- The free agency signing period opens Wednesday
- The free agent class is deep in forwards but light in defensemen and goaltenders
- The Stanley Cup champion Avalanche have several UFAs
The NHL free agency signing period opens at noon ET Wednesday and the biggest name will head to the open market.
Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving confirmed that Tuesday night about winger Johnny Gaudreau, telling reporters, “It is my strong belief that this was a family decision and I respect that fully.”
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (four years, $24.6 million) and Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane (four years, $20.5 million) re-signed late Tuesday, joining an earlier group that includes Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang, Nashville’s Filip Forsberg and Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury.
The top 25 free agents from a class that’s deep on forwards but light on defensemen and goaltenders (age as of July 13):
1. F Johnny Gaudreau, Flames, 28
He’ll be due a big raise from his current $6.75 million after tying for second in the league with a career-best 115 points. He finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting and scored in overtime of Game 7 of the first round. If the South Jersey resident chooses to be close to home, the Philadelphia Flyers lack cap space, but the New Jersey Devils have plenty.
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