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NHL.com takes a closer look at the major unrestricted free agent contracts that should be available at market opening:
John Tavares, New York Islanders
If Tavares decides not to sign again with the Islanders, the 27-year-old center will be one of the most coveted free agents in the history of the NHL. Tavares, top pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, had 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists) in 2017-18 for the Islanders, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season. Tavares has 621 points (272 goals, 349 assists) in 669 games in the NHL and has been captain of the Islanders since the start of the 2013-14 season.
Tavares, a two-time Hart Trophy finalist (2013, 2015), reportedly began talking with potential contenders in Los Angeles on Monday.
Possible landing points: Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins
Video: Discuss John Tavares' meetings during the free agency
Paul StastnyWinnipeg Jets
Stastny's well behaved with the Winnipeg Jets (four goals, nine assists in 19 regular season games) after acquiring a deal in the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26. He also earned 15 points (six goals, nine assists)) in 17 playoff games before the Jets defeated the Golden Knights of Vegas in the Western Conference Finals.
The 32-year-old has been a consistent points producer throughout his NHL career. He has 646 points (220 goals, 426 assists) in 824 games with the Colorado Jets, Blues and Avalanche. Stastny was Colorado's second-round pick (No. 44) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Possible landing points: Jets, Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils
Video: WPG @ NSH, Gm7: Stastny Pads Lead With His Second
James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs
Van Riemsdyk, 29, has scored 36 career goals for the NHL's Maple Leafs this season, his sixth with Toronto. The striker has scored at least 20 goals five times and has scored 65 goals in the past two seasons.
A Philadelphia Flyers No. 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, van Riemsdyk had 393 points (201 goals, 192 assists) in 609 games in the NHL.
Possible landing points: Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers
Video: TOR @ BOS, Gm5: Van Riemsdyk PPG roofs of tight
Rick Nash, Boston Bruins
Nash, who turned 34 on June 16, had six points (three goals and three assists) in 11 games after the Rangers traded to the Bruins on Feb. 25. He had five points (three goals, two assists) in 12 playoff games. .
Any team that signs Nash would get an experienced power that can play in any situation. He has accumulated 805 points (437 goals, 368 assists) in 1,060 games with the Rangers and Blue Jackets after being taken by Columbus with the No. 1 pick in the 2000 NHL draft.
Possible landing points: Blue Jackets, Bruins, Rangers
James Neal, Vegas Golden Knights
Neal, 30, flourished in Vegas after being left unprotected by the Nashville Predators in the NHL Entry Draft; he scored 25 goals for the Golden Knights and played an important role in their unlikely run in the Stanley Cup final. Neal had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 20 playoff games.
Neal has scored at least 20 goals in each of his 10 seasons in the NHL and has 495 points (263 goals, 232 assists) in 703 games. He has 55 points (31 goals, 24 assists) in 100 playoff games in the NHL.
Possible landing points: Devils, stars, predators, knights of gold
Video: VGK @ WSH, Gm4: Neal shoots rooftops to put Vegas on board
Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple Leafs
Bozak, 32, is a strong two-team center that has played in nine NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs. He has collected 43 points (11 goals and 32 assists) in 81 games this season.
Bozak's ability to win confrontations will be attractive to general managers; he has won 53.6% this season, which is his NHL career record.
Bozak, who has not been drafted, has 365 points (136 goals, 229 assists) in 594 games in the NHL.
Possible landing points: Maple Leafs, Canadians, Islanders, Avalanche
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
A knee injury has limited Thornton to 47 games with the Sharks this season and has forced him to miss the playoffs.
But there is no denying what Thornton brings when he is healthy: leadership and the ability to distribute the puck. Thornton played 79 games in 2016-17 and had 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists). In 2015-16, he collected 82 points (19 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games and helped the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup final for the first time in their history.
Thornton, who turns 39 on July 2, has 1,427 points (397 goals, 1,030 assists) in 1,493 games with the Boston Sharks and Bruins. He was the No. 1 pick in the NHL's 1997 draft by the Bruins.
Possible landing points: sharks
Video: SJS @ ANA: Thornton takes home power-play goal
Riley Nash, Boston Bruins
Nash had an outstanding season with the Bruins, scoring 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 76 games.
The 29-year-old center can slide up and down and not look in its place. In 399 games in the NHL, he has 139 points (53 goals, 86 assists) with the Bruins and Hurricanes.
Nash was a first-round pick (No. 21) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Possible landing points: Bruins, Devils, Blues, Canadians
David Perron, Vegas Golden Knights
Perron is coming off a strong season that led him to lead the Golden Knights with 50 assists and finish third with 66 points.
It was the first time Perron, 30, had 60 points in the NHL; his previous record was 57 with the Oilers in 2013-14. Perron had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 15 playoff games for the Golden Knights.
First choice of the Blues (No. 26) in 2007, Perron has 444 points (175 goals, 269 assists) in 722 games with the Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Oilers and Blues.
Possible landing points: Devils, Rangers, Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators
Jay Beagle, Washington Capitals
Beagle, 32, made history earlier this month by becoming the first player to win the Kelly Cup (ECHL), the Calder Cup (American Hockey League) and the Stanley Cup.
It would be a solid addition for any team looking to improve its fourth line. Beagle had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 79 games this season and led the Capitals with a winning percentage of 58.5. He had eight points (two goals, six assists) in 23 playoff games.
Beagle, who was not drafted, had 116 points (51 goals, 65 assists) in 471 games in the NHL, all with the Capitals.
Possible landing points: Calgary Flames, Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, Rangers
Michael Grabner, New Jersey Devils
Grabner, 30, scored 27 goals for the second consecutive season; 25 came with the Rangers before making a rare exchange with the Devils on February 22nd.
The fast forward can play in all situations and has shown durability in recent seasons after experiencing injury problems during his time with the Islanders (2010-15).
Grabner, a first round draft pick by Vancouver (No. 14) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, has 249 points (158 goals, 91 assists) in 553 games with the Canucks, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Rangers and Devils.
Possible landing points: Rangers, Devils, Hurricanes, Oilers, Coyotes, Canucks
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