There is bad news for those who love trading and the fun that surrounds it.
If you thought there was a lack of excitement at the NHL’s trade deadline, prepare to be dismayed when free agency begins on July 1st.
What was already a thin market took another hit a few days ago when Nick Schmaltz re-signed with the Utah Mammoth, signing an eight-year, $64 million deal and giving up his chance to hit the open market.
Now we can understand that more casual fans may not have much of an idea of what Schmaltz could bring, but rest assured there would have been a number of clubs interested in signing the centre.
Schmaltz, who has a career-high 24 goals and 59 points, is just a few goals shy of his best season but is still a top laner on many teams. He would certainly be a fantastic second-choice goalscorer at a truly elite club.
This has been a year that has seen experienced players, especially forwards, re-sign rather than hit free agency. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings, shortly after being acquired from the New York Rangers), Adrian Kempe (Kings), Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche) and Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets) signed extensions, putting an end to what could have been a surprise. Free agent class.
Mid-lineup players such as San Jose Sharks’ Kiefer Sherwood and Montreal Canadiens’ Mike Matheson also decided to renew their contracts.
Where does that leave us?
There are a number of players who are most likely to remain with their current teams, including Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Anders Lee (New York Islanders), Jacob Trouba (Anaheim Ducks), John Klingberg (Sharks), Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings), Claude Giroux (Ottawa Senators), and Radko Gudas. (Ducks) and Rasmus Andersson (Golden Knights).
There are also those who are best served by staying where they are, like Anthony Mantha (Penguins) and Jack Roslovic (Edmonton Oilers).
Honestly, not much.
The Buffalo Sabers’ Alex Tuch could be the hottest skater, and certainly the most impactful forward, as he works his way toward his third 30-goal season.
Afterwards, the forward group consisted mainly of mid-line skaters such as Bobby McMann (Seattle Kraken), Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Vladimir Tarasenko (Minnesota Wild), and Michael Bunting (Dallas Stars).
The player most likely to return to stardom is Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens, but that may require a ‘show-me’ contract.
The defense actually generates more buzz, but we’re not talking about proven top-level stars. Anderson could re-sign with Las Vegas, but even if he doesn’t shine with the Golden Knights, he would be helpful to a club looking for a two- or three-minute blueliner.
John Carlson was traded from Washington to the Ducks (which could be the catalyst for Ovechkin moving elsewhere if he continues his career), and Anaheim is eager to keep protecting him as the team moves back up to being a Stanley Cup contender. But even as he got older, Carlson attracted attention.
The true wild card would be Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He exploded offensively with 17 goals and 58 points at age 30. It’s understandable that he wants to know how much others will pay for his services, but it’s hard to imagine a better fit than what he already has in Tampa.
Either way, the hottest action when free agency opens may be the barbecue.
