A compressed schedule to end the 2022-23 season has allowed the NHL to return to the usual July 1 start date of the next campaign. As the league’s calendar turns the page, contracts are expiring and players are free to sign with new teams.
The big news yesterday was the high number of restricted free agents left unqualified by their teams. The likes of Daniel Sprong, Ethan Bear, Jesper Boqvist, and Christian Fischer are now UFAs, as the flat salary cap has prevented clubs from hanging onto all of their players this summer.
It’s likely to be a muted day of deals with the current financial situation the league is in, but teams with cap space, like the Montreal Canadiens, have a chance to capitalize on that flexibility as free agency begins.
A selection of top unrestricted free agents available
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Blake Wheeler
Matt Duchene
Vladimir Tarasenko
Ryan O’Reilly
James van Riemsdyk
John Klingberg
Max Pacioretty
Daniel Sprong
Ethan Bear
