NHL free agency: Top 10 available free agents in 2020
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.
Tough Guys
These are players that bring a physical edge to your hockey team and won’t be afraid to drop the gloves to protect star players. This category includes Patrick Maroon, Ryan Reaves, and Kyle Clifford.
Patrick Maroon – Tampa Bay Lightning
Patrick Maroon isn’t going to bring goals or points to your team, he will bring his big frame and thundering hits. After winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues, he has added more swagger into his game. Jon Cooper spoke glowingly about Maroon, saying that he is an impact player in the locker room and a key part of their team. Maroon is hungry for another championship and a quality addition for both the locker room and when you want to inject some energy back onto the ice.
Ryan Reaves – Vegas Golden Knights
Ryan Reaves leads the NHL in hits and is just one of two players who cracked the 300 hits plateau. To say that he is a physical player is an understatement. His last two seasons have also been his two most offensively productive seasons of his career, averaging over .20 points a game for the first time. He is arguably the best fighter in the NHL and brings a lot of energy to the team he’s a part of.
Kyle Clifford – Toronto Maple Leafs
Kyle Clifford is a lot like Reaves in that his last two seasons have been the most productive years of his career. He brings big hits and is one of those complimentary players who has an impact that isn’t seen on scoresheets. He will embolden other players to be more physical and make the star players feel a little safer as they have a shield in Clifford.
Old Guys
These players that are near the end of their historic careers but are still on the hunt for the elusive Stanley Cup. This includes Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Jason Spezza, and Zdeno Chara (he’s got one Cup but wants another very badly).
Joe Thornton – San Jose Sharks
Everyone was shocked when Joe Thornton wasn’t traded by the San Jose Sharks before the Trade Deadline. He is one of those veterans that everyone is cheering for and will not rest until he is a Stanley Cup champion. He’s a great locker room presence, brings tons of veteran leadership, and even at 40 years old he is still able to keep up and produce. His career isn’t over yet and hopefully, a contending team takes a chance on him.
Patrick Marleau – Pittsburgh Penguins
Here’s another player that has been trying his luck with other teams but still hasn’t reached his end goal. His trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins could have been it if the world didn’t get hit with a once-in-a-century pandemic. Marleau is desperately fighting his age and this next season could be his last chance.
Jason Spezza – Toronto Maple Leafs
Jason Spezza has done everything he can to stay in this league. He left his ego at the door and signed a league-minimum contract to be a fourth-liner in the hopes of his first-ever Stanley Cup. He has proven that he still has hockey left in the tank and is willing to do anything to earn a championship.
Zdeno Chara – Boston Bruins
Zdeno Chara has won a Stanley Cup before but is not satisfied. His dedication to his physical health is unmatched and he’s doing everything he can to remain in the NHL. Last year, he signed a one-year contract with the Bruins and is ready to sign another one-year contract in an attempt to get one more championship. At 43 years old his speed and mobility are behind him but the perks of being 6’9″ involved having a ridiculous wingspan and reach, especially with a hockey stick.
Defensemen
Teams are always on the lookout for strong defensemen to add to their team and this year’s free-agent class has its share of notable defensemen. This category includes Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug, and Tyson Barrie.
Alex Pietrangelo – St. Louis Blues
Alex Pietrangelo is entering free agency having put up the best offensive numbers of his career as a defenseman. His 52 points (16G 36A) along with his 24:11 minutes of ice time will catch a lot of attention this off-season as he is one of the premier defensemen in the league. He’s always attracted a lot of interest and now that he’s a free agent, those teams are going to throw him all kinds of offers. He is a workhorse and will positively impact any team he joins.
Torey Krug – Boston Bruins
Torey Krug is a huge piece of the Boston Bruin’s core and was the backbone of their successful power play. He moves the puck really well and is a poster child for the modern-day NHL defenseman. Krug’s proven throughout his entire career that he is extremely hard-working and on the 31 Thoughts Podcast, he revealed that he still plays with the mentality that he is not good enough for the NHL. He would be a good addition for a team with young players as he is a great veteran to use as a role model of what it takes to be great in the league.
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Tyson Barrie – Toronto Maple Leafs
Even though Tyson Barrie didn’t have a great season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he is a right-handed defenseman and that is a very pressing need in the NHL. Despite not putting up the offensive numbers that he is used to, he was a very important player for Toronto especially when they got hit with a bunch of injuries to their defense.
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When Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, and Cody Ceci went down, Barrie was counted on to lead the rookie defensemen and for the situation the team was in, he did a pretty good job. He can move the puck, quarterback a power play and is a good fit on a team that likes to have dynamic defensemen that can join the rush whenever possible.