6 Upcoming UFAs Raising Their Stock In Playoffs
There are plenty of upcoming free agents in the playoffs this season and as there usually is, there will be movement in the offseason and in free agency seeing these players get increased paydays because of what they showed in the last year of their contract, particularly from their impact in the playoffs. Here are eight players who have done that already.
Frederik Andersen
The Carolina Hurricanes were one of three teams to get through the first round of the playoffs in five games and it was largely in part to the play of Frederik Andersen when he was healthy. He started four games and is 3-1 with a playoff leading 1.59 GAA and .936 SV%. He allowed one goal in three of his four starts and is in the second and final year of a $3.4 million AAV deal.
Nate Schmidt
Nate Schmidt surprised absolutely everybody when he came in hot into the playoffs scoring three goals in the first two games of the series for the Florida Panthers. He may still have three goals and no assists through five games as the Panthers advanced, but he is a +4 and has played solid. It definitely adds to the 33-year-old's value and will help him get signed in free agency.
Andrei Kuzmenko
The LA Kings' trade deadline acquisition of Andrei Kuzmenko was an underrated one as it wasn't seen as an impactful add for the only thing the team did. He proved that wrong down the stretch finding chemistry on the top line and has very much added to that in the playoffs while playing top line minutes and on the top power-play unit. He is playing over 18:30 per game and has three goals and six points in five games. After being traded a couple of times, his value had dropped, but he should at least get $5.5 million AAV again on his next deal.
Sam Bennett
Sam Bennett is once again doing exactly what he is paid to do, cause problems and also produce alongside that. He is underpaid at $4.425 million AAV and is going to get paid a few million more than that at the least. With three goals and five points in five games, his playoff performances have only greatly increased what he is going to get on his next deal. His production always rises in the playoffs, especially since he's come to Florida.
Anthony Beauvillier
Anthony Beauvillier may have only had 15 goals and 25 points during the regular season, and you can't expect a whole lot more from a player that averaged 12:52 of ice time per game, but he has been skating on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome and has put up one goal and five points through five games as the Washington Capitals advanced through to round 2. He is barely making over $1 million AAV and this performance may get him multiple years and a higher AAV due to how he plays when games matter most.
Mason Appleton
Mason Appleton's summer wasn't exactly looking too hot after this season where he scored 10 goals and 22 points since it was a big drop-off from the season prior and he isn't young anymore. Playoffs have been a different beast though as he is third on the team in points through five games with five. Appleton is only behind Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele on Winnipeg even though he is on the third line. He should at least find it easier to get a contract in free agency if he doesn't re-sign.
Photo credit: © James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
