NHL Free Agency: Looking at five intriguing UFA’s still on the board

3. Ryan Getzlaf

Don’t let anyone tell you that veteran presence, leadership and toughness aren’t important intangibles in the National Hockey League anymore, because they very much are and Ryan Getzlaf offers all three in abundance.

The Anaheim Ducks Captain is set to hit the open market later today after his eight-year, $66 million contract expired, and he would be a good fit for either a contender that needs forward depth or a young, up-and-coming team that needs some leadership.

Therefore, it is no surprise that the Boston Bruins have been linked with Getzlaf given that they need some grit and secondary scoring in their bottom-six, while the 36-year-old would be perfect for the New York Rangers.

After all, the Blueshirts are now trying to win now but with a young roster and a lack of center depth, they could do with established pivots who know how to win and how to lead a locker room, and Getzlaf would tick a lot of boxes for Gerard Gallant‘s team.

Another potential fit is the Edmonton Oilers who need players other than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to step up and deliver, and the fact that Getzlaf would probably come cheap should be a huge selling point for all of his potential suitors.