We don't need to improve our bottom 6. We need top 6 players, so if we only sign value UFA's at this point we'd be just spinning our wheels.
Haven't much looked at the UFA class this year, looks like there are a decent number of top 6 names available unlike some of the recent years. Though how much you want to overpay them is always an issue.
Here's what the top 12 looks like going into the offseason:
Keller - Schmaltz - Galchenyuk
Garland - Stepan - Fischer
Cousins - Dvorak - Hinostroza
Grabner - Richardson - Crouse
These guys are all under contract or we own their rights.
I think the biggest weakness is #1C, #2C (Stepan's current production if it holds is not even #2 center level), #1 RW.
If we could find a #1C we'd have done it by now so I'm just going to assume we're ignoring this problem.
Since we're a budget team we're going to have to make some bets. The obvious one that we've already made with his contract is Dvorak will be #2 C level at some point. So we hold Stepan/Dvorak and hope it works out in that Dvorak takes his place.
Fischer is currently penciled in the top 6 and he's not consistent enough for that right now or maybe ever. I don't think Galchenyuk is even a 2nd line player 5 on 5 either so any RW help we could bring in is important. Garland is still far from a sure thing as well, he plays either wing.
What have we got available on the market?
Panarin (not happening)
Pavelski (not happening)
Skinner (maybe, but I think he's gonna get STUPID money which I don't think we'll be spending)
Simmonds (declining physical forward, scary to overpay here)
Lee (he'll get a lot of money but maybe not as much as Skinner)
Stone (not happening)
Staal (not happening)
Duchene (not happening)
Silfverberg (probably not a true top 6 guy, but close given his 2 way game)
Eberle (lots of PP goals, not sure he's a top 6 guy 5 on 5 similar to Galchenyuk)
Nelson (late bloomer or hot streak?)
Hayes ( Seems to be in the right age range Chayka likes his vets)
That's actually a pretty substantial list of players available compared to other recent years. A few of them we could probably even afford, particularly if we ship out a little $ on D.
I'd kick the tires on Lee, Silf, Nelson, and Hayes. Never been a big Eberle fan. Simmonds is too old. Skinner will be too expensive.