Tavares and who else? Top names to watch in free agency

The NHL’s best rarely make it to free agency.

John Tavares this year is considered a top target, assuming the Islanders and their new leaders can’t persuade the 27-year-old center to stay with the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said the Tavares situation is holding back other free agents, not knowing how high he will set the bar for salaries, and delaying trades. “I think it’s holding up the hockey world a certain amount,” Hextall said.

Some other names to watch ahead of free agency, which begins Sunday: JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK The Leafs would love to keep him, but they might have to let him go to potentially to have enough money to bring John Tavares back home. JVR, 29, had a career-high 36 goals last season, his sixth in Toronto and ninth in the league.

MIKE GREEN With Washington keeping John Carlson off the market, the 32-year-old Green may be the best defenseman available. Green had a neck injury last season in Detroit and that may concern some teams.

The 30-year-old winger picked a good time to have a career year, with a career-high 50 assists and 66 points with the Vegas Golden Knights. He added nine point during their postseason run.

The three-time All-Star had a career-high 11 postseason points during the Vegas run to the Stanley Cup Final. The 30-year-old winger keeps himself in great shape and leads on and off the ice.