5 Top UFAs Most Likely To Re-Sign

As the NHL inches closer to free agency, teams are working on re-signing upcoming UFAs before they hit the open market. Some recent bigger signings include the Carolina Hurricanes bringing back Taylor Hall and Frederik Andersen. Some teams have more time already to put in work on pending UFAs they want to keep around, while others have just been eliminated from the playoffs and the real work begins. Either way, here are five of the top UFAs that are most likely to re-sign with their teams before free agency.

John Tavares

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some big decisions to make in the offseason, likely after their season is over. John Tavares and Mitch Marner are UFAs while Matthew Knies is a RFA. All will require big money, but Tavares will require the shortest terms and least amount of money at his age. He has made it known that he wants to stay in Toronto and was the captain for a number of years. With his experience and continual production all over the ice, he is a must for Toronto to re-sign, especially if they can get him for around half of his current deal.

Claude Giroux

The Ottawa Senators and Claude Giroux are closer on a contract extension and will now have time to work things out since the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. He lived up to his three-year deal with the Senators and the team made the playoffs in the last year of this deal, giving some hope that they can make bigger steps in the next couple of seasons. Giroux is nearing the end of his career, but is still productive. He is looking for a Stanley Cup, but has familiarity with the Senators, he likes it there, and it'll be tough for him to find much of a better opportunity elsewhere right now.

Ryan Donato

The Chicago Blackhawks didn't trade Ryan Donato at the trade deadline so they can have longer to try to re-sign him. He broke out this season with a much bigger opportunity and he deserves more than what the Blackhawks are hoping to sign him for right now. There is still time and I think Chicago is more likely to fold first so that they can keep a good player around as the team tries to pull out of a rebuild.

Jamie Benn

Jamie Benn is a life-long Dallas Star and there is no indication that is going to change. There are a number of UFAs on the Stars, but given Benn's resurgence from a few years ago and what he brings to the team, he will be able to be signed for much less than his current contract and still contribute. The Stars will have to keep a couple of their UFAs around, but I assume the contract discussion is waiting until after the playoff run.

Andrei Kuzmenko

Andrei Kuzmenko turned out to be a very underrated trade deadline acquisition for the LA Kings even though they lost in the first round to the Edmonton Oilers again. Kuzmenko was a big part in why the power play turned completely around and there was a little more offense spread through the lineup as he joined the top line. He had a very good rookie season and bounced around since, but it was a great showing in LA and there's no reason why the Kings wouldn't bring him back unless he's asking for way too much money. I don't think that'll be the case given the full body of work over the course of this season and last.