2022 NHL Free Agency: Ranking The Top 15 Remaining NHL Free Agents

2022 NHL Free Agency: Ranking The Top 15 Remaining NHL Free Agents

There are no foregone conclusions in the NHL. Whether it's the draft or free agency, front office personnel often make offers to players that no one previously predicted. So whether it was Johnny Gaudreau opting to sign a hefty seven-year, $68.2 million contract with Columbus, or top overall prospect, Shane Wright, who slid outside of the top three selections, the surprises abound.

Matt MacKay ranks the top 15 players remaining in NHL free agency based on player talent, salary cap space, and roster depth.

2022 NHL Free Agency: Ranking The Top 15 Remaining NHL Free Agents

1. MATTHEW TKACHUK, LW, CALGARY FLAMES

Matthew Tkachuk joined Johnny Gaudreau as the only Calgary Flames player to surpass 100 points last season, but he is also rumored to be seeking a contract elsewhere. The 24-year-old winger scored more goals (42) than Gaudreau (40) in 2022, and he also finished second in assists (62), playing his way into a new contract. Tkachuk would be a good fit for teams needing premium goal-scorers and facilitators, including Detroit, New Jersey, Nashville, and Dallas.

2. NAZEM KADRI, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Front offices are stuck in a bidding war to attempt signing Nazem Kadri after his career year with Colorado. Not only did Kadri help propel the Avs to win the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, but he also scored 28 goals, the second-highest mark of his 13-year career. Kadri is a veteran, but he's got plenty of speed, puck handling, and finishing ability within the offensive zone for teams like Anaheim, Calgary, or Nashville to pursue.

3. PATRICE BERGERON, C, BOSTON BRUINS

Yes, there is still a demand for veterans who can score consistently in the league. For example, Patrice Bergeron scored the third-most goals (25) for Boston in 2022 and added 40 assists, which was the most since 2019. Bergeron has spent his entire 18-year career with the Bruins, but many young rosters could benefit from his presence and abilities. He could return to Boston if contract negotiations get hashed out; otherwise, Bergeron returning to play for his hometown Montréal Canadiens would be a likely scenario.

4. JOHN KLINGBERG, D, DALLAS STARS

Defensemen are a massive difference maker for a team's ability to reach the postseason. John Klingberg is fresh off of a 41-assist season with the Stars, averaging over 22 minutes of time on ice in 2022. However, what Klingberg lacks in goal-scoring, he makes up for with a high motor and fearlessness in the defensive zone, finishing with 77 blocked shots last season. He's rumored to be staying in Dallas for the upcoming season, but plenty of defensively-inept teams, such as the Islanders, Kraken, and Blue Jackets, would benefit from his presence.

5. JESPER BRATT, LW, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Jesper Bratt has entered the salary arbitration period with New Jersey, which could mean his RFA status could morph into UFA if he doesn't like the Devils' offer. The 23-year-old winger had a breakout campaign in New Jersey last season, finishing with 26 goals and 73 total points. He's only entering his sixth year in the league and is rounding into top form, meaning Bratt will be an asset for salary-cap-friendly teams such as Ottawa, Winnipeg, or the New York Islanders.

Which team has the best Stanley Cup odds next season? Find out here

6. PATRIK LAINE, RW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Patrik Laine finally turned on his goal-scoring talent for Columbus in 2022, finishing with 26 goals and 56 total points. The Swedish winger uses his big body to bully defenders off the puck frequently and create space to score. The plot twist is Laine remaining unsigned with a 5 pm ET deadline for him to accept Columbus' $7.5 million offer. He is expected to re-sign with the Blue Jackets, but the Blue Jackets will need to perform salary cap gymnastics to retain the talented winger to pair with Johnny Gaudreau in 2023.

7. SONNY MILANO, LW, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Sonny Milano revived his career in Anaheim last season, tying his career-high in goals (14) and also set a personal record with 20 assists. He's more of a supporting role player than an offensive juggernaut; however, Milano will likely be out with the Ducks based on their draft haul. Teams like Boston, Minnesota, and Carolina would benefit from signing an experienced winger to bolster their lower attack lines in 2023.

8. MIKKO KOSKINEN, G, EDMONTON OILERS

Edmonton needed to make a change in net, so they signed Jack Campbell to a massive contract when free agency began. Mikko Koskinen is 34 years old, but he's only played five seasons, finishing with under 3.00 GAA in 2019 and 2020 but regressing over the past two years with the Oilers. Koskinen is not a primary starter, but he's a quality back-up who can fill in for needy teams such as New Jersey, Columbus, and San Jose.

9. PAUL STATSNY, C, WINNIPEG JETS

Paul Statsny may be behind his primary years, but he scored 21 goals for the Jets in 2022, a mark he had not reached since 2014 during his tenure with Colorado. The 36-year-old center currently earns $3.75 million with Winnipeg but could cash in on his 2022 bounce-back campaign. Teams like Minnesota, Boston, and Chicago emerge as viable suitors for Statsny in free agency.

10. P.K. SUBBAN, D, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Teams aren't going to sign P.K. Subban based on his talent in the offensive zone, but he is a quality two-way defenseman with 13 years of experience. Subban racked 90 blocked shots and 69 hits in 2022 with the Devils, adding five goals and 17 assists in 77 games. He's durable and a speedy enforcer who still has enough talent to shore up leaky defenses in places like Chicago or Buffalo.

Click here for the latest NHL odds

11. DUSTIN BROWN, RW, LOS ANGELES KINGS

Dustin Brown fell under double-digit goals for the second time in his 18-year career during the Kings' 2022 season. The veteran winger has only played for Los Angeles but is a quality facilitator and an aggressor in transition. Durability concerns abound, but Brown has the talent to be a steady contributor on a second or third attack line for teams like Arizona, Anaheim, and Winnipeg.

12. BRADEN HOLTBY, G, DALLAS STARS

Goaltenders are always a premium in the NHL. Braden Holtby was traded from Vancouver to Dallas last season, where he started 22 games and finished with a .913 save percentage and 2.78 GAA. These are impressive numbers, and Holtby could stay with the Stars in 2023. Otherwise, teams like Detroit, Chicago, or Buffalo have plenty of cap space to pay up for the 32-year-old netminder.

13. EVAN RODRIGUES, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Evan Rodrigues made the most of his ample opportunities in Pittsburgh during the 2022 season. The 28-year-old center filled in for the oft-injured Evgeni Malkin, netting 19 goals and 24 assists to set a career-high with 43 total points. He's only earning $1 million AAV, so expect teams with big salary caps and anemic offenses like Arizona, Buffalo, or Winnipeg to increase Rodrigues' contract to instill his talent on their rosters.

14. PHIL KESSEL, RW, ARIZONA COYOTES

It was a down year for Phil Kessel during his 2022 campaign in the Desert. However, he still finished with 44 assists and possesses speed, handles, and vision to always be an asset on any roster. He's currently earning $6.8 million from the Coyotes, but after their massive haul of young talented wingers and centers in the draft, Kessel will likely be signed elsewhere. Teams such as Ottawa, Dallas, and Chicago make a lot of sense.

15. PIERRE-LUC DUBOIS, LW, WINNIPEG JETS

Pierre-Luc Dubois is currently in a contract standoff with Winnipeg. The 24-year-old center had a highly productive season with the Jets in 2022, finishing with 28 goals and 32 assists in 81 games. If Dubois does not sign his one-year, $6 million contract by Friday afternoon's deadline, continue negotiating a new contract, or be traded if another team offers significant compensation. As long as Dubois scores over 20 goals per season, his market will stay hot.

Looking for the best sportsbook offers? Check out the free bets page