This week, we will look at some intriguing UFAs and what they might sign for in free agency using the range of my salary valuations.

Remember that this value is based on what each player did in the 2023-24 regular season and not on future performance or what a team will pay them in free agency.

Think of this as a baseline range for each skater – who have probably all peaked at this point in their careers. Paying more than the valuations would be a significant overpay in my opinion.

Sam Reinhart (28 years old) $10.1 to $11.1 million

Reinhart couldn't have headed into free agency any better as he had 57 goals in 82 games and has added eight more in 17 playoff games as he heads to the Stanley Cup Finals.

It's unlikely that Florida can afford to keep him so look for Reinhart to cash in on a payday somewhere else on July 1^st, for a deal between six and eight years. Because 2023-24 was a bit of an aberration, the cap hit will probably be between $8.5 and 9.5 million AAV.

Jake Guentzel (29) $9.1 to $10.2 million

Guentzel and Reinhart are the biggest free agents set to hit the market on July 1st. Guentzel has had near a point-per-game or higher for the past six seasons.

He has consistently been playing at a $9-million value and was on a $6 million AAV contract for five years. I think he comes in similar to Reinhart but perhaps at $8.5 to 9.5 million AAV for six or seven years.

Steven Stamkos (34) $9.1 to $9.6 million

The only team I could see Stamkos signing for less than his value would be Tampa Bay but that might force them to give him four or five years at $7 million AAV.

What might draw him away to another team would be a contract at over $9 million AAV for four years or more.

Either way, it's an expensive price tag for a 34-year-old Stamkos who is still producing at a point per game.

Jonathan Marchessault (33) $7.3 to $8 million

Marchessault had a career-high with 42 goals in 2023-24 and is coming off a $5 million AAV six-year contract with Vegas. It is unlikely that the Golden Knights will be able to afford him as he should command a four or five-year deal at $6 million AAV or more.

Matt Duchene (33) $6.0 to 6.4 million

Talk about betting on yourself and hitting the jackpot. Duchene signed a one-year deal with the Stars at $3 million and should be poised to sign a three or four-year deal at north of $5.5 million AAV.

Patrick Kane (35) $4.5 to $6.7 million

Kane has the biggest range on this list because he only played 50 games in 2023-24 and the high range is based on 82-game production. At 35 years of age, Kane is definitely in the twilight of his career and might only be interested in a few teams on the cusp of the Stanley Cup, so he might take a discount for two or three years, or sign another one-year deal.

Elias Lindholm (29) $5.7 million

The rumor mill had Lindholm wanting over $8 million AAV as a free agent, but the reality is that he is not worth that amount. He had a down year at the worst time, but still carries a value of $5.7 million at the floor. If a team feels like they could get the better version of Lindholm (2021-22), I could see a team paying him $6.5 to $7 million for five or six years. It would be an overpayment, but what July 1st deals aren't?

Sean Monahan (29) $5.3 to $5.9 million

After three down seasons in a row, Monahan came back with a vengeance in 2023-24. Split between Montreal and Winnipeg, he ended up with 26 goals and 33 assists in 83 games. There will be some trepidation from most teams in free agency in giving him a deal for more than four or five years at the value he put up. I'd expect something in between with three or four years at $4 to $5 million AAV.

Tyler Toffoli (32) $5.3 to $5.6 million

The most term Toffoli has ever had is four years and the highest cap hit was $4.6 million AAV. At his age it is doubtful that he will get any longer than three or four years, but he could get $4.5 to $5 million AAV from a team that cherishes a 25-30 goal scorer.

Adam Henrique (34) $5.2 to $5.7 million

Henrique is coming off a five-year deal at $5.825 million AAV. He is at the age where he might have to settle for a two or three-year deal at a little lower than his value. Henrique has understated value as he can score 20 goals, take faceoffs and is defensively responsible. I think he will come in at around $4 to $4.5 million AAV.

Vladimir Tarasenko (32) $4.9 to $5.0 million

After finishing an eight-year contract at $7.5 million AAV at the end of 2022-23, Tarasenko signed a one-year $5 million deal with Ottawa as a bit of a show-me contract. He is not the player he was but did play at his true value and it will be up to teams to decide if they think that Tarasenko can duplicate his output again and for how much longer. He might be in the one to three-year range at $3.5 to 4.5 million AAV now.

Jake DeBrusk (27) $3.9 to $4.2 million

After seven seasons in the NHL, it has become clear that Debrusk is what he is and will put up 20-25 goals and 40-45 points per year. He was one of the best players for Boston in the playoffs and can be a frustrating player to watch as there always seems to be another level that he could find. Because of that seeming potential, I could see a team overpaying and getting him for five or six years at over $5 million AAV.

Jonathan Drouin (29) $3.7 to $3.9 million

After struggling with injuries and lack of output for four seasons, Drouin signed a show-me one-year deal with Colorado for $825k. He set a career-high of 56 points and has put himself in a position to get a longer-term deal. I could see him signing a two or three-year contract at around $3.5 to 4 million AAV. There might be some fear amongst other NHL teams that his play with Nathan MacKinnon was partially responsible for his output.

Teuvo Teravainen (29) $3.9 million

Teravainen is coming off a five-year deal at $5.4 million AAV. He did get to a career-high of 25 goals in 2023-24 but his point production was at 0.7/g. I think that a team will look at his historical point production and hope they get a 20-goal, 60-point player and pay him $4.5 to $5.5 million AAV for four or five years.

Warren Foegele (28) $3.7 to $4.1 million

The 2023-24 playoffs haven't been kind to Foegele and he has been a healthy scratch on a few nights. It might cost him some money in free agency as I had him valued at close to $4 million but I think it will be closer to $3 million AAV for three or four years.

Dakota Joshua (28) $3.5 to $4.2 million

Joshua has emerged from a fourth-line forward into a solid third-line player. He has never made more than $850k before but is set for a substantial raise. The sweet spot for him is probably around $2.5 million AAV but it might be tempting for someone to pay $3.5 million AAV for three or four years.

Tyler Bertuzzi (29) $3.6 to $3.9 million

Bertuzzi has not signed a contract for more than two years since his entry-level deal expired. He was just on a one-year contract with Toronto for $5.5 million and didn't live up to that type of money. I think he will buck the trend and sign for three or four years at around $4 million.

Chandler Stephenson (30) $3.7 million

Stephenson had a bit of a down year in production going from 0.8 points per game the prior two years to 0.68 in 2023-24. He has added value as he takes faceoffs and kills penalties. He had been on a four-year contract at $2.75 million AAV and was underpaid for sure. He will be looking for something around $5 million AAV but might have to settle between $4 and 4.5 million for three or four years.

Max Domi (29) $3.1 to $3.4 million

Domi had been on back-to-back one-year deals of $3 million AAV and is probably looking for term now. He might have to settle for $2.8 to $3.2 million AAV if he wants three years as he can be inconsistent.

Anthony Duclair (28) $2.9 to $3.0 million

Duclair has an expiring contract that was for three years and $3 million AAV. He might have to sign for one or two years at around the same salary and prove he can stay healthy. He's a potential bargain in that he can score 30 goals and more than likely will get 20 with any team.

Danton Heinen (28) $2.8 million

Heinen was forced to go the PTO route at the beginning of 2023-24 and ended up signing with Boston a few weeks into the season at the league minimum ($775k). Heinen has made as much as $2.8 million AAV before, but it is pretty rare for a player who has to go the tryout route to then leverage that into the bigger money. I could see him signing for two or three years at $1.2 to 1.5 million AAV.

Anthony Mantha (29) $2.8 million

Mantha played 73 games in 2023-24, which was the most he had played since 2017-18 while with Detroit. He is coming off a four-year deal at $5.7 million AAV and didn't provide value for cost in any of the years, with 2023-24 being the highest-value year during that period. I think he will need to take a 'show-me' one or two-year deal between $2 and $2.5 million AAV.

Teddy Blueger (29) $2.4 to $2.7 million

Before his one-year deal at $1.9 million with Vancouver, Blueger was at $2.2 million AAV for two years with Pittsburgh and Vegas. He's a sneaky good player who has yet to reach 10 goals in six NHL seasons. I think he will get $2.5 million AAV for two or three years.

Jack Roslovic (27) $2.1 to $2.7 million

Roslovic is coming off a two-year contract at $4 million AAV. That might be too rich for most clubs and I could see him settling in at $2.5 to $3 million AAV for two or three years.

Yakov Trenin (27) $1.7 million

Trenin was spot on with his value and his contract as he had a two-year deal at $1.7 million AAV. Unless a team feels there is some growth in his game or a bidding war ensues, I don't see him getting much more than $2 million AAV.

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Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or players you'd like me to look at please message or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15.