Top 5 UFAs Still Available in NHL Free Agency

There isn't a whole lot of money still out there to be spent by NHL teams, by most accounts, but there are a number of viable unrestricted free agents still available on the open market.

Here, we'll break down the top 5 remaining UFAs. 

1. Vladimir Tarasenko, F

The 34-year-old Russian forward is not the regular 30-goal scorer that he was for five straight years back in his mid-20s. But he did pop 23 for the Minnesota Wild this past season, while playing just 14:56 of ice time per game, and obviously still has the touch.  

Mike Rupp, on NHL Tonight, called him "a low-risk, high-reward type of player" at this point. "He's gonna get you 20... He's a shooter and he can score goals."

"Teams in need of scoring off the wings should kick tires on a short-term deal," Luke Fox wrote for Sportsnet.  "That the (Edmonton) Oilers expressed interest in Claude Giroux (before he re-upped in Ottawa) has some wondering if Edmonton could turn its sights to Tarasenko."

2. Logan Stanley, LD

The 6'7" behemoth blueliner was having a solid season for the Winnipeg Jets before being acquired by the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. His role in Buffalo shrunk, however, as he served in more of a depth role on the bottom pair. His ice time was cut by more than two minutes per game in Buffalo compared to Winnipeg, and in the playoffs it dwindled further: he played in just 8 of the team's 13 postseason games, averaging 13:04 TOI per contest. 

While insider Frank Seravalli reported that Stanley was looking for up to $25 million on a four- or five-year deal earlier this summer, he may have overshot his market. 

Fox suggests that the Jets could circle back on Stanley, or perhaps the Seattle Kraken could see him as a replacement for the departed Jamie Oleksiak. 

3. Patrik Laine, F

Giving a shot to a seven-time 20-goal scorer at what should be the minimum salary should be a no-brainer for some teams who are cap-crunched but looking for scoring. The fact that he only played five games last season with Montreal is certainly working against him in the market. 

Teams like the NY Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild are all reportedly considering taking him on "as a project," says Fox.

4. Eeli Tolvanen, F

Tolvanen, the youngest player on this list, logged the highest average ice time of his career this past season, at 16:03 per night. Although he didn't follow up on his 23-goal season a year earlier, with only 12 goals, he did deliver 24 assists and had 36 points.

Fox says the 27-year-old is likely "seeking term," and "Tolvanen’s skill and relatively young age make him an intriguing bet."

5. Michael Bunting, F

Bunting, a 15-20 goal scorer, could fill a role in a number of teams' top six or top nine, at a reasonable cost. At this point in the summer, although he might not like the pay cut from the $4.5M AAV he earned on his last contract, he could potentially be had for somewhere between the $3M to $4M range.