June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.
We're working our way from blue-collar players at the bottom to top-dollar names who headline the list. Here are the UFAs ranked 50-41:
50. Deryk Engelland (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 35
2016-17 Cap Hit: $2,916,667
Engelland played a career-high 18:20 minutes per game this season, but he probably shouldn't have. He took 85 penalty minutes, gave the puck away 49 times, and had an abysmal Corsi For percentage of 46.6. He's best suited to be a seventh defenseman, capable of stepping into the lineup and providing a physical presence.
49. David Desharnais (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 31
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.5M
At 5-foot-7, 176 pounds, Desharnais is vastly undersized, but he doesn't make up for it with any speed or skill whatsoever. If he isn't winning faceoffs, he's quite a liability as a fourth-line center.
48. Johnny Oduya (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 36
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.75M
Oduya's possession numbers have now been atrocious in back-to-back seasons. He's a fifth or sixth defenseman at best at this point in his career, but he has a winning pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup champ and won't cost much.
47. Mark Streit (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 39
2016-17 Cap Hit: $5.25M
Streit is still capable of quarterbacking a power play, but that can be tough to do when you're not getting into the game much at five-on-five. Nonetheless, he is still a good enough skater and an above average puck-mover, so he will surely find a bottom pairing job. Yet, this team better have some insurance given his age.
46. Dwight King (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 28
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.95M
King brings a rare combination of a winning pedigree (two Stanley Cups), great size (6-foot-4, 229 pounds), and relative youth (compared to most UFAs) to a bottom-six forward group. He's best-suited in a fourth-line role, but has scored 15 goals in the past and is capable of jumping up to the third line.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
45. Roman Polak (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 31
2016-17 Cap Hit: $2.25M
When Polak goes into a corner with an opposing forward, he has no regard for human life. He's as mean and physical as they come. If he's paired with an adequate puck-mover on the bottom pairing, he can be a very useful player. He's an excellent penalty-killer.
44. Brian Gionta (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 38
2016-17 Cap Hit: $4.25M
Gionta still managed to pot 15 goals last year, but he has registered horrendous possession numbers in four consecutive seasons. He's likely looking for his best chance to win another Cup at this stage of his career, but he'll have to accept a bottom-six role in order to make it happen. Retirement shouldn't be ruled out, either.
43. Chris Kunitz (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 38
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.85M
It's hard to imagine Kunitz suiting up in anything other than Pittsburgh's black and gold at this point. If the Pens end up prevailing in the Stanley Cup Final, it's possible he could hang 'em up.
42. Tom Pyatt (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 30
2016-17 Cap Hit: 800K
Pyatt returned to the NHL this past season after a two-year hiatus in Switzerland. He served as a very valuable bottom-six forward for the Senators, recording 35 takeaways but only 20 giveaways, just 16 penalty minutes, and a plus-9 rating. He isn't a threat offensively, but he is a very good penalty-killer.
41. Dennis Wideman (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 34
2016-17 Cap Hit: $5.25M
Wideman is now most remembered for his incident with lineman Don Henderson, but many forget that he is just two seasons removed from scoring 15 goals and totaling 56 points. He hasn't come close to those totals in the past two seasons, but he's still capable of playing on a bottom pairing and anchoring a second power-play unit.
Free Agent Rankings
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