NHL Free Agents 2016: Rumors, Predictions for Frans Nielsen, David Backes

Friday is the day the NHL's free-agency period begins, and there are some skilled, accomplished players who could be heading for new rosters this summer.

As the market opens up, let's take a look at some of the latest rumors surrounding the biggest names available and offer some predictions on where they'll end up.

Frans Nielsen

For as good a solider as Frans Nielsen has been for the New York Islanders over the past 10 seasons, there is uncertainty looming about his future with the team. 

According to Newsday's Arthur Staple on Wednesday, the Islanders "are believed to have made a strong offer" to retain the free-agent forward, but teams such as the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres could provide more attractive deals.

Those were two teams that were believed to be in on the Steven Stamkos sweepstakes, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. But with Stamkos' decision to re-sign with the Lightning, those teams have the money and the need to lure Nielsen away from Brooklyn. 

Nielsen is a skill player who makes his biggest impact on special teams. He's the NHL's all-time leader in shootout goals (42) and has been the Islanders' best two-way, backchecking forward for most of his career.

His value has been heavily discussed, Larry Brooks of the New York Post believing the Islanders offered Nielsen a $5.5 million deal but that the Dane was looking for something in the $6 million-per-season range. Staple quickly refuted those reports, saying "$5.5 million per was not the right number and the sides were closer on a deal."

The Islanders are also facing the departure of first-line forward Kyle Okposo, with a league source telling Staple on June 23 that the winger was "100 percent gone."

In order to keep some semblance of chemistry on a team that's made the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, expect the Islanders to do whatever it takes to re-sign Nielsen.

Prediction: Nielsen signs a four-year, $24 million deal with the Islanders.

David Backes

St. Louis Blues captain David Backes has been an afterthought for much of the build up to free agency. 

The 32-year-old center has scored 20 or more goals in six of the past eight seasons as he's embodied the blue-collar work ethic of the team.

Despite his quiet existence on the market, the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta has heard there is a "considerable amount of interest" in Backes. 

He's already turned down a three-year offer from the Blues worth $5.5 million per season, per Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, with Backes said to be looking for something in the $6 million range.

What could be holding up his deal is the length. Backes could be looking for some security in signing the last big contract of his career, which could put it in the five- or six-year range. However, the Blues and other teams around the league could be wary of a 32-year-old getting that kind of tenure.

If the Blues are able to give him the right kind of money, it's hard to see him turning down a three- or four-year deal in order to go elsewhere.

Prediction: Backes signs a four-year, $26 million deal with the Blues.