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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJun 20, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The NHL offseason comes at you fast.
The Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils made huge trades in between Games 5 and 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The NHL draft is next week. Less than 48 hours after the second day of the draft ends inside Sphere in Las Vegas, the offseason free agent frenzy begins on July 1.
It is anyone’s guess how many of the names on our 2024 NHL free agent tiers will make it to the open market, or how many more names could be added through buyouts and teams walking away from restricted free agents.
As mentioned in our offseason primer, the salary cap being set at $88 million means more money in the system for teams to sign depth players — or add some extra dollars to deals that entice bigger-name free agents to join their teams.
“The free agent market is what it is, but now there’s more money in the system,” one team executive said. “I think you’ll see contracts where you’re going to go, ‘Oh my god’ based on the last five years under the cap.”
Here’s a look at close to 100 players in the unrestricted free agent field, organized into seven different tiers.
Note: Players are sorted alphabetically within each tier.
Tier 1: The impact players
These are established players that can play key, immediate roles for a team.
Age: 29
2023-24 cap hit: $6 million
The most coveted player at the NHL trade deadline is now the most coveted winger in free agency.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
He checks a bunch of boxes: Stanley Cup champion, proven playoff performer (67 points in 69 career games), a play-driver at 5-on-5 and, perhaps best of all, his experience thriving alongside elite talent in Sidney Crosby.
There’s been speculation that he could bring all of that to Connor Bedard’s wing in Chicago, if the Blackhawks wanted to do the “sign the guy you need before you’re ready to need him” thing. But the more likely destination is Vancouver, where he can slot next to a number of…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/40387828/nhl-free-agent-rankings-best-players-contracts-guentzel-montour-stamkos-marchessault
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-06-20 11:58:47
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