Top new NHL Free Agents thanks to buyouts and no qualifying offers
Anthony Scultore
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This was going to be a wild NHL offseason. We’ve already seen trades with the most significant being Max Domi for Josh Anderson between Montreal and Columbus. Yesterday also brought a resolution to Matt Murray situation with a trade to Ottawa.
Now we have Kyle Turris being bought out which adds to names like Bobby Ryan and Henrik Lundqvist. Throw in restricted free agents not tendered a qualifying offer like Anthony Duclair and the free agent landscape just got bigger tomorrow.
Newly Minted NHL Free Agents
Yesterday was the deadline to qualify all restricted free agents. Every year there’s a handful of low end players that do not get qualified. This season with the flat cap and uncertainty of games to be played next year, we have dozens. Here’s some of the top names now available.
Anthony Duclair: Anyone want a 25 year-old goal scorer? Apparently Duclair wanted too much money so Ottawa let him walk. He scored 23 goals and 40 points in 66 games.
Andreas Athanasiou: Here’s a bargain 26 year-old center the Oilers did not qualify. Athanasiou is a two-way player who scored 26 points in 55 games. A great third line center.
Troy Stecher: Anyone looking for some help on defense can add a 26 year-old righty that notched 17 points in 69 games. Canucks didn’t see him as a fit.
Dominik Kahun: The Sabres are letting this 25 year-old center walk. He scored 31 points in 56 games and will be a sought after commodity.
Carter Verhaeghe: Teams are always looking for centers, and the Lightning are letting this 25 year-old go. He scored 13 points in 52 games. A nice 4th line pivot.
Jeremy Bracco: Wow how this prospect has fallen. Kyle Dubas basically said it’s time to move on when the Leafs didn’t qualify Bracco. He is a 23 year-old winger from Long Island, NY. I bet the Islanders take a chance.
From Expensive Buyouts to UFA Bargains
Henrik Lundqvist: He is a legend, but he is also going to sign with the Washington Capitals on a sweetheart deal tomorrow.
Bobby Ryan: Word is there’s plenty of teams interested in Bobby’s scoring ability. He will be a reclamation project that the Flyers, Islanders, and Predators may have interest in.
Kyle Turris: The word on his buyout was for the purpose of Nashville going after Taylor Hall tomorrow. Turris is a center and the Winnipeg Jets could be all over this one.