Many of the top potential unrestricted free agents in this year's class appear likely to remain or at least strongly consider remaining with their current teams. Some of them would be wise to do so, but re-signing wouldn't be the best course of action for all of them.
There's very little drama when it comes to notable pending UFAs like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews, and David Krejci, who will likely either return to the clubs they've played with for the duration of their careers or hang up their skates. Even many of other names near the top of the list like Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan O'Reilly, Alex Killorn, and Adin Hill seem destined to re-up with their clubs.
That being said, there are some players for whom a change of scenery would clearly be preferable. Here's a handful of soon-to-be UFAs who should try to relocate.
Jonathan Drouin
Perhaps no NHLer is in more dire need of a fresh start than Drouin. The playmaking forward's Montreal Canadiens tenure was doomed from the get-go due to the lofty expectations that accompanied being acquired for promising defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who ultimately blossomed into a reliable top-four blue-liner and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Drouin also dealt with the pressure of being a Quebec-born player suiting up for the Habs.
His trajectory after the trade has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries. Drouin was limited to 58 games this past season and played only 34 in the previous one. The 28-year-old frequently showed what he could do when healthy despite often playing center when he's more comfortable on the wing. While Drouin scored only 10 goals combined over the last three campaigns, he did collect 27 assists during his abbreviated 2022-23 season - his sixth with Montreal - for nearly half a helper per contest.
There's certainly risk involved in signing a player like Drouin who's sustained numerous injuries, and he may have to settle for a shorter-term, "prove it" deal as a result. But it's abundantly clear Drouin and the Canadiens should part ways.
Laurent Brossoit
Yes, that's Brossoit lifting the Cup earlier this month, but it was Adin Hill who grabbed the No. 1 job and ran with it after Brossoit got hurt in the second round of the playoffs. Brossoit impressed down the stretch of the regular season, and while that was only an 11-game sample, his .927 save percentage and subsequent experience starting the Vegas Golden Knights' first eight games of their championship run will likely inspire some teams to call his agent.
The Golden Knights have a crowded and uncertain goaltending depth chart, with Robin Lehner's future still murky, talented rookie Logan Thompson recovering from an injury of his own, and the fact that Hill, Brossoit, and Jonathan Quick are all pending UFAs. Still, Vegas appears focused on getting Hill re-signed. If that happens, it seems unlikely Brossoit will be able to carve out the bulk of the workload.
So unless he's interested in serving as a backup yet again or even returning to the AHL in the defending champions' organization, Brossoit could look to parlay his late-season success and brief playoff experience into a contract with a team that will give him consistent starts.
Erik Gustafsson
Gustafsson played a much less significant role with the Toronto Maple Leafs than he did with the Washington Capitals, as the Leafs clearly acquired him for defensive depth ahead of the playoffs.
The journeyman blue-liner was in the midst of a productive season when the Capitals traded him to the Maple Leafs in late February. Gustafsson posted 38 points, including seven goals, in 61 games with Washington while averaging 20:22 of ice time. He collected four assists in nine contests with Toronto following the swap but played just 15:45 per game. His underlying numbers also declined.
The Leafs have other pending UFAs on the back end - namely Luke Schenn and Justin Holl - but they're right-handed, whereas Gustafsson is a lefty. Toronto is set on the left side with Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, and Jake McCabe, so Gustafsson would be hard-pressed to regularly crack the lineup unless he plays where he's not most comfortable.
The Swede has shown some offensive skill over several seasons and could ride his performance with the Capitals to a new deal outside Toronto where he can get more playing time.
James van Riemsdyk
The Philadelphia Flyers and new general manager Daniel Briere appear to be on the verge of initiating an all-out rebuild, having traded Ivan Provorov in early June before attempting to move Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo in separate deals that hit snags over the weekend.
It's safe to say Van Riemsdyk wouldn't be thrilled to be part of a team that's torn down. If it gets to that point, the 34-year-old should look to join a contender.
The American winger isn't the player he once was and definitely shouldn't expect a cap hit anywhere near the $7 million he has on his expiring contract. But Van Riemsdyk drove possession on a bad Flyers team this past season, so he still has something to offer potential suitors in additon to his experience and occasional flashes of his old scoring touch.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Shattenkirk is in a similar situation to Van Riemsdyk, though the veteran defenseman does have a Stanley Cup ring from his season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20. Just like JVR, the Anaheim Ducks blue-liner is also 34 years old, and Shattenkirk has spent the last three campaigns with the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks have some promising youngsters and could eventually contend again down the road, but that's not likely to happen next season. Shattenkirk won't break the bank as a free agent as his game has also predictably declined with age. But while he might have at least a third-pairing role virtually locked up on a not-so-deep Anaheim squad, he should test the UFA waters if he wants to play for a winner.
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