Free agency is set for July 28^th. It seems to be a good time to review the most intriguing free agents for each team across the league. I am going to do my best to avoid the highest profile players. That said, some teams leave little choice but to discuss the star free agent. Given options, I've reviewed the teams and have selected what I feel are the most interesting player from each one.

Every team-by-team article seems to start alphabetically. Maybe it's my post vaccine hangover talking but I feel like reversing the order and start with the Winnipeg Jets (In case you were wondering, the vaccine knocked me down for almost three days. I had normal side effects, but the hit me hard. The fatigue stuck around for a while after those dissipated but yikes, not a fun experience) and we'll work in reverse order ending with the Anaheim Ducks.

When referring to predicted salaries I'll be referencing Alex Maclean's article from February 5, 2021, which you can find here

Winnipeg Jets – Paul Stastny, Center, Age 35 ($6.5M)

He chose to not sign with the Jets once. After trading for him this past off-season the Jets went out and traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois. It seems almost a forgone conclusion that Stastny is on his way out of town. At age 35, he's also in for a decent pay cut.

He should have little trouble finding a new home. With 28 points in 54 games, he has shown he has a lot of life left in him yet. At this point in his career, he is probably better suited as a third-line center or shift to the wing to try and prolong his top-six lifespan. He is still a valuable asset on the power play as well.

Predicted to sign for $2.7M he could be a bargain for both NHL team and fantasy owner. I have to think a team will covet Stastny and be willing to try to sign him for close to $3.5M. There are several veteran centers on the free agent market this year, Ryan Getzlaf, David Krejci, Tyler Bozak, Travis Zajac; for teams searching for veteran depth down the middle they won't run short on options. This should help keep Stastny's salary reasonable (for the first time in his career).

Washington Capitals – Alexander Ovechkin, Age 35, Left Wing ($9.5M)

There was really only one choice, Alex Ovechkin. It helps the only two other options were Zdeno Chara and Henrik Lundqvist.

The only thing in real question is the term. I know his predicted salary is $7.9M, but I can't help but think his sentimental value to this franchise is going to keep his salary right around its current value, $9.5M.

A three-year deal with an AAV of $9.5 wouldn't make me blink. The Capitals would likely prefer two years at that cap-hit, but it's Ovechkin, if he refuses to waiver on three, it will be three.  

Whether it is $9.5M, $7.9M or somewhere in between he remains a plug-and-play option in all formats.  There's no doubt a decline is coming, and it likely begins as soon as 2021-22. If this season is any indication that decline to his offensive totals should be gentle. With his style of play he is already defied Father Time by several years.

For those in multi-cat pools his hit totals may fade faster than anything else as he attempts to prolong his career and make a run for Wayne Gretzky's goal record. For the next two years, at least, he will continue to command elite multi-cat value.

Vegas Golden Knights – Alex Martinez, Age 33, Defense ($4M)

Alex Martinez has been invaluable to the Knights since they acquired him last season. So much so it is hard to imagine the Knights not doing everything they can to re-sign him. As well as he played for Los Angeles over the past several years, he's been better in Vegas this year. He has done everything they could have asked for and more.

For this very reason, he is going to be very attractive to several teams looking for a second-pairing defenseman that can munch minutes and play in all situations. It likely comes down to his desire to stay in Vegas or take a larger payday elsewhere.

If he signs elsewhere we should see a decline in offensive production as a result. It is hard to imagine him being this perfect a fit on another team. He is also at that red-flag age for defensemen. How much longer does he have before he hits the proverbial wall (see: Nick Leddy, Brent Seabrook) and his stats tumble.

He has primarily been a depth add for most rosters to begin with. His real value has been blocks over recent years, with the added bonus of providing decent offensive numbers. A decline won't make or break a team, but re-signing in Vegas will provide you with a nice depth option to your roster.

My fear with players like Martinez is term. Some team will try to lure him with extra years on his deal. I wouldn't want to see a cap hit of $4M longer than two years. If the contract is longer, even in the mid-$3M range, if my pool issues penalties for dropping players under contract I likely steer clear or trade him. That third, fourth year you may find yourself in trouble. It would be best to recoup assets, whatever they may be, sooner rather than later and go find yourself another Martinez.

Vancouver Canucks – Alex Edler, Age 34, Defense ($6M)

Bad news for Canucks fans. Most of the bad contracts remain on the books into 2021-22 and Alex Edler has not been one of them. Not when you have to compare it to all the other bad contracts on this roster. The good news, I'm also expecting the Canucks to re-sign him after the expansion draft.

He has been a warrior for the Canucks for over a decade. He is tied to this city as much, if not more than the Sedin's were (his ties to the city, not the city's ties to him, although they also run deep.). When he signed his last contract with the Canucks it seemed like a 'gentleman's agreement' to become an unrestricted free agent, avoid being taken in the expansion draft and re-sign afterward. This has been my long-held personal theory on why Edler signed for two years less than most expected. It also helps explain why his AAV was $6M rather than $5M.

He'll maintain solid peripheral value over the next couple of years, but his offensive value has already plummeted. Expect his salary to be sawed in half and sign for one or two years closer to the $3M mark. I'll be surprised to see him wearing any jersey other than Canucks next year.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Zach Hyman, Age 28, Left Wing/Right Wing ($2.8M)

This is one of the most intriguing free agents of the summer.  The magic number seems to be five million. If he will sign for under five, the Leafs will likely be able to re-sign him. If they can't keep it under five, then he almost certainly will be on a new team next year.

There is little doubt his deployment alongside Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner has boosted his offensive totals. The question though is, by how much. It hasn't mattered where Sheldon Keefe has placed Hyman in the line-up, he drives play. I know Mathews & Marner both drive play as well but when he is not on their line they play entirely different. There's a comfort he gives them that hasn't existed with anyone else. He is an elite forechecker with a better scoring touch than I think he's given credit for.

He would be a good value contract between $5 – $5.5M on another NHL team. He's remains a really good to great value if he signs between $4.5 – $5M. For the Leafs to get his cap-hit under $5M they will need to add term. Five years seems like a sweet spot to sign Hyman but they may need to commit to six to get it done.

Keep an eye on this one. Where he goes could result in a 5- to 10-point difference in production.

Tampa Bay Lightening – Blake Coleman, Age 29, Left/Right Wing ($1.8M)

The prediction model brings Coleman in at a cool $3M. He brings a lot of intangibles to the table which could create a mini-bidding war for his services. He could be an alternative to Hyman in Toronto if the Leafs are unable to re-sign him (personal speculation and wish-list as a backup plan). That said, I fully expect Coleman to be on the move from Florida.

Tampa sits $3.5M over the cap without re-signing any of their free agents. I can't help but think Coleman also desires a larger role on a different contending team. He has seen his ice time drop about a minute per game since he was traded from the New Jersey Devils. You can queue the Tyler Johnson trade rumours now if you like. With Kucherov returning healthy, baring catastrophe, Johnson likely is playing his final season as a member of the Lightening. Even with trading Johnson, the Lightening will not have the space to re-sign Coleman.

In multi-cat pools Coleman is already a coveted asset at $1.8M. The list of players in the past five seasons to have a 200-hit, 200-shot season fits on one hand. Even if his salary doubles to $3.6M Coleman will provide really strong value in multi-cat pools.

If he can find a team that will give him consistent second line exposure, one that desperately needs a second line winger (Jim Benning are you reading this?) he could push 30 goals and 50-points. 

I may be dreaming out loud regarding Coleman's future. At 29, and a career ripping up the third line it is more likely that this is the role he finds himself in next year. Long ago (2010-11) he did put up 92-points in 59 games in the USHL and had started to see second power-play time in New Jersey before the trade.  I hold my breathe.  

Thanks for reading. Check in next week for part 2 and another six teams/players.

(all NHL stats from frozentools.com, minor league stats from eliteprospects.com, all cap info from capfriendly.com)

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