As the 2022-23 NHL season concludes, the spotlight shifts to the forthcoming offseason maneuvers, most notably, the NHL Free Agency. With the Golden Knights crowned as kings after an enthralling victory over the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, rival teams are now strategizing to reconfigure their lineup to contend for the renowned championship.
The NFL Draft sets the stage for the offseason, but impending is the crucial period of free agency. This period provides players a chance to leverage their past season’s performance to strike lucrative deals with aspirant franchises or find a secure placement with a solid contract.
Certain teams have already made strategic moves by extending contracts of their key players ahead of the open market, while others are biding their time, awaiting the onset of free agency to scout potential prospects. As it has been in the past, the NHL free agency period is anticipated to be a thrilling time of player transfers and team transformations.
Countdown to NHL Free Agency: Key Date and Time Revealed
For fans eagerly awaiting the kickoff of NHL free agency, mark your calendars for Saturday, July 1. This date signals the official start of the 2023-24 NHL season, with the action commencing at noon (ET).
Leading up to this pivotal moment, teams are permitted to negotiate with their current players. However, it’s important to note that discussions with players from other teams are strictly off-limits until the start of free agency.
As the countdown to the 2023 offseason begins, each team’s projected cap space for the upcoming season varies. The Ducks take the lead with just under $40 million available, offering them significant flexibility in shaping their roster.
Meanwhile, other contenders in the cap space race include the Blackhawks, Devils, and Red Wings, all boasting over $30 million in available funds for the 2023-24 campaign.
Below are the most recent projections of the cap spaces for each team.
| Rank | Team | Active players | Cap Space |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anaheim Ducks | 16/23 | 39,048,333 |
| 2 | Arizona Coyotes | 16/23 | 28,248,460 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 17/23 | 27,565,278 |
| 4 | Chicago Blackhawks | 17/23 | 22,594,877 |
| 5 | Carolina Hurricanes | 19/23 | 22,123,083 |
| 6 | Seattle Kraken | 15/23 | 20,343,424 |
| 7 | Nashville Predators | 18/23 | 18,769,422 |
| 8 | Ottawa Senators | 13/23 | 17,073,096 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 16/23 | 15,208,158 |
| 10 | Buffalo Sabres | 22/23 | 14,459,763 |
| 11 | San Jose Sharks | 18/23 | 14,079,166 |
| 12 | New York Rangers | 14/23 | 11,762,918 |
| 13 | Boston Bruins | 14/23 | 10,937,500 |
| 14 | Philadelphia Flyers | 18/23 | 10,372,905 |
| 15 | Florida Panthers | 17/23 | 10,262,499 |
| 16 | New Jersey Devils | 16/23 | 10,207,500 |
| 17 | New York Islanders | 20/23 | 9,536,667 |
| 18 | Winnipeg Jets | 17/23 | 8,992,144 |
| 19 | Colorado Avalanche | 15/23 | 8,575,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota Wild | 16/23 | 8,293,912 |
| 21 | Edmonton Oilers | 17/23 | 8,170,000 |
| 22 | Washington Capitals | 17/23 | 7,313,332 |
| 23 | Vancouver Canucks | 20/23 | 6,444,583 |
| 24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 19/23 | 5,943,551 |
| 25 | Dallas Stars | 18/23 | 5,144,671 |
| 26 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 24/23 | 4,754,168 |
| 27 | Los Angeles Kings | 16/23 | 4,536,666 |
| 28 | St Louis Blues | 19/23 | 3,935,237 |
| 29 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22/23 | 2,687,517 |
| 30 | Calgary Flames | 19/23 | 2,400,000 |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 18/23 | 450,000 |
| 32 | Montreal Canadiens | 25/23 | -1,259,165 |
Elite NHL Free Agents: Top 10 Players
Discover the cream of the crop in this season’s NHL free agency pool. These top 10 players represent the finest talent up for grabs in the market.
| Rank | Player | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan O’Reilly | C | 32 |
| 2 | Vladimir Tarasenko | RW | 31 |
| 3 | Dmitry Orlov | D | 31 |
| 4 | Tyler Bertuzzi | LW | 28 |
| 5 | Patrick Kane | RW | 34 |
| 6 | Joe Pavelski | C | 38 |
| 7 | Max Pacioretty | LW | 34 |
| 8 | Patrice Bergeron | C | 37 |
| 9 | Frederik Andersen | G | 33 |
| 10 | Alex Killorn | LW | 33 |
Conclusion
The NHL free agency period is a time filled with anticipation, strategic planning, and as some might say, a dash of chaos. As the countdown begins, teams pore over their rosters and finances to make the best possible acquisitions. Meanwhile, free agents prepare to make potentially career-changing decisions. As fans, we can only prepare to enjoy the excitement of this dynamic period and watch how the puzzle pieces fall into place leading up to the new NHL season.