Avalanche's Sean Walker linked to 5 teams
Sean Walker is expected to be a hot commodity if he hits the market on July 1.
The Colorado Avalanche have several free agents heading into the summer. One of their most notable UFAs is defenseman Sean Walker. After a strong 2023-24 season, the 29-year-old is set to receive a nice raise.
If the Avalanche do not re-sign Walker, he is expected to be a popular player in free agency. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks are all expected to target him if he hits the market.
The Hurricanes considering Walker is not too surprising to hear. They have an array of right-shot free-agent defensemen, as Brett Pesce, Jalen Chatfield, and Tony DeAngelo all could hit the market. In addition, left-shot top-four defenseman Brady Skjei could also become a free agent on July 1.
The Stars could also sport a different-looking right side next summer, as Chris Tanev and Jani Hakanpaa have expired deals. Their right side could use a boost in general, too, and Walker would be an excellent fit in their top four.
The Maple Leafs are entering the summer with a clear need to strengthen the right side of their defense. This was an issue during the season, and they were linked to Walker nearing the deadline because of it. Thus, they are obviously a team to watch in the Walker sweepstakes.
The Predators targeting Walker would also make sense, as both Alexandre Carrier and Tyson Barrie have expired deals. They also already traded Ryan McDonagh this summer. Thus, they are in a position to make a notable addition to their blueline, and Walker would be just that.
San Jose is rebuilding and looking for pieces that will help it in the long term. Its defense is immensely weak right now, and bringing in somebody like Walker would be a good first step in improving it.
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