NHL Free Agents 2016: Best Fit for Top Remaining Players

Don't delay—when they're gone, they're gone!

General managers around the NHL acted quickly and decisively when the 2016 free-agency period opened on July 1, committing a record $616.2 million in salaries to 129 players on the first day alone according to Sportsnet Stats.

Action tapered off quickly through the long weekend, but some interesting names still linger on the list of unrestricted free agents who are looking for new homes.

Here's where some of the best players still available could land once all the dust has settled.

Jiri Hudler: Boston Bruins

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Age: 32 Position: RW

2015-16 Stats: 72 GP with CGY and FLA, 16-30-46, minus-1

Previous Contract: 4 years, cap hit $4 million

Best Fit: Boston Bruins

The Bruins have a need for a scoring winger after Loui Eriksson took his 30 goals with him to Vancouver as an unrestricted free agent. Hudler's an efficient scorer whose market value appears to have taken a hit because he couldn't sustain the 31-goal, 76-point pace he managed with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15.

While in Calgary, Hudler proved to be an excellent mentor for youngsters Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. He could play a similar role for his Czech countryman David Pastrnak in Boston.

Radim Vrbata: Anaheim Ducks

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Age: 35 Position: RW

2015-16 Stats: 63 GP with VAN, 13-14-27, minus-30

Previous Contract: 2 years, cap hit $5 million

Best Fit: Anaheim Ducks

Vrbata fits a very similar mold to Hudler—a sharp-shooting Czech right wing who's one year removed from a 31-goal season. In Vrbata's case, he led the Vancouver Canucks in goals and posted 63 points in 2014-15 after he joined the team as a free agent.

Injuries and bad luck derailed Vrbata's second season in Vancouver, where his year-over-year shooting percentage dropped from 11.6 to 6.5 percent. 

Vrbata has played for six different teams in his NHL career and had most of his success in the Western Conference. He'd be a nice offensive upgrade at a reasonable price for the Ducks, who lost unrestricted free agent Chris Stewart at right wing on July 1.

Shane Doan: Arizona Coyotes

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Age: 39 Position: RW

2015-16 Stats: 72 GP with ARI, 28-19-47, plus-4

Previous Contract: 4 years, cap hit $5.3 million

Best Fit: Arizona Coyotes

The original Winnipeg Jets drafted Shane Doan seventh overall in 1995. Twenty-one years later, the NHL's longest-serving team captain has no intention of leaving the franchise where he has played his entire career—the Jets located to Arizona following Doan's rookie season in 1995-96.

"I’m not sure if it was just being curious or being gracious or people doing their due diligence, but I did appreciate it," Doan told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports about the news that 12 teams had contacted his agent and three had made offers—impressive for a player who will turn 40 before the puck drops for the 2016-17 season. "At the same time, I don’t want to play anywhere else. I had that opportunity before and I passed on it. I’m not going anywhere."

For the moment, Doan's agent and new Coyotes general manager John Chayka aren't seeing eye-to-eye on the market for a player like Doan. Expect those differences to be hammered out long before the candles are lit on Doan's 40th birthday cake on Oct. 10.

Brandon Pirri: New Jersey Devils

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Age: 25 Position: C

2015-16 Stats: 61 GP with FLA and ANA, 14-15-29, minus-4

Previous Contract: 2 years, cap hit $925,000

Best Fit: New Jersey Devils

After being brought along slowly by the Chicago Blackhawks organization after he was drafted, Brandon Pirri showed he had the makings of a scoring star when he exploded for 22 goals in 49 games with the Florida Panthers in 2014-15.

But Pirri got passed by Vincent Trocheck on the Panthers' depth chart and was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline. Between an ankle injury when he was traded and an April upper-body injury, Pirri played just nine games as a Duck and didn't suit up in the playoffs. He's now a free agent because the budget-conscious Ducks, who are loaded with up-and-coming talent, declined to give him a qualifying offer.

If Pirri's health isn't an issue, he'd be a perfect reclamation project for the New Jersey Devils. General manager Ray Shero has shown a knack for maximizing the value of his free-agent dollars, and Pirri could be a nice sleeper acquisition.

Jimmy Vesey: Boston Bruins

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Age: 23 Position: LW

2015-16 Stats: 33 GP with Harvard, 24-22-46, plus-11

Previous Contract: none

Best Fit: Boston Bruins

The winner of the 2016 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA hockey, New England native Jimmy Vesey will become an unrestricted free agent on August 15 after choosing not to sign with the Nashville Predators, who drafted him 66th overall in 2012.

Vesey has been a college scoring star for the last four years at Harvard, and is exercising his right to choose his NHL destination. On June 20, the Buffalo Sabres flipped a third-round pick of their own to Nashville in order to get an exclusive window of opportunity to negotiate with Vesey. Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe points out that one of Vesey's offseason training partners is the Sabres' promising young center, Jack Eichel.

After speaking with Buffalo, Vesey has reiterated that he's taking his time in choosing his final destination. "I’m still going to go to free agency," he told Dupont, "and explore all my options."

By signing free-agent center David Backes, the Bruins look like they'll be working to emulate the Pittsburgh Penguins and deploy three scoring forward lines next season. That should set up Vesey for plenty of the quality ice time he's craving.

Kris Russell: Toronto Maple Leafs

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Age: 29 Position: D

2015-16 Stats: 62 GP with CGY and DAL, 4-15-19, minus-5

Previous Contract: 2 years, cap hit $2.6 million

Best Fit: Toronto Maple Leafs

Kris Russell's agent, Allain Roy, has spent a good chunk of his time since July 1 shooting down rumors about contract offers that his client has supposedly spurned. On Sunday, he specifically denied stories about a rumored four-year, $17 million deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs for his shot-blocking abilities, which means the door could still be open for Russell to be signed.

Dallas didn't prove to be a long-term fit after Russell was acquired at the trade deadline, but plenty of teams still need help on the back end, including undermanned Toronto. Russell could be of help to new goaltender Frederik Andersen if the Leafs hope to climb out of the NHL basement in 2016-17.

Justin Schultz: Columbus Blue Jackets

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Age: 25 Position: D

2015-16 Stats: 63 GP with EDM and PIT, 4-14-18, minus-15

Previous Contract: 1 year, cap hit $3.9 million

Best Fit: Columbus Blue Jackets

Justin Schultz just won a Stanley Cup, but the market for his services is nowhere near as hot as it was when he first elected to test free agency after three years of college, during the summer of 2012.

At that time, the Edmonton Oilers were the winning bidder, but Schultz's defensive challenges offset his scoring abilities, and he was never able to settle into a comfortable role.

After being moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, Schultz was a healthy scratch for nine of his team's first 12 playoff games. But Schultz was re-inserted into the Penguins lineup in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He subsequently went the rest of the way, finishing the playoffs as a plus-one with four assists in 15 games.

The Blue Jackets have top prospect Zach Werenski ready to join their blue line next season, but could use one more experienced body. Schultz won't match the $3.9 million he made last season on his next deal, but could still realize his potential if he catches on in the right situation.

Jhonas Enroth: San Jose Sharks

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Age: 28 Position: G

2015-16 Stats: 16 GP with LAK, 7-5-1, 2.17 GAA, .922 save percentage, 2 shutouts

Previous Contract: 1 year, cap hit $1.25 million

Best Fit: San Jose Sharks

Given how well Martin Jones turned out for the San Jose Sharks in the 2016 playoffs, the team could do worse than to steal away the Los Angeles Kings' backup goalie for a second-straight summer.

Jones has now shown that he has no problem handling a starter's workload, so the Sharks should be fine with an inexpensive career backup. Without many choices left on the UFA market, Jhonas Enroth is the best option. The Swede will bring a lifetime .911 save percentage over 147 NHL games to his new team, as well as career-best single-season numbers from working behind the Kings' solid team defense in 2015-16.

At just 5'10", Enroth's much smaller than most of today's top goalies, but his positioning is effective and he sees the puck well. He'd be solid support for Jones as the Sharks look to continue their dominance over their Pacific Division rivals in 2016-17.

All stats from NHL.com. Salary information from General Fanager.