Poll: Who Is The Best Free Agent Left?
With the majority of the free agent class locked up, teams now have to turn their attention to the trade market to improve their team. That said, the Edmonton Oilers went out and signed a free agent today in Jussi Jokinen who can legitimately help their team next year.
There are still a few names out there that can make an impact. Out of our Top 50 Free Agents, 19 names remain available, though most would take on a fringe role on any team. Despite that, we ask you now: Who is the best free agent left on the market?
We’ve listed some of the names in our Top 50, and some names that have been added to the pool since then, but make sure to leave any other options you think should be considered in the comments.
Who is the best free agent left available?
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Jaromir Jagr 22% (386)
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Thomas Vanek 21% (356)
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Andrei Markov 17% (286)
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Cody Franson 13% (217)
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Mike Fisher 12% (212)
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Matt Cullen 7% (127)
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Drew Stafford 4% (73)
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Jarome Iginla 3% (45)
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Alex Chiasson 1% (24)
Total votes: 1,726
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Snapshots: Hyman, Mazanec, Faksa, Avalanche
The Maple Leafs handed out a four-year contract for one of their depth players on Wednesday, inking Zach Hyman to a $9MM deal. While the deal will keep him as one of the lower paid forwards on the team, CapFriendly reports that it also includes a limited no-trade clause in the final two seasons.
Hyman will submit a list of ten teams that the Maple Leafs cannot trade him to, a clause it seems is included in every contract given out this year. The 25-year old winger grew up a Leafs fan in Toronto and has strong ties to the community, and has been clear this is where he wants to play out his career if possible.
- Marek Mazanec has cleared waivers, giving the Nashville Predators even more leverage in his soon to be scheduled arbitration hearing. The Maple Leafs employed a similar tactic with Peter Holland last season before his arbitration hearing, eventually signing him to a $1.3MM deal that was closer to their submitted $900K offer than his requested $2.1MM. The Minnesota Wild did a similar thing with Jordan Schroeder before getting him to agree to a two-way deal. It had been previously suggested that the Predators were going to move on from Mazanec, but after issuing him a qualifying offer and him filing for arbitration, it’s unclear where the two sides stand.
- Sean Shapiro of NHL.com speculates that Radek Faksa‘s next deal will be of the bridge variety and come in around $2.5MM per season. The young center is coming off his first full season with the Dallas Stars, in which he registered 33 points and became a big part of their forward group. The 23-year old is still not arbitration eligible, and is several years away from unrestricted free agency. A bridge deal of two years would allow both sides to re-evaluate where his career stands at 25, and negotiate a long-term deal that would buy out free agent years. The Stars also don’t have much cap room for anything longer, as they find themselves close to the upper limit after signing Martin Hanzal and Alexander Radulov.
- The Colorado Avalanche have hired Ray Bennett as an assistant coach, and Jussi Parkkila as the team’s new goaltending coach. Parkkila has been rumored for a while, as he is close with Semyon Varlamov and has worked extensively with him in the past. Bennett on the other hand comes from the St. Louis Blues organization after a decade with the club, and brings a long track record of NHL experience.
Jussi Jokinen Signs With Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have signed recently bought out winger Jussi Jokinen to a one-year contract worth $1.1MM. The deal also has a limited no-trade clause. Jokinen was bought out of the final year of his previous contract on June 30th by the Florida Panthers, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Now 34, Jokinen is coming off a disappointing season with the Panthers that saw him register just 11 goals and 28 points in 69 games. Though father time has a cut off date for everyone, Jokinen did score 60 points as recently as 2015-16 and still shows ability as a powerplay option for a team looking for offensive help. Like former teammate and fellow UFA Thomas Vanek, Jokinen’s speed is a concern as the NHL trends faster and more mobile, but his offensive instincts in certain situations can still be beneficial to a club. The fact that he’s always been a capable defender and was never a true rush threat lends itself to success even as he continues to lose mobility.
As discussed in our live chat yesterday, there may be room on certain rosters for a sort of specialty player that doesn’t have to log big minutes 5-on-5, but could still contribute in other ways. Similar to the way Columbus deployed Sam Gagner at the beginning of last season, Jokinen is a nice buy-low option for teams that missed out on the bigger names of free agency. Though he likely won’t have the impact of an Alexander Radulov or even Patrick Marleau, Edmonton can still get some solid value out of him on a one-year deal.
With Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mark Letestu as solid options in the middle, Jokinen is probably destined to add his talents to a group of wingers that is less impressive. With Ryan Strome also likely headed for the wing, the team is trying to replace the outgoing offensive talent of Jordan Eberle with a more spread out attack.
To be clear, Jokinen is not eligible for a contract with performance bonuses until next summer after he turns 35.
Fox Sports’ Andy Strickland was first to report the deal was close with a Western Conference team, while Mark Spector of Sportsnet first provided the details.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Alex Galchenyuk To Three-Year Deal
Despite filing for arbitration earlier today, Alex Galchenyuk has reached a contract with the Montreal Canadiens. The deal will pay him $4.9MM per season for the next three years, taking him to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2020. According Renaud Lavoie of TVA, the contract does not include a no-movement deal or any additional clauses. This deal buys Montreal one year of service past when Galchenyuk would otherwise have become unrestricted.
Galchenyuk has had trouble finding his role in Montreal, being shifted from wing to center and back again. There was the growing sense that Galchenyuk may have been on the outs, but with the loss Alexander Radulov his signing became a necessity. The Canadiens have been hunting for a number one center for what seems like eons, and the organization must now hope Galchenyuk will round out his game sufficiently and grow into that position. With this contract, the team receives a very productive player at a significant discount, with the extra year providing the team cap relief if he progresses.
Galchenyuk struggled with injuries as well as the aforementioned coaching decisions last year, losing 21 games to a lower body injury. He wasn’t on pace to match the 30 goals of 2015-16, but at only 23 years old, Galchenyuk still has time to develop as an NHL player. Montreal media and management were particularly down on the flashy, creative forward when he went long stretches with few points. He will likely never be a top-tier defensive forward, but he should become more capable in the other two zones under the proper direction. This contract seemingly will put a halt to the trade rumors swirling around the talented playmaker. GM Marc Bergevin had reportedly been seeking a solid hockey trade for Galchenyuk for months.
When you look at Galchenyuk’s career production, he’s very clearly an upper-echelon center, though whether he is a first or second line player is debatable. He’s averaged a .60 PPG through his career, but if we look at his 2015-16 season as a more accurate representation of his abilities, it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see him hitting 60 points nearly every year.
Galchenyuk’s contract brings the team to $65.84 MM against the cap with 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goalies signed. The organization only has goalie prospect Charlie Lindgren (an RFA) left to sign, though they may dip into the sparse free agent pool for another depth player.
2017 Arbitration Tracker
The deadline to file for player-elected salary arbitration comes in at 4pm this Wednesday, July 5th, while the next day brings the deadline for team-elected filings. To understand the entire arbitration process, make sure you read Mike Furlano’s Capology 101 posts on the process (part 1, part 2).
Below, you can find a complete list of arbitration eligible players broken down by team, and their decisions as they come in. Refresh this page often as new information will be added as it comes in.
Arbitration Deadline Quickly Approaching
With the heavy lifting of free agency now over, most teams in the NHL will turn their attention to their own restricted free agents and the upcoming deadlines for salary arbitration. Tomorrow, July 5th, is the deadline for player-elected arbitration while teams get until Thursday, July 6th to notify of team-elected arbitration. Those terms may sound similar, but they come with a few key differences.
A team is only allowed to take two players to team-elected arbitration each season, and each player only once in his career. That means, if a team—any team, not only the one he’s currently with—has elected salary arbitration in the past, they may not do so again with that player. Last year, the only club-elected filing was with Petr Mrazek, who ended up signing a two-year deal with the team before his hearing. That won’t change the fact that no team can elect to take him to arbitration again, as the filing is all that counts. 
The opposite side has the decision on whether the resulting contract will be a one-year or two-year, and in certain situations the club has “walk away” rights. If the arbitration award is more than ~$4.0MM (this number changes with the average league salary, and has yet to be set for this arbitration season) the team can decline one year of the contract, meaning if they’d selected a one-year deal the player would become an unrestricted free agent.
For a full breakdown of how the arbitration process works, make sure to check out our own Mike Furlano’s fantastic Capology 101 series from last year. The arbitration sections can be found here and here.
As for potential arbitration cases, it’s important to note that not all restricted free agents are eligible. Leon Draisaitl, and David Pastrnak among many others are still too early in their careers to elect arbitration, making any potential deal come down to their negotiations with the team. The Capology pieces have all the details on how it is determined, but some of the biggest names that are eligible are:
Mikael Granlund – 81 GP, 26 G, 43 A, 69 P
Granlund and fellow Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter—who has actually already filed according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune—are both eligible for arbitration, and have some of the strongest cases in the group. Coming off his third straight 40+ point season, and a $3MM contract, should the Wild and Granlund not be able to reach a deal before his hearing he would be in line for a big raise.
Ryan Johansen – 82 GP, 14 G, 47 A, 61 P
There has already been reports of Johansen asking for an $8.5MM per year contract, which would make him one of the highest-paid centers in the league. Though his arbitration amount wouldn’t be that high, he has quite the case as one of the premiere up-and-coming talents in the league.
Alex Galchenyuk – 61 GP, 17 G, 27 A, 44 P
One of the most talked about RFAs in the league, Galchenyuk has simultaneously been the talk of much trade speculation and contract negotiation. The Canadiens are in active discussions with him, but if something can’t get done an arbitration date could settle the debate for them.
As with any year, most of the free agents that file for salary arbitration will sign a contract before a hearing ever happens. But with such a strong group of RFAs this year, we might be in for some interesting decisions as the time ticks down. After filing, the league will set hearing dates that should fall between July 20th and August 4th.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Kings Looking To Shift Course
After missing the playoffs two seasons in a row, the L.A. Kings have fallen pretty hard from grace. After winning the cup twice in three years, it’s been one bad story after another for the team from Hollywood. Dustin Brown was stripped of the captaincy and relegated to bottom-six duties, not long after former key contributor Mike Richards found himself terminated due to a combination of on-ice, off-ice, and salary issues. Matt Greene had to be bought out entirely. Marian Gaborik is 35, signed for four more seasons, and just put together two underwhelming performances back-t0-back. The defense has gotten more top-heavy, and after losing Brayden McNabb to Vegas in the expansion draft, is set to lose another valuable piece. The head coach who earned the franchise its two rings was fired and a re-tread coach from Philadelphia will get his opportunity in 2017-18.
In an article with the L.A. Times written by Helene Elliotts, GM Rob Blake details the change in philosophy the Kings will need to adopt if they are going to find success in the near future. Ultimately, he wants to predicate the team’s identity more on speed, while staying true to their defensive style. Los Angeles has played a heavy, physical, stifling game to get their championships, and it appears that Blake is shifting away from that mantra next season. He isolated the “core” of the team as Anze Kopitar, Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, and Jonathan Quick. It might be drawn from his sentiment thatt other, more expendable pieces that may be available if the Kings continue to merely tread water.
Los Angeles did make a decent bargain-bin signing in Mike Cammalleri, who was sunk by a capsized New Jersey Devils squad last season. The potential for him to rebound and be productive is quite high, but it may not be nearly enough. The Kings beat out only Philadelphia, Colorado, New Jersey and Vancouver in terms of fewest goals scored. Carter and Pearson were the only twenty-goal scorers on the team. Guaranteed offense is an absolute need, and although former coach Darryl Sutter‘s systems were a component of the struggles, the team needs more reliable production. Their defense is still the team’s greatest organizational strength, but it does strike some as odd that a player like McNabb wasn’t shuffled elsewhere for scoring help rather than being sacrificed for nothing to expansion.
If the Kings decide at this late stage to go the free agency route, their options are solid if a bit older. If speed is the determinant factor, that may seem to rule out the likes of Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla, while leaving the possibility of a Thomas Vanek signing open. More likely, however, the Blake and the Kings will need to probe the trade market. From there, the team will likely need to surrender future assets if they hope to receive solid scoring in a returning package. The team could take a lot of offensive pressure off of Kopitar (who himself is more of a two-way player) if they could swing a trade for a solid center. Matt Duchene is likely out of their price range, and Alex Galchenyuk‘s value just skyrocketed. The bottom-six wingers are dreadfully lacking in experience, so an upgrade to the third line couldn’t hurt. Cap space is tight, however, as the team will only have over $5.5 MM after re-signing RFAs Nick Shore and Kevin Gravel. It may take outside-the-box thinking to bring the Kings back into contender status, but Blake seems primed to make moves, albeit on his own timeline.
Snapshots: Franson, Cheveldayoff, Marleau
We’re still all quiet on the Cody Franson front, which has many analysts stumped. Franson is a decent possession player when you look at career Corsi and Fenwick. He’s the youngest “big name” defenseman left un-signed in unrestricted free agency. He played 68 games for the Buffalo Sabres, who were admittedly porous defensively, but finished with a minus 5 on a team where no one broke a plus 3. What’s most intriguing is his ability to skate combined with his overall size – 6’5 and 224 pounds. Franson also has a right-handed shot from the point, something many teams are lacking and actively seeking. He’s the prototype for a #4 defenseman in today’s NHL, and at only 30, has more hockey left in him. There’s been nearly no smoke around this player as we finish the third day of free agency, and that alone is befuddling.
- Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff believes his Jets “are a cap team now”, and he’s willing to spend accordingly per Postmedia’s Ken Weibe. Cheveldayoff has been infamous league-wide for his reluctance to make too many roster moves – it took him the better part of three seasons to even make a trade. That said, he seems to be embracing a more proactive role in management. On July 1st he signed defensemen Dimitri Kulikov and goaltender Steve Mason to expensive contracts, and moved on from veterans Chris Thorburn and Mark Stuart. With his core players entering their primes, the time to compete is apparently now.
- Patrick Marleau had a quality radio interview with TSN 1050 Toronto earlier this evening. There were a few good quotes that resulted, but nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps the most humorous moment in the segment was when Marleau insisted that he’s still “full of (pee) and vinegar…just like these kids”. Marleau apparently mulled over the decision for more than a week, weighing the pros and cons of the decision to move on from San Jose, the only franchise he’s ever played for. Ultimately, he cited his confidence in the management team, the exciting younger players in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and the aggressiveness of the team to compete right away as reasons which tilted the scales in favor of the Leafs. The third year on the contract offer, which will take him to age 40, probably provided him lots of incentive, as well.
Galchenyuk Negotiations Intensify
Alex Galchenyuk has suddenly gone from pariah to absolute necessity. In the wake of losing top scoring threat Alexander Radulov via free agency to the Dallas Stars, Galchenyuk, a restricted free agent, has seen his internal value skyrocket. Radulov, of course, signed with the Stars earlier today for 5 seasons, and the Montreal offense was already severely lacking. Galchenyuk had a respectable 44 points in only 61 games last season, but that was a marginal drop from his 30-goal, 56-point campaign the year prior.
One of the largest issues for Galchenyuk this last season was consistency in his production, and many link that to his constant switching between the center and left wing roles. Galchenyuk is a more natural center, and has stated as such on numerous occasions. His defensive play has left many fans wanting, however. Two separate coaching staffs placed him on the wing at different points, and the organization has stated pretty clearly that he isn’t ready for top-line center duties. The problem for Montreal of course, is that they don’t have anyone else nearly as capable to fill that role. Tomas Plekanec is another year older and Galchenyuk is already arguably the better player. With Radulov (a right-wing) out of the picture, it might be wise to keep Galchenyuk content and comfortable.
According to Darren Dreger, Galchenyuk’s agent Pat Brisson has been in contact with GM Marc Bergevin, who will now turn his attention primarily to this contract. If they can’t come to an agreement, arbitration is always an option that can be utilized. That said, arbitration would probably only serve to fan the flames that have surrounded this player since he was supposedly placed on the block a year ago. Those flames are still not going out until that contract has been signed, and there will always be a market for young, talented centers.
When Jonathan Drouin was acquired for the left side, it seemed as though the writing was on the wall. But now, with Radulov out of the picture, losing Galchenyuk’s top-six offensive abilities would be a massive blow to the team. Montreal finished 13th in Goals For, but only two players hit the 20 goal mark – Max Pacioretty (35) and Paul Byron (22). Losing their top assist man and second-leading point getter in Radulov, it would be entirely devastating to draw the Galchenyuk negotiations out into the season, or worse, to trade him following a down year. Galchenyuk and his agent know they have the leverage in negotiations, and there’s a strong possibility they’ll use every ounce of it to get a better deal for the 23-year-old talent. Considering his production and league wide comparisons, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see him make well above $5 MM.
Poll: Who Has Had The Best Offseason So Far?
Now most of the way through the third day of free agency, and several teams have made substantial upgrades to their teams. Kevin Shattenkirk, Alexander Radulov and Karl Alzner, our top 3 UFAs have all signed long-term deals with new teams, and others have made an impact on the trade market or with their restricted free agents.
So who has had the best offseason so far? Dallas has added several big names with Radulov joining Ben Bishop, Marc Methot and Martin Hanzal, while the New York Islanders found a winger for John Tavares and got a big return for Travis Hamonic. Montreal has added a top free agent, acquired a top line winger and locked up their franchise goaltender, while the Vegas Golden Knights came into existence and acquired a boatload of draft picks.
Vote on who you think has had the best offseason so far, and make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments below. With still lots of trade talk to come it could easily change, but let us know who you think got out to the early lead.
Who has had the best offseason so far?
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Dallas Stars 25% (497)
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New York Rangers 10% (212)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 6% (126)
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Buffalo Sabres 6% (125)
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Arizona Coyotes 6% (122)
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Calgary Flames 5% (110)
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St. Louis Blues 5% (101)
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Vegas Golden Knights 5% (94)
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Chicago Blackhawks 4% (78)
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New Jersey Devils 3% (65)
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Philadelphia Flyers 3% (59)
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Nashville Predators 3% (57)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (55)
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New York Islanders 2% (36)
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Carolina Hurricanes 2% (32)
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Vancouver Canucks 2% (31)
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Montreal Canadiens 1% (29)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (26)
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Winnipeg Jets 1% (26)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (22)
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Minnesota Wild 1% (22)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (21)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (16)
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Washington Capitals 1% (16)
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Boston Bruins 1% (15)
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Los Angeles Kings 0% (9)
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Edmonton Oilers 0% (7)
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Colorado Avalanche 0% (6)
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Florida Panthers 0% (6)
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San Jose Sharks 0% (6)
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Ottawa Senators 0% (1)
Total votes: 2,028
[Mobile users click here to vote!]