The busiest period of NHL free agency is over as the long summer looms over us all.
The first day of the 2023 NHL free agency period came and went and with it, many deals were struck by teams looking to bolster their fortunes for the upcoming season and beyond. It was a hectic day with deals being made across the board, though some NHL teams stood out more than others — for good and for ill.
MORE NHL FREE AGENCY: Catch up on all the major signings with our live tracker.
Now that the chaos has passed, the board has been picked pretty clean of any major dealbreakers, though some still remain unsigned as of yet. So, who are the best NHL free agents remaining on the market? Let’s dive in.
F Patrice Bergeron
It’s unsure if Patrice Bergeron will retire as of yet, but the forward did just win his sixth career Selke Trophy and no doubt leads this list of available UFAs.
F Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is looking for a bounce back season after a disappointing end in New York. By the time the season starts, Kane will be 34-years-old and looking for another Stanley Cup.
F Vladimir Tarasenko
Rumor has it that Vladimir Tarasenko is headed to the Carolina Hurricanes, so we’ll have to see if that pans out or falls apart the longer this drags on.
D Matt Dumba
The long-time Minnesota Wild defenseman is looking for a new contract this summer after playing an average of 21 minutes a night for his former club.
F David Krejci
Another player the Bruins would love to keep, David Krejci is still an intensely productive forward given his age (37) as he posted 16 goals and 56 points in 70 games last season.
F Tomas Tatar
The New Jersey Devils may have fallen short of expectations in the playoffs, but Tomas Tatar was quite the success story, posting 20 goals and 48 points in a full season played.
F Oskar Sundqvist
Oskar Sundqvist is a quality depth forward that teams could take a flyer on to bolster the bottom of their lineup.
F Maxime Comtois
A young player still in his prime, Maxime Comtois could very well earn a prove-it deal this summer for a team looking to take a risk on a youngster who has only played 210 career NHL games.