The NHL's free agency period is upon us, and the market for scorers is looking a little leaner than usual. Only eight pending UFAs scored 20 or more goals last season, with names like Alex Tuch, Anthony Mantha, and Alex Ovechkin leading the way. Tuch and Raddysh are the top two names on the UFA big board, and they're generating a lot of attention. But what about the others? Mantha, McMann, Arvidsson, Tarasenko, and Roslovic are all interesting cases. Mantha, for instance, had a career-high 33 goals with the Penguins, but his health has been an issue. McMann, on the other hand, has been a consistent late-bloomer. Arvidsson seemed to find a new lease on life with the Bruins, and Tarasenko had a decent season for the Wild. Roslovic, the youngest of the group, is also likely to hit the market. Teams are interested, but some are waiting to see if they can get younger scorers via the trade market first.
One thing that stands out is the lack of extensions being done between pending UFAs and their teams. Sergei Bobrovsky, for instance, is still without a resolution with the Florida Panthers. It's a head-scratcher, especially given that he won two Cup titles with the team. If Florida can't re-sign him, they might look to trade for Connor Hellebuyck, who is reportedly open to change. Meanwhile, Patrick Kane, who put up 57 points last season, is still undecided about whether to return to the Red Wings or hit the market. And Ryan Shea, a 29-year-old defenseman, is also generating attention.
The Michael Kesselring trade by the San Jose Sharks is an interesting development. It cost the Sharks seven spots in the opening round of the draft, but it's a move that could pay off in the long run. For the Buffalo Sabres, it was a necessary move to get a tradeable asset, especially given that Kesselring is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Meanwhile, A.J. Greer is likely to go to market, but he's still open to signing in Florida if the Panthers can find the cap space. And Andrew Brunette will remain the coach in Nashville, according to new GM Chris MacFarland.
In the end, the NHL's free agency period is a fascinating time, with a lot of moving parts and interesting cases to consider. It's a time when teams are looking to upgrade their rosters, and players are looking to secure their futures. As an expert, I can't help but wonder what the future holds for these players and teams. Will the market for scorers remain lean, or will we see a surge in activity? Only time will tell.
