Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, and NHL Trade Rumors has made predictions for 50 top unrestricted free agents who should hit the open market.
Alex Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
This one seems like a formality, but it’s not yet done. Expect him to sign a three or four-year deal to stay with the Caps.
Dougie Hamilton
New Jersey Devils
The Devils are reportedly looking to make a big splash in free agency and have reportedly had interest in Hamilton. It would be a big commitment for the 4th-place Norris finisher this year.
Gabriel Landeskog
New York Islanders
In many drafts of this blog post, Landeskog was going back to Colorado, but it’s starting to look like the negotiations have caused too much bad blood to overcome. If the Islanders make a big splash like this, Anthony Beauvillier may be a cap casualty.
Zach Hyman
Edmonton Oilers
Hyman is one of the premier free agents on the market and it seems like he already has a seven-year deal with the Oilers in his back pocket. He’ll go from playing with Auston Matthews to playing with Connor McDavid.
Blake Coleman
Dallas Stars
There have been rumors of the Texas native wanting to return home, and he would happen to fits the Stars’ needs well. Coleman leaves Tampa Bay with two Stanley Cup rings, proving to be a worthwhile investment.
Phillip Danault
Columbus Blue Jackets
Finishing 6th in Selke voting, Danault is starting to get recognition for what he is: one of the premier defensive forwards in the league. He doesn’t see himself as strictly a matchup center though, and in Columbus he’ll have little competition at center for those offensive minutes.
Phillip Grubauer
Colorado Avalanche
The teams don’t appear to be close at the moment, but there appears to be a path to a deal here for the Vezina finalist. There are lots of balls in the air in the goalie market, one wrench will be to see what happens with Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper.
Ryan Getzlaf
Anaheim Ducks
A 16-year veteran of the Ducks, it’s hard to imagine Getzlaf playing anywhere else. If he does look elsewhere, I’d keep an eye on Vegas, but bet on the Ducks.
Freddy Andersen
Chicago Blackhawks
The veteran goaltender would provide support for Kevin Lankinen after an impressive rookie season.
Tuukka Rask
Boston Bruins
Rask has made it clear that his desire is to stay with the Bruins. He’ll miss the first part of the season so look for the Bruins to add a depth piece to pair with rookie Jeremy Swayman.
Tyson Barrie
Edmonton Oilers
With Adam Larsson moving on to Seattle, the Oilers have an opening on right defense to go with Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard. Last year’s point leader among defensemen, Barrie might have to eat some tougher minutes without Larsson.
Kyle Palmieri
New York Islanders
With Jordan Eberle gone in the expansion draft, the Islanders could find some space for Palmieri, who was a strong performer in the playoffs after a trade deadline move from the Devils.
David Krejci
Boston Bruins
Like Rask, it’s believed that the long-time Bruin would like to make it work to stay in Boston.
David Savard
Montreal Canadiens
After losing Shea Weber for at least the 2021-22 season, the Canadiens have a need for a defenseman to eat some big minutes on the right side. Savard is reportedly more willing to sign in Canada than some of his fellow UFAs.
Ryan Suter
Florida Panthers
I have changed my earlier prediction from the Bruins, as it now seems like the Stars and Panthers have emerged as the favorites for the veteran defenseman.
Jaden Schwartz
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken had a window to negotiate with Jaden Schwartz prior to the expansion draft, and reportedly had constructive talks with Schwartz. They built a competent base on defense and in goal but are lacking up front.
Casey Cizikas
Montreal Canadiens
Presumably losing matchup center Phillip Danault and fourth line center Eric Staal, the Canadiens could use a jolt down the middle in their bottom-six. Cizikas joins Jake Evans to form a formidable center duo for their bottom-six.
Petr Mrazek
Edmonton Oilers
There’s still a chance he returns to Carolina, but if he doesn’t Mrazek could look at Edmonton to team with Mike Smith.
Nick Foligno
Minnesota Wild
Shortly after Foligno was traded from the Blue Jackets to the Leafs at the trade deadline, there were reports that the Blue Jacket captain might be back. That’s one of two leading considerations for Foligno, but the opportunity to play with his brother Marcus in Minnesota might be too hard to pass up.
Linus Ullmark
Buffalo Sabres
They’ve tried for a while and haven’t been able to come to a contract, but seeing what else is out there might bring the sides together.
Zach Parise
New York Islanders
Rumored to be going to the Islanders for over a year now, this could finally be the time that Parise moves to Long Island.
Derek Forbort
Colorado Avalanche
With the Avalanche moving on from Ryan Graves and Patrik Nemeth, they are losing a lot of PK minutes on their back end and Forbort will help will that void.
Tomas Tatar
Colorado Avalanche
If they move on from Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche will need to address their scoring. A trade might be the most likely route there, but Tatar would help.
Brandon Saad
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings were looking to add two top-six forwards. They already picked up one in Viktor Arvidsson before the expansion draft. The playoff tested Saad figures to be the type they’re looking to add to their emerging young core.
Mikael Granlund
Nashville Predators
The Predators keep going back to the well on Granlund and he’s performed well for them.
Tony DeAngelo
Carolina Hurricanes
If Dougie Hamilton walks as a free agent, the Hurricanes will be looking for a powerplay quarterback and DeAngelo has had a lot of success there in the past.
Alex Goligoski
Buffalo Sabres
Goligoski would fit the Sabres as a veteran left defenseman on a short-term deal while they transition to their next phase.
Mike Hoffman
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal was interested in Hoffman last off-season, but he decided to sign with the Blues instead. He’ll help the powerplay of any team who signs him.
Paul Stastny
Winnipeg Jets
Stastny had a fairly successful season in his return to Winnipeg. The Jets might have heavy competition in the current market for centers.
Joel Armia
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres will go into next season without Sam Reinhart and likely Jack Eichel, so they’ll need some bodies up front. Armia’s impressive playoff run increased his stock.
Brandon Montour
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs will be looking to replace right-defenseman Zach Bogosian, and Montour could be of interest if the price is right.
Ryan Murray
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets tried to address their blueline prior to the trade deadline, but were unable to do so. The former #2 overall pick Murray has shown he’s a sound, albeit oft-injured, defensive defenseman.
Mattias Janmark
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay will have little cap space this off-season, but after losing a full line up front, they will need to add depth options. Look for the Lightning to lay low during the initial wave of free agency.
Eric Haula
New York Rangers
The Rangers have lost penalty killers Pavel Buchnevich and Brett Howden while picking up only Barclay Goodrow, so Haula would help there.
Jordan Martinook
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs will be looking to add to the fringes of their roster, and Martinook is a physical depth forward for them.
Alex Wennberg
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes pick up the versatile playmaking forward to insulate some of their forward prospects from more minutes than they can handle.
Jonathan Bernier
Carolina Hurricanes
With Alex Nedeljkovic traded and Petr Mrazek and James Reimer both free agents, the Hurricanes have two spots open in goal. Bernier, whose UFA rights came to Carolina in the Nedeljkovic trade, figures to have an inside track.
Corey Perry
Montreal Canadiens
There appears to be mutual interest between the Canadiens and Perry, who has been Stanley Cup runner up in back-to-back years.
Mike Reilly
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers could be looking for a depth defenseman to play behind their big acquisitions and Reilly could fit the bill.
Keith Yandle
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens were after Tony DeAngelo prior to picking up Erik Gustafsson for their powerplay-heavy role. Yandle, who played junior hockey in the QMJHL, would fit that role.
Alex Edler
Pittsburgh Penguins
It seems as if the veteran defenseman is moving on from Vancouver and the Penguins could provide a home.
Derek Stepan
Vegas Golden Knights
Stepan brings some depth at center and playoff experience to the Knights.
Jake McCabe
Ottawa Senators
McCabe missed all of last season with an injury, but he’s a very good defenseman when he plays.
Antti Raanta
Carolina Hurricanes
Elliotte Friedman reported that there’s some buzz that the Hurricanes really like the oft-injured Raanta.
Marcus Johansson
St. Louis Blues
Presumably losing Jaden Schwartz, the Blues will need some depth up front.
Jaroslav Halak
Nashville Predators
Halak would replace Rinne and split the crease with Juuse Saros.
Tyler Bozak
Vancouver Canucks
Shedding a lot of salary upfront, the Canucks will need to pick up some cheaper depth for forward.
Ian Cole
Calgary Flames
Cole won’t replace Giordano, but the veteran defenseman adds experience to a blueline lacking in that element.
Luke Glendening
San Jose Sharks
Glendening would help the Sharks with their faceoff percentage, which was in the bottom third of the league in 2020-21.
Eric Staal
Detroit Red Wings
Staal would join his brother Marc in Detroit.
