2023 NHL Free Agents: Latest Rumors and Predictions for Notable Names

The 2022-23 NHL season is approaching its end.

The Vegas Golden Knights hold a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers and could wrap the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night. If Florida is able to steal a road victory, the series will continue on Friday and wrap on Monday, if necessary.

Regardless of how the Final unfolds, the offseason is less than a week away. The rest of the league is hoping to eventually be in Vegas' shoes, and teams are preparing for a busy offseason of player movement.

Free agency will begin on July 1, and while the impending market is short on elite star power, several quality role players and intriguing veterans are expected to be available.

Let's dive into some of the latest rumors and make a few predictions about the 2023 free-agent market.

Patrick Kane to Be Patient in Free Agency

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Patrick Kane

New York Rangers winger Patrick Kane is one of the bigger names headed to the unrestricted market this offseason.

The longtime Chicago Blackhawk was traded to New York in February, but he failed to spark the Rangers to a deep playoff run.

Kane's foray into free agency could be complicated. The nine-time All-Star will turn 35 in November, and there's a chance he isn't back on the ice before then. According to his agent, Pat Brisson, he underwent hip surgery on June 1 and is facing a four-to-six-month recovery period.

Brisson told reporters that Kane "wants to play for a long time."

While Kane is no longer in his prime, he's quite capable of being a high-level contributor—he produced 12 points in only 19 games with the Rangers. He can help a contender, though he reportedly won't be in a rush to sign with one.

"His rehab is first and foremost in his mind and I think he's willing to let this go into the summer a little bit more before he decides where he's going to play next," TSN's Chris Johnston wrote. "That will allow the market to settle a little bit and allow Kane to make the most informed decision possible."

For Kane, a return to New York would make plenty of sense. He lives in the area during the offseason, and after 16 years in Chicago, he may not be eager to jump to a third franchise in a calendar year.

Staying with the Rangers would keep Kane close to home while providing some semblance of stability.

Prediction: Kane re-signs with the Rangers.

Tyler Bertuzzi Eyeing Free Agency

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Tyler Bertuzzi

Boston Bruins wing Tyler Bertuzzi is an intriguing player to track heading into free agency. He's had issues staying healthy and appeared in only 50 games this past season because of an upper body injury.

However, he is also only 28 years old and has been a splendid player when healthy. He racked up 10 points during Boston's seven-game series against Florida in the playoffs.

Like Kane, Bertuzzi was traded earlier this year—in March—and could land with a third team in a matter of months. Boston would presumably like to keep him, but his desire to hit the market for the first time may have played a role in the Detroit Red Wings' wish to trade him.

"I know he made it clear to the Red Wings when they were discussing an extension with him that he was pretty intent on hitting free agency this summer," a source told Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now. "His camp knew what he can get out there, and that's probably more now after the way he played for the Bruins."

If Bertuzzi is looking for a payday, we have to follow the money here. Many of the league's cap-rich teams will be looking to add a potential impact player, and the Pittsburgh Penguins might be able to offer him more than just money.

Pittsburgh missed the postseason this year, but it won 40 games and maintains a pretty competitive roster. Bertuzzi would give the Penguins another standout forward alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and the team is projected to have $20.2 million in cap space.

Prediction: Bertuzzi signs with the Penguins.

Ryan O'Reilly Sounds Interested in a Return to Toronto

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Ryan O'Reilly

The St. Louis Blues opted to trade center Ryan O'Reilly, and they sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in February.

The question now is whether Toronto can afford to keep the 32-year-old as an unrestricted free agent. As TSN's Mike Johnson recently noted, the Leafs have a lot of work ahead of them.

"As great as he has been you wonder if he is secondary on the priority list behind revamping the defense and then get to O'Reilly and then you get to your depth forwards," Johnson told First Up on TSN Radio (beginning at the 9:40 mark).

Johnson stated that $5 million per year would probably "be fair" for O'Reilly and the Maple Leafs. The challenge could come if the player wants more than that on the open market.

That could happen if there's a big demand for O'Reilly's services. However, it's worth noting that he seemed to really enjoy his brief time in Toronto.

"People say, they're a great hockey town, they love the game. But here, it's, it's more than just the game, it's a lifestyle, it's everything," O'Reilly told OverDrive on TSN Radio.

While this doesn't necessarily mean O'Reilly would be willing to re-sign on a team friendly contract, it doesn't feel like he would force Toronto to overpay in order to keep him.

The question is whether the Leafs, who have $9.1 million in projected cap space, can create enough room to address other needs and still pay O'Reilly what is fair.

The prediction here is that Toronto finds a way.

Prediction: O'Reilly re-signs with the Maple Leafs.