The 2024 class of unrestricted free agents may lack surefire superstar talent, but it more than makes up for it in depth. Many of these players will look to cash in on long-term contracts as the salary cap takes its first significant jump since the pandemic.
With free agency opening Monday, we’re taking a crystal ball look at where the most notable free agents will end up. The order in which each player appears on the list is based on their projected average annual value.
Ages as of October 10 (start date of last season).
Editor’s Note: This article was published before the Carolina Hurricanes traded the rights to Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sam Reinhart
Age: 28
Position: RW
Prediction 🔮: Re-signed with the Panthers on an 8-year contract for $9.5 million AAV
Could Reinhart get a higher AAV elsewhere after a 57-goal season? It’s possible. But with the extra year the Panthers can offer him, plus the bonus of not paying Florida income tax, he gets more total money by renewing his contract. This contract is less than captain Aleksander Barkov’s $10 million AAV, but matches the contract Matthew Tkachuk received when he joined the Panthers.
Jake Guentzel
Age: 30
Position: AG/AD
Prediction 🔮: Signs Lightning to 7-year, $9 million contract AAV
The Lightning made major moves to free up cap space on Saturday and the club is reportedly making a push to land Guentzel. If Tampa Bay is willing to make a big offer, like the one above, it would be extremely difficult for Guentzel to say no. The Lightning may be an aging team, but the opportunity to play with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point might be too tempting to pass up. The sunny weather and no income tax don’t hurt either. That gives Tampa an advantage over Vancouver, another contender for Guentzel, despite the familiarity within the Canucks organization.
Brady Skei
Age: 30
Position: LD
Prediction 🔮: He signed with the Predators for a 7-year contract with an annual value of 8 million dollars.
The Predators have the most space under the salary cap of any team that made the 2024 playoffs. They could desperately need help up front, but finding a replacement for Ryan McDonagh on the second pairing is also an important need. Skjei is the most complete defender in the class. He could handle tough matchups on the second pairing and help ease the burden on captain Roman Josi.
Steven Stamkos
Age: 34
Position: G/D/C
Prediction 🔮: He signed with the Red Wings for a 3-year contract with an annual value of $7.5 million.
Even after clearing space under the salary cap on Saturday, general manager Julien BriseBois said Stamkos would test the open market. If the Lightning fail with Guentzel, maybe they’ll return to Stamkos, but we don’t see that happening in this universe.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman clearly has something up his sleeve after paying a second-round pick to terminate Jake Walman’s contract. Yzerman was the one who convinced Stamkos to stay in Tampa Bay eight years ago. Could he convince him to come to Detroit and help the Red Wings turn the corner? He could.
Brandon Montour
Age: 30
Position: DR
Prediction 🔮: Signs 5-year, $7 million AAV deal with Kraken
The Kraken have money to spend, and while adding points up front might be a more pressing need, Montour — a year removed from a 73-point campaign — is the best offensive defenseman in the class. Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson are a core duo, but Montour would mesh nicely with the towering Jamie Oleksiak to round out a stellar top four on defense.
Elias Lindholm
Age: 29
Position: VS
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Bruins to 6-year contract at $6.5 million AAV
The Bruins have a gaping hole in the middle of the ice since Patrice Bergeron retired. No one can replace a franchise icon like Bergeron, but Lindholm has many of the same qualities: right-handed, good two-way play, can play the power play bumper. After a down year between the Flames and Canucks, Lindholm joins the Bruins at a perceived discount. There’s a chance he could thrive in Jim Montgomery’s system alongside David Pastrnak and/or Brad Marchand.
Jonathan Marchessault
Age: 33
Position: AD/AG
Prediction 🔮: Re-signed with the Golden Knights on a 4-year contract at $6.5 million AAV
Marchessault could likely command a higher AAV elsewhere on the open market after a career-high 42-goal season, but the opening-day Golden Knight opts to stay in Vegas with the help of an extra year.
Brett Pesce
Age: 29
Position: RD
Prediction 🔮: He signed with the Devils for a 6-year contract with an annual value of 6 million dollars.
The Devils have holes on their blue line after trading Kevin Bahl and John Marino this summer. They reportedly freed up cap space to try to target Pesce, and it makes sense. Pesce could serve as a solid, consistent presence on the right side of a pairing with young phenom Luke Hughes.
Matt Roy
Age: 29
Position: RD
Prediction 🔮: Signs 5-year, $6 million AAV deal with Ducks
The longtime Los Angeles Kings defenseman is making the short trip up the coast to Anaheim, which has deeper pockets and is outbidding its in-state rivals. The Ducks blue line is full of young left-handed options with Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellwerger, and Veteran Cam Fowler is still under contract for a few years. But Roy’s arrival would give them another option – besides Radko Gudas – to play tough minutes on the right side.
Teuvo Teravainen
Age: 30
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮: He signed with the Predators for a 5-year contract with an annual value of 6 million dollars.
The Predators would surely be pleased with themselves if they could leave free agency with a pair of former Hurricanes in Skjei and Teravainen. “Turbo” can play high in the lineup in an offensive role or lower down on a defensive line, and can help on both the power play and penalty kill. A versatile and responsible player like Teravainen seems like the kind of player general manager Barry Trotz would covet.
Tyler Toffoli
Age: 32
Position: RW/LW
Prediction 🔮: Signs 4-year, $6 million AAV deal with Kings
Toffoli began his career in Los Angeles. Could he end it there too? The adjustment makes sense. The Kings need to replace some of their offensive line after losing Pierre-Luc Dubois and, potentially, Viktor Arvidsson, who is awaiting a UFA. Toffoli is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons and would bring good vibes to the locker room as a member of Los Angeles’ 2014 Cup-winning team.
Sean Monahan
Age: 29
Position: VS
Prediction 🔮 : Signs with the Blue Jackets to a 4-year contract with $5.5 million AAV
The Blue Jackets need to find a way to move Johnny Gaudreau forward, as that seven-year investment hasn’t paid off after two seasons. So why not call on his former teammate in Calgary? Monahan’s time with the Flames did not end well, as he dealt with injuries. But he is now healthy and is coming off an exceptional season of 26 goals and 59 points. Could he and Gaudreau rediscover their magic in Columbus? The Jackets could use a veteran, top-six forward.
Patrick Kane
Age: 35
Position: RW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Sabres to 2-year, $5.5 million AAV deal
There have long been rumors that Kane, a Buffalo native, would one day return home to Western New York to play for the Sabres, and there may be no better time than now. Buffalo needs help upfront after its offense faltered last season, and its young core could also use an established veteran who has been there and done that. Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, showed last season with the Red Wings that he still has a lot of work to do by recording 47 points in 50 games while coming off major hip surgery.
Nikita Zadorov
Age: 29
Position: L.D.
Prediction 🔮 : signs with the Maple Leafs on a 5-year contract with an AAV of $5 million
Toronto still needs another top-four defenseman, even after acquiring the rights to Chris Tanev on Saturday. General manager Brad Treliving tried to acquire Tanev and Zadorov during the regular season because he knows both from his days in Calgary. Treliving also covets size and meanness on the blue line, and the 6-foot-6, 248-pound Zadorov has just that. Zadorov, coming off a strong season with the Canucks in which he became a media favorite for his statements, seems built to be in the spotlight in Toronto.
Jake DeBrusk
Age: 27
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮 : signs one-year, $5 million contract with Canucks
The Canucks missed out on Guentzel, but got a pretty intriguing consolation prize in DeBrusk, one of the youngest free agents available. DeBrusk could certainly get a longer-term deal if he wants, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he looks to rebuild his value after a down year and then cash in big in 2025. DeBrusk has reached the 25-goal mark three times in his career, but he could easily score more than 30 playing in Vancouver alongside Elias Pettersson or JT Miller.
It’s worth noting that DeBrusk’s father, Louie, was a teammate of Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet for two seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes.