NHL Free Agency: What to Expect

With the NHL free agency period just around the corner, fans are wondering what to expect. Here’s a look at some of the top free agents and where they might end up.

NHL free agency what to expect

NHL Free agency begins on July 1, and there are a number of big-name players set to hit the open market. Here’s a look at some of the top free agents and what to expect from them:

Forwards

Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues – O’Reilly is one of the top two-way forwards in the NHL and is coming off a season in which he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He’s also won two Selke Trophies as the league’s best defensive forward. The 28-year-old is sure to command a hefty price on the open market, and it will be interesting to see if the Blues can re-sign him or if he ends up elsewhere.

Artemi Panarin, Columbus Blue Jackets – Panarin is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL and has tallied at least 70 points in each of his three seasons in the league. The 27-year-old is sure to be in high demand on July 1, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. He’s reportedly interested in signing with a team in a major market, so that could rule out some teams.

Matt Duchene, Columbus Blue Jackets – Duchene was acquired by the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline last season and helped them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014. He’s an excellent two-way player who can contribute offensively and defensively. The 28-year-old is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career, and he should have no shortage of suitors. It will be interesting to see if he stays in Columbus or signs elsewhere.

Defenders

Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks – Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the NHL and has won two Norris Trophies as the league’s top defenseman. He’s coming off a season in which he missed significant time due to injury, but he’s still one of the most coveted blue-liners on the market. The Sharks would love to re-sign him, but it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to retain his services or if he ends up signing elsewhere.

The top free agents this year

NHL free agency begins on July 1, and there are several big names available this year. The most sought-after free agent is undoubtedly goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who is coming off a Vezina Trophy winning season with the Columbus Blue Jackets Other top free agents include forwards Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and Jeff Skinner, and defensemen Erik Karlsson and Tyler Myers.

It’s always difficult to predict where Free Agents will end up signing, but Bobrovsky is expected to command the largest contract of any player this offseason. He is widely expected to sign with the Florida Panthers who have the cap space to give him the deal he wants. Where the other top free agents will end up is less clear, but there will be no shortage of suitors for all of them.

With so many high-profile free agents available, this promises to be an exciting offseason in the NHL.

Who will be the most sought-after free agents?

NHL free agency begins on July 1st, and there are sure to be plenty of big names on the market. Who will be the most sought-after free agents?

One of the hottest commodities in free agency this year is sure to be defenseman Erik Karlsson. Karlsson is a two-time Norris Trophy winner and is widely considered to be one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He’s just 28 years old, so he should have plenty of good hockey left in him.

Another player who is sure to generate a lot of interest is forward Artemi Panarin. Panarin is a skilled offensive player who has tallied at least 20 goals in each of his four NHL seasons. He’s just 27 years old, so he, too, should have plenty of good hockey left in him.

Other notable players who will become free agents this summer include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forward Matt Duchene, and defenseman Tyler Myers. Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and was a finalist for the award this year. Duchene is a three-time 20-goal scorer who has reached the 30-goal mark twice. Myers is a big (6’8″, 229 lbs) defenseman who can provide some offensive punch (he had 8 goals and 36 points this past season).

How much will the top Free Agents command on the open market?

As the NHL’s free agency period approaches, all eyes will be on the top Free Agents and how much they command on the open market.

One of the most coveted Free Agents this year is defenseman Erik Karlsson, who is coming off a season in which he registered 14 goals and 64 assists for the Ottawa Senators. While Karlsson is just 28 years old, he has already established himself as one of the NHL’s top blueliners and is expected to command a hefty salary on the open market.

Another player who is sure to generate a lot of interest is forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who is coming off a career-best season in which he racked up 33 goals and 37 assists for the St. Louis Blues The 27-year-old forward is in the prime of his career and should command a sizable contract from whichever team ultimately signs him.

Other notable Free Agents include forwards Artemi Panarin, Ryan Dzingel, Anders Lee and Matt Duchene, as well as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

How will teams manage their salary cap space with the flat cap?

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) free agency period is set to begin on July 1st, and with a current salary cap of $81.5 million per team, many are wondering how teams will manage their finances given the flat salary cap

The salary cap for the 2020-21 season is $81.5 million, which is the same as the previous season. However, with the league’s revenue expected to decrease by $1 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the salary cap is not expected to rise in 2021-22. This has led to some teams having to make difficult decisions regarding their rosters and how they will manage their salary cap space

One such team is the Toronto Maple Leafs who have already announced that they will be buying out the contract of veteran forward Jason Spezza. This move will save the team $3.5 million in salary cap space for next season.

Other teams are expected to make similar moves in order to free up salary cap space. With the flat salary cap it will be interesting to see how teams manage their rosters and spending in order to stay under the cap while still being able to ice a competitive team.

What impact will the flat salary cap have on free agency?

Although the NHL salary cap is not expected to increase for the 2020-21 season, it will remain at $81.5 million, which should allow teams to be active in free agency

One of the main impact of the flat salary cap will be on long-term contracts. With the salary cap not expected to increase for at least the next two seasons, teams will be hesitant to hand out long-term deals that come with a high annual average value (AAV).

Another impact of the flat salary cap is that teams will need to be more strategic in how they use their available cap space. For example, a team might choose to sign a couple of lower-priced veterans to one-year deals instead of giving a big contract to one player.

Overall, the flat salary cap will have a significant impact on Free Agency and how teams approach it.

How will the expansion draft impact free agency?

The NHL Expansion Draft will take place on June 21, and it will have a major impact on free agency

All 30 teams must submit their protected lists by 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, and the list of available players will be released on Sunday.

The Vegas Golden Knights will then have until Wednesday to submit their Expansion Draft selections, and those players will be announced on Thursday.

Many of the league’s top free agents are expected to be made available in the Expansion Draft and it’s possible that some teams could use the draft as a way to shed salary cap space.

Here’s a look at some of the top free agents who could be available in the Expansion Draft
– Kevin Shattenkirk, D, St. Louis Blues Shattenkirk is one of the most sought-after defensemen in this year’s free agent class, and it’s possible that he could be made available in the expansion draft if the Blues decide to protect other defensemen such as Alex Pietrangelo or Jay Bouwmeester.
– Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks: There has been speculation that the Sharks could use the expansion draft as a way to part ways with Thornton, who carries a $6.75 million cap hit for next season. However, it’s also possible that San Jose could elect to keep him and try to work out a trade after the draft.
– Ben Bishop, G, Los Angeles Kings Bishop is one of several goaltenders who could be made available in the expansion draft, as the Kings are likely to protect Jonathan Quick from being selected. It’s also possible that Los Angeles could trade Bishop before the draft or try to work out a deal with Vegas so that they don’t select him.

What other factors could impact Free Agency this year?

In addition to the ongoing pandemic, there are a few other factors that could have an impact on NHL Free Agency this year. Here’s a look at some of the things to keep an eye on:

The salary cap: One of the biggest questions surrounding Free Agency is what the salary cap will be for the 2020-21 season. With league revenues expected to take a hit due to the pandemic, it’s possible that the cap could go down from its current $81.5 million. If that happens, it would have a significant impact on how much teams are able to spend on free agents

The queue: Another potential issue is that free agents could get lost in the shuffle this offseason. With so many players likely to hit the market, teams may not have the time or resources to evaluate everyone properly. As a result, some good players could end up signing for less money than they would have otherwise gotten.

The market: It’s also worth keeping an eye on the overall Free Agent market this offseason. If there are more player available than teams are willing to sign, it could lead to depressed prices across the board. This could be good news for teams looking to save money but bad news for free agents hoping to cash in on their career years.

What are the top free agent destinations?

The NHL free agency period begins on July 1 and there are sure to be some big-name players on the move. Here are some of the top potential destinations for free agents this offseason:

Boston Bruins: The Bruins are one of the most successful teams in the NHL over the last few years and are always in contention for the Stanley Cup They have a deep roster and could use a top-six forward to help them continue their success.

Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning are another team that is always near the top of the standings. They have a strong core of young players but could use some veteran leadership to help them take that next step.

Vegas Golden Knights The Golden Knights made a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season and are looking to build on that success. They have plenty of salary cap space and could be active in Free Agency this offseason.

What are the top Free Agent rumors?

NHL Free Agency is just around the corner, and with it comes a flurry of rumors about where some of the league’s top free agents will end up signing.

One of the biggest names on the free agent market this year is defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who is coming off a strong season with the St. Louis Blues. Shattenkirk is expected to command a hefty contract, and there are several teams that are rumored to be interested in signing him.

The New York Rangers are one team that has been linked to Shattenkirk, and they certainly have the cap space to sign him. The Rangers are also in need of help on the back end, so Shattenkirk would be a good fit for them.

Another team that has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Shattenkirk is the Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning have been one of the best teams in the league for several years now, and they could use some help on defense. Shattenkirk would be a great addition to their already talented roster.

Wherever he ends up signing, it’s clear that Kevin Shattenkirk will be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason.