RISING PRICES
Kadri, Kane are among a dozen free agents whose value has increased
When Nazem Kadri scored a hat trick in Game 4 against the St. Louis Blues, he was clapping back at those Internet trolls who had bombarded him with racist comments from the game before. But he was also delivering a pointed message to Blues head coach Craig Berube, who cited Kadri's “reputation” — he had been suspended three times in the playoffs — for a questionable hit on goalie Jordan Binnington in Game 3.
Suffice to say, the Colorado Avalanche forward's “reputation” is quickly changing.
Say what you want about his past, Kadri is proving in these playoffs that he's a valuable member of a team that is favoured to win the Stanley Cup. In the process, the pending unrestricted free agent has increased his value on the open market.
And he's not alone. From Edmonton's Evander Kane to Tampa Bay's Nick Paul, here are 12 players whose price on July 13 has gone up.
Claude Giroux, 34 years old 2021-22 cap hit: $8.275 million US
The longtime Flyers captain found another gear after being traded to the Panthers, where he moved to the wing and scored 23 points in 18 games, as well as another eight points in 10 playoff games before getting bounced in the second round. Staying in Florida will obviously be an option. But for a team looking for a veteran presence, such as Buffalo, Montreal or Ottawa, he'd possibly be an even better fit.
Patrice Bergeron, 36 2021-22 cap hit: $6.875 million
Following a first-round loss to the Hurricanes, it sounds like the Bruins have already made peace with the possibility that their captain could be gone this summer. Part of it has to do with a looming rebuild that's been put off for too long. If so, the Canadiens would love to have the fourtime Selke Trophy winner as a mentor for projected top pick Shane Wright.
Johnny Gaudreau, 28 2021-22 cap hit: $6.75 million
You'd have to think that there is no way that the Flames would allow Gaudreau to walk as a free agent. Not after he scored 40 goals for the first time in his career and was a runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy with 115 points — and has continued that production in the playoffs with 13 points in 10 games. Then again, he still doesn't have a contract for next year. And the Flames still have to re-sign RFAs Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane, which could make things difficult for a team that is up against the cap.
Filip Forsberg, 27 2021-22 cap hit: $6 million
It's still unclear whether Forsberg will re-sign with the Predators or hit the open market following a firstround loss to the Avalanche. If it's the latter, there certainly won't be a shortage of suitors. Forsberg, who is the highest-scoring player in the 2012 draft, outdid even himself this year with a careerbest 42 goals and 84 points (though he only had a goal in four playoff games).
Max Domi, 27 2021-22 cap hit: $5.3-million
The last time Domi was in the playoffs, he went 10 games without a goal and was then traded from Montreal to Columbus. Following another trade to Carolina, he's finally showing what he can do. Domi scored twice and picked up an assist in a pivotal 3-2 Game 7 win against the Bruins in the first round. The further the Hurricanes go, the more in-demand Domi will become.
David Perron, 33 2021-22 cap hit: $5 million
Arguably the most underrated forward in the NHL, Perron is showing no signs of slowing down. The feisty winger had 27 goals and 57 points in 67 games with the Blues this season, but it is his playoffs numbers — nine goals and 13 points in 10 games — that have been really proving his worth.
Nazem Kadri, 31 2021-22 cap hit: $4.5 million
At this time last year, Kadri had once again earned a suspension that cost his team a chance at a Stanley Cup. While he hasn't toned down his emotions, he's harnessed them in a way we've never seen before. If he can continue to straddle the line without going over, then Kadri could become the No. 1 target for teams looking for that rare combination of high-end skill and grit.
Darcy Kuemper, 32 2021-22 cap hit: $4.5 million
Ask hockey fans to list all the players who have contributed to the Avalanche's success this year and it is more than likely that Kuemper's name would be near the bottom. That being said, he has allowed only 14 goals in seven playoff games. For a team like Toronto, which cannot seem to get over the hump, he might be the answer they have been looking for.
John Klingberg, 29 2021-22 cap hit: $4.25-million
The offensive defenceman had a team-worst minus-28 rating this year. Considering that teammate Jason Robertson was a plus-16, it's not something that should be overlooked. Neither should the fact that he had no goals and one assist in a seven-game loss to Calgary. Still, only seven defencemen have racked up more points since Klingberg broke into the league eight years ago.
Evander Kane, 30 2021-22 cap hit: $2.1 million
The Oilers took a big risk in signing Kane — and boy is it paying off. Kane scored 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games to help Edmonton qualify for the playoffs, but it's his 10 goals and 13 points in 10 playoff games that will likely secure him an extension to remain on Connor McDavid's wing.
Jack Campbell, 30 2021-22 cap hit: $1.65 million
Campbell once again didn't get Toronto out of the first round. But for large parts of the seven-game series against Tampa Bay, he did outplay Andrei Vasilevskiy. That alone should garner him some interest across the league, especially if the Leafs are unable to afford the late-blooming goalie.
Nick Paul, 27
2021-22 cap hit: $1.35 million
The Game 7 hero against the Leafs, Paul could be in for a big payday if the Lightning are able to three-peat. Even if they don't, the versatile forward's ability to play up and down in the lineup for a contender is something that he wasn't able to show in his time in Ottawa.