July 1 was something, wasn't it? I've had fantasy drafts that have taken longer than it took for most of the significant names to fall off the board. If there really is a tampering rule, then no one is following it.

Vladimir Tarasenko was widely considered the top remaining free agent on the board after the mayhem that was July 1. Now that Tarasenko is off the board, let's examine what's left of the free agent crop and what value they might hold in fantasy leagues.

Fantasy Take: Red Wings Land Tarasenko

Forwards who could be fantasy relevant if signed: Daniel Sprong, James van Riemsdyk, Alex Nylander, Max Pacioretty, Tyler Johnson.

For perhaps defensive reasons, Sprong doesn't seem to fit into the plans of teams despite back-to-back seasons of 40+ points and double-digit power-play points. All of this despite only 11-12 minutes per game. As I write this, 10 teams still have over $10 million in cap space. The Ducks and Flames have $20 million in cap space. The Sabres were a massive disappointment in free agency. Also, what says you, Leafs fans?

If I were the Maple Leafs I'd be all over Daniel Sprong. 39 goals over the past two years despite averaging less than 12 minutes per game. Perhaps no team needs depth scoring more.

— Michael Amato (@amato_mike) July 4, 2024

I was surprised that the Blue Jackets did not qualify Nylander. Upon being traded to Columbus in what seemed like a meaningless deal at the time, Nylander scored 11 goals in 23 games. Maybe he wasn't Don Waddell's kind of player. That short run made me interested in whether there could be more.

It feels like now or never for the 35-year-old Pacioretty. Just two seasons ago he was a point-per-game player. Then an Achilles injury that cost him nearly the entire season. Then a midseason return where he scored at a 40-point pace. If he doesn't make something happen this season, then this could be it for the former Canadiens captain.

Forwards that can probably be ignored if signed: Blake Wheeler, Sam Gagner, Mike Hoffman, Jakub Vrana, Alexander Barabanov, Kailer Yamamoto, Tanner Pearson, Dominik Kubalik, Kevin Labanc, any other UFAs not mentioned here.

These are all forwards that finished at or below a 32-point pace last season. This is exactly where Wheeler ended up. I'm not sure he has much left in the tank.

I know someone might disagree with me about Vrana, but his stock has really fallen among NHL teams. That might not be fair since he's been in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program, so he might be viewed as a reclamation project. 

You might also be asking why not Kubalik. 15 points and a minus-30 in 74 games last season. Linemates might have something to do with his lack of success in Ottawa, so he's someone I could reconsider during the season if he finds the right team and goes on a run.

Asterisk: Joe Pavelski

Pavelski all but stated that he would retire from the NHL. If he returns and plays for the bare minimum to try to earn a Stanley Cup, then he's at the top of the list among forwards.

Defensemen who could be fantasy relevant if signed: Kevin Shattenkirk, Justin Schultz, Tyson Barrie, John Klingberg, Adam Boqvist, Calen Addison.

Lots of power-play experience to choose from here. These are the kind of players that a team could pick up if their top power-play option is injured. Shattenkirk fits that profile to a tee, as that's what he did when Charlie McAvoy was injured.

I'm still intrigued with Barrie, as I think he got the bum's rush in Nashville. During the COVID-shortened season, Barrie led all defensemen with 48 points in 56 games while QBing the Edmonton power play. It's no secret that he's not a great defender. But stick him on a more offensive-minded team than Nashville and he might pull his weight just on offense. For example, I think the Canucks could use an extra defenseman.

Has anyone heard anything about Klingberg? I know his brief time with the Leafs wasn't great, but remember how high the fantasy community was on him during his first few seasons with Dallas.

Addison (24) and Boqvist (23) are quite young compared to these grizzled vets. For Addison, 17 points and a minus-38 in 72 games for the Sharks looked really bad. Sheltered minutes with power-play time on a better team seems ideal. Boqvist might just have to avoid injury and find a better team than Columbus. I remember during his draft year when his name was discussed in the same breath as Quinn Hughes, Evan Bouchard, and Noah Dobson. How things change in a few years.  

The trend toward bigger d-men in team building might be working against these d-men. For example, looking beyond Norris Trophy winner Hughes, the projected Canucks' defense stacks up as follows: Filip Hronek (6-0), Carson Soucy (6-5), Tyler Myers (6-8), Derek Forbort (6-4), and Vincent Desharnais (6-7). Vegas won the cup last season with a large defense corps as well. The fringe power-play specialists are certainly having a hard time finding NHL employment.

Defensemen that can probably be ignored if signed: Tony DeAngelo, Alex Goligoski, Oliver Kylington, Ryan Suter, Mark Giordano, other UFA defensemen not mentioned here.

DeAngelo could at least bring the offense… until this past season. Just 11 points in 31 games, and he was often a healthy scratch. He will require offseason hand surgery, and that might have contributed to the poor production. Yet with his track record as a teammate, would teams really give him the benefit of the doubt?

Giordano has had a great career, but at age 40 it seems like the end for him.

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I was going to include Jack Roslovic in the list of forwards that could be fantasy relevant when signed, but he recently inked a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Hurricanes. Roslovic finished with 31 points in 59 games split between the Blue Jackets and Rangers in 2023-24. He also finished with eight points in 16 playoff games for the Rangers.

According to the Carolina depth chart on Frozen Tools, the Canes look kind of weak on the left side, with Jack Drury the only option to "maybe" get into the top 6. Roslovic should provide scoring depth in that area, although his career high of 45 points suggests that he is not a top liner. With the Martin Necas trade still possible, the Canes' roster may not be a finished product anyway. The Canes also still have to take care of contracts for RFAs Drury and Seth Jarvis.

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The Sharks re-signed Carl Grundstrom to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million. Grundstrom was acquired by the Sharks from the Kings for Kyle Burroughs in late June. He will likely fill a bottom-6 role for the Sharks and has little fantasy value other than as a possible streamer for the hits category.

The Sharks also re-signed Ty Dellandrea to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million. Dellandrea was also acquired by the Sharks in June. He was acquired from the Stars for a 2025 fourth-round pick. A 2018 first-round pick, Dellandrea also seems projected for a bottom-6 role for the Sharks.

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Dobber has started his polls on the Forum to vote for the 2024 Fantasy Guide lowdown writeup for one player per team. His latest polls (as I type this) are for Chicago and Carolina. You can place your votes and even state your case in the thread! For other teams, search through the Forum, although some polls have expired.

And of course, the Fantasy Hockey Guide will be available on July 29. Everything that you've come to know and love about the guide is included again this season – its 19^th year. Preorder yours today!

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