The 2019-20 season may be on hold, these players will still become free agents this summer and could be on the move. Here are the top UFAs this year in NHL free agency.
This year’s NHL free agency class will be a fascinating one to follow as no one truly knows what’s going on. Will this summer still be the off-season or will we be watching playoff hockey? Either way, these players are going to end up as free agents so it’s time to take a look at this year’s free-agent class.
Instead of a regular top 10 list, I’ve split the free-agency class into four categories. The impact players, tough guys, old guys, and defensemen. So here are this year’s most notable free agents in every category:
Impact Players
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These are players that will make a big impact on the team that they choose to sign with. This category includes Mike Hoffman, Taylor Hall, and Evgenii Dadonov.
Mike Hoffman – Florida Panthers
Mike Hoffman led the Florida Panthers in goals this season (29) and was tied with Evgeni Dadonov with 11 powerplay goals. He is a consistent goalscorer that flirts with 30 goals every year and his last two seasons with the Panthers have been the best of his career. At 30 years old he is at the peak of his career and will help any team he joins offensively. He’s a lock on the power play and will add a veteran presence to the locker room.
Taylor Hall – Arizona Coyotes
Ever since Taylor Hall won the Hart Trophy in 2018, his play has gone downhill. His season with the Arizona Coyotes has been nothing short of a disappointment and will cost him a lot of money in the off-season. His points per game has been the worst in years and were not the impact player that the Coyotes traded for. However, this season was an anomaly if you look at his NHL career. Perhaps a change in scenery will benefit the winger and I would not be surprised if he signs a show-me contract to try and earn himself a better deal.
Evgenii Dadonov – Florida Panthers
If Evgeni Dadonov played in a bigger market, everyone would know his name. He is one of the most underrated wingers in the NHL and he’s now on the open market. Before this season, he had back-to-back 28 goal seasons and put up 65+ points. This season he played 65 games and had 25 goals. This guy is a goalscorer and him and Hoffman are the biggest reasons for Florida’s lethal power play.