There is just under a month to go before the opening of the training camps for the National Hockey League teams. In early August, we took a detailed look at which of the restricted free agents remain uncontracted in the North American league. Of the people featured, only four hockey players made the list, and in the past two weeks since that material was published, their contractual status hasn’t changed at all.
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Today it’s time to focus on the unrestricted free agents that remain on the jobless market. Of note, some of the highest-profile free agents aren’t particularly looking for a new job, taking a creative break from their careers. Others expect at least some offers from the best league in the world.
north. Patrick Kane, 34
One of the players thinking of continuing his career is the NHL’s leading scorer among Americans still playing hockey. Patrick Kane, who scored 1,237 points in his North American League career last season, made a radical change in his career, moving from Chicago to the Rangers at the deadline. On Broadway, the 34-year-old forward was reunited with former Blackhawks teammate Artemy Panarin, but the beautiful fairy tale with a happy ending didn’t pan out.
Kane played at a passable level for the Rangers, scoring 12 points in 19 regular-season games and adding six more goalscoring actions in seven playoff games. But that same performance from the Panarin-Kane team was never expected. And the Rangers coaching staff used the link itself only in episodes, mainly using the Russian and American in various combinations.
One of the main reasons for the lack of real miracles performed by the American star was serious health problems. Immediately after the end of the season, Kane went to the medical table and underwent hip surgery, which can take up to six months to recover from. But even with the most favorable scenarios, Patrick would not have been able to return to the ice before December. In such a situation, the three-time Stanley Cup winner took time out of his career and walked away from any negotiations.
From time to time, there is talk in the press of interest in the person of Kane on the part of one team or another, but things do not go beyond verbiage. Patrick himself stressed that he would initiate specific negotiations when he was healthy and felt ready to return to the ice. It is clear that the American will not be able to sign a big contract during the season. But Kane doesn’t really care about money right now. He wants to be able to keep fighting for the Stanley Cup.
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north. Jonathan Toews, 35
In turn, Kane’s long-term partner in Chicago, center forward Jonathan Toews, was even more specific in clarifying the subject of his future. Last week, the Canadian striker released a special official statement that he had two goals.
First of all, the 35-year-old striker said goodbye to the Chicago fans, where Taves will definitely never return. And secondly, the Canadian forward informed the hockey community about the decision to skip the 2023/2024 NHL season due to the ongoing struggle with the consequences of a severely endured coronavirus.
“I would like to announce that I am not retiring, but that I will take a break next season,” said the 35-year-old striker. “I cannot deny my love for hockey and I still have a passion for tournaments at the highest level. However, the last few seasons have been very difficult due to my health problems.
I am focused on giving myself time to fully recover and enjoy life to the fullest again. Along the way, I met some people who were struggling with health issues related to the chronic immune response after the coronavirus. Thank you to everyone who supported me and respected my privacy.”
At the same time, after the publication of Taves’ statement in North America, an unexpected insider appeared about Boston’s interest in the player. But in the same inside information it is emphasized that everything is still based on the issue of the health of the honored hockey player.
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north. Phil Kessell, 35
American striker Phil Kessel, who is the same age as Toews, has a completely different professional situation. The 35-year-old striker has never been plagued by injury or health problems in his life. It is no coincidence that last season the American forward set one of the most prestigious records in NHL history, breaking the record for the longest iron streak. On November 17, 2022, Kessel completed a unique achievement for NHL players by becoming the first player in league history to play 1,000 consecutive games.
In the regular season, Golden Knights head coach Bill Cassidy was unable to continue the “crime” and remove the star veteran from the team, breaking Phil’s outstanding streak. But right after the playoffs began, Kessel was quickly moved to the reserve, and the American was already watching his team’s Stanley Cup win from the stands.
phil kessell
Photo: www.nhl.com
So the last season turned out to be a really great story for Phil. On the one hand, Kessel set a record for history, and on the other hand, he added a third Stanley Cup to his personal collection of awards. Phil’s previous $1.5 million contract with Las Vegas expired, there was no new offer (the ‘golden knights’ are already over the salary cap), so the forward and his representatives are signing the hockey player .
north. Zach Parise, 39
The veteran forward is almost 40 years old and continues to delight fans with his NHL play. Many remember the American’s giant 13-year, $98 million contract with Minnesota, which was purchased by the Wilds in July 2021. Zach played the previous two championships for the Islanders at a ridiculous $750,000 salary cap, but you can’t count it. with more money at that age.
zach parise
Photo: www.nhl.com
With the Islanders, the NHL veteran showed enviable consistency, scoring 35 points in 82 games in his first season on Long Island and 34 points in a similar number of games the next. It is noteworthy that at such an advanced age for hockey, the American striker has not missed a single game in two seasons. But Lou Lamorello has yet to offer the striker a new contract.
north. Tomasz Tatar, 32 years old
Tomáš Tatar’s two-year, $9 million contract with New Jersey is up. In his final season, he set an impressive record, becoming Team USA’s Most Valuable Player. In 82 regular season games, the Slovakian striker scored +41 points, edging out Canadian defenseman Ryan Graves in this statistical nomination by seven points.
But neither player will be in New Jersey next season. Graves has already signed a multiyear contract with Pittsburgh, and Tatar remains on the free agent market. Under the conditions of the salary cap, the Slovakian no longer has to rely on the similar financial conditions of last year, but it is still too early for an experienced striker to hang his skates on a nail, so he needs to temper his appetite and play it cool. in the NHL for a few more years.
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north. Eric Staal, 38
It looked like the Canadian veteran’s career was coming to an end after the Montreal Canadiens lost in the 2021 NHL playoff final. He only participated in the Olympic Games as part of the Canadian team.
Eric traveled to Beijing hoping to show the NHL general managers that he could still play hockey. And Staal’s idea worked. He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers, who he played with his brother Mark last season. It turned out pretty good. The Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, and Eric himself scored 29 points in 72 regular season games while playing the bottom line.
Staal is now unemployed again. And if any of the NHL clubs want to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, a Thunder Bay native is at their service. Contact. In his last two seasons in the NHL, Eric has consistently played in the decisive stage of the playoffs.
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north. Esse Puljujarvi, 25 years old
In 2016, the Finnish striker triumphed at the World Youth Championship, scoring a truly phenomenal 17 points in seven games. The Puljujärvi – Aho – Laine combination demonstrated a dominating game that no national team could match at that world championship. Including the Russian team. In the final match, Jesse scored two goals and his teammates in the three forwards scored one goal. That Finnish team was unbelievably cool overall. Suffice it to say that Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hinz and Kasperi Kapanen also played in it.
Most of the players listed (Aho, Rantanen, Laine, Hinz) have already managed to build a stellar NHL career, Kapanen goes out to the extent that, but Pulyujärvi doesn’t get anything good. During the first three seasons in Edmonton, the Finnish forward did not show anything decent, failing on all fronts.
Esse Puljujärvi
Photo: www.nhl.com
A season-and-a-half loan to Kärpät helped Jesse to restart his career to some degree, and the Swedish-born Finn’s game has been much better since returning to Canada. But the outbreak lasted only a year and a half. Puljujärvi’s start to last season faltered again, and the subsequent trade to the Carolinas changed nothing. In 24 games for the American club, Esse failed to score a single goal, which is why he is now on the unemployment market.
Despite the failure in the NHL, in the conditions of the former reality, Puljujärvi would now be a tasty morsel for KHL clubs, but in modern conditions it is impossible to imagine Esse in our league. Most likely, the Finn will try to restart his career at one of the European championships in the hope of another opportunity abroad. Age allows it.
Other notable free agents: north. Derick Brassard, Mr. Paul Stastny, b. Zach Aston-Reese, b. Austin Watson, b. Nick Ritchie N. Derek Stepan, b. Yoel Kiviranta, b. Colin White, s. Alejandro Edler, Mr. Tyler Mott, b. Zach Cassian, v. Yaroslav Galak, c. Brian Elliott.
