Talk of Steven Stamkos as a potential unrestricted free agent has been all the rage this week.
Stamkos, 25, would be the highest-profile player to hit free agency in modern NHL history, and all the discussion surrounding the Tampa Bay Lightning superstar has us wondering: who else might be available?
It’s become increasingly rare that quality talent hits the market in today’s salary cap world, but this year’s free-agent class could be game-changing. Beyond Stamkos, there’s Anze Kopitar, Eric Staal, Kyle Okposo, Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Keith Yandle, Dan Hamhuis, Milan Lucic, Brian Campbell, and David Backes.
Some of those players will likely sign extensions before next July but that’s a pretty impressive group to start.
And it doesn’t end there.
Here’s a look at five under-the-radar players scheduled for unrestricted free agency next summer:
Frans Nielsen, New York Islanders
The 31-year-old Nielsen has developed into a quality scorer but doesn’t get much attention playing on the same team as offensive dynamos such as Okposo and John Tavares. Nielsen ranks second on the Islanders in goals this season, trailing only Tavares, and is third on the team in total points. He has 12 goals and 10 assists through 32 games while averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time per game, which ranks fourth among Islanders forwards. The versatile centre can contribute on the power-play and penalty kill and still has some upside at his age. Remember he had a 25-goal season in 2013-14.
Mikkel Boedker, Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes forward has taken a while to develop at the NHL level, but the 26-year-old is starting to hit his stride, making him a desirable potential free agent. Boedker is on pace for a career-high in goals (he has 11 in 30 games this season) and ranks second, only behind Max Domi, for the Coyotes’ lead in total points. He is receiving more ice time (over 18 minutes per game) than he ever has in his NHL career, an indication that the coaching staff has trust in him.
Troy Brouwer, St. Louis Blues
Brouwer has churned out a pretty nice career, considering he was a seventh-round pick with the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2004. The 30-year-old forward averaged just over 20 goals per season (20.3, to be exact) from 2009 to 2015 and is filling out a solid role on the third line in his first season with the Blues, despite his offensive numbers taking a bit of a dip. Teams in need of a depth scorer who provides toughness and quality play in front of the net should have some interest in Brouwer.
Jason Demers, Dallas Stars
Demers was a reliable player in his tenure with the San Jose Sharks and is quietly having a nice start to the season with the first-place Stars. The 27-year-old (a great age for a pending free agent) is averaging over 20 minutes a night and is contributing offensively as well, with four goals and 12 points in 25 games. The steady blue-liner would be a nice fit as a second-pair defenceman on any team.
Darren Helm, Detroit Red Wings
Helm has never scored more than 15 goals in an NHL season, but he’s still a very intriguing player. He offers high-end speed and an ability to open up the ice for his teammates, which has been evident as of late while playing alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards with the Red Wings. Helm has five points in his last six games and has seen his ice time spike in the month of December. He’s not your typical “under-the-radar player,” but his talents aren’t always appreciated by the average NHL fan.
