Here are the top UFA LD available this summer:
Bouwmeester
Chara
Edler
Gardiner
That's pretty much it. The top 2 could very well retire. Gardiner is the best of the bunch right now and will command at least 6 mil. The list gets a little dicey after that. Guys like Jordie Benn, Oesterle, Coburn, Del Zotto, etc.
Enter Goligoski. He misses literally no time and he's a safe bet for 35 points a year. Getting older but his game is built on his skating so I don't see much decline there. That's a decent second pairing guy. So if you're a team in UFA who needs a vet LD, do you blow your brains out on a guy like Gardiner or overpay for someone like Oesterle, or simply offer up, probably a 2nd rounder, for Goligoski?
I actually don't even mind Goligoski. He just doesn't have a role here anymore with the emergence of Chychrun. I also liken his situation to Smith's. It's just not in a budget team's best interest to have 3 LDs making big money, especially when we have guys like KConn or Capobianco who can hold down that bottom spot now for cheap. Then take what we would be paying Goligoski and use it to upgrade where we need it.
As far as Goligoski's list, he can block 8 teams. That still leaves 22 others. Lots of options I think. Capable Top 4 D are always in demand.