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The NHL's free agent period is nearly a month in, and most of the top free agents have found a new home. Dmitry Orlov is a Carolina Hurricane, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi are Toronto Maple Leafs, Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn are off to the Nashville Predators, and the list goes on.
But despite most of the league's top unrestricted free agents off the board, there are still some enticing options up for grabs as July stretches into August and the summer drags on. That's led by a pair of three-time Stanley Cup champions in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as a couple of Boston Bruins veteran forwards in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Vladimir Tarasenko is also an extremely intriguing name to watch.
It's likely that all of the below players, minus Kane (who has said he likely won't sign until the season starts) will be inked at some point before the end of August. A few landing spots seem probable for a few players, while others are completely up in the air. In that spirit, let's predict where the NHL's top unsigned free agents will end up ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is probably the hardest player to predict, as the 34-year-old has made it clear that he will need a few months to recover from hip surgery and doesn't plan to play or sign anytime soon. Kane would have been the headliner of the 2023 UFA class, but after the surgery and his disappointing stint with the New York Rangers, that is no longer the case. Kane has nothing else to prove at the NHL level, so it's hard to see him signing until he's completely healthy.
Prediction: Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are on the upswing in the Eastern Conference, poised to break their long postseason drought, and it would be an electric homecoming for Kane. The team could use a winner in the dressing room, and he could help juice up a young roster that is ready for the playoffs.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko has made headlines throughout the offseason after it was reported that he would sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. That ended up falling through, as did his relationship with his agent, and the 31-year-old now has new representation as the Stanley Cup champion continues to ponder his future. He was solid with the New York Rangers, and is still a reliable top-six sniper for a team who lacks goal scoring.
Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes. Although it's an easy answer, it's the perfect fit. The Canes are Stanley Cup contenders, have the money for Tarasenko, and badly need another scoring winger. That's especially true in the postseason. Although the deal fell through once, expect that Carolina will find a way to bring the Russian sniper into the fold.
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Jonathan Toews
Like Kane, Jonathan Toews has absolutely nothing to prove at the NHL level and is a shell of the player he once was after suffering long-COVID symptoms which kept him out of the Chicago Blackhawks lineup for months. Toews is now 35 years old and retirement is definitely a possibility, but it seems like the Manitoba native might have another year or two in the tank.
Prediction: Winnipeg Jets. Another homecoming could be in the cards for Toews in Winnipeg. He has a ton of family there, the team is still competitive, and he could slot in either on the top-six or as the third-line centre. Now that it's been confirmed Toews will not re-sign with the Hawks, it makes a ton of sense for him to play out the rest of his career in his home country.
Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci
Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci were just part of the greatest regular season team in NHL history — and it ended in complete disaster. The 2022-23 Boston Bruins ran away with the President's Trophy and seemed poised for a deep playoff run, before they were shockingly upset by the Florida Panthers in Game 7 overtime after holding a 3-1 series lead. Bergeron and Krejci are 38 and 37-years-old, respectively, and both have made it clear it's back to Boston or hanging up the skates altogether.
Prediction: Retirement. No decision has been made in Beantown, but Cam Neely has already said the team is preparing for the season like they won't have either player's services. They both won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, and with the squad already shaping up to be much worse after a ton of offseason departures (Bertuzzi, Orlov, Taylor Hall, Connor Clifton, etc), it might be time for two of the best Bruins of the 21st Century to call it quits.
Matt Dumba
Matt Dumba is the best defenseman still available in free agency. He was a heart and soul player for the Minnesota Wild, who would probably love to bring him back but simply cannot afford it with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter's buyouts on the books. Dumba is thinking hard about his future, and the 28-year-old should be cashing in this summer.
Prediction: Ottawa Senators. There are a ton of teams who would greatly benefit from the coveted right-hand shot and toughness that Dumba provides, so it is a bit surprising he hasn't been locked up yet. Dumba would look great on Ottawa's second pairing along with Jake Sanderson as they continue to improve and make a playoff push over the next few seasons. They have the money and the means to make it work, and if it doesn't happen, expect him to sign with an Eastern Conference team before next year.
