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    Matt Larkin
    Matt Larkin
    Jun 28, 2016, 17:18

    Who are the best remaining unrestricted free agents approaching Friday, July 1? Here are THN's top 30 names.

    Who are the best remaining unrestricted free agents approaching Friday, July 1? Here are THN's top 30 names.

    The top 30 unrestricted free agents of 2016 – UPDATED

    A few prominent unrestricted free agents have come off the board over the past week, most notably Keith Yandle and Alex Goligoski, but plenty of big names remain in a rich 2016 class. My top 30 UFAs:

    1. STEVEN STAMKOS, C

    Age: 26

    2015-16 cap hit: $7.5 million

    Never has a talent of his caliber hit the open market so young. Could flirt with a record deal unless the blood clot scare drops his price. SIGNED: Eight years, $68 million with Lightning

    2. KYLE OKPOSO, RW

    Age: 28

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.8 million

    More productive than Andrew Ladd or Milan Lucic in recent years. Okposo less of a name brand and lacks Cup ring, so might come cheaper. SIGNED:Seven years, $42 million with Sabres

    3. DAVID BACKES, C

    Age: 32

    2015-16 cap hit: $4.5 million

    More mileage than most at his age. He'll still strike it rich as a big, mean center with excellent two-way skills. SIGNED:Five years, $30 million with Bruins

    4. MILAN LUCIC, LW

    Age:28

    2015-16 cap hit: $6 million

    Power forward hasn't broken down yet despite physical style. Has only missed an average of 1.7 games over past six seasons. SIGNED:Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers

    5. ANDREW LADD, LW

    Age:30

    2015-16 cap hit: $4.4 million

    A winner who fits in top six and plays strong 200-foot game commands big money. Have to think that prices him out of Chicago. SIGNED:Seven years, $38.5 million with Islanders

    6. LOUI ERIKSSON, RW

    Age:30

    2015-16 cap hit: $4.25 million

    Earned millions for himself with bounce-back year. How would he look on a Swede line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin? SIGNED:Six years, $36 million with Canucks

    7. BRIAN CAMPBELL, D

    Age:37

    2015-16 cap hit: $7.14 million

    Still a decent minute muncher. Age may scare some teams off and make him a bargain on a short-term contract. Watch the Blackhawks closely. SIGNED:One year, $1.5 million with Blackhawks

    8. FRANS NIELSEN, C

    Age: 32

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.75 million

    Plays major minutes in all situations. An underrated fit for any team's middle six forwards. SIGNED:Six years, $31.5 million with Red Wings

    9. MIKKEL BOEDKER, RW

    Age: 26

    2015-16 cap hit: $3.75 million

    Speedy scorer has leftover potential to tap into if he gets a long-term chance with elite linemates. SIGNED:Four years, $16 million with Sharks

    10. JIRI HUDLER, RW

    Age: 32

    2015-16 cap hit: $4 million

    Career year in 2014-15, then tanked in contract year. Still a handy playmaking forward for someone's top six.

    11. ERIC STAAL, C

    Age: 31

    2015-16 cap hit: $8.25 million

    Prime candidate to be overpaid. Not the offensive force he once was. Has stopped shooting the puck. Still, he's hardly ancient at 31. SIGNED:Three years, $10.5 million with Wild

    12. TROY BROUWER, RW

    Age: 30

    2015-16 cap hit: $3.67 million

    Big banger proved his worth in the playoffs. Could upgrade a Cup contender or add veteran help to an up and comer. SIGNED:Four years, $18.5 million with Flames

    13. JAMES REIMER, G

    Age:28

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.3 million

    Has earned chance to start, but few if any teams need a bona fide No. 1. Flames would've been the perfect fit had they not acquired Brian Elliott. SIGNED:Five years, $17 million with Panthers

    14. DAN HAMHUIS, D

    Age:33

    2015-16 cap hit: $4.5 million

    Canucks will be ridiculed if they don't re-sign Hamhuis after failing to move him at deadline. Is he still a good fit? SIGNED:Two years, $7 million with Stars

    15. RADIM VRBATA, RW

    Age: 35

    2015-16 cap hit: $5 million

    One season removed from arguably being the Canucks' best player. Will attract teams starved for secondary scorers.

    16. DAVID PERRON, LW

    Age: 28

    2015-16 cap hit: $3.81 million

    Still relatively young and corrected his career course with Ducks. Plenty of reason for both sides to stay together. SIGNED:Two years, $7 million with Blues

    17. KRIS RUSSELL, D

    Age: 29

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.6 million

    A trap signing? Lauded for shot blocking but possession numbers suggest he was a below-average defender in 2015-16.

    18. LEE STEMPNIAK, RW

    Age: 33

    2015-16 cap hit: $850,000

    Won't come nearly as cheap as last year but might rejoin Bruins. Relegated to short-term "suitcase" deals at this stage. SIGNED:Two years, $5 million with Hurricanes

    19. SHANE DOAN, RW

    Age: 39

    2015-16 cap hit: $5.3 million

    Turns 40 Oct. 10, but 28 goals were most since 2008-09. He'll stay with Coyotes. Seems destined never to change teams, a la Chris Phillips in Ottawa.

    20. JAMIE MCGINN, LW

    Age: 27

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.95 million

    A bargain. His offense spikes whenever he's given a chance to play with legit scorers, as he showed in Anaheim. SIGNED:Three years, $10 million with Coyotes

    21. TEDDY PURCELL, RW

    Age: 30

    2015-16 cap hit: $4.5 million

    No lock to earn a long-term deal. In his 30s now and more of a stopgap and trading chip. A younger Stempniak. SIGNED:One year, $1.6 million with Kings

    22. JASON DEMERS, D

    Age: 28

    2015-16 cap hit: $3.4 million

    Solid depth addition, but a team that pays him like a top-pairing guy might end up disappointed. SIGNED:Five years, $22.5 million with Panthers

    23. JIMMY VESEY, LW

    Age: 23

    2015-16 cap hit: N/A

    Great offensive potential, but college signees who become stars are the exception, not the norm. He's not risk-free.

    24. JOE COLBORNE, RW

    Age: 26

    2015-16 cap hit: $1.28 million

    A surprise UFA after Flames did not qualify him. Plenty left to offer at his age. A huge frame and could move back to his natural position of center. SIGNED:Two years, $5 million with Avalanche

    25. BRANDON PIRRI, LW

    Age: 25

    2015-16 cap hit: $925,000

    Continuously flashes goal-scoring potential and won't cost too much. A nice sleeper.

    26. ROMAN POLAK, D

    Age: 30

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.75 million

    Raised profile and price tag on a deep playoff run with Sharks. Brings nice physicality to a bottom pair, but look under the hood and the possession numbers are ugly. SIGNED:One year, $2.25 million with Maple Leafs

    27. JASON CHIMERA, LW

    Age: 37

    2015-16 cap hit: $2 million

    Might be a cap casualty in Washington. Coming off career year and in tremendous shape, but a short-term deal makes sense at his age. SIGNED:Two years, $4.5 million

    28. MATT MARTIN, LW

    Age: 27

    2015-16 cap hit: $1 million

    One third of the NHL's Best Checking Line has led NHL in hits five straight seasons. SIGNED:Four years, $10 million with Maple Leafs

    29. THOMAS VANEK, LW

    Age: 32

    2015-16 cap hit: $6.5 million

    There are worse fliers to take. He should come dirt cheap relative to his natural ability, and he'll have something to prove after flopping in Minnesota. SIGNED:One year, $2.6 million with Red Wings

    30. DARREN HELM, LW

    Age: 29

    2015-16 cap hit: $2.13 million

    Picked the right time to get healthy. Helm has averaged 76 games the past two seasons and brings useful speed and penalty-killing acumen. SIGNED: Five years, $19.25 million with Red Wings

    Other UFAs to watch: P-A Parenteau, Shawn Matthias (Signed, Jets), Kyle Quincey, Patrick Wiercioch (Signed, Avalanche), Kris Versteeg, Dale Weise (Signed, Flyers), Justin Schultz

    *Alex Goligoski, Keith Yandle, Alexander Radulov and Cam Ward made the original top-30 list but are now off the market.

    Matt Larkin is a writer and editor at The Hockey News and a regular contributor to the thn.com Post-To-Post blog. For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine. Follow Matt Larkin on Twitter at @THNMattLarkin

    This is an updated, expanded version of a feature that appeared in the Free Agency Preview edition of The Hockey News magazine. Get in-depth features like this one, and much more, by subscribing now.