NHL Free Agents: Rumors and Predictions for Top Players on the Market

The NHL's free-agency period begins on July 1, and there is plenty of chatter going around about some of the game's best available players. 

Those whose contracts are up were allowed to speak with interested parties beginning on Thursday. Forward Carl Soderberg, one of the game's biggest free agents, just signed a five-year, $23.75 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche after his rights were traded by the Boston Bruins, according to Craig Custance of ESPN. 

The Nashville Predators also were able to re-sign forward Mike Fisher to a two-year, $8.8 million contract, according to the team's official release. 

But there are plenty more who are searching for or on the verge of finding homes. Here's a look at some of the latest free-agent rumors and what to expect from them.

Martin St. Louis

It looks like Martin St. Louis' time with the New York Rangers is up, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post:

One of those teams interested, the New Jersey Devils, were short down the right wing this year. Steve Bernier was their top-producing right-winger with 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points. St. Louis would be the elder statesman of the group, as each of the three wingers listed are 30 years of age or older.

St. Louis could be a second-line winger on a Devils team that finished fourth-worst in the Eastern Conference, with 78 points.

The Penguins are in better shape than the Devils, but there is cause for concern. Sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference with 19 games remaining, the Penguins lost 12 of those, sinking them to the eighth spot and a first-round-playoff exit to St. Louis' Rangers. 

Patric Hornqvist proved to be a first-line-capable right-winger. Despite missing 18 games, Hornqvist recorded 25 goals and 26 assists. The Penguins will also be relying on a healthy Pascal Dupuis, who was cleared to play again earlier in the month after trouble with blood clots, according to ESPN.

Depending on Dupuis' performance in the preseason, St. Louis could be playing third-line hockey if he went to Pittsburgh. 

Just turning 40 on June 18, St. Louis still seems to have plenty left in the tank after recording 21 goals and 31 assists. After debuting in the NHL for the Calgary Flames, St. Louis was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning for 12.5 years, winning a Stanley Cup in 2004 before joining the Rangers at the trade deadline in the 2013-14.

St. Louis played 19 regular-season games for the Rangers before helping them make the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. St. Louis made $5 million last season according to Rotoworld.com.

Prediction

At 40 years old, St. Louis might be having that "win-now" mentality that many veterans have when they're chasing Stanley Cups toward the end of their careers. That would would not be offered by the Devils unless they pull off a spectacular offseason. 

I could see St. Louis signing a single-year deal with Pittsburgh. If he is able to produce in the regular season like he did last year while the Penguins don't go anywhere, he could test the market again for a team better suited to make a playoff run.

Joel Ward

Another right-winger who has been testing the market is the Washington Capitals' Joel Ward. The 34-year-old is receiving plenty of attention, according to the Washington Post's Alex Prewitt:

Ward is speaking with teams after his request for a four-year contract was not received well by Capitals management, according to CSN's Jill Sorensen. The winger is coming off a four-year, $12 million deal and "likely is seeking a similar dollar value on his next contract," according to CSN Washington's Chuck Gormley.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan updated Gormley on his chances of re-signing Ward.

"

It’s hard to tell. We keep talking to people and now there’s a free agent window where they can talk to other teams, so I think they’re going to gauge their role on our team and dollars that can be made in the free agent market and we’re going to be doing the same thing. If we can come to an agreement we will, or we can just keep it going until we can figure out what works best for both parties.

"

The nine teams that are interested in Ward remain undisclosed, but they will be teams that are in need of a gritty third-line winger who can add offensive prowess to smaller lines that could use protection. He could be capable of playing on a second line, but he would have to be surrounded by plenty of talent to produce.

Ward has experienced quite the resurgence these past two seasons with Washington. In his first two seasons with the Capitals when he joined them in 2011 from Nashville, Ward recorded 14 goals and 24 assists. In the next two seasons, he has scored 43 goals and added 40 assists.

Prediction

It seems unlikely that Ward is going to be coming back to Washington. That much can be deciphered by the Capitals' inability to work with him on his initial desires. As the days progress and free agency really heats up after July 1, expect team names to start coming out on those who want Ward. 

For now, the first teams that jump to my mind that would be a good fit for Ward would be the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bruins have traded Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings as they continue to clear cap space. Now with a big gap to fill on the wing, Ward could slide in nicely to a system where he could emit his style of play. 

Philadelphia jumps out because they have some skilled players that could use one more option. While it's unlikely Ward would play with the likes of Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek on the first line, he could provide a nice wing option (probably moving to left wing) for Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. 

Stats courtesy of NHL.com