On July 1, the opening day of the NHL’s annual arms race, nearly $700 million in contract dollars were committed to free agents. Since then, however, signing season has come to a crawl. Only 11 players have put pen to paper in the past three days, and the only truly notable deal of the bunch was the two-year pact inked by Marcus Johansson and the Buffalo Sabres.
Odd about the dog days of free agency beginning so soon, though, is that there are still several notable names left on the market and talented players remaining at every position. Teams looking to add speed, skill or size at any given position don’t have to go scraping the bottom of the barrel to do so, with some valuable veterans, breakout scorers and prime-aged producers up for grabs. Who are the best remaining players at each position? Here’s a spot-by-spot look at what’s left:
CENTERS
Joe Thornton: Technically, Thornton is a UFA and could thus sign anywhere he chooses. Chances are, though, it’s San Jose or bust. The Sharks have basically ironed out the rest of the money for their roster, though, so you might be able to count on ‘Jumbo’ inking a deal soon. He turned 40 on July 2.
Derick Brassard: Brassard has suffered through quite the decline, from prized deadline acquisition to potential professional tryout candidate in a span of little more than two seasons. As a depth center, however, Brassard can still contribute. Just don’t expect big numbers. The 31-year-old scored just 14 goals and 23 points last season, the worst total of his career.
Matt Cullen: Until the 42-year-old actually says he’s retired, we’re going to assume he’s coming back for at least one more year. He was quiet yet effective last year with the Penguins, playing the same fourth-line role he has assumed for the past few seasons while putting together a tidy seven-goal, 20-point campaign.
WINGERS
Ryan Dzingel: The highest scoring UFA left on the market. The end to his season was rocky as he wasn’t a fit in Columbus, but the 27-year-old was excellent prior to landing with the Blue Jackets. Seasons of 32, 41 and 56 points over the past three campaigns as well as back-to-back 20-goal years put Dzingel in line for a nice raise. A short-term deal might be the best bet.
Micheal Ferland: The bruising winger burst out of the gates last season but slowed down in the second half. He can skate middle-six minutes and contribute, and his 20-goal upside makes him an intriguing addition. The 27-year-old was a hot commodity around the deadline, so he surely has several suitors as free agency rolls on.
Patrick Maroon: Bet on himself on a one-year deal with St. Louis and won a Stanley Cup, but also took a slight step back offensively. Put him alongside a speedster center or net front on a power play and he’s at his best. The 31-year-old is a middle-six piece who is probably likely to land with a contending team who wants him for the post-season.
Justin Williams: He’ll be 38 when the season starts, but Williams is also fresh off of his best offensive season since 2011-12 and scored 23 goals last season. Like Thornton, it’s probably one team or bust for Williams. He was the Hurricanes’ captain last season, and if he returns, it’s almost assuredly going to be with Carolina.
Thomas Vanek: He might be 35, but Vanek is still a capable producer in a bottom-six role. Case in point? He scored 2.4 points per 60 minutes of ice time last season, which puts him level with Ferland, Jonathan Marchessault, Nino Niederreiter, Brayden Schenn and Evander Kane, to name a few. He’s a gun for hire, and someone should snap him up.
Patrick Marleau: He made it clear he didn’t want to play in Carolina, which led to a buyout by the Hurricanes following a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s assumed that he’s going to end up with the Sharks next season for one last go-round in San Jose, where he spent nearly 1,500 games and the first 19 seasons of his career. He’ll be 40 in September, but he can still provide bottom-six punch.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner: The highest-scoring rearguard left on the market and hands down the best puck-moving UFA defender yet to put pen to paper. The 28-year-old can play steady second-pairing minutes and produce on the power play. Gardiner’s 125 points across the past three seasons are tied for 23rd among blueliners and his .55 points per game are tied for 26th.
Ben Hutton: He was afforded plenty of opportunity on a thin Vancouver blueline and showcased some offensive acumen. He might not be the most responsible own-zone defender, but the 26-year-old is a worthwhile depth option, particularly for a team seeking some additional offense down the lineup. It’s a thin class of rearguards, and Hutton is among the best remaining.
Marc Methot: Maybe it’s an off-the-board selection, but what it comes down to with Methot is how limited his mobility is following knee surgery that cost him almost the entire 2018-19 campaign. The 34-year-old has only played 45 games in the past two seasons, but he was highly regarded as a shutdown defender before he was hamstrung by ailments. Worth a shot as a veteran shutdown option.
GOALTENDERS
Michal Neuvirth: The 31-year-old had an abysmal season in Philadelphia, but so did almost every Flyers goaltender. As a backup option, though, Neuvirth can still get the job done. He has a career .910 SP and he’s had some good seasons. There’s still tread left on the tires, and a team that gets into a pinch in the crease could do a lot worse.
Chad Johnson: Johnson, 33, has made eight stops in his big-league career and moved from St. Louis to Anaheim last season. There’s a reason he’s stuck around. He can be a reliable hand, even if he hasn’t shown an ability to steal away or really challenge for a starting gig. As a fringe netminder or third-stringer, Johnson would do just fine.
Cam Ward: We’re entering last-chance territory for Ward. The 35-year-old struggled in Chicago last season and there’s no more room for him with the Blackhawks. He’s a decent backup option. It’s looking more likely, though, that his time is up. He is the only free agent keeper who played more than 20 games, however.
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