NHL free agency 2019: 5 signings we’d love to see

2019 NHL free agency is nearly upon us. Let’s take a look at five signings that we’d absolutely love to see this offseason.

NHL free agency begins on July 1, 2019. With a number of huge names on the market, big moves could be coming, both in free agency and via the trade market. Both unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents should be on the move.

These moves might not be the most logical. They probably won’t even happen. But we can’t deny we’d love to see them. And deep down, we’re sure most fans would too. Each would cause a ton of buzz and get fans excited for what should be an epic 2019-20 season.

Admittedly, these moves tend to lean towards chaos. But think about what makes the NBA offseason so awesome. There are non-stop silly moves. It borders on chaos. The NHL needs some chaos, so let’s look at five moves that need to happen.

Jake Gardiner to the Montreal Canadiens

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The Montreal Canadiens are in an interesting position. With their impressive prospect pool, they’re in a good position to retool. But at the same time, the Canadiens have both Shea Weber and Carey Price on expensive deals. They won’t remain great for much longer. So now’s the time for the Canadiens to spend.

While Matt Duchene heading to his childhood team would be a ton of fun, it wouldn’t make much sense. But you know what would? The Canadiens adding the Toronto Maple Leafs top free agent, defenseman Jake Gardiner.

It’s been a while since the Habs and Leafs rivalry has gotten personal. Which is sad because it’s one of the best rivalries in all of sports. Look at how the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry got reignited because Johnny Damon switched sides.

Imagine if the Canadiens added Gardiner to their blueline. He’d be the perfect partner for Weber and would fix a big issue for them. It would also cause Leafs fans to have heart attacks. Just imagine seeing Gardiner in a Habs sweater. It would be so wrong, it would be right.

Sergei Bobrovsky Replaces Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo‘s retirement leaves the Florida Panthers without a franchise goaltender. However, it also leaves nothing in the way keeping the hottest rumor in the NHL from coming true. That’s right, Sergei Bobrovsky should take his talents to South Beach (OK, Sunrise, but you get the point).

The Panthers showed they’re serious about contending by hiring Joel Quenneville, who has won three Stanley Cups. General Manager Dale Tallon and Quenneville had a lot of success together with the Chicago Blackhawks. Their top target is Panarin (again, more on him later) but they want Bobrovsky as well.

Bobrovsky has long been rumored to be the top target of the Panthers. Heck, they even tried to trade for him at the NHL trade deadline. With Luongo gone, the Panthers need a starting goalie. Bobrovsky is the best one available.

When armed with a good goalie, Quenneville wins games. Bobrovsky’s deal might be regrettable one day, but the Panthers are in the end game. It’s not about what happens five, or even eight, years from now. The Panthers want to win now. Bobrovsky would help them accomplish that. And it would bring a massive talent to Florida. Bobrovsky would be the biggest acquisition in Panthers history since Pavel Bure.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Joe Pavelski

The Colorado Avalanche are a prime position to do something silly this summer. They’ve tried to get interviews with John Tavares and Panarin (more on him later, I promise) in consecutive offseasons, but have gotten nowhere. The Avalanche have cap space and a wide open Stanley Cup window. Time for them to get bold.

Now, who should they sign? The Avalanche need a difference maker on their second line and Marner would be perfect for them. They recently traded Carl Soderberg to the Arizona Coyotes, which makes me think they’re targetting someone. Could that someone be Joe Pavelski?

Pavelski might be old, but he’s still a heck of a player. On the Avalanche, he’d lead their second line, and maybe even play on their top line for a little bit. Colorado is an extremely young team and they would benefit greatly from what Pavelski brings to the table.

Few teams know the intangibles Pavelski brings to the table more than the Avalanche. They had to witness the monumental impact he made in his first game back from injury, which came in Game 7 against the San Jose Sharks. I bet Joe Sakic was sitting in his suite thinking to himself, “Wow, that guy would look great on my team”.

The Avalanche are one of the most fun teams in the NHL. Pavelski would give them the second-line difference maker they need while giving fans another entertaining personality in an already fun-loving locker room.

Artemi Panarin To The New York Rangers

The New York Rangers rebuild got a significant boost when they got the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. By drafting Kaapo Kakko, the Rangers have sped up their rebuild. Suddenly, their pipe dream of going after Artemi Panarin makes a ton of sense.

It’s not a secret the Bread Man would love to play in New York. After all, Panarin recently had a meeting with the Rangers. Even though they screwed up the photoshop by putting his head on a left-handed skater’s body, money talks. And the Rangers are going to use that advantage.

Everybody likes to say that playing in a tax-free state is a benefit. Well, that’s not completely true. What is an undeniable advantage is the Rangers have the financial clout to give Panarin about $30 million in the first 12 months of his deal. The Panthers sure aren’t in a position to do that. Nor are the Islanders. If the Bread Man wants dough, the Rangers are the ones best suited to provide it.

Unless the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens decide to get involved in the bidding for Panarin, the Rangers have an advantage no other team can match. Panarin in the Big Apple would be great for the NHL. Because the NHL is just better when the Rangers are competitive and relevant.