NHL Free Agency: Top 4 best value Free Agents available on Day 2

2. Eric Staal, C

Although he is now firmly in the back-nine of his career, Eric Staal could still be a nice piece for a team that needs a veteran presence, or maybe for a contender that is in need of some bottom-six depth.

Staal split the 2020-21 season between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens, averaging 13:27 minutes of total ice time with three points (2 G, 1 A) in 21 games for the latter.

The 36-year-old did find his offensive groove in the postseason for the Habs as he recorded eight points (2 G, 6 A) in 21 games, while averaging 11:31 minutes of total ice time and laying on 17 hits.

Staal’s impressive resurgence in the Stanley Cup Playoffs should make it clear to some teams that he still has some good hockey left in the tank, and his 50.8 percent Corsi and 52.4 percent oZS% demonstrates that he can control play and help with the possession play.

Will he put up huge offensive numbers and drive play at an elite level? No, but Staal still adds value as a bottom-six forward who can play a hard-nosed game, get to the dirty areas, play in all situations, be a solid faceoff guy and add a veteran presence in the locker room, especially come Playoff time.