EXPECT TEAMS TO OVERPAY FOR DEFENCE
Lucic, Eriksson may be the big fish, but blue-line help is in big demand
Steven Stamkos is off the market. Edmonton has found its top-pairing defenceman. And Montreal has made the kind of franchisedefining trades that can cause a GM to sit back and take a deep breath.
Yes, it seems like most of the fireworks we had been expecting on Canada Day happened two days earlier. But that does not mean July 1 will be a dud.
While Milan Lucic, Kyle Okposo and Loui Eriksson might not move the needle in terms of excitement, there are still plenty of players available this summer.
Here are eight burning questions as we head into the free agency period:
Will there be more blockbuster trades?
It’s difficult to imagine another day — actually an hour — matching the madness that saw Taylor Hall, P.K. Subban and Shea Weber all get traded, but anything is possible. Two names to watch in the next few days are Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim’s Cam Fowler. Both defencemen have been on the trading block for some time now and the lack of free agent defencemen means both could still be in demand.
Who is the biggest fish?
While Milan Lucic is getting the royal treatment from Edmonton and Vancouver, Loui Eriksson could end up demanding the most money. For years, Eriksson was the default answer when anyone asked for the most underrated player in the NHL. But after he scored 30 goals and 63 points for the Bruins last season — his highest goal total since 2008-09 — the 30-year-old winger is set to cash in.
Will someone overpay for certain intangibles?
It’s been five years since Lucic scored 30 goals, but the power forward will likely get 30-goal scorer money because of a unique physical game that smaller-sized teams like Edmonton and Vancouver believe they are in need of. A similar narrative surrounds David Backes, who is coming off another down year where he scored 21 goals and 45 points in St. Louis. Of course, it’s his leadership during his time as the Blues captain — the man openly cried after losing in the third round this year — that might be viewed more importantly than his diminishing point totals.
Will the Leafs sign a star?
There was always debate whether the Leafs needed — or wanted — Stamkos at this stage of their rebuild. But with a young group of forwards including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, the team could probably benefit from having an established veteran to show the kids the ropes and take off some of the pressure. Possible names out there include Backes, Andrew Ladd and Okposo.
Is there a premium this year for defencemen?
If there is anything that the last week has taught us, it is that top-pairing defencemen are only available through the draft or franchise-defining trades. It is why Edmonton was willing to move Taylor Hall to New Jersey in a one-for-one swap for Adam Larsson. And it is why teams are wining and dining Jason Demers. Like the rest of the defencemen available in free agency, Demers is not a true No. 1 or even a No. 2. And yet, supply and demand will likely cause GMs to overpay for the likes of him, Kris Russell and Dan Hamhuis.
How old is too old?
You generally have to be older to test the free agent market, since UFA status is based on age and experience. But with what we now know about a player’s peak performing years, some players might want to think about locating a fake ID. A couple of interesting names to watch include 37-year-olds Brian Campbell, who has not missed a game in the last five seasons and finished second among Florida defencemen with 31 points, as well as Washington forward Jason Chimera, who scored 20 goals for the first time since 201112.
Is there still a goalie market?
With the Leafs trading for Frederik Andersen and the Flames acquiring Brian Elliott, the goalie market has shrunk considerably. There are still free agents out there, but instead of legitimate starters we are now onto the less-sexy back-ups. Topping the list is James Reimer, who went 6-2-0 with a .938 save percentage after getting traded to San Jose and would look perfect in a platoon role with either Calgary or Anaheim.
Will anyone want Eric Staal?
The 31-year-old, who had his worst offensive season since 2003-04, is no longer a No. 1 centre. After scoring just six points in 20 games and going without a point in five playoff games in a post-trade run with the Rangers, he doesn’t even look like a No. 2 centre. Carolina GM Ron Francis told reporters “it would be unfair to us and to him to bring him back” but does that mean Staal’s career is done? Maybe not. But Staal might have to wait or be willing to accept a tryout before landing a job.