The madness of Canada Day weekend saw 208 signings and $711.4 million worth of contracts handed out by NHL general managers in the frenzy of signing season.
Yet as the dust settles, and several higher-profile names have settled for short term, some intriguing unrestricted free agents remain available in late July, weeks after the market opened.
Let’s dig in on the rumours and reports surrounding the nine best players still out there.
1. Matt Dumba
Age: 28
Position: Defence
2022-23 salary cap hit: $6 million
The latest: Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin held steadfast that he would not move Dumba mid-season unless it was for a comparable return. No offer came close to getting a trade done.
Despite mutual interest, simple economics are forcing Dumba to sign elsewhere.
Dumba came into July 1 as the only UFA defenceman who shoots right, skates 21 minutes a night and is under 30 years old.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took a run at making this work, according to Elliotte Friedman. The Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars poked around, too.
Now, it appears the Arizona Coyotes — one of the few teams with the cap space to pay Dumba what he’s looking for — may be the most likely landing spot, with the San Jose Sharks circling the waters as well.
The Vancouver Canucks could also used a right shot on their roster.
2. Patrick Kane
Age: 34
Position: Right wing
2022-23 salary cap hit: $10.5 million
The latest: Kane’s situation was arguably the most fascinating of any individual player in 2023.
Great player, horrendous team.
Massive trade, high expectations, underwhelming playoffs.
Holding all leverage, Kane orchestrated his emotional deadline deal from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Rangers.
Extending this commitment beyond rental status would require Kane to accept a severe pay chop and GM Chris Drury to make some hard decisions with his young RFAs in need of pay raises (K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere).
This was all about borrowing a big-time star for some big-time games in spring — cap implications be damned.
“We definitely took that into consideration. There probably wasn’t another situation where we would have pushed the limits. But to get a Patrick Kane, you don’t get an opportunity like that very often,” Drury said at the time of the deal.
Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery that could keep him out of action until December. That will have most teams balking at a commitment.
The future first-ballot Hall of Famer said he was open to remaining in New York, but the Rangers seemingly have filled their veteran forward slots with Blake Wheeler and Nick Bonino.
“If I can feel better, with this team and with this opportunity, I would love that chance,” Kane told reporters.
“I know they have young guys to sign and probably other priorities. But I don’t have a bad thing to say about the organization and the situation. I thought it was an amazing experience for me. I know I’m turning 35 next year, but it’s not like I feel old. I still feel pretty young. I feel like the passion is still there. I still know that I can be a top player if my focus is solely on hockey, instead of how I feel that day.”
Rumours of a Buffalo homecoming will always linger. The big question is: Does any team sign an injured player, or does the market wait and see how Kane’s rehab goes?
Unless an offer blows him away, Kane himself is reportedly waiting to see which teams are interested once the season begins and he’s closer to 100 per cent.
Good news: His rehab is ahead of schedule.
3. Tomas Tatar
Age: 32
Position: Left wing / Right wing
2022-23 salary cap hit: $4.5 million
The latest: New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald essentially upgraded from Tatar when he traded for Tyler Toffoli.
Teams in need of scoring or a power-play boost that lost out on the bidding for Tyler Bertuzzi, however, would be wise to look at the veteran, two-way winger.
The rumour mill has been relatively quiet on the player, considering he’s fully healthy and coming off his best season in three years (20 goals, 48 points, 82 games played).
Tatar did only score once in the Devils’ 12 playoff games, however.
4. Pius Suter
Age: 27
Position: Centre / Left wing
2022-23 salary cap hit: $3.25 million
The latest: The undrafted Suter is one of the youngest and most intriguing names still on the board.
In his three seasons with Chicago and the Detroit Red Wings, he has put up at least 14 goals and 24 points.
Suter is a durable, middle-six option with depth-scoring upside for clubs looking to fill out their roster.
Reportedly, he’d prefer to sign with an NHL team and not return to Switzerland just yet.
5. Martin Jones
Age: 33
Position: Goaltender
2022-23 salary cap hit: $5.75 million
The latest: The goalie carousel went a-spinning, and Jones was left without a seat.
Jones is the only UFA goaltender who appeared in more than half of his club’s games last season (48), and his winning record (27-13-3) aided in the Seattle Kraken’s first playoff berth.
Still, Jones’s other metrics weren’t so hot (.887 save percentage), and it appears he’ll need to take a pay cut on his next deal and change sweaters for a fourth time in his NHL career.
The cap-strapped, tax-free Lightning is one team in need of a backup goalie.
6. Zach Parise
Age: 38
Position: Left wing
2022-23 salary cap hit: $750,000
The latest: Did you know that of all the unrestricted free agents still on the board, only one (Bergeron) scored more goals than Parise (21) in 2022-23?
Absolutely, Parise is aging out of the league. But he is healthy (skated in all 82 games for the New York Islanders), inexpensive, and is still helping tilt the ice in the proper direction.
The 1,224-game forward is still torn between retirement or one more go in his age-39 season.
Isles GM Lou Lamoriello is open to bringing him back.
Core members Brock Nelson and Anders Lee extolled Parise's virtues to NHL.com on July 13, but are giving him space to make a decision.
"I definitely would love to have him back," Nelson said. "I think he'd be a big part of the team if he does. But if not, he's had a [heck of a] career, and I definitely wish him the best."
Age: 35
Position: Centre
2022-23 salary cap hit: $10.5 million
The latest: Will we see Toews in a sweater other than the Blackhawks?
With three rings on his fingers and three trying years battling illness, is he healthy enough and motivated enough to sign for a cheap, bonus-laden deal and continue his career?
Does Toews want to keep playing hockey?
Questions abound.
When CAA sent its list of free agents to NHL teams before July 1, the list excluded client Toews, Mark Spector reported. A final decision has not been made.
Certainly, if the Winnipeg native wants to keep skating, there will be interest (the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets pop up occasionally in rumours) in a character centremen who still put up 15 goals and 31 points in 53 games for a bottom-feeding team in 2022-23.
8. Josh Bailey
Age: 33
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2022-23 salary cap hit: $5 million
The latest: Traded to Chicago and promptly bought out of the final season on his contract, the career-long Islander suddenly finds himself looking for a new NHL home 1,057 games and 580 points into his impressive pro run.
Bailey’s production slid to just eight goals and 25 points in 2022-23, but word is he would like to find a role and bring his leadership, penalty killing and experience to a fresh start at a reduced rate.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reported the Maple Leafs’ interest in the Ontario native on July 1, and the John Tavares connection would make some sense on a bargain deal. But since then, Toronto has signed three UFA forwards and its cap space is nonexistent.
9. Simon Benoit
Age: 24
Position: Defence
2022-23 salary cap hit: $750,000
The latest: Benoit is an undrafted, left-shot defenceman who went unqualified by the Anaheim Ducks as a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
True, Benoit’s 2022-23 numbers were shaky — he was a minus-29 in 78 games — but skating for a lottery-bound squad, the big D-man (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) was handed too many minutes and too difficult matchups too soon.
As a young UFA who saw more than 19 minutes a night, the Laval, Que., native would be an intriguing short-term pickup for a team that can properly slot him on a third pairing.
His best hockey should still lie ahead.
More notable UFAs in 2023: David Krejci, Paul Stastny, Phil Kessel, Eric Staal, Anders Bjork, Nick Ritchie, Maxime Comtois, Sam Gagner, Caleb Jones, Ethan Bear, Alexander Edler, Alex Stalock, Jaroslav Halak, Thomas Greiss, Danton Heinen
All salary info via the indispensable CapFriendly.com.
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