The holding points replace each other during the hockey summer. With the NHL Awards finished, the draft awaits in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville on June 28-29 before the eyes are turned to free agency – the period where the league’s players without contracts get the chance to sign new contracts – which starts on Saturday, July 1, starting at 18.00 Swedish time .
Among the quality names that have already been removed from the market regarding the back position are Damon Severson, who was traded from New Jersey to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 9, and Vladislav Gavrikov, who extended with the Kings around the same time.
Here, NHL.com/sv takes a closer look at the range of defensemen with the status of Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA).
Dmitry Orlov, Boston Bruins
Dmitry Orlov won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018 and is a smart player both offensively and defensively. 17 points (4+13) in 23 games in the regular season and eight assists in seven games in the playoffs since arriving with the Bruins at this year’s trade deadline testify to a player who is at the peak of his abilities. He averaged 22.33 in ice time per game, and no other back in this year’s UFA class matches that time. The 31-year-old from Novokuznetsk in Russia was traded from Washington to the Bruins – and lived up to expectations. He is simply a top defender, and could be the biggest financial deal in this year’s UFA circus. Several clubs have shown interest in Orlov: Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabers and Columbus Blue Jackets, among others. Orlov himself does not rule out a return to the Capitals.
Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild
Video: MIN-DET: Dumba extends Minnesota’s lead
Minnesota’s 28-year-old defender is the only right-handed shooter in the group, he manages to average more than 21 minutes per game and he is under 30 years old. With that, Matt Dumba stands out from other backs in this year’s UFA group. Dumba, from Regina, Saskatchewan, and Wild general manager Bill Guerin are said to be in agreement that the guard is happy to stay, but when the market opens, it will all come down to a question of money.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Carolina Hurricanes
Video: ARI-CAR: Gostisbehere’s first goal for Carolina
The offensively oriented left-handed shooter was traded from Arizona to Carolina during the season, but is said to have eyes on him from, among others, the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old from Pembroke Pines, Florida is still producing well: 41 regular season points (13+28) in 75 games for the Coyotes and Hurricanes but just three points (0+3) in 15 games in the playoffs.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Vancouver Canucks
Video: Ekman-Larsson equalizes in the first period
It drew little attention around the league when the Canucks bought out Ekman-Larsson from the closing years of a long contract and sent him into this year’s group of defensemen with UFA status. The game-intelligent 31-year-old from Karlskrona is likely very eager to show that the Canucks made the wrong decision: speculation about Ekman-Larsson’s next address is frequent. One of them is the Detroit Red Wings, where Ekman-Larsson could serve as a mentor for 20-year-old Simon Edvinsson, who is seriously knocking on the door to the NHL. Or Tampa Bay, where “older” running backs like Zach Bogosian and Ian Cole have been given a new lease of life, as well as previously also Luke Schenn and Kevin Shattenkirk.
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Colorado’s assistant team captain has turned 35, and is popular in the club. But Colorado is in a challenging position to fit players under the salary cap, and Johnson is reportedly one of those who could be moved to free up cap space. Teams in need of a mentor for young running backs will naturally look extra closely at Johnson; here the Philadelphia Flyers are mentioned as a possible address.
John Klingberg, Minnesota Wild
Video: MIN-DAL, M4: Klingberg nets for Wild in third period
After nine years and nearly 700 games in the NHL, the 30-year-old from Gothenburg is still a skilled skating and mobile defenseman with a very developed eye for the game. Over the years, Klingberg’s scoring output has gone down a bit, but he is still extremely capable on the offensive end, especially on the power play. Klingberg was sent from the Anaheim Ducks to Minnesota at the trade deadline, where he played out the season. He scored nine points (2+7) in the regular season and four (1+3) in four games in the playoffs for the Wild and 24 points (8+16) in 50 games for the Ducks. Klingberg is looking for a longer contract and according to consistent information, he is happy to go out on the market.
Brian Dumoulin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Video: MIN-DAL, M4: Klingberg nets for Wild in third period
Dumoulin, 31, with his 193 cm and 95 kilos, is Penguin’s tallest defender and as such a hot name on the UFA market. He’s also left-handed and they don’t grow on trees. But a knee operation last year has haunted Dumoulin, who was occasionally replaced by Marcus Pettersson in the first back pair next to Kris Letang.
Erik Gustafsson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Video: FLA-TOR, M3: Gustavsson gives Toronto the lead
Erik Gustafsson last played in Toronto where he arrived from Washington at the trade deadline in early March; The 32-year-old from Stockholm has represented six clubs in the last four years. Various sources send Gustafsson back to the Capitals, who after all traded him away in order to trade for Rasmus Sandin, a nine-year-younger version of Gustafsson. The Capitals need to start rebuilding on defense; Gustafsson enjoyed himself there and made a good effort. Gustafsson would also be a good fit as a power play player for the Seattle Kraken who seriously established themselves in the NHL last season.
Other Swedish defenders with UFA status: Oscar Klefbom (Edmonton), Gustav Olofsson (Seattle), Robert Hägg (Detroit), Alexander Edler (Los Angeles) and Andreas Englund (Chicago).
2023-06-27 15:37:02
#running #backs #stand #ahead #free #agency
