2017 Free Agency Could Be Thin on Elite Talent

[LastWordArmy]

One year away, there doesn't appear to be a lot of elite talent available in 2017 free agency.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/07/05/2017-nhl-free-agent-class-maybe-razor-thin-elite-talent/

Click to read more...

 

[Djp]

Nothing earth shattering here.....

The expansion draft --depending on the rules---could see a bunch of trades.

Some will be from teams who would be exposing talent like TB at forward or Anaheim/Minnesota on defense. Do these teams want to lose a player or do they trade them to another team.

Will teams be able to swy who Las Vegas picks. Either by team X telling Vegas we will give you prospect and or pick if you only pick for this short list of players. On the flip side team X has been trying to get a player from team Y who will be exposed. team Z says to Vegas draft him and send him to us and we will give you this.

 

[Man Rocket]

We say the same thing every year about every ufa class. It's quite comical

 

[Wolfpuck]

I don't even expect the 7 guys listed to all hit the free agent market. That still won't stop ridiculous contracts from being handed out, just like every summer.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

We say the same thing every year about every ufa class. It's quite comical

And it's true a lot of the time. This year included.

The truly elite don't seem to make it to July 1st as often as we the fans would like. Stamkos was the closest.

 

[tony d]

For the most part a lot of the elite guys will stay put.

 

[BLNY]

When Cal Clutterbuck gets lumped into 'tier 2' ... you know it's bad.

 

[Seachd]

There was no elite talent this year either. Not a big deal.

 

[Toby Flenderson]

Oshie stands out to me. Would think caps definitely sign alzner and kuzy to significant contracts so there's a big chance he's available. What will he ask for on the market?

 

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

We say the same thing every year about every ufa class. It's quite comical

Doesn't mean it's not true.

 

[Unspecified]

We can all but remove Benn from that list. I think there is no chance he is not signed long term for big money with Dallas.

 

[notdoneyet]

Teams with an excess of cap space will use it even if it means more offer sheets. It would be more informative to see who the RFA's are next year

 

[LastWordArmy]

We say the same thing every year about every ufa class. It's quite comical

If you include Stamkos (who took meetings with teams prior to July 1st), the forward class alone this year was much deeper than the entire class next year (fwd, goalie, defence combined); That's before the inevitable re-signings of Benn and Burns; as well as some others.

Next year looks ugly.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

It won't be like this year's pool for sure, but I still see some good names there that will spark interest and help teams like Marleau, Sharp, Miller, Oshie, Radulov (if he succeeds this year), Stafford, Shattenkirk, etc.

 

[LastWordArmy]

It won't be like this year's pool for sure, but I still see some good names there that will spark interest and help teams like Marleau, Sharp, Miller, Oshie, Radulov (if he succeeds this year), Stafford, Shattenkirk, etc.

Based on previous years, you can probably assume that half that list won't make it to July 1st.

The scary thing is the list usually looks really good and by October its been whittled down to nothing.

this year, its starting at a low point.

 

[The Gongshow]

Their all going to Toronto

 

[Six Assets]

We say the same thing every year about every ufa class. It's quite comical

This year's was quite strong imo, even with Stamkos re-signing

 

[snowkiddin]

Don't tell TSN this, they've already started the Tavares to Toronto talk.

 

[member 157595]

Generally speaking, if you're reliant on UFA signings to get your elite talent in a hard-capped league, you're doing it wrong.

 

[leaflover]

I don't even know what elite means on this site.
It seemingly has been downgraded to top 6 forwards and top 3 defensemen.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Wouldn't put Kulikov in Tier 1. Not an elite talent.

 

[ohmyjlord]

Why MB insisted on 1-year deal with the second-tier wingers in this year's free agency, I'll never understand.

 

[thadd]

So Oshie, Kulikov and 1/2 of those tier 2 guys go to free agency. Nothing new.

 

[amjay13]

Oshie stands out to me. Would think caps definitely sign alzner and kuzy to significant contracts so there's a big chance he's available. What will he ask for on the market?

If he pots 25-30 again this year, I'd guess he gets 6 million plus per year. If the Caps end up moving Marcus Johansson (current RFA) this summer, I'd think that opens up a little more money for the Caps to retain Oshie. Given what I saw from Oshie this season, I hope that is the way it plays out. He was good during the regular season and great in the playoffs.

 

[boredmale]

I am surprised we didn't see more 1 year deals this year(from player pushing for that). I think next year will be a great year to be a UFA due to all the spots opening up due to expansion