Reinhart and Guentzel lead the UFA gamers

3. Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning; 8,5 milionu)

The Lightning captain, who lifted the Stanley Cup two years in a row (2020, 2021) and was within the finals with the workforce a complete of 4 instances, is kind of probably the best determine within the membership’s historical past. He’s already its document holder in objectives (555), factors (1137) and video games (1082) and several other different classes, he’s a revered chief and captain.

However common supervisor Julien BriseBois has simply over $10 million of his $88 million wage cap and solely 10 forwards signed to the bottom. If Stamkos actually desires to proceed in Tampa, he should take a giant low cost on his present wage.

If not, he can hope for a better wage within the open market, even when it might not be an eight-year contract like earlier than, which is comprehensible given his age (34). Nonetheless, the curiosity would definitely be appreciable; the Canadian striker confirmed nice high quality within the final season as effectively: he scored 40 objectives and picked up 81 factors in 79 video games. In whole, he has 1137 factors (555+582) after 1082 duels for the Lightning.

“Clearly he wants a contract and we need to maintain him within the membership,” BriseBois mentioned. “You have seen Stammer step up his performances because the switch deadline, which has been improbable. Our goal is to maintain him on the Lightning, who will proceed to be favourites.”

4. Brandon Montour (Florida Panthers; 3,5 milionu)

Like Reinhart, Montour spent loads of years with one other membership as considerably common, solely to rise to the league’s stars after arriving in Florida. And like him, the quarterback from Brantford, Ontario (Wayne Gretzky’s birthplace) has had one of the best two years of his profession: he scored 73 factors in 2022-23 and completed this 12 months with 33 factors in 66 video games, however as a key guard within the workforce’s Stanley Cup push Cup. In 24 playoff video games, he contributed 11 factors (3+8) and with a excessive time on the ice (common 22:40) he was a kind of who stopped the opponent’s greatest aces.

He underwent shoulder surgical procedure a 12 months in the past, so he entered the season late, however finally performed into elite type. On the age of 30, Montour is on the peak of his profession, among the many guards he’s valued as a right-hander, a fantastic fighter, a high quality skater with a great overview and now at the same time as a champion.

His precedence will probably be to remain in Florida, however his market value is someplace round seven or eight million per 12 months, which could be a powerful nut to crack for boss Zito.