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NHL Free Agency: 10 players to watch for above all else

By Eric Treuden

CALGARY, AB - MAY 26: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Edmonton Oilers during Game Five of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime to win the series four games to one. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - MAY 26: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Edmonton Oilers during Game Five of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime to win the series four games to one. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 26: Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the national anthem before the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 26: Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the national anthem before the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

#8 – Goaltender Darcy Kuemper (Colorado Avalanche)

The first goaltender on the list and the first representative of this year’s champions, 32-year-old Darcy Kuemper is set to hit free agency for the second time in his ten-year career.

Kuemper outscored Andrei Vasilevskiy in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals in a season that saw him make his third career All-Star Game appearance. Kuemper rebounded from a rough 2020-21 season where he managed just a .907 save percentage for the Coyotes.

In this past season, Kuemper was the proud owner of a 37-12-3 record in the regular season (.921 save percentage) and then a 10-4 record with a .902 save percentage in 16 playoff games. He replaced Philipp Grubauer in a big way for the Avalanche and has set himself up for a nice payday in this go-round through free agency.

#7 – Right winger Valeri Nichushkin (Colorado Avalanche)

Joining teammate Kuemper in the top-ten NHL free agents to keep an eye on, Valeri Nichushkin will be hitting free agency for the second time already in his seven-year career.

Nichushkin joined the Avalanche on a two-year contract back in the 2019-20 offseason and performed very well for the team over the three years he was a member of the club. 2021-22 was his best season yet, as he appeared in 62 games for the Avs and put up 52 points in the regular season and then 15 more in the playoffs.

The 27-year old Nichushkin has shown that he has what it takes to perform at the biggest stages in the NHL and if he is capable of making last season’s showing a consistent reality, he will be a star in the game.

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