NHL Free Agent Rankings: Best Available Players in 2024

With July now being almost halfway over, most of the big-name free agents have found their new homes. While this is the case, there are still some solid players available who have real shots of being signed before the start of the season. 

Because of this, let’s discuss the top 20 players still available for the taking.

NHL Free Agent Rankings

1. Daniel Sprong – Red Wings

Daniel Sprong is the best free agent who is still available. The 27-year-old is coming off a solid season with the Red Wings, posting 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games. Teams looking for more production in their bottom six should be interested. 

2. James van Riemsdyk – Bruins

James van Riemsdyk is another solid winger who is still looking for his next deal. The 35-year-old had a decent season with the Bruins, recording 11 goals, 38 points, and a plus-7 rating in 71 games. He is still a serviceable third-liner, so he should find a home. 

3. Tyler Johnson – Blackhawks 

Tyler Johnson should get signed before the season starts. This is because he is a solid middle-six forward who can play both down the middle and on the wing. He should at least be able to get a cheap one-year, prove-it deal. 

4. Max Pacioretty – Capitals 

Max Pacioretty may no longer be the star forward he was during his prime, but he can still work in a third-line role. He is also a well-respected leader, so he should be able to find a new team to play for if he elects to continue his career.  

5. Justin Schultz – Kraken 

Justin Schultz is the top defenseman left on the free-agent market. The 34-year-old should be a target for teams looking to add a third-pairing, right-shot defenseman with experience to their roster. In 70 games last season with the Kraken, he had seven goals and 26 points.

6. Tyson Barrie – Predators 

The 2023-24 season was a tough one for Tyson Barrie. He fell out of favor with the Predators and was healthy scratched multiple times because of it. While this was the case, he should get signed before the start of the season because of his solid offensive production from the point.

7. Kevin Lankinen – Predators 

Kevin Lankinen is the top goalie still left on the free-agent market. The 29-year-old was a solid backup for the Predators in each of the last two seasons and could get a chance because of it. Teams looking to upgrade at the backup position should be calling. 

8. Alex Nylander – Blue Jackets 

After being traded to the Blue Jackets, Alex Nylander was nothing short of excellent. In 23 games with the Blue Jackets, he had 11 goals and 15 points. However, this was not enough for him to earn a new deal from Columbus, and he is still a free agent. Given his strong finish to the year, it seems inevitable that he will get signed.  

9. Mark Giordano – Maple Leafs 

Mark Giordano wants to continue his NHL career, but at this juncture, he remains unsigned. When noting that he has been a captain for two different clubs and still works as a bottom-pairing defender, he should be able to land a contract before the start of the season. 

10. Kevin Shattenkirk – Bruins 

Teams looking for a depth offensive defenseman could pursue Kevin Shattenkirk. He had a bit of a shaky season defensively for the Bruins but still provided decent offense from the point. Thus, a team out there could consider inking him to a one-year deal. 

11. John Klingberg – Maple Leafs

When healthy, John Klingberg is a very impactful offensive defenseman. However, this past season was incredibly tough for him, as his season ended in November due to a hip injury. If he gets cleared to play next season, he should be able to get a one-year deal because of his past success. 

12. Antti Raanta – Hurricanes 

Antti Raanta has been a very solid 1B/backup goalie for the majority of his career. However, this past season was brutal for the veteran, as he had a .872 SV% in 24 games for Carolina. While this was the case, he could bounce back, given his past success. 

13. Blake Wheeler – Rangers

Blake Wheeler has not made a decision about his playing future and remains unsigned. He was a legitimate star during his prime years, but he had a down year with the Rangers and dealt with injury trouble. He will likely need to settle for a cheap one-year deal if he hopes to continue his career. 

14. Oliver Kylington – Flames

Oliver Kylington should be able to land a new deal for next season. The left-shot defenseman is viewed as having solid potential and would be a nice addition to a club’s bottom pairing. Teams looking for more depth should consider taking a flier on him. 

15. Tony DeAngelo – Hurricanes 

Tony DeAngelo is another experienced NHL defender still available for the taking. He can be an impactful offensive defenseman, so he may generate some interest later this summer. However, he is coming off a down season, so he may need to settle for a PTO this time around. 

16. Mike Hoffman – Sharks

Mike Hoffman’s days as a top-six forward are over, but he can still provide decent offensive production in a bottom-six role. In 66 games last season with the Sharks, he had 10 goals and 23 points. This may be good enough for him to land a one-year contract at a league-minimum salary.

17. Alexander Barabanov – Sharks 

Alexander Barabanov had a rough season with the Sharks, recording four goals, 13 points, and a minus-24 rating in 46 games. While it was a tough season for him, he is a prime bounce-back candidate. Keep in mind, he had 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games just back in 2022-23. Thus, a team out there should give him a chance on a one-year deal. 

18. Nick Cousins – Panthers

Teams looking for an agitator for their bottom six should be calling Nick Cousins. He is still available for the taking after a solid two-year stint with the Panthers. While he is not a dominant player offensively, he is a gritty forward who is a pain to play against and kills penalties.

19. Kevin Labanc – Sharks

Kevin Labanc is another player from the Sharks who struggled last season. In 46 games, the 28-year-old winger had two goals, seven assists, and a minus-27 rating. While it was a rough year for the New York native, he could get a new deal before the season starts. He had a 15-goal and 33-point campaign just back in 2022-23. 

20. Cal Clutterbuck – Islanders 

Veteran winger Cal Clutterbuck remains without a home at this point of the offseason. Teams looking for more grit, leadership, and experience on their fourth line could consider signing him. 

When Did 2024 NHL Free Agency Start?

The 2024 NHL Free Agency period started on Monday, July 1, 2024. 

What’s the 2023-24 NHL Salary Cap?

The NHL salary cap for the 2023-24 season is $83.5 million. It jumped up by just $1 million from the 2022-23 season, but we are expected to see a more notable increase in 2024-25.

What’s the 2024-25 NHL Salary Cap?

While not set in stone, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently shared that the salary cap is expected to go up to $87.7 million for the 2024-25 season. This would be great news, as teams would be gaining more than $4 million of cap space.