Deadlines spur decisions and as the opening of the free agent market neared, the late Sunday evening and early Monday morning hours (out east) were full of activity. A few of the bigger names on the list of pending UFAs were taken off the market, while rumours swirled about the next step others may take.
Sam Reinhart, previously atop our board, re-signed for the maximum eight-year term with the Florida Panthers before the midnight deadline to do so.
Jake Guentzel, our No. 2, was well down the road to signing a seven-year deal with Tampa Bay after the Lightning acquired his rights from Carolina. And sure enough on Monday morning, it became official, worth a $9 million AAV
Meantime, Patrick Kane re-signed an incentive-laden contract with the Detroit Red Wings for a $6.5 million AAV — and Detroit may be more active yet when the doors open on July 1.
With those names now off the list, here’s a rundown and ranking of hockey’s best impending unrestricted free agents, plus the latest buzz circulating about their future before the market opens at noon ET, 9 a.m. PT.
Age on July 1: 34
Position: Left wing / Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $8.5 million
The latest: Stamkos signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Nashville Predators on Monday.
2. Jonathan Marchessault
Age on July 1: 33
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5 million
The latest: Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Nashville Predators on Monday.
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Defence
2023-24 salary cap hit: $3.5 million
The latest: Montour signed a seven-year, $50 million deal with the Seattle Kraken on Monday.
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.85 million
The latest: Lindholm signed a seven-year, $54.25 million deal with the Boston Bruins on Monday.
5. Matt Duchene
Age on July 1: 33
Position: Centre / Right wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $3 million
The latest: Duchene re-signed with the Dallas Stars on a one-year, $3 million deal on Monday.
6. Brett Pesce
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Defence
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.025 million
The latest: Pesce signed a six-year, $33 million deal with the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
7. Teuvo Teravainen
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Left wing / Right wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5.4 million
The latest: Teravainen signed a three-year, $16.2 million with the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
Age on July 1: 32
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.25 million
The latest: Toffoli signed a four-year, $24 million deal with the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
The latest: Stephenson signed a seven-year, $43.75 million deal with the Seattle Kraken on Monday.
10. Brady Skjei
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Defence
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5.25 million
11. Jeff Skinner
Age on July 1: 32
Position: LW
2023-24 salary cap hit: $9 million
The latest: Skinner may not have equalled the 40-goal output he posted in his first year with the Sabres at any other point during his $72 million contract, but he’s still a goal scorer, with two 30-plus goal campaigns and 92 goals total over the past three years (43rd in the NHL).
Choosing instead to save over $7 million on their salary cap this summer to be active elsewhere, the Sabres bought out the three years remaining on his eight-year contract. Skinner’s value was blinded by his $9 million cap hit, but his ability to put pucks in net will create a market in free agency. Playoff teams will be after his services at a reduced rate so maybe, finally, he can get into a post-season game in his 15th NHL season.
12. Jake DeBrusk
Age on July 1: 27
Position: LW
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4 million
The latest: The 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft, DeBrusk has twice scored a career-best 27 goals in a season and though he sagged to 19 in 2023-24, he led the Bruins with five goals in the playoffs. After making a trade request out of Boston two years ago, DeBrusk is now set to test the waters as a free agent and should generate a healthy market as a secondary scorer with some muscle to his game who has proven he can step up his game at the most important time of year. DeBrusk had more high danger chances than any other Bruin this past season
More notable UFAs in 2024: Tyler Bertuzzi, Cam Talbot, Ilya Samsonov, T.J. Brodie, Adam Henrique, Sean Walker, Nikita Zadorov, Viktor Arvidsson, Blake Wheeler, Vladimir Tarasenko, Daniel Sprong, Alexander Barabanov, David Perron, Tyson Barrie, Jakub Vrana, Sean Monahan, Max Pacioretty, Tony DeAngelo, Tomas Tatar, Tyler Johnson, Jack Roslovic, Shayne Gostisbehere, Victor Olofsson, Jason Zucker, Matt Dumba, John Klingberg, Chris Tanev, Pheonix Copley, Anthony Duclair, Pat Maroon, Anthony Mantha, James Reimer, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jonathan Drouin, Corey Perry, Alexander Wennberg, Jordan Martinook, Matt Roy, Jani Hakanpaa, Laurent Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Suter, Cam Atkinson.
All salary info via the indispensable CapFriendly.com.