NHL Free Agency 2016: Rumors, Predictions for Andrew Ladd, Eric Staal

The NHL experienced one of its wildest offseason days ever on Wednesday, with some major deals confirmed.

Within a matter of hours, the Edmonton Oilers sent Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson, the Nashville Predators acquired P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens for Shea Weber and Steven Stamkos re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

This all happened before the start of free agency, which kicks off on Friday. While it might not be as entertaining with the biggest name already gone thanks to Stamkos' new deal, there are still some big names who could be on the move this summer. 

Here is the latest on a couple of them and a prediction on where they'll land. 

Andrew Ladd

You won't find a more consistent winger than Andrew Ladd. In five of the past six seasons, the 11-year veteran has scored between 23 and 29 goals. The only season in which he didn't hit the 20-goal plateau was the strike-shortened 2012-13 campaign. And even then he put up 18 goals. 

He's a two-time Stanley Cup winner—with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and Chicago Blackhawks in 2010—but made his largest impact when he went to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010, the Georgia-based team becoming the Winnipeg Jets the following year.

Ladd rose up the ranks to become to the team's captain, scoring 139 goals in six seasons before being dealt back to the Blackhawks at the trade deadline in February.

While he isn't regarded as highly as premier wingers in the league, he is getting plenty of looks as a free agent. According to TSN's Darren Dreger on Wednesday, the New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are "among the many interested" in Ladd. 

He also noted more suitors would arrive once Stamkos made a decision. And with the Lightning captain re-signing before July 1, Ladd could be one of the first crop of players to move in free agency. 

In light of Stamkos' return to Tampa Bay, it remains to be seen how aggressive the Lightning are in their pursuit of Ladd, as they won't necessarily need to replace the scoring they could have lost. 

The Islanders, though, look like they'll lose Kyle Okposo after general manager Garth Snow wished the first-line winger and unrestricted free agent "nothing but the best" while on SiriusXM's Stellick and Simmer on June 17.

They'll need a replacement who can score 20-plus goals and flank captain John Tavares, or else the Islanders offense could be one of the worst in hockey next season. For a team that spent most of the 2000s wallowing in mediocrity, New York has made the postseason in three of the past four years and can't waste any more of Tavares' talent as a team on the fringe of the playoff conversation. 

If Ladd is the Islanders' target to put next to Tavares on the first line, they can't let him slip away. 

Prediction: Ladd signs a four-year, $25 million deal with the Islanders.

Eric Staal

Longtime Carolina Hurricane Eric Staal is garnering some interest on the free-agency market, even after his nightmare stint with the New York Rangers during the second half of the 2015-16 season. 

The former captain of the Hurricanes spent 12-plus years in the organization and is second in franchise history with 322 goals. But with free agency looming last February, he was dealt to the Rangers, who were in the midst of trying to make another run toward a Stanley Cup. 

In 20 regular-season games in New York, Staal recorded three goals and three assists while looking the like a shell of the player who has scored 20 or more goals nine times. The Pittsburgh Penguins dumped the Rangers out of the postseason in the first round, Staal putting up no points. 

Staal still has confidence in his abilities and some teams do too, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon:

With a shortened deal, though, Staal might also take a huge drop in his paycheck. He is coming off of a seven-year, $57.7 million deal, per Spotrac, and his performance last season won't do much to ensure he gets that same kind of average annual salary.

NHL.com's Tom Gulitti added that a return to the Hurricanes hasn't been completely ruled out but that Staal is "looking at other options." 

While there hasn't been a specific team that's emerged as a front-runner for Staal, an Eastern Conference general manager told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun that Staal will be a solid signing:

"

It'll be a worthwhile investment. Great team guy. He knows the game. He's got to go to a team where he goes to the right spot. He doesn't have to be the top guy, but still one of the guys that's a difference maker. He's not going to put up 100 points anymore but I still think he can help a team.

"

A team that could use some fortification down the center of its middle lines could see Staal as a nice target. 

In terms of fit, he could do well with a team like the Vancouver Canucks, who could be relying on young centers such as Brendan Gaunce and Bo Horvat on their third and fourth lines next season. Staal would not only be able to step in and bring support to the uncertain situation, but he could also mentor the duo through the early portions of their NHL careers.

Prediction: Staal signs a two-year, $11 million deal with the Canucks.