Following an exciting opening weekend of NHL free agency, many notable players are still looking for their next contract.
When NHL free agency opened on July 1, there was a flurry of free agent signings all across the league. Most of the notable unrestricted free agents found homes quickly. However, there are many who remain unsigned.
While free agency won't be as chaotic the rest of the offseason as it was the first day, there are still plenty of signings ahead. The remaining UFAs will continue to work out deals this summer.
Here are five notable free agents who are still available this offseason.
Notable NHL free agents still available No. 5: Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews' time in Chicago came to a close at the end of the 2022-23 season. Drafted in 2006, Toews was the captain of the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2023. He won the Stanley Cup three times with the organization. His eight-year $84 million contract ended at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
Toews is a two-way player known as an excellent skater who creates opportunities. Unfortunately, he has struggled the past few years with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome as well as symptoms from long COVID. He missed the entire 2020-21 season.
Toews also missed time during the 2022-23 season and just hasn't been the same since his health struggles began. In the 2022-23 season, Toews put up 31 points in 53 games, scoring 15 goals. At the end of the regular season, the Blackhawks announced they would not re-sign him, sending Toews into unrestricted free agency.
It would not be surprising if the 35-year-old center decided to hang it up this offseason. If he chooses to continue his NHL career and lands a contract, it will be with a different team than the only one he's ever known. Toews' veteran presence could mean a lot to a young team. If he does plan to continue, he could be a late offseason pick-up once teams have a good idea of what holes they have left to fill.
Notable NHL free agents still available No. 4: Patrick Kane
It isn't surprising that Patrick Kane is still on the market. If it wasn't for his injury, he probably would be locked up for next season by now. But his hip surgery makes things complicated. He's likely to end up as the last notable free agent left unsigned. It's possible he won't re-sign until the fall. His agent, Pat Brisson, revealed that Kane would be weighing his options towards October.
Kane's impact is probably going to be in the second half of the season since he won't be at full strength in the first half. The three-time Stanley Cup champion is expected to sign with a contender, a team that is playing meaningful games towards the end of the regular season before heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
During the 2022-23 season, Kane was traded to the New York Rangers by his long-time team the Chicago Blackhawks. The 34-year-old tallied 57 points during the regular season, far below his usual production. He'll look to bounce back next season once he returns to the ice.
There's a chance the winger returns to the Rangers next season, but his agent hasn't spoken with the organization about it yet. It's more likely he lands somewhere else, but we probably won't know where that will be for a while.
Notable NHL free agents still available No. 3: Matt Dumba
Defenseman Matt Dumba has yet to sign with a new team, but the summer is young. He's coming off of a five-year, $30 million contract with the Minnesota Wild. Dumba will be 29 next season.
The Wild drafted Matt Dumba in 2012, and he'd been with them ever since, as a huge piece of their core. Now, Dumba is a free agent in search of a new home. As much as the Wild would like to keep him, they just financially aren't able to.
Dumba is known for his physicality and mobility. In 2022-23, Dumba had less offensive production and took way more penalty minutes than he usually does. Despite this, he remains a solid force in the defensive zone. During the regular season, he made 104 hits and blocked 116 shots. He was serviceable in the playoffs, continuing to contribute on defense.
Although he had a down year, Dumba should still get a quality deal. He could command a long-term contract, although we've already seen some big free agents take shorter deals, likely due to the anticipated salary cap increase. This heavy hitter goes all out with his body and heart. He'll be a good pick-up for a team looking to add to their blue line.
Notable NHL free agents still available No. 2: Vladimir Tarasenko
Winger Vladimir Tarasenko just finished an eight-year, $60 million contract. He signed the contract with the St. Louis Blues in 2015 and finished the final year of it with the New York Rangers after being traded during the 2022-23 season. Tarasenko had conversations with the Ottawa Senators over the opening weekend of free agency.
Tarasenko is an elite scorer with great speed. Tarasenko tallied 50 points during the 2022-23 regular season. He continued to generate chances but struggled to find chemistry with a line in New York. He was decent during the Rangers' brief playoff appearance, scoring three goals in the first-round series.
The 31-year-old is still on the market after the first weekend of free agency. While the door isn't completely shut on continuing with the Rangers, it is unlikely Taraseko returns due to the cap situation. He will probably be elsewhere come the 2023-24 season.
Tarasenko isn't likely to get a long-term deal, but he will be a solid addition to his next team, likely on a one or two-year deal. His next contract will come down to who can afford him or if he's willing to take a discount to join a contending team. It's possible he takes a one-year deal and then test the waters again next year in hopes of taking advantage of the anticipated salary cap increase.
Notable NHL free agents still available No. 1: Tomas Tatar
Veteran winger Tomas Tatar is currently still on the market. He's coming off a two-year contract worth $9 million with the New Jersey Devils. Prior to his time in New Jersey, Tatar played in Detroit, Vegas, and Montreal.
Tatar's value comes from his speed, his play-making, and his ability to play on both wings. After a poor showing in 2021-2022, Tatar had a bounce-back season in 2022-23 and was very valuable to the Devils. The 32-year-old posted 48 points during the regular season. Tatar had a career-high 41 +/-, which isn't surprising considering the great season the Devils had.
Although Tatar was a visible force in the offensive zone for most of the season, he was invisible in the playoffs. His poor showing in the playoffs was nothing new and certainly something to consider. Despite this, Tatar is still one of the more notable forwards left on the market.
The Devils strengthened their group of forwards this offseason by trading for Tyler Toffoli. They are loaded with talent and don't really need Tatar, so they might not want to use their remaining cap space on him. If he does stick around, it would have to be for a discount, and he'd have a smaller role next season. Should a deal with the Devils not be in the cards, Tatar is a worthy veteran option that another team will find valuable.
As free agency continues throughout the offseason, the remaining notable UFAs will find their next contracts.
