TOP 30 UFAs: 2021
aS OF August 5, 2021 | 1:30pm ET
With the NHL free agent market set to open on July 28 at 12pm ET, TFP has constructed our list of the Top 30 Unrestricted Free Agents available in the market. We will be listing the teams believed to be connected to these players through various newspapers, radio and television reports, cyberspace and our own league-wide sources.
This page will be updated regularly and TFP's panel of experts will outline each player's value. Some players may climb or fall off the list, while others may be added. Linked teams will also be added and/or removed as more information becomes available.
NOTE: Teams linked to players are in no particular order.
AGE: 28
2021 CAP HIT: $5.75M
1. Dougie Hamilton, RD
Signed with NJ; 7-years, $63M
Carolina has come back to the table and is trying to get Hamilton locked up. If they can’t, he’ll hit the free agent market as the top available player. After Seth Jones signed with Chicago, Hamilton will surely be looking for a deal well north of $7 million per season.
linked to:
Carolina, Montreal, Dallas, New Jersey, Nashville, Seattle
AGE: 28
2021 CAP HIT: $5.571M
2. Gabriel Landeskog, LW
Signed with COL; 8-years, $56M
The week started quiet on the Colorado/Landeskog front, but talks have resumed. The Avs have circled back before the start of free agency, but Landeskog will test the market if Colorado doesn’t offer him a long-term contract at a raise over the $6.5 million in salary he made in 2020-21.
linked to:
Colorado, Seattle, Toronto, NY Islanders, Vegas, Montreal, Florida, St. Louis, Los Angeles
AGE: 28
2021 CAP HIT: $6M
3. Brandon Saad, LW/RW
Signed with STL; 5-years, $22.5M
Saad will test the market, as he seems to have priced himself out of Colorado, and there won’t be a shortage of interest. Teams in need of a scoring winger have been calling.
linked to:
Colorado, Toronto, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Montreal, New Jersey, St. Louis, Carolina
AGE: 29
2021 CAP HIT: $3.333M
4. Philipp Grubauer, G
Signed with SEA; 6-years, $35.4M
Grubauer is the best goalie in the free agent market and Colorado appears focused on trying to re-sign him. If the Avs can’t lock him up, a few teams will come calling that need a new No.1.
linked to:
Colorado, Buffalo, Edmonton, Seattle, Chicago, Carolina
AGE: 29
2021 CAP HIT: $5.35M
5. Jaden Schwartz, LW
Signed with SEA; 5-years, $27.5M
Schwartz plans on testing the market and wants to see what options are available to him — even though it seems like a deal with Seattle is on the horizon. If things with the Kraken fall apart, there are clubs interested in pitching him an offer.
linked to:
Seattle, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Toronto, Colorado, Pittsburgh
AGE: 30
2021 CAP HIT: $4.65M
6. Kyle Palmieri, RW/LW
The Islanders are hoping to re-sign Palmieri, and there appears to be traction there; he is looking for a long-term contract. If he hits the open market, teams will be interested in signing this versatile winger with a scoring touch.
linked to:
NY Islanders, Boston, Montreal, Toronto
AGE: 28
2021 CAP HIT: $3.083M
7. Phillip Danault, C
Signed with LA; 6-years, $36M
Danault is reportedly looking for a five-to-six year contract worth around $5.5 million per season. The Habs would love to keep him, but they won’t match his ask. Teams looking for one of the top defensive centres in the league will be calling.
linked to:
Montreal, Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Minnesota, NY Rangers, Ottawa, Colorado
AGE: 31
2021 CAP HIT: $5M
8. Frederik Andersen, G
Signed with CAR; 2-years, $9M
Andersen is looking for a salary north of $5 million and that’s, so far, priced him out of Toronto. Teams will be calling and he should have a number of options once the market opens.
linked to:
Toronto, Carolina, Buffalo, Edmonton, Chicago
AGE: 29
2021 CAP HIT: $3.75M
9. Tyson Barrie, RD
Signed with EDM; 3-years, $13.5M
The Oilers will try to re-sign Barrie, but he’s looking to cash in on a big contract after proving his worth with Edmonton in 2021. He wants term and a solid paycheck and he’s proven his offensive abilities can be valuable.
linked to:
Edmonton, Vancouver, Dallas, Florida, New Jersey, Winnipeg
AGE: 29
2021 CAP HIT: $2.25M
10. Zach Hyman, LW
Signed with EDM; 7-years, $38.5M
All signs point to Hyman signing a seven-year contract with the Oilers. After Edmonton and Toronto weren’t able to work out a trade to give him an extra year on his deal, the Oilers are the expected destination, regardless.
linked to:
Edmonton
11. David Krejci, C
PlayinG in Czech Republic
The Bruins are hoping to hold on to Krejci and sign him to a new contract, but they’re also exploring their alternative options if the veteran centre goes elsewhere or hangs up his NHL skates. There will be interest from other teams if he decides to test the market, but it sounds like he’s closing in on a new deal with Boston as of Day 1 of free agency.
Linked To:
Boston, Minnesota
12. Blake Coleman, LW
Signed with CGY; 6-years
Coleman is looking to cash in this off-season, and as TFP’s David Pagnotta first reported, he will be moving on to a new club this summer. Coleman will surely generate a large deal somewhere and should see his cap hit come in around $5M.
Linked To:
Tampa Bay, Seattle, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado, Los Angeles, Boston, New Jersey, Ottawa
13. Mike Hoffman, RW/LW
Signed with MTL; 3-years, $13.5M
Hoffman recently rejected an offer to stay in St. Louis and all signs point to him testing the market for a second-straight off-season. There will be interest, providing his salary demands fall within reason. It’s believed he wants north of $5M per year on a multi-year deal.
Linked To:
St. Louis, Montreal, New Jersey, Calgary
14. David Savard, RD
Signed with MTL; 4-years, $14M
Teams looking for a rugged, stay-at-home defenceman will be knocking on Savard’s door. He’s going to be available and will help stabilize a contender’s blueline, much like he did in Tampa.
linked to:
Montreal, New Jersey, Dallas, Colorado
15. Mikael Granlund, LW
SIgned with NAS; 4-years, $20M
After a solid offensive season in Nashville, all things considered, teams looking for secondary scoring will be calling Granlund’s agent this summer.
linked to:
Nashville, Toronto, Carolina
16. Alec Martinez, LD/RD
Signed with VGK; 3-years, $15.75M
Martinez liked his time in Vegas and is mulling a 3-term contract offer. If he doesn’t accept, he’ll see what options are available to him in free agency. He had a $4M cap hit on his last deal and will reportedly earn around $5M on his next deal, which is still expected to be with Vegas.
linked to:
Vegas
17. Casey Cizikas, C
The Islanders want to keep Cizikas and he wants to stay, but he also wants a competitive contract. The Islanders cleared up cap space to try and make it work. If they can’t get to the finish line, Cizikas will see what’s out there and there are plenty of suitors.
linked to:
NY Islanders, San Jose, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Carolina, Minnesota, San Jose
18. Joel Armia, LW
Signed with MTL; 4-years, $13.6M
Armia upped his value after his strong performance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Habs want to keep him, but he’s likely testing the market to see what’s out there if Montreal can’t give him a multi-year offer.
Linked To:
Montreal
19. Alexander Wennberg, C/LW
Signed with SEA; 3-years, $13.5M
Wennberg rejuvenated his career this past season in South Florida. Teams looking for a solid centre to play on their second or third line will have interest in Wennberg, who might need to prove last season wasn’t a one-off.
linked to:
Seattle, Calgary, Minnesota
20. Ryan Suter, LD
Signed with DAL; 4-years, $14.6M
After being bought out by Minnesota, Suter is hoping to secure a 3-4 year contract on a new deal, preferably a Stanley Cup contender.
Linked To:
Colorado, Dallas, NY Islanders, Boston, Toronto, St. Louis, Florida
21. Brandon Montour, RD/LD
Signed with FLA; 3-years, $10.5M
Teams looking to round out their top-four will have Montour on their radars. He stepped in nicely in Florida, and while the Panthers have spoken to him about returning, he’s likely going to see what’s out there in the market before making any decisions.
linked to:
Florida, Washington, Carolina
22. Tomas Tatar, LW
Signed with NJ; 2-years, $9M
Tatar has a very respectable regular-season, but fell out of favour in Montreal during the playoffs. He ranks 10th among all free agent skaters in scoring and teams looking to bolster their offensive game will have interest.
linked to:
Calgary, Colorado, Chicago, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New Jersey, Seattle
23. Linus Ullmark, G
Signed with BOS; 4-years, $20M
Ullmark was set on seeing what options are ahead of him after rejecting a contract offer from Buffalo during the season. He hasn’t closed the door on the Sabres, but he wants to see what’s out there.
linked to:
Buffalo, Chicago, Edmonton, Colorado
24. Corey Perry, RW
Signed with TB; 2-years, $2M
The Habs have made it clear they want to re-sign Perry, but he’s looking for a slight raise after making the league minimum. Cup contenders will be calling, though, if he hits the open market.
linked to:
Montreal, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Dallas
25. Mike Reilly, LD
Signed with Bos; 3-years, $9M
Reilly is fifth among free agent defencemen in scoring (27A, no goals) and should add value to a contending team’s third pair this summer.
linked to:
TBD
26. Nick Foligno, C/LW
Signed with BOS; 2-years, $7.6M
Foligno’s season didn’t end exactly how he hoped, but Cup contenders know what he brings to the table. There will be plenty of interest in him this summer, with the Leafs still in the mix.
linked to:
Toronto, Minnesota, Boston, Colorado, Edmonton
27. Mattias Janmark, LW/C
Signed with VGK; 1-year, $2M
Janmark has a solid season and boosted his value with Vegas after a mid-season trade. Like last off-season, teams trying to strengthen their bottom-six will approach Janmark about a deal.
linked to:
TBD
28. Ryan Getzlaf, C
Signed with ANA; 1-year, $4.5M
We’re not sure if Getzlaf is ready to leave Anaheim, but if he is, contenders will explore the possibility of signing him.
Linked To:
Anaheim, Vegas, Dallas, Montreal, Boston, Edmonton, Nashville
29. Nick Bonino, C
Signed with SJ, 2-years, $4.1M
Teams looking to bolster their bottom-six centre position will be giving Bonino a call. He’s serviceable and brings a veteran presence to a team’s third or fourth line.
linked to:
Toronto, Vancouver, San Jose
30. Zach Parise, LW
A casualty of the buyout, Parise has had discussions with multiple teams about joining them this off-season. All signs point to him joining the Isles, but if things fall through, he will have options.
linked to:
NY Islanders, Pittsburgh
OFF THE BOARD
29. Paul Stastny, C
Signed with WPG; 1-year, $3.75M
Winnipeg wants to keep Stastny, but he has to decide what direction he wants to take his game.
linked to:
Winnipeg