2024 NHL Free Agents Who Would Be Foolish to Change Teams
The 2024 NHL free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. We can expect the usual frenzy of signings within the opening hours as teams move quickly to snap up the best available talent.
This year's market is deep in quality talent slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, including scoring forwards such as the Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos.
Becoming unrestricted free agents allows many names to sign the most lucrative contracts of their playing careers. They will also have control over where they will play, providing them the chance to sign with a Stanley Cup contender or in a market that best suits their personal needs.
Some may prefer staying with their current teams, but salary-cap constraints or a team's declining performance could have those players considering their fortunes elsewhere.
However, there are five pending UFAs we believe would be foolish to change teams. Here's our take on why they should consider staying put.
Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the app comments below.
Jonathan Drouin, Colorado Avalanche
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After six disappointing, often injury-shortened seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Drouin signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche last summer. It was a significant reduction from the six-year, $33 million deal ($5.5 million annual cap hit) with the Canadiens.
However, the contract was a lifeline for the 29-year-old, allowing him to prove he's still an effective NHL forward. He rose to the occasion with 19 goals, setting career highs with 37 assists and 56 points. His 79 appearances were his most in a season since his 81-game performance with the Canadiens in 2018-19.
Drouin helped the Avalanche finish fourth overall in the Western Conference, but he's been sidelined from the postseason with a lower-body injury.
This bounce-back season could help him land a more lucrative contract. But the Avalanche only have $9.8 million in cap space with 13 active roster players signed for 2024-25 and restricted free agent Casey Mittelstadt to re-sign.
The Avalanche could get $7 million in cap relief if winger Gabriel Landeskog remains on long-term injury reserve. Still, they might not be able to sign Drouin to a hefty pay raise compared to what he might get in the free-agent market.
It remains to be seen if the Avs intend to re-sign Drouin and for how much. Nevertheless, if they're interested in keeping him, he should seriously consider it even if it's a short-term deal for around $3 million per season.
Drouin got his NHL career back on track in Colorado. And he would have a chance to continue playing for a Stanley Cup contender, something other clubs might not be able to offer.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Detroit Red Wings
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In his 10-season NHL career, Shayne Gostisbehere has played for four clubs. He began with the Philadelphia Flyers and spent seven seasons with them. Since 2021-22, though, he's played for the Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings.
Signing a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Red Wings last summer as an unrestricted free agent, he became a key part of their defense corp.
The 31-year-old blueliner scored 10 goals and collected 46 assists for 56 points, helping the Wings to a 91-point finish and narrowly missing an Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
A puck-moving defenseman, Gostibehere's 56 points were the second-highest of his career. While his defensive game is average at best, his offensive contributions from the blue line made him an important part of the Wings' offense, especially on the power play.
In his season-ending media session on Apr. 19, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman expressed interest in signing Gostisbehere to a contract extension.
"I'd like to see if we can figure out a way to do it," he said. "He's a valuable player for how we're set up on the back end."
The Red Wings have $29 million in cap space for 2024-25 with 13 roster players under contract. Re-signing restricted free agents Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond will take up a big chunk. They must also re-sign or replace Patrick Kane, David Perron and James Reimer.
Gostisbehere might be tempted to see what the free-agent market might hold for offers. Perhaps he'll want to see if he'll have an opportunity to sign with a Cup contender.
However, the Red Wings could offer Gostisbehere some career stability after bouncing around the league for the past three years. It would enable him to remain with a team that values his play and experience. He could have a more important role with Detroit than he might find elsewhere.
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights
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One of the original Vegas Golden Knights, Jonathan Marchessault played a major role in their quick ascendence as a Stanley Cup contender. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while leading them to their first title last season.
The 33-year-old is the Golden Knights' all-time leader with 514 games played, 192 goals, 225 assists and 417 points. He's been their most reliable scoring, tallying over 20 goals in six of his seven seasons in Las Vegas, including a career-best 42 goals this season.
Completing a six-year, $30 million contract ($5 million average annual value), Marchessault has put himself in a good position for a raise on his next contract. The winger is at an age when he likely won't get any offers over four years but could get between $6 million and $7 million annually on the open market.
Whether the Golden Knights can afford that is another matter. They have just $897,516 in cap space for 2024-25 with 20 active roster players under contract. They'll get an additional $5 million in cap relief if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve, but that still won't leave much room for Marchessault's next contract.
Marchessault has said he wants to stay put, and Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon has started contract extension talks with his agent.
McCrimmon could free up cap space to re-sign Marchessault, but that could deplete the roster. It might not even be enough if the winger seeks a big raise.
That could force Marchessault into the free-agent market to seek a better deal on July 1. At this stage of his career, though, that might not be the best move.
Marchessault could get more money on the open market on a three- or four-year deal, but there's no certainty he'll be a good fit with another club. Despite their early playoff exit, the Golden Knights remain competitive and willing to invest in their roster.
Other teams might offer a better deal but not a better opportunity for another championship run.
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Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
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This was a career-best season for Sam Reinhart.
The 28-year-old Florida Panthers winger scored 57 goals, joining Hall of Famer Pavel Bure as the only two players in franchise history to reach the vaunted 50-goal plateau. He was also their leading scorer with 94 points.
Reinhart is completing a three-year, $19.5 million contract with an annual cap hit of $6.5 million. Over that period, he's blossomed into one of the Panthers' best offensive stars. He's played a key role in their rise as a dominant NHL team as they won the Presidents' Trophy in 2022 and reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
Becoming a 50-goal scorer has boosted his stock. He could command over $10 million annually on a seven-year contract if he tests the open market on July 1.
During an April 3 interview with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Reinhart said he's more focused on helping the Panthers win the Stanley Cup than his upcoming UFA status. He indicated he wasn't worried about it, claiming he and general manager Bill Zito have a positive relationship. "I've got all the confidence it's going to work out," he said.
With $19.7 million in cap space for 2024-25, the Panthers can afford a big raise for Reinhart. However, they have only 14 active roster players under contract for next season. His new contract won't leave much room to fill out the rest of their roster.
Zito could balk at paying Reinhart more than team captain Aleksander Barkov, whose annual cap hit is $10 million. That could tempt the Panthers star into looking at the market to see if better offers are available elsewhere.
However, Reinhart could prefer accepting a little less than market value to remain with the Panthers. They're a team on the rise and he's a big part of that. He might not find a better fit elsewhere than what he currently has.
The Panthers could provide Reinhart with career stability, and the lack of a state tax could also be enticing.
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
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The Tampa Bay Lightning are the only team Steven Stamkos has played for in his 16 NHL seasons. He's been the face of the franchise for years, leading the Bolts to their greatest era in franchise history from 2014-15 to 2021-22.
With Stamkos as captain, the Lightning won two Stanley Cups (2020 and 2021), won the Presidents' Trophy in 2019, reached the Cup Final in 2015 and 2022, and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016 and 2018. He's the franchise leader with 1,082 games played, 555 goals and 1,137 points.
He took less than market value when he signed his eight-year, $68 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) in 2016. Now 34, he's still a dangerous goal scorer, reaching the 40-goal plateau this season for the seventh time.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois indicated he's opened contract talks with Stamkos and his agent, but the Bolts have limited salary-cap space for 2024-25 with $12.6 million and 16 active roster players under contract. Offering Stamkos the same cap hit on a short-term deal would be a tight fit.
A future Hall-of-Famer, Stamkos would draw plenty of attention from clubs interested in his scoring ability, leadership and championship experience. Some might even offer him up to $10 million annually on a three-year deal.
Stamkos could be unwilling to accept a pay cut to remain with the Lightning after giving them what turned out to be a bargain on his previous contract. However, he and his family are well-settled in the Tampa Bay area. He could avoid uprooting them by accepting a lower annual cap hit.
The Lightning have declined over the past two years but remain competitive. They need Stamkos' leadership and experience to help them transition to the next generation of Lightning stars. He would also have the opportunity to become one of a handful of modern NHL stars to play their entire careers with just one team.
Stats via NHL.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly.
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.jpg?w=600 "🚨 Giants Picking 5th and 10th")
