THN.com/podcast. Ryan O'Reilly [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk3NDIwMzk2NTUzNzA4NTUw/usatsi_20424804.jpg] Ryan O'Reilly The NHL finished the draft on Thursday, and there's a one-day break until one of the most significant dates on the calendar arrives on Saturday with the opening of free agency. In advance of the big day, here are the top 30 pending UFAs: DMITRY ORLOV [https://puckpedia.com/player/dmitry-orlov], D Age: 31 2022-23 Stat Line: 66 GP, 7 goals, 29 assists, 36 points, 22:33 TOI The only top-pair defender available on the open market this year, Orlov should have his pick of the litter when it comes to landing spots. The 31-year-old produced sterling numbers anchoring the Capitals’ blueline prior to his trade to Boston and was a vital member of the Bruins’ D-corps throughout the remainder of the regular season until their shocking playoff collapse. Orlov is always good for serviceable offensive production, a smooth first pass, and competency in his own end. Every team can use that. TYLER BERTUZZI [https://puckpedia.com/player/tyler-bertuzzi], RW Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 50 GP, 8 goals, 22 assists, 30 points, 16:29 TOI That a guy coming off an eight-goal season is the presumptive top forward available should tell you everything you need to know about this free-agent class. Still, Bertuzzi is a coveted asset among hockey circles, someone with size and physical edge who also has a 30-goal pedigree. Bertuzzi is precisely the type of player who will be a great fit on any contending roster and will simultaneously get a contract at least $1 million to $2 million above his actual value. RYAN O’REILLY [https://puckpedia.com/player/ryan-oreilly], C Age: 32 2022-23 Stat Line: 53 GP, 16 goals, 14 assists, 30 points, 17:56 TOI If it weren’t for age and injury factors, O’Reilly would absolutely be the top forward available. The defensive stalwart lost 19 games this past season to a foot injury that slowed him noticeably upon return. Once traded to Toronto, however, O’Reilly looked much more like his former self, handling difficult matchups with ease, scoring timely goals, and adding a sense of maturity and accountability to the locker room that any franchise should be looking for. If a team is confident O’Reilly’s body can hold up for the next few years, he’ll get another payday. Don’t rule out a Leafs return. PATRICK KANE [https://puckpedia.com/player/patrick-kane], RW Age: 34 2022-23 Stat Line: 73 GP, 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points, 19:18 TOI The thing about Kane is that 2022-23 was arguably the worst season of his career offensively, and yet he still finished with more than 20 goals and nearly 60 points while playing 80 percent of it on a team seemingly trying to lose. Add in a hip injury that required surgery over the off-season, and there’s a good chance Kane would have been good for his usual dazzling offensive numbers if healthy. That’s a big “if,” though. And given that he’s expected to be sidelined until December, any team hoping to get the skilled winger will likely offer a one-year deal. If he can return at something resembling full strength, Kane could be a steal. VLADIMIR TARASENKO [https://puckpedia.com/player/vladimir-tarasenko], RW Age: 31 2022-23 Stat Line: 69 GP, 18 goals, 32 assists, 50 points, 16:48 TOI Tarasenko beat the washed accusations over the past two seasons, proving that his prior shoulder injury has not stopped him from remaining a productive top-six forward in the NHL. While 2022-23 was something of a step back for the 31-year-old, Tarasenko is still money in the bank for at least 20 goals over a full season and, at the right price, will be a tremendous addition to any contending forward corps. MATT DUCHENE [https://puckpedia.com/player/matt-duchene], C Age: 32 2022-23 Stat Line: 71 GP, 22 goals, 34 assists, 56 points, 18:19 TOI Arguably the most surprising buyout from Friday’s flurry of action, Duchene remains an effective top-six forward who is just one year removed from a 40-goal season. He might not be the dynamic borderline star of the past, but Duchene still brings a lot to the table in a featured role, topping 20 goals and nearly reaching 60 points in a “down year” on a club that sold off most of its supporting talent at the deadline. If Duchene opts for a short-term deal to prove he’s far from finished, every single contender should be asking for his number. BLAKE WHEELER [https://puckpedia.com/player/blake-wheeler], RW Age: 36 2022-23 Stat Line: 72 GP, 16 goals, 39 assists, 55 points, 17:03 TOI With his long-rumored buyout now in motion, Wheeler is left searching for a new home for the first time in 13 years. I wonder where it will be? Wheeler’s agent told TSN’s Darren Dreger on Friday that his client prefers the East Coast. Wheeler has a home in Florida that he resides at during the off-season. And, if that weren’t enough, he served as captain of the Winnipeg Jets under Paul Maurice for seven seasons. Who happens to coach the Florida Panthers, you may ask? That would be Maurice. It sure seems like that’s where the soon-to-be 37-year-old is headed. J.T. COMPHER [https://puckpedia.com/player/jt-compher], C Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 82 GP, 17 goals, 35 assists, 52 points, 20:32 TOI Someone is about to pay Compher a lot of money. Set to hit the open market after a breakout season on the defending Cup champs, Compher proved himself as a legitimate second-line center with tremendous defensive capabilities who can handle difficult matchups in all situations. While his offensive upside is somewhat limited, his age and versatility will be incredibly valuable when the market opens. MICHAEL BUNTING [https://puckpedia.com/player/michael-bunting], RW Age: 27 2022-23 Stat Line 82 GP, 23 goals, 26 assists, 49 points, 15:48 TOI There are a few concerns with Bunting, First, while his offensive numbers over the past two seasons are terrific, they came while playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. When taken off the top line, Bunting struggled to drive play himself, leading many to wonder what he’s actually capable of when not paired with two borderline-generational scorers. Secondly, his discipline, or lack thereof, tangibly hurt the Maple Leafs at various points this past season – even landing him a three-game suspension during the first round of the playoffs. Can Bunting be trusted to keep his head? That remains to be seen. MAX PACIORETTY [https://puckpedia.com/player/max-pacioretty], LW Age: 34 2022-23 Stat Line: 5 GP, 3 goals, 0 assists, 3 points, 13:39 TOI You’re hoping for a comeback. You’re praying for a comeback. But after two consecutive Achilles surgeries at the age of 34, it’s not a crime to wonder if Pacioretty can still hack it at the NHL level. It’s not for a lack of skill, though. The veteran forward looked fantastic in his fleeting return to action with the Hurricanes last season, giving Carolina precisely the consistent scorer they needed before injuries robbed us of him five games in. If Pacioretty lands anywhere, it’ll be a one-year show-me deal. Which, depending on his recovery, could turn out to be the steal of the off-season. JASON ZUCKER [https://puckpedia.com/player/jason-zucker], LW Age: 31 2022-23 Stat Line: 78 GP, 27 goals, 21 assists, 48 points, 15:39 TOI Zucker is coming off what everyone in Pittsburgh would consider a down year, and yet he still nearly hit 30 goals and 50 points. That’s pretty darn effective for a middle-six winger, which Zucker will be for any team looking to acquire him. The gripe against him last season was his cap hit. But the good news is he’s almost certainly not going to command the $5.5 million he once made. At a price tag of $3 million to $3.5 million, that’s a fantastic get. It’s the term that could be an issue, thanks to Zucker’s injury history. TRISTAN JARRY [https://puckpedia.com/player/tristan-jarry], G Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 47 GP, 24-13-7, .909 save percentage, 2.90 GAA Listen, Jarry is a perfectly fine, slightly above-average NHL starter. Penguins fans will likely draw and quarter me for saying that, but taking emotion out of it, it’s true – at least in the regular season. In the playoffs, though? Jarry has developed one of the more blatant cases of the yips in recent memory, which is obviously not ideal for a position as vital as a goaltender. Perhaps a fresh start as someone’s 1B is exactly what he needs to rebound. Or, you know, keep them from ending up in his own net. SCOTT MAYFIELD [https://puckpedia.com/player/scott-mayfield], D Age: 30 2022-23 Stat Line: 82 GP, 6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points, 21:02 TOI How are more people not talking about this guy? Mayfield is as solid as they come, handling tough matchups and heavy minutes with ease on a nightly basis. The 30-year-old stepped up in a big way to basically anchor the Islanders’ blueline amidst a rash of injuries last season and proved capable of serving spot duty on a team’s top pair. At his current age, Mayfield will likely be looking for a payday. But if the number remains reasonable, this will be one of the best adds of the off-season. EVAN RODRIGUES [https://puckpedia.com/player/evan-rodrigues], C Age: 29 2022-23 Stat Line: 69 GP, 16 goals, 23 assists, 39 points, 17:51 TOI Rodrigues bet on himself last summer after a breakout 2021-22, and it largely paid off, with the versatile forward scoring 16 goals while driving possession at a decent clip in all situations. Thanks to a particularly brutal rash of injuries in Colorado, Rodrigues spent far more time in the Avs’ top six than previously expected, looking largely comfortable and showing prospective bidders the fruits of his evolution into a quality middle-six forward. Here’s hoping Rodrigues finds a long-term home after a string of one-year deals. ALEX KILLORN [https://puckpedia.com/player/alex-killorn], RW/LW Age: 33 2022-23 Stat Line: 82 GP, 27 goals, 37 assists, 64 points, 17:13 TOI Numbers-wise, Killorn is actually the highest-scoring UFA on the market this year, coming in as the only free agent to top 60 points in 2022-23. Normally, that would be a boon for the two-time champ, who is likely looking for the last big-ticket contract of his career. But at 33, it could still make a long-term investment in him a dicey proposition. It’s unlikely that he’ll want to live out of a suitcase at this point in his career on one-year deals, so, despite his offensive prowess, Killorn might have to take a discount to get the term he wants. It’s hard to see him leaving Tampa, too – cap crunch be damned. TOMAS TATAR [https://puckpedia.com/player/tomas-tatar], LW/RW Age: 32 2022-23 Stat Line: 82 GP, 20 goals, 28 assists, 48 points, 15:07 TOI Look, man. Tatar hit 20 goals and nearly eclipsed 50 points. He’s a possession-driving, middle-six winger who can fit nicely into any team’s power play and give them some extra pop down their lineup. No one’s questioning that. What they are questioning, though, is his playoff production, with Tatar scoring just one goal and zero assists in 12 games for the Devils this year to add to his measly total of 13 points in 52 post-season games throughout his career. A one-year blip is forgivable, but this is a trend spanning nearly a decade and is enough to give teams pause. LUKE SCHENN [https://puckpedia.com/player/luke-schenn], D Age: 33 2022-23 Stat Line: 70 GP, 4 goals, 18 assists, 22 points, 16:21 TOI Need locker room presence? Luke Schenn brings it. Physicality on the back end? Look no further. A hulking, right-shot defender most comfortable in his own zone but can still make an excellent first pass? Schenn is your guy. Those are all factors working in the beloved veteran’s favor heading into free agency this year. But let’s not get carried away. Schenn is very effective if used properly, but his age and lack of offensive upside should cap his asking price under $2 million. At least, that’s what the Maple Leafs are hoping for. CARSON SOUCY [https://puckpedia.com/player/carson-soucy], D Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 78 GP, 3 goals, 13 assists, 16 points, 16:18 TOI Soucy is basically a younger, left-handed Schenn. He’s huge, a stopper in his own zone and can move the puck, but he doesn’t chip in offensively at all. Those players have value at the right price. Teams are going to want Soucy. JONATHAN TOEWS [https://puckpedia.com/player/jonathan-toews], C Age: 35 2022-23 Stat Line: 53 GP, 15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points, 17:43 TOI Will Toews even play next season? That’s a legitimate question, given that the three-time champ’s battle with an auto-immune disease already robbed him of a full season in 2021 and kept him sidelined for months on end last year, too. Toews can still be an effective third-line pivot when healthy. But given his unfortunate health struggles and the fact that he’ll be signing a 35-plus contract that can’t be bought out, he could be a risk to acquire. JESPER FAST [https://puckpedia.com/player/jesper-fast], RW Age: 31 2022-23 Stat Line: 80 GP, 10 goals, 19 assists, 14:44 TOI Fast will not give you much of anything offensively. But gosh darn it, this guy is one of the best defensive wingers in hockey. Fast forechecks like a beast, kills penalties with the best of them, and was a fixture on the Hurricanes’ vaunted checking line in 2022-23. At the right price, he’ll be a phenomenal addition to any team’s bottom six, as long as they have scorers around him. FREDERIK ANDERSEN [https://puckpedia.com/player/frederik-andersen], G Age: 33 2022-23 Stat Line: 34 GP, 21-11-1, .903 save percentage, 2.48 GAA Andersen cannot stay healthy, will be 34 when the puck drops next season, and didn’t look all that great behind one of the best defensive teams in the league when he did manage to hit the ice in 2022-23. But we are just one year removed from Andersen’s 35-win campaign in 2021-22 with a .922 save percentage and 2.17 GAA that launched him into the Vezina conversation. His body broke down at the end of that year, too, so relying on him as anything even resembling a No. 1 option is not advisable. That doesn’t mean Andersen can’t help a team in a reduced role, either. SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE [https://puckpedia.com/player/shayne-gostisbehere], D Age: 30 2022-23 Stat Line: 75 GP, 13 goals, 28 assists, 41 points, 20:49 TOI Gostisbehere is arguably the best pure power-play quarterback of this entire UFA class, giving whoever signs him a legitimate offensive threat from the blueline on either unit. The 30-year-old is also potent at even strength as well, but that’s basically where the crux of his value lies, as Gostisbehere’s struggles in his own zone are well documented. Still, the hardest thing to do in hockey is score goals, and Gostisbehere racked up 13 of them as a defenseman while playing most of the year with the Arizona Coyotes. His success upon arriving in Carolina should show what he’s capable of when surrounded by a hockey team. RADKO GUDAS [https://puckpedia.com/player/radko-gudas], D Age: 33 2022-23 Stat Line: 72 GP, 2 goals, 15 assists, 17 points, 17:22 TOI Every rumor out there has Gudas signing back with Florida, so it’s debatable whether he should even be included in this list. But, hey, let’s just do it for fun. You know exactly what you’re getting with Gudas. He’s a defensively focused blueliner with a vicious physical edge and is beloved in any locker room he enters. While his offense has completely dried up of late, that’s not what Gudas is paid to do. He’ll be a great Florida Panther for next season and perhaps many more. MAX DOMI [https://puckpedia.com/player/max-domi], C/LW Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 80 GP, 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, 17:46 TOI After bouncing around the league the past few years, Domi seemed to fit in splendidly upon his arrival in Dallas. He racked up 13 points in 19 post-season games with the club while adding some badly needed punch in their middle six. If GM Jim Nill can find the room, Domi should absolutely be wearing a Stars jersey next year. And if he isn’t, someone else is going to grossly overpay for a hard-nosed winger who can’t really play defense or slot in on either special teams unit. MATT DUMBA [https://puckpedia.com/player/matt-dumba], D Age: 28 2022-23 Stat Line: 79 GP, 4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points, 21:17 TOI After spending what seemed to be his entire tenure in Minnesota on the trade block, Dumba hits free agency at a particularly low point in his value, coming off a down year that even saw him sit as a healthy scratch for a few games. As a right-shot defender with a physical presence, Dumba does offer value and could perhaps exceed expectations with a fresh start in a second- or third-pair role. As it does with everything, though, it all comes down to the price. Dumba feels like a player someone is going to overpay. JOONAS KORPISALO [https://puckpedia.com/player/joonas-korpisalo], G Age: 29 2022-23 Stat Line: 39 GP, 18-14-4, .915 save percentage, 2.87 GAA After a few troubling seasons with Columbus over the past half-decade or so, Korpisalo regained his form in a big way upon arriving in Los Angeles at the trade deadline, anchoring the Kings’ net with a 7-3-1 record and a .921 save percentage in 11 games to close out the year. His post-season performance left something to be desired, resulting in the Kings bowing out in the first round, but Korpisalo seems to have done enough to rehab his image as a legit NHL starter. The Kings, who don’t have a goalie at the moment outside of Pheonix Copley [https://puckpedia.com/player/pheonix-copley], are reportedly looking to bring him back. But with the weak crop of UFA goalies this year, Korpisalo might be able to price himself out of a return. JOHN KLINGBERG [https://puckpedia.com/player/john-klingberg], D Age: 30 2022-23 Stat Line: 67 GP, 10 goals, 23 assists, 33 points, 20:37 TOI Betting on yourself is always a dicey proposition. Just ask John Klingberg [https://puckpedia.com/player/john-klingberg]. The 30-year-old’s one-year flier with the Ducks might have produced some decent offensive numbers, but his unwatchable defensive play, compounded by the team’s overall ineptitude, tanked his value to the point that it never truly recovered. Klingberg is a fine second-unit power-play quarterback who needs sheltered usage at even strength at this stage of his career. He likely won’t get the long-term deal he’s looking for, and hopefully, he’s realized that by now. PIERRE ENGVALL [https://puckpedia.com/player/pierre-engvall], RW/LW Age: 27 2022-23 Stat Line: 76 GP, 17 goals, 13 assists, 30 points, 13:38 TOI One of the more frustrating players in the entire NHL, Engvall’s 6-foot-5 frame and remarkable speed for his size present a package that teams, on paper, would slobber over. But Engvall is allergic to physical contact on most nights and tends to let his game drift to the perimeter when not fully engaged. He’s a good penalty-killer and a fine bottom-six forward with versatile usage, but his physical gifts have proven to be more for show than anything over his career. At 27, this is likely his ceiling. But 27-year-olds with 20-goal upside don’t come cheap. NOEL ACCIARI [https://puckpedia.com/player/noel-acciari], C/RW Age: 31 2022-23 Stat Line: 77 GP, 14 goals, 9 assists, 23 points, 14:19 TOI Acciari was everything the Maple Leafs needed him to be when they nabbed him at the deadline along with Ryan O’Reilly. Acciari is a tenacious forechecker, a gifted play-driver and can throw the body with the best of them despite his lack of size. Add in the fact that he can top out around 20 goals, and you have an extremely useful player – one who could be in for a decent little payday in the right circumstances. KAILER YAMAMOTO [https://puckpedia.com/player/kailer-yamamoto] Age: 24 2022-23 Stat Line: 58 GP, 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points, 16:35 TOI Yamamoto will be a reclamation project for any team that signs him, no doubt about it. After a breakout 20-goal, 40-point campaign in 2021-22, Yamamoto dipped offensively across the board, leading to a reduction in his usage and, ultimately, getting dumped by two teams for zero returning assets in the span of 24 hours. But, again, Yamamoto is one year removed from a 20-goal season. He’s proven to be an effective complementary forward at his peak and, at the right price, could be a very worthwhile swing for a team with patience.
