Now that the Stanley Cup Champion has been crowned, there are 29 other NHL clubs who are looking to re-tool in an attempt to become the next Chicago Blackhawks. Many say that this free agent pool is weak this year, but are there some surprises to be had in this years free agent pickings?
Top NHL UFAs (Unrestricted Free Agents)
Here are a look at five NHL free agents that NHL teams should consider (providing they can afford to sign them):
- Mike Green – currently with the Washington Capitals. This guy is still a solid D-man and can put up the points in the right environment. Teams he might fit: Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers.
- Mike Fischer – currently with Nashville Predators. A great player who can put up some nice points. We do not expect Mike to leave Nashville (he is married to country crooner Carrie Underwood) but there are teams that could use his services: Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes.
- Antti Niemi – Currently with the San Jose Sharks. Everyone seems to be on the fence with this guy. While he can have the odd bad game, he has played well for the Sharks and is worth taking a look at. Teams he might fit: Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.
- Blake Comeau – played last season with Pittsburgh Penguins. A dark-horse free agent who had a solid season with the Pens. He was flying prior to a minor injury which put him on there sidelines for a bit. He earned roughly $700K last season so he could be an affordable pickup for teams in need. Teams he might fit: Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Drew Stafford – played the past season in Buffalo and Winnipeg. Could be a little pricey but he can put up some decent numbers and was a great addition for the Jets during their late season surge. Teams he might fit: Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers.
Top NHL RFAs (Restricted Free Agents)
Here are a look at five NHL restricted free agents that NHL teams should consider pursuing (providing they can afford to sign them or serve up an offer sheet):
- Derek Stepan – played with the Rangers. He could be a little pricey but he has a number of good years ahead of him. Teams he might fit: New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres.
- Justin Schultz – played last season with the Oilers. Lots of offensive potential here, I just think that the Oilers have not been able to pair him with the right partner. That could change this year. However there are a few teams that Justin would be a great fit on. Teams he might fit: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, an Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Adam Larsson – played with New Jersey Devils. A high draft pick that seems not to have fit in well with the New Jersey Devils. Still he’s too young to give up on yet. Team he might fit: Detroit RedWings, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Dougie Hamilton – currently with the Boston Bruins. This guy is going to be good so the Bruins would be wise to lock him up for a few years. But can they afford him? Teams he might fit: Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks.
- Mark Stone – currently with the Ottawa Senators. What a clutch player down the stretch for the Senators. Played some great hockey during the last half of the season. Teams he might fit: Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators.
With that here is a look at this year’s unrestricted free agents. See you on July 1 hockey fans.
2015 NHL Free Agents
| Player | Team | Pos | Status | 2014-15 Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green, Mike | WAS | D | UFA | 6,250,000 |
| Martin, Paul | PIT | D | UFA | 5,000,000 |
| St Louis, Martin | NYR | RW | UFA | 5,000,000 |
| Gonchar, Sergei | MON | D | UFA | 4,600,000 |
| Fleischmann, Tomas | ANA | C | UFA | 4,500,000 |
| Fisher, Mike | NAS | C | UFA | 4,200,000 |
| Meszaros, Andrej | BUF | D | UFA | 4,125,000 |
| Briere, Danny | COL | C | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Cole, Erik | DET | LW | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Cullen, Matt | NAS | C | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Ehrhoff, Christian | PIT | D | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Niemi, Antti | SJ | G | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Stafford, Drew | WIN | RW | UFA | 4,000,000 |
| Vermette, Antoine | CHI | C | UFA | 3,750,000 |
| Allen, Bryan | MON | D | UFA | 3,500,000 |
| Beauchemin, Francois | ANA | D | UFA | 3,500,000 |
| Ryder, Michael | NJ | RW | UFA | 3,500,000 |
| Souray, Sheldon | ANA | D | UFA | 3,500,000 |
| Upshall, Scottie | FLA | LW | UFA | 3,500,000 |
| Fasth, Viktor | EDM | G | UFA | 3,400,000 |
| Peverley, Rich | DAL | C | UFA | 3,375,000 |
| Franson, Cody | NAS | D | UFA | 3,300,000 |
| Frolik, Michael | WIN | RW | UFA | 3,300,000 |
| Hejda, Jan | COL | D | UFA | 3,250,000 |
| Jackman, Barret | STL | D | UFA | 3,250,000 |
| Salvador, Bryce | NJ | D | UFA | 3,250,000 |
| Stoll, Jarret | LA | C | UFA | 3,250,000 |
| Williams, Justin | LA | RW | UFA | 3,050,000 |
| Brodziak, Kyle | MIN | C | UFA | 3,000,000 |
| Horcoff, Shawn | DAL | C | UFA | 3,000,000 |
| Regehr, Robyn | LA | D | UFA | 3,000,000 |
| Ward, Joel | WAS | RW | UFA | 3,000,000 |
| Tlusty, Jiri | WIN | C | UFA | 2,950,000 |
| Ramo, Karri | CGY | G | UFA | 2,900,000 |
| Kopecky, Tomas | FLA | RW | UFA | 2,850,000 |
| Oduya, Johnny | CHI | D | UFA | 2,825,000 |
| Bergenheim, Sean | MIN | LW | UFA | 2,750,000 |
| Brewer, Eric | TOR | D | UFA | 2,742,500 |
| Neuvirth, Michal | NYI | G | UFA | 2,600,000 |
| Glencross, Curtis | WAS | LW | UFA | 2,500,000 |
| Jokinen, Olli | STL | C | UFA | 2,500,000 |
| Wilson, Ryan | COL | D | UFA | 2,375,000 |
| Kennedy, Tyler | NYI | C | UFA | 2,350,000 |
| Erat, Martin | PHO | LW | UFA | 2,250,000 |
| Harding, Josh | MIN | G | UFA | 2,100,000 |
| Stewart, Chris | MIN | RW | UFA | 2,100,000 |
| Ballard, Keith | MIN | D | UFA | 2,000,000 |
| Erskine, John | WAS | D | UFA | 2,000,000 |
| Michalek, Zbynek | STL | D | UFA | 2,000,000 |
| Richards, Brad | CHI | C | UFA | 2,000,000 |
| Zidlicky, Marek | DET | D | UFA | 2,000,000 |
| Gustavsson, Jonas | DET | G | UFA | 1,850,000 |
| Matthias, Shawn | VAN | C | UFA | 1,850,000 |
| McQuaid, Adam | BOS | D | UFA | 1,800,000 |
| Leopold, Jordan | MIN | D | UFA | 1,750,000 |
| Rozsival, Michal | CHI | D | UFA | 1,750,000 |
| Sekera, Andrej | LA | D | UFA | 1,750,000 |
| Weaver, Mike | MON | D | UFA | 1,750,000 |
| Campbell, Gregory | BOS | C | UFA | 1,700,000 |
| Fehr, Eric | WAS | RW | UFA | 1,600,000 |
| Slater, Jim | WIN | C | UFA | 1,600,000 |
| Morrow, Brenden | TB | LW | UFA | 1,550,000 |
| Carkner, Matt | NYI | D | UFA | 1,500,000 |
| Cleary, Dan | DET | LW | UFA | 1,500,000 |
| Havlat, Martin | NJ | RW | UFA | 1,500,000 |
| Santorelli, Michael | NAS | C | UFA | 1,500,000 |
| Beleskey, Matt | ANA | LW | UFA | 1,400,000 |
| Budaj, Peter | WIN | G | UFA | 1,400,000 |
| Condra, Erik | OTT | RW | UFA | 1,300,000 |
| Letestu, Mark | CLB | C | UFA | 1,300,000 |
| Paille, Daniel | BOS | LW | UFA | 1,300,000 |
| Schlemko, David | CGY | D | UFA | 1,275,000 |
| Bartkowski, Matt | BOS | D | UFA | 1,250,000 |
| Enroth, Jhonas | DAL | G | UFA | 1,250,000 |
| Kaleta, Patrick | BUF | RW | UFA | 1,250,000 |
| Goc, Marcel | STL | C | UFA | 1,200,000 |
| Lapierre, Maxim | PIT | C | UFA | 1,200,000 |
| Sheppard, James | NYR | C | UFA | 1,200,000 |
| Crombeen, B.J. | PHO | RW | UFA | 1,150,000 |
| Richardson, Brad | VAN | RW | UFA | 1,150,000 |
| Booth, David | TOR | LW | UFA | 1,100,000 |
| Irwin, Matt | SJ | D | UFA | 1,100,000 |
| Beagle, Jay | WAS | RW | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Downie, Steve | PIT | RW | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Ellis, Dan | FLA | G | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Emery, Ray | PHI | G | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Greiss, Thomas | PIT | G | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Hannan, Scott | SJ | D | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Heatley, Dany | FLA | RW | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Joensuu, Jesse | EDM | LW | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Roy, Derek | EDM | C | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Soderberg, Carl | BOS | C | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Volchenkov, Anton | NAS | D | UFA | 1,000,000 |
| Lindback, Anders | BUF | G | UFA | 925,000 |
| Orr, Colton | TOR | RW | UFA | 925,000 |
| Dwyer, Patrick | CAR | RW | UFA | 900,000 |
| Stempniak, Lee | WIN | RW | UFA | 900,000 |
| Holzer, Korbinian | ANA | D | UFA | 850,000 |
| Malhotra, Manny | MON | C | UFA | 850,000 |
| Sestito, Tommy | VAN | LW | UFA | 850,000 |
| Benoit, Andre | BUF | D | UFA | 800,000 |
| Dubnyk, Devan | MIN | G | UFA | 800,000 |
| Harrold, Peter | NJ | D | UFA | 800,000 |
| Johnson, Aaron | OTT | D | UFA | 800,000 |
| Moss, David | PHO | RW | UFA | 800,000 |
| Desjardins, Andrew | CHI | C | UFA | 750,000 |
| Labarbera, Jason | ANA | G | UFA | 750,000 |
| McGrattan, Brian | CGY | RW | UFA | 750,000 |
| Setoguchi, Devin | CGY | RW | UFA | 750,000 |
| Skille, Jack | CLB | RW | UFA | 750,000 |
| Carter, Ryan | MIN | LW | UFA | 725,000 |
| Halischuk, Matt | WIN | RW | UFA | 725,000 |
| Carey, Paul | BOS | C | UFA | 715,000 |
| Adams, Craig | PIT | RW | UFA | 700,000 |
| Comeau, Blake | PIT | LW | UFA | 700,000 |
| Diaz, Raphael | CGY | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Hillen III, Jack | CAR | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Leggio, David | PHO | G | UFA | 700,000 |
| Malone, Ryan | NYR | RW | UFA | 700,000 |
| Mclaren, Frazer | TOR | LW | UFA | 700,000 |
| Mullen, Patrick | OTT | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Pardy, Adam | WIN | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Porter, Chris | STL | C | UFA | 700,000 |
| Potter, Corey | CGY | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Prosser, Nate | MIN | D | UFA | 700,000 |
| Scott, John | SJ | LW | UFA | 700,000 |
| Acton, Will | VAN | LW | UFA | 680,000 |
| Mcdonald, Colin | NYI | RW | UFA | 675,000 |
| Mouillierat, Kael | NYI | C | UFA | 675,000 |
| Rosehill, Jay | PHI | RW | UFA | 675,000 |
| Angelidis, Michael | TB | C | UFA | 650,000 |
| Boulton, Eric | NYI | LW | UFA | 650,000 |
| Butler, Chris | STL | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| Drewiske, Davis | MON | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| Eaves, Patrick | DAL | RW | UFA | 650,000 |
| Fraser, Colin X | STL | C | UFA | 650,000 |
| Gervais, Bruno | COL | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| Kostka, Michael | NYR | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| O’Brien, Shane | FLA | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| Samson, Jerome | TB | RW | UFA | 650,000 |
| Strachan, Tyson | BUF | D | UFA | 650,000 |
| Winnik, Daniel | PIT | C | UFA | 650,000 |
| Zolnierczyk, Harry | NYI | LW | UFA | 650,000 |
| Colaiacovo, Carlo | PHI | D | UFA | 625,000 |
| Bachman, Richard | EDM | G | UFA | 615,000 |
| Stollery, Karl | SJ | D | UFA | 605,000 |
| Bellemore, Brett | CAR | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Bernier, Steve | NJ | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Bickel, Stu | MIN | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Biega, Alex | VAN | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Blunden, Michael | TB | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Bodie, Troy | TOR | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Bourque, Christopher | NYR | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Butler, Bobby | FLA | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Clemmensen, Scott | NJ | G | UFA | 600,000 |
| Crabb, Joey | NYR | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Cracknell, Adam | STL | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Craig, Ryan | CLB | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Cumiskey, Kyle | CHI | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Gagne, Simon | BOS | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Haley, Micheal | SJ | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Holmstrom, Ben | CAR | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Hunwick, Matt | NYR | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Jeffrey, Dustin | NYI | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Jones, Blair | PHI | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| McCarthy, John | STL | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| McElhinney, Curtis | CLB | G | UFA | 600,000 |
| Miele, Andy | DET | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Mueller, Chris | NYR | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| O’Reilly, Cal | VAN | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Porter, Kevin | DET | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Rechlicz, Joel | MIN | RW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Robins, Bobby | BOS | C | UFA | 600,000 |
| Sanguinetti, Bobby | VAN | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Volpatti, Aaron | WAS | LW | UFA | 600,000 |
| Zanon, Greg | FLA | D | UFA | 600,000 |
| Zepp, Rob | PHI | G | UFA | 600,000 |
| Abbott, Spencer | CHI | LW | UFA | 575,000 |
| Curry, John | MIN | G | UFA | 575,000 |
| Fedun, Taylor | SJ | D | UFA | 575,000 |
| Janssen, Cam | NJ | RW | UFA | 575,000 |
| Lerg, Bryan | SJ | LW | UFA | 575,000 |
| O’Neill, Will | WIN | D | UFA | 575,000 |
| Sestito, Tim | NJ | C | UFA | 575,000 |
| Stortini, Zachery | PHI | RW | UFA | 575,000 |
| Vande Velde, Chris | PHI | C | UFA | 575,000 |
| Veilleux, Stephane | MIN | LW | UFA | 575,000 |
| White, Ryan | PHI | RW | UFA | 575,000 |
| Bagnall, Drew | BUF | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Bass, Cody | CHI | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Campbell, Andrew | PHO | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Cannone, Pat | STL | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Carcillo, Daniel | CHI | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Chorney, Taylor | PIT | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Conner, Chris | WAS | RW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Corrente, Matthew | TB | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Cote, Jean-Phillippe | TB | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Drazenovic, Nicholas | PIT | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Ebbett, Andrew | PIT | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Ellis, Matt | BUF | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Fraser, Mark | NJ | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Gomez, Scott | NJ | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Henderson, Kevin | NAS | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Hodgman, Justin | PHO | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Labrie, Pierre-Cedric | CHI | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Landry, Jon | WAS | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Leighton, Michael | CHI | G | UFA | 550,000 |
| Letourneau-Leblond, Pierre-Luc | PIT | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Louis, Mark | NYI | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| McBain, Jamie | LA | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| McKenna, Mike | PHO | G | UFA | 550,000 |
| Moore, Mike | WAS | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Newbury, Kris | WAS | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Piskula, Joe | NAS | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Reese, Dylan | PHO | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Sill, Zach | TOR | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| Smith, Trevor | TOR | C | UFA | 550,000 |
| St Denis, Frederic | CLB | D | UFA | 550,000 |
| Thiessen, Brad | CGY | G | UFA | 550,000 |
| Van Der Gulik, David | LA | RW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Welsh, Jeremy | STL | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Whitney, Joe | NJ | LW | UFA | 550,000 |
| Zajac, Darcy | NJ | RW | UFA | 550,000 |
