With the calendar flipping to August, there are still plenty of serviceable free agents available — enough to ice more than three full teams, believe it or not.
It is slim pickings for goaltenders — with no proven NHL-calibre netminders left on the open market in North America — but there are several quality forward options, especially at right wing, and a good number of decent defencemen too.
Available and ready. https://t.co/esTtP5SeNV
— NHL (@NHL) July 31, 2017
In total, 75 unrestricted free agents — 45 forwards, 24 defencemen and six goaltenders — could be worth signing between now and the start of next month’s training camps.
With roster spots already at a premium around the league, many of these leftovers will end up auditioning on PTOs (professional tryouts), accepting two-way or minor-league contracts, heading to Europe or retiring.
It may be a waiting game now, with the majority of NHL general managers enjoying holiday time in August, but come September, at least a dozen remaining free agents should get signed to one-way contracts — most, if not all, of them on one-year deals.
Mike Fisher would have fit that bill, but he announced his retirement this week — further depleting the market of available centres, a position that is almost as bleak as goalies right now in terms of free agents.
Before any other decisions are made, let’s take a look at the best possible lineup comprised entirely of UFAs.
Jaromir Jagr, a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer destined to go down as a top-10 player of all-time, headlines the list of available of free agents as of August 4. The knock on Jagr is he’s 45 years old, but he still produced 46 points last season.
All-Star Team
Forwards
Drew Stafford-Mike Ribeiro-Jaromir Jagr
Jiri Hudler-Matt Cullen-Thomas Vanek
Brian Gionta-Chris Kelly-Jarome Iginla
P-A Parenteau-R.J. Umberger-Shane Doan
Jimmy Hayes/Alex Chiasson
Defencemen
Francois Beauchemin-Dennis Wideman
Simon Despres-Cody Franson
John-Michael Liles-Roman Polak
Fedor Tyutin/Chris Lee
Goaltenders
Matt Hackett
Mackenzie Skapski
As mentioned, the goaltenders and centres leave a lot to be desired — arguably the two most crucial positions when it comes to building a team. There is good (albeit old) depth on the wings and the defence could hold its own, especially if Despres is healthy enough to play again.
It begs the question of whether this UFA Dream Team could defeat the expansion Vegas Golden Knights or any other NHL club? Maybe with better goaltending?
Delving deeper into the free-agent pool — as alluded to — there are enough UFAs to fill not one but three relatively even rosters.
Team 1
Shane Doan, the face of the Arizona Coyotes’ franchise for its entire existence, could be the next big-name player to announce his retirement. However, Doan’s agent said he’s still interested in playing and pursuing the elusive Stanley Cup after the Coyotes announced they wouldn’t be offering their longtime captain another contract.
Forwards
Drew Stafford-Mike Ribeiro-Jaromir Jagr
Brooks Laich-R.J. Umberger-Shane Doan
Teddy Purcell-Chris VandeVelde-Alex Chiasson
Jack Skille-Quinton Howden-Rene Bourque
Tanner Glass-Matt Hendricks-Chris Neil
Defencemen
Francois Beauchemin-Dennis Wideman
Nick Schultz-Jakub Kindl
Jyrki Jokipakka-Cody Goloubef
Tim Erixon-Stuart Percy
Goaltenders
Matt Hackett
Daniel Altshuller
Team 2
Thomas Vanek, at 33 years old, is significantly younger than the aforementioned Jagr (45) and Doan (turning 41 in October). Vanek got off to a good start last season in Detroit but faded as a trade-deadline acquisition for Florida. Some team will likely take a chance on Vanek in the coming weeks, possibly sooner than later.
Forwards
Jimmy Hayes-Matt Cullen-Thomas Vanek
Lauri Korpikoski-John Mitchell-P-A Parenteau
Daniel Winnik-Andrew Desjardins-Ryan White
Joseph Cramarossa-Harry Zolnierczyk-Borna Rendulic
Boyd Gordon-Jay McClement-Bobby Farnham
Defencemen
Simon Despres-Cody Franson
Fedor Tyutin-Zbynek Michalek
Jared Cowen-Matt Greene
Brandon Gormley-Dalton Thrower
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Skapski
Mantas Armalis
Team 3
Add Jarome Iginla to the list of 40-somethings still looking for employment. Like Jagr and Doan, Iginla — who turned 40 on July 1 — appears to be slowing down but still showed some bite to his game in the late stages of last season after getting traded from Colorado to Los Angeles. Iginla and the Kings failed to make the playoffs, but he might not be hanging up his skates this summer. In fact, a homecoming could be in order for Iginla, with both Alberta teams apparently expressing interest in his services.
Forwards
Brian Gionta-Chris Kelly-Jarome Iginla
Milan Michalek-Vern Fiddler-Jiri Hudler
Scottie Upshall-Ryan Carter-Drew Miller
Jeremy Morin-Joe Vitale-Stephen Gionta
Christian Thomas-Jordan Caron-Scott Kosmachuk
Defencemen
John-Michael Liles-Roman Polak
Mark Stuart-Eric Gelinas
Victor Bartley-Chris Lee
Mark Fraser-Marc-Andre Bergeron
Goaltenders
Sam Brittain
Michael Garteig
Which of those three rosters is the best on paper? How would you rank them? Which team would win a mini-tournament? Would you bet on any of them against Vegas or another NHL club?