Top 10 NHL free agents to watch this offseason

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 31: New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) skates off the ice during the second period of the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders on March 31, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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3. James van Riemsdyk

James van Riemsdyk is going to get quite the contract this summer after the season he just had with the Maple Leafs. He had 36 goals and 54 points this season, the 36 goals being a career-high for him. He had only one other 30 goal season and that came in 2013-14 with the Leafs, as well. Toronto will likely want him back but he may have priced himself out of there, and Toronto still has to sign Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to extensions soon. They just won’t have enough cap to fit him in as he’s going to get a lot of money from a team who needs more scoring.

He can play in the top six for any team in the league, especially a team like the Los Angeles Kings who desperately need more scoring in their lineup. They’d have to look at him, even if he’d want a bit of term on his deal.

He should be good for at least 20 goals next year, considering he had 36 last season and he should be good for 20 each season until his mid-thirties when he starts to tail off a bit as he starts to get older. There hasn’t been much that has come out on him yet but expect a lot of teams to go after him.

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