July 1 gave us an epic stream of free agency news, with John Tavares joining the Toronto Maple Leafs and Paul Stastny signing with the Golden Knights, among many other significant moves, and July 2 opened with James Neal becoming a Calgary Flame. A few useful UFAs remain available, however. Here are the best five still out there on Day 2 of free agency. Note the omission of Rick Nash, who indicated through agent Joe Resnick last week that he’ll be sitting out free agency for now to contemplate his playing future.
1.JOE THORNTON, C, 38
2017-18 cap hit: $8,000,000
‘Jumbo’ won’t win the Hart or scoring title again but remains a great playmaker and elite two-way center. The fact San Jose had to overpay him at $8 million last summer suggests he considered leaving. Might he actually do it this time, like buddy Patrick Marleau did in 2017? All reports coming out of the Silicon Valley say Thornton badly wants to remain a Shark. He won’t cost as much this time given his age and health concerns.
UPDATE: Thornton has been re-signed by the Sharks to a one-year deal worth $5 million.
2. PATRICK MAROON, LW, 30
2017-18 cap hit: $2,000,000
He didn’t set the world on fire after a trade to New Jersey, but 13 points in 17 games showed he didn’t depend on Connor McDavid for all his success. Maroon can play and he’s a behemoth, too, so he’ll have many suitors.
3. CALVIN DE HAAN, D, 27
2017-18 cap hit: $3,300,000
Not flashy, and he doesn’t log monster minutes for the Isles, but de Haan is a sturdy, physical top-four defender who blocks shots and isn’t a zero on offense. Any team could use that. Missed the last 49 games with a shoulder injury and will thus come at a discount. He’s now easily the best defenseman left on the board, however, so de Haan has a chance at a nice pay day with term all of a sudden.
4. ROBIN LEHNER, G, 26
2017-18 cap hit: $2,225,000
He’s an emotionally volatile young man coming off a bad year, but no UFA goaltender offers more raw talent and upside than Lehner, who is just a season removed from posting a .920 save percentage.
5. MARK LETESTU, C, 33
2017-18 cap hit: $1,800,000
Wins faceoffs, can hold down a checking role, can even play on the power play a bit. The definition of a useful depth signing.