Stanley Cup championships rarely are won by making a huge splash in NHL free agency.
This is the time of the year when teams make foolish mistakes and sign contracts they later (often soon after) try to get rid of. That said, there are plenty of bargains to be found, as well, and these players often provide the necessary depth for playoff success.
The 2016 class isn’t very deep, and that was true before Steven Stamkos re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
Here are the 10 best unrestricted free agents available for when the market opens at noon ET on Friday:
1. Loui Eriksson
Age: 30
Position: Left wing/right wing
Best Fits: Bruins, Blues, Wild, Red Wings, Ducks, Canucks
Eriksson scored 30 goals last season and showed his versatility by playing both wing spots on multiple lines for B’s head coach Claude Julien. He also drives puck possession, excels on both the power play and penalty kill and is able to log 20 or more minutes per game. He’s an all-situations type of player.
The only concerns are his age and concussion history, but he proved to be quite durable for Boston last season by playing in all 82 games.
2. Andrew Ladd
Age: 30
Position: Left wing
Best Fits: Blackhawks, Jets, Wild, Bruins, Islanders
Ladd is a 20-goal scorer who can play a top-six role and provide excellent leadership with plenty of playoff experience, including a pair of Stanley Cup titles. It goes without saying he’ll be heavily pursued because of these things.
3. Brian Campbell
Age: 37
Position: Defenseman
Best Fits: Blackhawks, Bruins, Sharks, Penguins, Canucks, Oilers, Stars, Ducks, Sabres
Campbell is a top-four defenseman who drives possession and creates scoring chances. He also did a great job mentoring the young Panthers defensemen, including 2014 top pick Aaron Ekblad, over the last few seasons. A one-year deal with a Stanley Cup contender makes the most sense for Campbell. A reunion in Chicago, perhaps?
4. Kyle Okposo
Age: 28
Position: Right wing
Best Fits:Â Wild, Islanders, Bruins, Red Wings, Leafs, Ducks, Sabres, Blues
Okposo is a proven 20-goal scorer and a pretty consistent player, too. He’d be a good top-six addition for a contending team. The Minnesota Wild (he played at the University of Minnesota) and Winnipeg Jets (Jets winger Blake Wheeler was a college teammate) are two of the best options for him.
5. Jason Demers
Age: 28
Position: Defenseman
Best Fits: Oilers, Bruins, Red Wings, Canucks
Demers can play 20-plus minutes per game in a top-four role against quality competition. He doesn’t provide much offense (zero seasons of 25 or more points), but he’s a steady, reliable three-zone player. He’s arguably the best defenseman available in a weak free-agent class, so expect him to receive an annual average salary of at least $5.5 million on the open market.
6. Milan Lucic
Age: 28
Position:Â Left wing
Best Fits: Oilers, Kings, Bruins, Canucks
Lucic is a classic power forward who plays a strong, physical game and is a good bet for 20 goals per season. His style of play and previous injuries should be concerns for teams willing to offer him a long-term deal, though. He might break down soon.
Still, he has all the old-school qualities general managers go crazy over. Recent reports suggest he will sign with the Oilers.
7. Eric Staal
Age: 31
Position: Center
Best Fits: Blackhawks, Sharks, Hurricanes, Leafs
Staal isn’t a No. 1 center anymore, but he could fill a second- or third-line role on a contending team, similar to what Brad Richards did on a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2014-15. Staal has the size, offensive skill and power-play ability teams covet at center.
8. James Reimer
Age: 28
Position: Goaltender
Best Fits: Sharks, Penguins, Stars, Rangers, Ducks
Very few, if any teams have an open No. 1 goalie job. The Calgary Flames trading for Brian Elliott and the Toronto Maple Leafs aquiring Frederik Andersen closed two of the largest vacancies.
A backup job is Reimer’s best bet, and re-signing with the Sharks is the ideal scenario. He had a .938 save percentage for San Jose after it acquired him at the trade deadline.
9. David Backes
Age: 32
Position: Center/right wing
Best Fits: Blues, Bruins, Red Wings, Canucks, Rangers, Ducks
Backes has been the heart and soul of the Blues as their captain. However, he’s 32 years old and tallied just 45 points last season after posting at least 57-plus in each of the two previous campaigns. Backes still has value as a power forward who can provide depth scoring, but he’s not someone teams should pay more than $5 million per season on a long-term deal to acquire.
10. Frans Nielsen
Age: 32
Position:Â Center
Best Fits: Red Wings, Bruins, Islanders, Sharks, Blues
Nielsen drives puck possession and is one of the best defensive centers in the league. He’s among the most underrated players in the game and would make an excellent second- or third-line center for a contending club. He’s kind of like a Patrice Bergeron Lite.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
