Many UFA's around the NHL looking for a new home.

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Ryan Hall
July 28, 2023 (11:48)

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UFAs have reached a certain age and have the right to join any team that offers them the desired salary. Some UFAs aim for the highest salary possible, leading to bidding wars among NHL teams. Others are simply looking for their next job and are willing to accept any offer, often moving from team to team through trades in recent years.

During the summer, numerous unrestricted free agents signed new contracts with teams they were either with before or moved to new ones. The total value of these contracts exceeded the $600 million mark. As July comes to a close and August begins, several well-known UFAs are still without a team, but it's expected that they will find new homes in the coming weeks.

Here are some notable UFAs:

Martin Jones: Jones was the starting goaltender for the San Jose Sharks for many seasons. He performed exceptionally well when the team was competitive and contending for the Stanley Cup. However, as the team's performance declined, so did Jones' goaltending quality.

Standing at six-foot-four and weighing 203 pounds, he has played 444 games and has a record of 225-163-25 with a 2.71 GAA and a .905% save percentage. Last year, he played for the Seattle Kraken and earned $2 million. He could be a valuable backup option for any competitive team looking for an affordable goalie with high potential.

Tomas Tatar: Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (60th pick overall) of the 2009 NHL draft, Tatar initially played on the third line and contributed between 35 and 40 points per season under coach Mike Babcock. However, his performance improved when he moved to other teams, and he became a more significant player on the second or sometimes even the first line.

He excelled in power play situations and had an impressive season with the New Jersey Devils, scoring 20 goals and providing 28 assists for a total of 48 points, finishing with an outstanding plus-minus rating of +41. Despite being 33 years old, Tatar still has a lot to offer, and a team willing to sign him at a discounted rate should have no trouble finding a new home for him.

Phil Kessel: The 35-year-old winger has been in the news throughout his entire career, starting with his draft by the Boston Bruins. His trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs was a significant moment in Leafs history. Kessel's undeniable goal-scoring talent was overshadowed by his attitude and brashness towards the media and the Leafs organization, leading to his departure when Shanahan took over and the Leafs underwent a rebuild.

Since then, Kessel has won three Stanley Cups, two with the Pittsburgh Penguins and one with the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite now playing a third or fourth-line role due to age, Kessel still possesses the skill and hockey IQ to score. He could be a valuable addition to a contending team such as the New York Rangers or the Dallas Stars, strengthening their bottom-six forwards and providing a place for the veteran winger to play.

It remains to be seen whether these players will secure new contracts soon, but they are among the most likely candidates to find new homes shortly.