NHL Free Agency 2015: Rumors and Predictions for Top Remaining Players

NHL free agency took the league by storm on July 1, which saw 70 deals made, according to NHL.com. Though there were plenty of players that found their home, there are still numerous names out there to ensure the NHL will see more transactions in the coming days and weeks. 

Continue below for rumors and predictions surrounding some notable free-agent talent still available. 

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Alexander Semin

The right-winger enters free agency after being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. It will cost his former team a pretty penny.

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[Semin] had three more years left on his deal at $7 million per season. The buyout, which will come once Semin clears waivers Wednesday, means he'll count $2.33 million per season on the Hurricanes' cap for the next six years.

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Semin failed to produce in his third season with the Hurricanes after producing just six goals and 13 assists in 57 games last season. Despite his sparse numbers, ESPN The Magazine's Craig Custance is hearing rumors from teams around the league regarding the winger:

Entering his 11th season in the league, Semin developed into a dangerous goalscorer in the beginning of his career with the Washington Capitals, scoring 38 goals in his second year in the league. His finest seasons came in a two-year stretch from 2008-2010, when he recorded 74 goals and 99 assists in 135 games.

He signed as a free agent with Carolina in 2012 but has not quite hit that level of play that made him such a threat in Washington.

Teams could be viewing Semin as a low-risk, high-reward winger. If they are able to acquire him at a reasonable price with a short-term contract and he rediscovers his scoring ways, Semin could be one of the biggest pickups of the free-agency period.

Where he winds up: Washington Capitals

The first two teams that jump out to me as good fits for Semin would be Washington (again) and the Detroit Red Wings. Once again, if the asking price is reasonable, reuniting him with Alex Ovechkin, though they would not play on the same line, could help take pressure off Semin's shoulders to score. While the opposition would focus on Ovechkin, Semin would be free to play his own game, almost flying under the radar.

Detroit can offer a similar environment for Semin. He would be able to join a skilled group of forwards, like Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Tatar and Henrik Zetterberg, to help ignite an already dangerous offense. They are a gifted side when it comes to puck movement and could create a situation for Semin where he could attain career numbers. But Semin could be looking for familiarity to get his career back on track. If that's the case, then he'll be picking the Capitals.

Mike Santorelli

The center did not do much to impress in his short time with the Nashville Predators. After starting the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which he recorded 11 goals and 18 assists in 57 games, Santorelli proceeded to add just a single goal and three assists in 22 with Nashville.

There still is hope for Santorelli, though, according to TSN's Darren Dreger: 

Santorelli has the ability to be a goalscorer. After a 20-goal season in his third year in the league with the Florida Panthers, he scored just 13 in the following two seasons from 2011-2013. He was sent to the Winnipeg Jets in 2013, where he appeared in 10 games before joining the Vancouver Canucks for the 2013-14 season. He is starting to emerge as a lower scoring option, with 10 or more goals in the past two seasons.

At 6'0", he is skilled on the puck but not gifted defensively. He would be able to provide depth as a bottom-six forward for a team looking for a veteran presence that can put the puck in the back of the net.

As Dreger reported, his asking price will be low too, making him a safe option for teams to take a chance on if they are looking for offensive help under salary-cap pressure. 

Where he winds up: New York Rangers

As reported by Jason Brough of NBC Sports, the Rangers had shown interest in Santorelli in the past. 

This does not necessarily mean that Santorelli will be getting playing time. The Rangers have Derick Brassard, Dominic Moore, Derek Stepan and J.T. Miller, who can play center in front of Santorelli. But his acquisition gives the Rangers another option if Miller is not producing on the fourth line. 

Ryan Bourque is also listed on the Rangers' current roster, but he only appeared in one game last season. Santorelli has the legs and skill to win a spot in front of Bourque and could give Miller a serious run for his money. 

Because the Rangers are such a deep team that can roll out four productive lines, Santorelli could see a bump in his numbers if surrounded by the right talent in Madison Square Garden.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com