Most huge names and impression gamers in NHL free company flew off the board on Day 1.
Nonetheless, some worth provides stay available as the primary week of free company ends. Listed here are the 5 finest gamers who’re nonetheless out there.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW
The 32-year-old ahead is coming off a 23-goal, 55-point season whereas splitting time between the Ottawa Senators and Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Tarasenko was fairly efficient after being acquired on the commerce deadline, notching six targets and 14 factors in 19 regular-season video games and 5 targets and 9 factors in 24 playoff video games. He may instantly step in and enhance the scoring punch of a number of groups’ prime six.
Daniel Sprong, RW
Solely 27, Sprong has come into his personal within the final two seasons, tallying 39 targets and 89 factors and proving to be an under-the-radar scoring menace. He ranks ninth within the NHL over the past two years in 5-on-5 targets per 60 minutes regardless of averaging solely 11:44 of ice time per sport. Sprong could be a big enhance for a staff seeking to bolster scoring from its center six.
Tyson Barrie, D
Barrie’s 2023 numbers don’t look fairly (one objective, 15 factors in 41 video games, 18:19 ice time per sport), however he was the unlucky sufferer of being within the mistaken state of affairs in Nashville and going by way of a public dispute over a commerce request. The 32-year-old is without doubt one of the prime power-play quarterbacks within the league (he has 32 profession targets and 210 factors on the person benefit), and he provides important worth as a blue-liner who also can put up a lot of factors (he had 10 straight seasons of 35 or extra factors from 2013 to 2022.)
Kevin Lankinen, G
Lankinen spent the final two years as Juuse Saros’ backup in Nashville, however he carried out like a borderline starter. In 43 video games, together with 35 begins, Lankinen put up a .912 save share, 2.78 goals-against common and 13.9 targets saved above anticipated. 13 of his 17 begins this season got here towards playoff groups, and he received six of them and held his personal towards the highest groups within the league. Lankinen is barely 29, and he may get a one- or two-year deal from a staff seeking to platoon him with one other netminder in a 1A-1B state of affairs.
Justin Schultz, D
At 33, Schultz is extra of a third-pairing defenseman than something, however that doesn’t imply he doesn’t have worth. He totaled seven targets and 26 factors in 70 video games with the Seattle Kraken and performed the second-most power-play minutes among the many staff’s defensemen. Schultz is an efficient possibility for the person benefit, and he provides scoring upside from the blue line.
