Rank: Top 10 Free Agents 2017

The NHL free agent signing window officially opens at noon on July 1st. Each season there is laundry list of great players prepared to put on a new jersey. 2017 will be no different. With the added wrinkle of a brand new franchise, this is sure to be a wild July.

Our latest edition of Rank counts down the top ten free agents going into July 1st. These are each unrestricted free agents. So they can sign with any team without restrictions or compensation given to their former team.

10. Jaromir Jagr

Yes, that is correct. At 45 years old, Jagr is still one of the most sought after players in the league. Age does not diminish being 6'3" 230 lbs, it only adds experience. Even as old as he is, Jagr still played a full 82 game season this year. His numbers do not jump off the page, 16 goals and 46 points, but he could help almost any team's powerplay. The price is not bad for the first ballot hall of fame winger, a simple cap hit of $4 million last season.

9. Brian Boyle

Boyle has been a solid player in the NHL for a long time. However, last season in Toronto truly showed what a valuable player he can be. He was the leader of a very young team that over achieved. His numbers were not flashy, 13 goals and 25 points, but that is not where he makes his money. Boyle is a monster on skates, 6'6" 244 lbs. His job is to intimidate the other teams high skilled centers and kill penalties. After only making $2 million last season, expect him to cash in this year.



8. Joe Thornton

So far this list has a theme, very large veteran players. Jumbo Joe certainly adds to that theme. There was a time when Thornton was arguably the best player in the NHL. That time has passed. He managed only 7 goals in 79 games last season. He is still an attractive option for a team needing a veteran center at the right price. Last season he was paid $6.75 million, expect him to take a significant pay cut wherever he lands.

7. Nick Bonino

A couple years ago most casual hockey fans could not pick Bonino out of a line up. Now he is a two time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most valuable third line centers in the league. He put up very respectable numbers in 2016-17, 18 goals and 37 points. More importantly he can play in virtually any situation. He is a great penalty killer, good enough to play on the second powerplay unit and could be a second line center. If there is a Stanley Cup contender with around $4 million in cap space, expect them to be in the hunt for Nick Bonino.

6. Martin Hanzal

As often happens, Hanzal went from being one of the most sought after targets of the trade deadline to a major target in free agency. He is coming off a very team friendly contract that locked him for 5 years at $3.1 million per year. After scoring 20 goals last season, I expect Hanzal to be aggressively pursued by teams looking for goal scoring from the middle of the ice, particularly Montreal.

5. Patrick Marleau

Another veteran center, Marleau fits beautifully into the mold of this free agent class. Although he is 37 years old, Marleau proved last season that he has a lot more left in the tank. He is coming off a season where he scored 27 goals, the most of any player on this list. The big question mark is what type of contract is he looking for? Is he looking for another big money contract to ride off into the sunset or is he willing to take a pay cut and compete for a Stanley Cup? There will be a line of teams waiting to talk to him if the latter is the case.

4. Karl Alzner

Alzner and his agent schemed perfectly for this off-season. 4 years ago he signed a relatively small contract that would take him just out of the reach of restricted free agency. Now it is time for Alzner to cash in on his patience. After being grossly underpaid for the last four years, $2.8 million per season, expect Alzner to receive offers around $6 million per season. He offers a ton of size and playoff experience. He is also skilled enough to be a top two defensemen on many teams.

3. Justin Williams

At 35 years old, Williams does not have much left in the tank. However, he has two things going for him. First, he can be had at a very reasonable price because he wants to play for a Stanley Cup contender. Second, he is a proven winner and playoff performer. Until this past season he had never lost in a game seven. Furthermore he scored 24 goals and 48 points last year. He will be targeting a contract in the $3-$4 million range.

2. Alex Radulov

Easily the most high skilled player on this list. Radulov has a lot to offer and will be highly pursued. He is maybe the only player in free agency that can be a first line wing for a team in need. He managed 18 goals and 54 points for Montreal last season. However, he certainly has a higher ceiling than that. At only 30 years old he could sign a lucrative long term deal this summer. Radulov may be a gamble, but he is a gamble many teams see as worth taking.

1. Kevin Shattenkirk

Very much like Martin Hanzal, Shattenkirk has gone from being the most coveted trade deadline target to the biggest free agent. He scored 13 goals in 80 games last season, very respectable for a blue liner. Shattenkirk gives a team the much needed powerplay quarterback. He is a highly skilled offensive defensemen that immediately makes your team a constant threat to score. He is not one of the league's elite defensemen. However, if a team wishes they had Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang, then Shattenkirk is a great alternative. I expect him to be in the neighborhood of $7 million per season.