Early Ranking of the Top Unrestricted NHL Free Agents in 2017

The 2016 NHL free-agent period became a Target at midnight on the eve of Black Friday. People were waiting outside the doors for days, with the frenzy resulting in millions of dollars being spent on shiny big-ticket items. 

The difference is few bargains are found on the first day of free agency. Teams pay top dollar for top talent—and that is relative to what's available on the market. 

A total of 120 unrestricted free agents were signed to new deals worth more than $450 million in total on July 1. That left the shelves pretty bare.

Among the best of the rest are wingers Jiri Hudler, P.A. Parenteau, Brandon Pirri, Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata and defensemen Kris Russell, Justin Schultz and James Wisniewski. Thrilling, we know. 

With most of the fun sucked out of this year's crop of free agents, we're looking ahead to 2017. Some big names such as Victor Hedberg have already been taken off the list because of extensions, but there remain some solid players entering the final year of their deals—including one of the league's best.

That kind of thing leads to the pressures of a contract year or rampant trade speculation, and top names could hit the market a year from now.

Many of them will be signed to long-term extensions before or during the season. Some will be trade bait. Others will no doubt play out their final years and sort out their futures following the season. 

With that in mind, here is a look at the best pending UFAs for next summer.

Honorable Mentions

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Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks: He'll make significantly less than his annual average of more than $6.5 million, but the 36-year-old Patrick Marleau did put up 25 goals this year. The Sharks made the Stanley Cup Final this year, which may motivate him to stick around.

Martin Hanzal, Arizona Coyotes: Martin Hanzal flies a bit under the radar but is a big 6'6" center with playmaking ability and a strong two-way game. Durability is an issue, but even in his shortened seasons, he's good for double-digit goals and 40 points. He could be midseason trade bait and will almost certainly be a bargain for someone next July.

Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers: Age-defying superstar Jaromir Jagr seems to have found his forever home in Florida and will likely either retire or re-sign a short-term deal with the Panthers after next season. The 44-year-old winger had 27 goals and 66 points in 79 games this year. 

Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche: Jarome Iginla may retire as he turns 40 on July 1 next year, but his numbers suggest he has more to contribute if he chooses to return. He is one of the most physically fit players in the league and scored 22 goals and 47 points for the Colorado Avalanche this year. He's never won a Stanley Cup, so that may be the motivating factor for another season or two. 

Justin Williams, Washington Capitals: Williams cracked the 20-goal mark again in his first year with the Washington Capitals and had seven points in a dozen playoff games. The 34-year-old is a great possession player who had a plus-15 rating to go with his 50 points. With a lot of younger players looking at big raises, though, Williams may be the odd man out in Washington. The team could be forced to decide between him and T.J. Oshie.

10. Patrick Sharp, Dallas Stars

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The Skinny

Patrick Sharp's 70-point seasons are a thing of the past, but the Dallas Stars sharpshooter is still capable of putting up strong secondary scoring numbers and was a key part of his new team's run to the second round of the playoffs this season, one season removed from missing out on the postseason altogether. 

Sharp is a winner. He was part of three Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and won gold with Team Canada in the 2014 Winter Olympics. He has scored 30 goals in the NHL four times and is just two seasons removed from a 78-point campaign.

His numbers have dipped the past two years, but he could still be counted on for 20 goals and 50 points. And that, combined with his winning pedigree, will make him an attractive name on the open market.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Stars are locked into an expensive goalie tandem for the next two seasons, and with captain Jamie Benn looking at a massive raise, it might be difficult for the team to fit Sharp into the salary-cap structure. 

It's likely the Stars re-evaluate their situation after the season and once Benn is locked up long term. Sharp would probably have to take less money to stay with Dallas than he might get elsewhere, but it could be worth it if the team is going to provide him with a chance at a fourth championship.

9. Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues

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The Skinny

The biggest knock on Alexander Steen is the number of games he's been able to play. The 32-year-old St. Louis Blues veteran hasn't played a full 82-games schedule since he was a sophomore with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2006-07.

He recently had shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out of action until October and will force him to miss the World Cup of Hockey in the fall.

When he's healthy, however, he's a very talented goal-scorer. Steen has grown into the role of sniper over the past three seasons, putting up 74 goals in his last 209 regular-season games. He's a reliable 20-goal scorer capable of 60-plus points a year.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Blues lost both captain David Backes and Troy Brouwer in free agency on Friday, according to the NHL Free Agent Tracker, so Steen's chances of being wanted in St. Louis for his leadership and scoring ability have increased.

It may be in his best interest to see how the Blues do this year without committing his future there, then see what kind of interest he gets from other contenders before making a decision on what may be his last chance to get another deal in the $6 million range with the team of his choosing. 

If the Blues offer him the captaincy this year and he accepts, however, it would be hard to imagine him leaving.

8. T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals

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The Skinny

T.J. Oshie had a career-high 26 goals in his first year with the Washington Capitals this year and was one of the team's best players in the postseason, with six goals and 10 points in 12 games. He's a dynamic offensive talent with slick skating and puck-handling abilities and has put up 50 or more points in his last four full seasons.

Oshie has been in the negative for plus/minus just twice in his eight seasons in the NHL and is a combined plus-52 the past three years. He's a responsible two-way player who can help with a team's possession numbers. 

His shootout skills are an added bonus in the regular season given how critical those extra points are in the standings. He would be an attractive addition for any playoff contender looking to add to the top-six forward group.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

He will be 30 if he hits the open market next summer. Even if the Capitals offer an extension that gives Oshie a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup every year, he may want to explore all his options in free agency knowing it could be his last chance to cash in. 

Oshie is heading into the last season of a five-year deal that carries a cap hit of $4.175 million and pays him $4.5 million in actual salary for 2016-17.

7. Brian Elliott, Calgary Flames

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The Skinny

Brian Elliott is one of the best bargains in the game. He's entering the final season of a three-year deal signed with the St. Louis Blues that carries a paltry salary-cap hit of $2.5 million. 

The Calgary Flames were in need of a complete goaltending revamp after their netminders collectively put up the worst numbers in the league this season (257 goals against), and they settled on Elliott. Swinging a deal at the draft, the Flames gave up a second-round pick and conditional third for Elliott's services. 

They are getting one of the best goalies in the league. Elliott had an NHL-best .930 save percentage this season and was one of the biggest reasons the Blues ended years of playoff disappointment while battling their way into the Western Conference Final.

The late bloomer will be 32 next summer but still hasn't started more than 50 games in a single season, so he's got plenty of good hockey left in him. 

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Flames may take a wait-and-see approach over the first few months of the season knowing signing him will mean giving up another draft pick. But if Elliott plays well and they are competing for a playoff spot, it would be a small price to pay. 

Chances are pretty good Elliott will get an extension with the Flames. The only hangup might be his asking price given his age and new-found status as a clear No. 1. Calgary, though, should be able to afford him with some cumbersome defensive contracts coming off the books next year. 

6. Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues

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The Skinny

Kevin Shattenkirk slides into what would have been Victor Hedman's spot as the second-most coveted defender. 

Shattenkirk had 14 goals and 44 points in 72 games this season, with injuries keeping him out of 10 contests and spoiling his shot at his first 50-point campaign. He netted the same total points in just 56 games the previous season, so health is all that has kept him from the absolute elite tier in the past couple of years.

As it is, he has hit the 40-point mark in all five of his non-lockout seasons in the NHL. The 27-year-old former Colorado Avalanche first-rounder is part of a deep St. Louis Blues blue line and has been rumoured to be on the trade market for months because of his free-agent status. Suitors that may find the asking price to be too high at the moment would be lining up to take a crack at him for nothing but dollars next July. 

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

Shattenkirk's best chance to be taken off this list before next summer is to be traded between now and then. But even then, it's likely he will hit the open market in order to give himself options. It's always preferable to pick your team and your terms.

If we are putting odds on it, he is about 99 percent certain to hit free agency. The slim margin the other way assumes he gets traded to his dream team and is offered a glorious extension between now and then.

After losing captain David Backes and winger Troy Brouwer on July 1, there is a chance Blues GM Doug Armstrong will hang onto his power-play quarterback for the next season and try to sign him rather than risk losing him if they can't come to an agreement. He said as much on Friday in conversation with reporters.

5. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

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The Skinny

The little pest that could flirted with 40 goals this season—finishing three shy while setting a new personal best in the category. He totalled 60-plus points for the first time in his six-year career and scored more than 20 goals for the fifth time.

Brad Marchand is exactly the kind of guy teams covet when looking to pick up a rental at the trade deadline, so the Bruins could look to move him over the coming months. He's signed at a $4.5 million cap hit, but the next deal should cross the $5 million AAV threshold. Former Boston teammate Milan Lucic just signed with the Edmonton Oilers for $6 million a season for the next seven years, and Marchand has scored more regularly the past six campaigns.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Bruins have missed the playoffs the past two years, but if they're looking like a wild-card squad or better, they won't be looking to deal Marchand. 

He also has a limited no-trade clause, so he would have some say in where he goes (if he were to leave), which could mean a trade and quick signing if he likes the outcome. That would keep him off the market. 

No doubt Marchand will be subject to trade rumours all the way to the deadline if the Bruins don't lock him up in the coming months. As with Loui Eriksson, the Bruins won't be afraid to let him walk for nothing if they are competitive and unable to re-sign him.

The addition of David Backes in free agency on Friday made it a little more likely. 

4. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

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The skinny

Jumbo Joe Thornton will be 38 a year from now, but if he plays anywhere near the way he did this season with the San Jose Sharks, it's unlikely the team will let him reach the free-agent market. Thornton enjoyed his best year since 2010, with 19 goals and 63 assists for 82 points in 82 games. 

The easygoing former team captain may have had the "C" stripped from his jersey, but he is part of a great team that is coming off a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, so it is difficult to imagine him wanting to part ways unless there is a big regression this season. 

There may not be a better passer among this generation of hockey players. He's amassed 964 helpers in 1,367 regular-season contests.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Sharks could finally let one of their veterans go, either via trade before the next deadline or as a free agent next summer. Chances are, though, the Sharks would separate themselves from Patrick Marleau before Thornton given the latter's impressive offensive production in his late 30s. 

Thornton might be able to find a little more money and a longer-term deal elsewhere, but his unruly beard would look odd if it weren't for a matching one from Brent Burns.

3. Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning

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The Skinny

Ben Bishop is fresh off a second-place finish in the Vezina Trophy voting this season and was a finalist last season as well. He piled up 35 wins in 2015-16 while leading the NHL with a 2.06 goals-against average and finishing second among those with at least 25 starts with a .926 save percentage in the regular season.

He's been the Tampa Bay Lightning's MVP for the last couple of years, and as good as backup Andrei Vasilevskiy appears to be as the goalie in waiting, it's hard to imagine the Lightning without Bishop standing tall between the pipes.

Bishop will be 30 when his deal expires next July and given his late rise to starter status, he could have plenty of good hockey left in him. His $5.95 million-a-year salary is going to get a bump—and so is the two-year term.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

The Lightning have important contracts to deal with next summer, with center Tyler Johnson and winger Ondrej Palat both due big raises as restricted free agents. This summer, they're working with RFA Nikita Kucherov, who has been one of the league's premier playoff performers the past two seasons. 

Unfortunately for Bishop, there likely won't be room for him when everyone else has signed. And with the expansion draft coming up, Yzerman will only be able to protect one goalie. Parting ways with Bishop makes the most sense financially, and there has already been some talk about that happening.

If he does get dealt and waives his no-move clause, it would boost his chances of getting a contract with a new club before free agency opens.

2. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

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The Skinny

Brent Burns would have been a little lower on this list as recently as a year ago but has established himself as one of the best defensemen in the NHL—a title he will cash in on when his five-year contract comes to an end next summer. While this one pays him an average of $5.76 million annually, the next one will likely be closer to double digits at the top end.

Used as a forward at times during his career in the league, Burns had his best offensive season as a full-time defenseman in 2015-16, putting up career highs in goals (27), assists (48) and points (75). He finished second among all blueliners in scoring and finished as a finalist for the Norris Trophy.

Arguably the San Jose Sharks' most valuable player in the postseason, Burns is going to be 32 when he signs his next deal, and it could be his last in the league. Making it to the Cup Final this year bodes well for the Sharks' chances of bringing him back, but they better make the effort sooner rather than later.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

Doug Wilson will have important decisions to make with both Joe Thornton and Burns entering the final years of their deals. After the playoff run ended, the Sharks GM told reporters about having conversations with Burns this summer.

It's hard to imagine the team parting ways with either Burns or Thornton, but if there is only room for one, we're betting they lock up the former.

1. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

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The Skinny

Jamie Benn won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's scoring leader in 2014-15 and followed up with an even better campaign this year. He set new personal highs with 41 goals and 89 points and was a runner-up in the Hart Trophy voting this season behind winner Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby.

Benn has been one of the biggest draft steals in NHL history. It's hard to believe the Dallas Stars captain was scooped up in the fifth round in 2007, 129th overall. Since then, he's grown every year, scoring at least 20 goals in every full NHL season and eclipsing 30 the last three. He also won Olympic gold with Team Canada after forcing his way onto the team in 2014.

He's on a sweetheart of a deal at the moment, with one year remaining on a five-year contract that pays an average of $5.25 million a season. Benn has earned every penny, notching 122 goals, 166 assists and 288 points in 286 games through the first four years of it.

Chances He Reaches Free Agency

If there was excitement over the idea that Steven Stamkos could've hit free agency on Friday, just imagine what would happen if Benn's next deal took as long to materialize?

Don't expect that to happen. Benn told reporters after the season he plans to stick around, and general manager Jim Nill has seen what Steve Yzerman had to endure in Tampa Bay. Expect both parties to be motivated to get pen to paper this summer on what will surely be one of the league's most lucrative contracts.

Stats per NHL.com, and contracts courtesy of General Fanager.