NHL Free Agency 2017: Latest Rumors, Predictions for Kevin Shattenkirk and More

Whether it be a shrewd addition on a reasonable deal or a massive contract that flops, NHL free agency will, like it always does, make or break teams in the coming years.

With July 1 nearly upon us, rumors are piling up as notable unrestricted free agents reportedly move closer to deciding where to continue their careers. While these reports are not the final say for each player's destination, they could be indicators of where a player could possibly sign.

With that in mind, let us take a look at some of the latest free-agent buzz and predictions of how it transpires.

Jagr Talking Return

Jaromir Jagr is a hockey treasure, and it appears he will still treat fans to another season.

At 45, Jagr is still an effective NHL forward thanks to the leverage he can create on defenders because of his size and tremendous hands. He can still pass and score, ripping off 16 goals and 46 points last season on a loaded Florida Panthers team that fell drastically short of expectations.

According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, Jagr and the Panthers are in discussions about his return, but there are some discrepancies in the Czech legend's monetary value between the two parties:

Jagr played last season on a one-year deal carrying a $4 million cap hit, but the deal pocketed him $5.15 million after performance bonuses. However, at his advanced age, Jagr was still able to outproduce younger core players like Nick Bjugstad who, at 24, has never topped 43 points in his career and recorded just 14 in 54 games a year ago. Bjugstad has four years left on a deal that carries a $4.1 million cap hit.

After an offseason in which they spent big on free agents like Jason Demers, James Reimer and Keith Yandle while re-upping Aaron Ekblad and Reilly Smith to sizable deals, the Panthers are focusing on shedding salary this summer. The team already gave Smith and his $5 million cap hit to the Vegas Golden Knights, and it is looking to move Demers, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

It makes sense that Florida is not ready to shell out money for Jagr, but if he wants to remain in the Sunshine State, then the Panthers need to make this work. It is likely he is only asking for a one-year deal given his age and that his last six contracts have only been for that length, so there is no risk with term.

Jagr is also still a productive forward playing on a line with rising superstars Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. In 181 games since coming over to Florida during the 2014-15 season, Jagr has 130 points largely playing with those two. In two full seasons with Jagr, Barkov has 111 points in 127 points, while Huberdeau posted 85 points in 107 games.

The three are excellent together, always creating space and finding each other. This play, courtesy of the NHL, is a perfect example of how they tic-tac-toe up the ice to rip up defenses for scoring chances:

Jagr is worth the same deal since it does not damage a Florida salary cap that has over $20 million in space. The Panthers have been an excellent fit for the veteran, which the team should realize in order to keep its top line intact.

Surprise Shattenkirk Contender?

As likely the top free agent to hit the market on July 1, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is certain to have plenty of suitors.

One team, it appears, has entrenched itself as a top contender for the 28-year-old, according to NHL insider Jimmy Murphy of Murphy's Hockey Law:

Murphy also cited the Boston Bruins as a mutual-interest partner for Shattenkirk, but the Bruins would not be the easiest fit, especially with a similar player like Torey Krug already in the fold. NBC Sports' Pierre McGuire even predicted Wednesday on TSN 690 in Montreal that Shattenkirk will end up in Boston, but finding money for him will be tough. The Bruins hold just over $12 million in space, with both David Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner needing new deals.

A team that has missed the playoffs for five straight seasons and finished last in the Eastern Conference last season may not sound intriguing, but the New Jersey Devils make a lot of sense for many reasons, starting with the fact they are a local team for Shattenkirk, who grew up in nearby New Rochelle, New York.

With a lackluster top-four defense group that features Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, John Moore and Damon Severson, the opportunity is there for Shattenkirk to become a clear No. 1 defenseman, which is a role he has never been able to reach in his previous NHL stops. If ice time in all situations is what Shattenkirk wants, he would have plenty of it in New Jersey.

The Devils also have over $24 million in cap space, good for the second-most in hockey. Shattenkirk is clearly going to command a high salary, with Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporting in February that he turned down a seven-year, $42 million sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. New Jersey has plenty of room to serve up an offer even greater than that, which adds to its attractiveness.

Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images

New Jersey is also building something strong. It already has top forwards in Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri along with a goaltender in Cory Schneider. The prospect pool is also starting to impress. The Devils selected dynamic Nico Hischier with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2017 draft, and its two previous first-round picks in Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha look to be future top-six forwards.

By adding an offensive puck-mover like Shattenkirk, New Jersey could have an excellent core to contend for the Eastern Conference in a few seasons.

The hometown New York Rangers may still be the favorites if they choose to pursue Shattenkirk, but do not count out the Devils to land this big fish.

Former No. 1 Pick on the Market

Five years removed from becoming the No. 1 overall pick, Nail Yakupov is trending toward being an all-time bust.

After the Edmonton Oilers traded him to the St. Louis Blues just prior to last season, Yakupov was not extended a qualifying offer from the Blues, making him an unrestricted free agent at just 23. The Russian is a lightning-quick winger with excellent hands, but he just has not been able to put it all together for whatever reason.

He broke through with an impressive rookie season, recording 31 points as an 18-year-old during the 48-game 2012-13 season. Since then, Yakupov has 89 points in 244 outings.

Shortly after officially becoming an unrestricted free agent, Yakupov's agent, Hall of Famer Igor Larionov, went public in telling News 1130's Rick Dhaliwal that the Vancouver Canucks are a favorite option for his client.

However, it seems the interest is not mutual. Despite the discussion window being open for three days, Yakupov's camp reportedly has yet to hear from the Canucks, according to Dhaliwal:

There have not been any other reports linking Yakupov to any specific teams, so his free agency could be one to watch. The Blues were a contender that tried to make him a reclamation project, but Yakupov even failed to stick in that favorable situation.

He may not receive a legitimate offer until after the first wave or two of free agents are gone after Saturday given the lack of rumored interest. But the ability is still there, and some NHL team could get lucky and unleash a wildly talented offensive player. A team like the Chicago Blackhawks may make sense, as they have the least amount of cap space in the league and need to find quality contributors at a discounted rate.

Yakupov could do well alongside strong centers like Artem Anisimov and Jonathan Toews, and the Blackhawks could afford to take him on as a challenge at a low price.

Statistics are courtesy of hockeydb.com. Contract information is courtesy of CapFriendly.