Following a wild opening day of free agency on Monday that saw more than $1 billion spent on contracts, the list of available players has dwindled significantly.
Only six players remain from TSN Hockey’s Top 50 UFA list with Vladimir Tarasenko being the top ranked player at No. 24.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best players remaining in free agency.
Vladimir Tarasenko (RW)
Veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko is looking for a new contract after winning the second Stanley Cup of his career last month as a member of the Florida Panthers.
He also won a Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
The 32-year-old Russian totaled 23 goals and 32 assists over 76 games split between the Ottawa Senators and Panthers in 2023-24. Tarasenko added five goals and four assists over 22 playoff games during Florida’s memorable run.
Tarasenko is coming off an eight-year contract that paid him $7.5 million per season.
After being selected 16th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, Tarasenko has recorded 293 goals and 336 assists over 751 career games with the Blues, New York Rangers, Senators and Panthers.
Ryan Suter (D)
Veteran American defenceman Ryan Suter is looking for a new home to finish his NHL career after being bought out for the second time.
After three seasons with the Dallas Stars, Suter was bought out last week following their run to the Western Conference Final with one year remaining on his four-year, $14.6 million contract. The Minnesota Wild also bought out the last four years of his contract in 2021.
The 39-year-old blueliner had two goals and 15 assists over 82 games this past season, adding four points in 19 games during the postseason.
Suter has 105 goals and 576 assists over 1,444 career games with the Nashville Predators, Wild and Stars.
Tyler Johnson (C)
Two-time Stanley Cup-winner Tyler Johnson remains a free agent after going unsigned on Canada Day.
The 33-year-old tallied 17 goals and 14 assists over 67 games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24, his third year with the franchise and 12th in the NHL.
Johnson, who is coming off a seven-year, $35 million contract, has 193 goals and 238 assists over 738 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Blackhawks.
Johnson won Stanley Cups in his final two seasons with the Bolts in 2020 and 2021.
James van Riemsdyk (LW)
Veteran winger James Van Riemsdyk is coming off a one-year, $1 million contract with the Boston Bruins in 2023-24 when he scored 11 goals and 27 assists across 71 games.
He added one goal and four assists over 11 playoff games.
The 35-year-old American, who was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007, has 311 goals and 318 assists over 1,011 career games with the Flyers (two separate stints), Toronto Maple Leafs and Bruins.
Daniel Sprong (RW)
Daniel Sprong remains a free agent after coming off a one-year, $2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
The 27-year-old winger recorded more than 40 points for the second straight season in 2023-24, netting 18 goals and 25 assists.
A second-round pick in 2015, Sprong has 85 goals and 74 assists over 344 career games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Season Kraken and Red Wings.
Jack Roslovic (C)
Jack Roslovic scored nine goals and 22 assists over 59 games split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers in 2023-24.
After playing over three seasons in Columbus, the 27-year-old forward was traded to the Rangers ahead of the deadline, adding two goals and six assists over 16 playoff games during New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Final.
Roslovic was selected 25th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2015 and has recorded 80 goals with 141 assists over 445 career games with the Jets, Jackets and Rangers.
Roslovic is coming off a two-year, $8 million contract.
Kevin Lankinen (G)
Kevin Lankinen is arguably the best goalie remaining on the free agent market after recording a 2.82 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage over 24 games in a backup role with the Nashville Predators.
The 29-year-old native of Finland is coming off a one-year, $2 million deal.
Antti Raanta (G)
Antti Raanta, 35, has been a reliable backup for most of his 11-year NHL career, recently posting a 2.99 goals against average and a .872 save percentage over 24 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023-24.
The native of Finland is coming off a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Raanta has also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes, appearing in a career-high 47 games with the Coyotes in 2017-18.
Justin Schultz (D)
Another two-time Stanley Cup champion, defenceman Justin Schultz is still without a contract as of July 2.
The 33-year-old native of Kelowna, B.C., who has an impressive 81 games of playoff experience, has spent the last two campaigns with the Seattle Kraken, recording seven goals and 19 assists over 70 games in 2023-24.
Schultz won league titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and is coming off a two-year, $6 million contract.
Selected in the second-round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, Schultz has recorded 71 goals and 253 assists over 745 career games with the Edmonton Oilers, Penguins, Washington Capitals and Kraken.
John Klingberg (D)
Will anybody take a chance on John Klingberg?
The 31-year-old Swedish defenceman had a disastrous one season in Toronto after the the Maple Leafs signed him to a one-year, $4.15 million contract last summer.
Klingberg played poorly over 14 games, recording just five assists, before missing the remainder of the season following hip surgery in early December.
Klingberg has done a solid job of providing offence from the blueline in the past, highlighted by recording 40 points or better in five straight seasons to begin his career with the Dallas Stars in 2014.
The right-shot defenceman has recorded 81 goals and 331 assists over 633 career games with the Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Maple Leafs.
Nate Schmidt (D)
Nate Schmidt was placed on buyout waivers over the weekend after a three-year run with the Winnipeg Jets. He had one season remaining on his six-year, $35.7 million contract when he was bought out.
The 32-year-old American defenceman had two goals and 12 assists over 63 games in 2023-24.
