from the KHL. He produced but will any other teams be willing to spend down their cap space on a long-term deal? He wants $7 million a year.
Justin Williams will be a free agent this week and he may be a big winner. His current salary comes in at $3.25 million and a new home may be waiting with cash and enough years to lure him out of DC.
Jaromir Jagr is 45-years of age and some reports have him saying he wants to play until he is 50. His regimen for staying in shape, healthy and productive is not to be argued. His post game workouts are legend. He played all 82 games on the Florida Panthers schedule and netted 16 goals and 46 points on the season.Who will take a chance on Jagr for one or two-year deals? His cap hit was $4 million last season.
The interesting free agent may be Radim Vrbata. Vrbata was a major contributor to the Arizona Coyotes’ offense. He played cheap at $1 million in the desert but will be looking for more money come Saturday. A short-term deal for the 36-year old is looming.
Brian Elliot is a free agent this season and at 32, he has enough years left to take a chance. He started slow in Calgary this season but once he got comfortable in the Flames’ defensive scheme he carried the club to the playoffs. The problem is he fell flat in the post season and the Flames were never in their series with the Anaheim Ducks. His cap hit last season was $2.5 million.
Brendan Smith iced for the New York Rangers last season after a trade and is a free agent. Reports have suggested that the Rangers will resign him. His effort in Detroit for the Red Wings was good and the Rangers wanted him for the playoff push. He contributed and the Rangers and he are supposedly talking this week.
Thomas Vanek is a free agent and is 33-years old. He ended the season with the Florida Panthers after a trade.
Joe Thornton is a free agent this season but the San Jose Sharks still think there is value in the 38-year old’s legs. Thornton has become part of the San Jose community and that means occupied seats in the SAP arena. Look for San Jose to re-up with Thornton for two years.
Martin Hanzal is a big skater at 6’6″ and 225 pounds. The problem is he cannot seem to stay healthy. Over his career, he is 31-years old, he has never iced a complete 82-game schedule. In fact, the numbers demonstrate he has averaged 57 games over the last three seasons. His cap hit with the Minnesota Wild was $3.1 million last season.
The Sharks may be Hanzal’s next team with Thornton and Patrick Marleau up for free agency Saturday. The Sharks will keep one of them and Hanzal has the size if not the durability to compete in the Pacific Division.
