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The Rangers have plenty of young forwards on target to turn RFA, but dynamic centre Mika Zibanejad (whose current injury coincides with a few New York losses) should be priority No. 1.
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Centre Alexander Wennberg’s breakout campaign (17 games, 17 points) is a major reason why the Blue Jackets have points in nine of their last 10. Give the man a raise.
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If you’re an employed adult, there’s a good chance you have as much money in your chequing account as GM Stan Bowman has cap space. Still, he must re-sign 2016 Calder winner Artemi Panarin, a top-10 scorer again.
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Emerging defenceman Nathan Beaulieu (RFA) is in the conversation here, but Montreal needs to commit to Alexander Radulov. Some thought Radulov was an overpaid gamble at $5.75 million for one year, but he’s now looking like the biggest impact forward of the 2017 UFA class. Don’t wait until July 1. This is a fit.
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We want to say Ben Bishop, the most valuable 2017 UFA standing, but we can’t see how GM Steve Yzerman makes him fit. So we’ll go with two-way forward Ondrej Palat — a hard choice over fellow RFAs Tyler Johnson and Jonathan Drouin.
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UFA-to-be T.J. Oshie is the sexier choice, but we’ll advise GM BM to make certain to keep Karl Alzner around. Dependable defencemen who play more than 20 minutes a night and are still under 30 are of great value.
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At the all-but-certain expense of Kevin Shattenkirk, the Blues must sign dynamic 23-year-old blueliner Colton Parayko long-term and buy up some of his UFA years.
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Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson both took cap-friendly bridge deals last time they hit RFA status. The Kings will be pressed to go deep on both extensions, and Toffoli will get paid first.
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The Bruins are in playoff position despite rolling out the NHL’s 22nd-best offence. They can ill afford to bicker over dollars with their top goal scorer. David Pastrnak, 20, has 10 goals in 14 games. His entry-level deal ends July 1.
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Of Minnesota’s trio of RFA-to-be forwards in their mid-20s —Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula — we’d get the big man, Niederreiter (6-foot-2, 211 pounds), done first and get right to work on Granlund next.
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Lots of options on the champs’ roster, but we’re rolling with 24-year-old, top-six winger Conor Sheary. After making the 2016 playoffs his coming-out party, Sheary has kicked off his contract year with eight points in 12 games.
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With Hampus Lindholm locked up, the Ducks are out of the weeds in terms of impending free agents. If they can get backup goalie Jonathan Bernier (.935 save percentage) back on a two-year deal at reduced pay, they should do it.
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Now that Brent Burns has hit pay dirt, GM Doug Wilson must make decisions on eight forwards in contract years. Our opinion: Keep Joe Thornton, let Patrick Marleau walk.
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Plenty of intriguing forwards on expiring contracts here. Our mind says centre Ryan Johansen must be top priority because he plays a more important position and more was given up to get him (Seth Jones), but our gut sides with speedy winger Viktor Arvidsson. He’s younger, has produced more, and simply looks more inspired.
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Top-six winger Teuvo Teravainen, 22, is due for a raise. That he’s developed chemistry with rookie Sebastian Aho — set to figure big in the future of Carolina’s offence — is all the more reason to commit.
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Big, impressive Leon Draisaitl, 21, is the landslide choice here and the Oilers’ No. 2 centre of the future if not the present. Expect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ name to pop up in trade rumours again.
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RFA-to-be Damon Severson is skating the second-most minutes in Jersey and producing the second-most points (12). He’s 22, plays defence, and is one of the NHL’s most under-discussed talents. Lock. Him. Up.
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A smarter hockey mind might suggest keeping a young D-man like Alex Petrovic, but we’d love one more year of Jaromir Jagr. Yes, he’d be 46 by the end of 2017-18, but the man is still fourth on the team in even-strength points.
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The Flyers have just four defenceman and zero goaltenders (cough, Ben Bishop, cough) in place for 2017-18. RFA Shayne Gostisbehere is the logical lock-up choice here, and his price has dipped with his production.
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Forward prospect Curtis Lazar hasn’t excelled the way some of his peers have, but he’s only 21 and could grow into an important depth centre. Invest in a two- or three-year commitment. His numbers aren’t gaudy enough to break the Melnyk budget.
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More than half of the Stars’ skaters do not have contracts for 2017-18. GM Jim Nill is no stranger to hard work, and it’s coming. We’d bet 22-year-old centre Radek Faksa (RFA) is a high priority here, as he can play up and down the lineup and has earned his coaches’ trust early.
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Connor Hellebuyck (RFA) is supposed to be the Jets’ goalie of the future. He’s only 23 and has improved of late, improving to a winning NHL career record of 20-17-1. Worth a bridge-type investment.
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Only because the Maple Leafs are so thin on the back end, we’d prioritize signing defenceman Nikita Zaitsev over forward Connor Brown, but Toronto will have room for both.
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We’re not sold on the Avalanche’s contract-year guys. (Example: Mikhail Grigorenko has three even-strength points through 18 games.) Defenceman Patrick Wiercioch (RFA) has fit nicely, and the Avs need all the D-men they can get.
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Rare that an important defenceman hits UFA status at age 26. That’ll be the case for Dmitry Kulikov if the Sabres can’t extend him before July 1.
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Thomas Greiss has been as consistent a No. 2 goalie as New York could’ve hoped for. The Isles likely want to commit to him and have young J.F. Berube graduate to a permanent backup role, but Jaroslav Halak is set to make $4.5 million in 2017-18. If they can trade Halak (they’re trying), do it. Then pay Greiss at least double the $1.5 million he’s making now.
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Martin Hanzal could be the most coveted UFA centre in 2017, but the far-from-contending Coyotes would be better off renting him and focus their re-signing efforts on RFA Anthony Duclair. The winger scored 20 goals last season and has one this year. Yikes. Buy low and watch his stock rise. He’s 21.
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Versatile and gifted winger Tomas Tatar has slipped from 2015-16’s 20-goal pace, but that should make committing to him a little easier financially. Detroit cannot let young talent slip away. With the right centre, Tatar could develop into a 30-goal man.
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Sam Bennett is your runaway winner here. The 20-year-old will grow into a legit top-six centre in the NHL. Be patient.
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Centre Bo Horvat, 21, is a rare bright light of hope in Vancouver. While the other Canucks forwards struggle, Horvat looks to be building on his 40-point 2015-16 season. He’s a piece that must be retained and built around.
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