When the clock strikes noon ET on Tuesday, NHL general managers are poised to spend boatloads of cash on the top free agents on the market, especially with the salary cap rising by $7.5 million. As we learn every summer, however, it pays to be prudent.
Teams searching for value should consider these five free agents. All contract projections are courtesy of AFP Analytics.
Previous team: New Jersey Devils
Previous contract: Two years, $3.85-million cap hit
Contract projection: Two years, $3.5-million cap hit
Admittedly, Allen might have priced himself out of this category because of the dearth of other viable goaltending options. One GM described Allen to Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman as “the belle of the ball” at the position. At the same time, free-agent goaltenders in their mid-30s typically do not command large salaries.
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Allen, who turns 35 in August, posted strong numbers as the backup to Jacob Markstrom in New Jersey last season. He saved 0.34 goals above expected per 60 minutes, which ranked 14th out of 53 goaltenders who played at least 25 games. Markstrom, by comparison, finished 24th with 0.18 goals saved above expected per 60. Allen’s 2.66 goals-against average in 31 appearances (29 starts) was 18th among qualified goaltenders.
After Allen, the best available goaltender could either be Calgary’s Dan Vladar, 27, or Detroit’s Alex Lyon, 32. Vladar and Lyon ranked 28th and 29th, respectively, in goals saved above expected per 60. Both also recorded quality-start rates of more than 50 per cent. Vladar prevented more goals than expected in 17 of his 29 starts (58.6 per cent), while Lyon did so in 14 of his 26 starts (53.8 per cent).
Position: Left/right wing
Previous team: Washington Capitals
Previous contract: One year, $1.25-million cap hit
Contract projection: Three years, $3.2-million cap hit
Beauvillier has lived a nomadic life. He has played for six teams since the start of the 2022-23 season, most recently landing in Washington after being sent there by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the March trade deadline.
The Capitals and Penguins trusted Beauvillier enough to play him on their top lines. His most common linemate in Pittsburgh last season was Sidney Crosby (219:52 of shared ice time at even strength), and he skated on the wing opposite Alex Ovechkin during Washington’s playoff run.
Beauvillier had just 15 goals and 25 points in 81 games, but he has the tools to be an effective scorer at a low cost. His 1.13 inner-slot shots per 20 minutes ranked 18th out of 388 forwards who played at least 500 minutes in all situations, and his 1.06 offensive rebound recoveries were 23rd most at the position.
Also working in Beauvillier’s favour is how he elevates his game in the playoffs, having averaged 0.57 points over 65 career post-season games. That is up from the 0.43 points per game he has averaged in the regular season.
“When the intensity gets ratcheted up, when there becomes pressure situations, he’s very even-keeled in those moments,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters during the playoffs. “I think that leads to being able to have success in the most difficult time of the year, in the most high-pressure situations.”
Previous team: St. Louis Blues
Previous contract: Five years, $3.25-million cap hit
Contract projection: Two years, $1.3-million cap hit
The team that brings in Faksa will not be doing so for his offence. Over his past six seasons, Faksa has averaged 20.7 points per 82 games. But he is rock solid on the defensive side of the puck.
Faksa’s 1.64 stick checks per 20 last season were eighth out of 388 qualified forwards (minimum 500 minutes). He also won a career-high 57 per cent of his faceoffs, including 55.8 per cent of his defensive-zone draws. Listed at six-foot-three and 215 pounds, Faksa used his frame to win 3.18 puck battles per 20, which led all Blues forwards and ranked 37th league-wide.
St. Louis counted on Faksa, who has played 86 career playoff games, to set the tone. Every team could use a battle-hardened centre to anchor the fourth line.
Position: Right defence
Previous team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous contract: Two years, $1.125-million cap hit
Contract projection: Two years, $2.6-million cap hit
Right-handed defencemen are a precious commodity, and Perbix showed promise during his three seasons in Tampa Bay. In 2023-24, the six-foot-four Perbix played more than 400 minutes alongside Victor Hedman at even strength, so he knows what it takes to complement a No. 1 defenceman.
Perbix’s ability to disrupt opponents stood out last season. He had a pass-block success rate of 93.4 per cent, which ranked 10th out of 222 qualified defencemen (minimum 500 minutes). In addition, Perbix finished 21st with 1.07 defensive plays per 20 in the neutral zone.
At 27, Perbix is not a finished product and should not break the bank, which makes him an intriguing name in free agency.
Position: Left defence
Previous team: Florida Panthers
Previous contract: One year, $800,000 cap hit
Contract projection: Two years, $3-million cap hit
Schmidt is busy partying with the Panthers after winning the Stanley Cup in his 12th NHL season, and he is sure to receive plenty of interest from teams desperate for defensive help after his solid playoff performance.
Despite playing just 16:16 per game in the playoffs, Schmidt recorded 12 points in 23 games. Only Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard (14) had more points than Schmidt’s eight at five-on-five among defencemen. He and Dmitry Kulikov formed an excellent third pair for the Panthers, who outscored opponents 11-6 and generated 74.2 per cent of the expected goals at five-on-five when those defencemen were on the ice in the playoffs. (Granted, Schmidt and Kulikov did not face the same calibre of competition as the Panthers’ other pairs.)
Schmidt could follow in Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s footsteps. Both signed in Florida for cheap after being bought out and won a championship. Ekman-Larsson parlayed his lone season with the Panthers into a four-year deal that came with a nice raise.