The NHL off-season is heating up with teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets making moves to improve playoff chances. Key depth forwards Alex Tuch and Darren Raddysh are expected to secure significant contracts.
3 NHL free agent depth forwards set for massive paydays originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It is shaping up to be a wild off-season in the National Hockey League, even if the marquee names aren’t there to show for it.
Several teams are eyeing desperation moves in hopes of cracking the playoff picture, among them the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets. In contrast, others, like the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, are focused on maintaining their status as contenders.
Much of what was expected to be a headlining free agent class has already been spoken for, and few are anticipating a blockbuster July. Alex Tuch and Darren Raddysh stand out as the notable exceptions atop a market otherwise defined by depth.
Teams looking to make a similar leap this summer likely already have their top six in place. What they need is a supporting cast, and the market will be plentiful. Three players in particular are positioned for a significant payday.
The Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets are among the teams making moves to enhance their playoff prospects.
Alex Tuch and Darren Raddysh are highlighted as the standout depth forwards expected to receive significant paydays.
The free agent market is largely depleted, with many expected marquee names already signed, leaving a focus on depth players.
The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are focused on preserving their status as contenders during the off-season.
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Few depth centers in the league bring what Dickinson does. The former first-round pick by the Dallas Stars has quietly become worthy of that billing, developing into a consistent 30-to-35-point player whose calling card is his defensive game.
The 30-year-old Georgetown, Ont., native posted a plus-four rating during the 2023-24 season while skating for a Chicago Blackhawks team that finished with the second-worst record in the league, a testament to how effective he is away from the puck.
He was dealt to Edmonton this past season in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a top-12 protected 2027 first-round pick. Currently carrying a $4.25 million cap hit, Dickinson could command a raise from a contending team in need of a reliable third or fourth line center.
Marchment is the kind of player teams fall over themselves to acquire, and opponents dread facing. The 30-year-old Uxbridge, Ont., native has surpassed 45 points in three straight seasons and has built a reputation as a playoff-caliber player whose physical style is increasingly rare at his level of offensive production.
Things went sideways in Seattle before he was dealt to Columbus at mid-season, but Marchment finished strong, posting 32 points in 39 games with the Blue Jackets. In the right situation, a near point-per-game pace is not out of the question, and that combination of physicality and scoring touch should earn him a raise from his current $4.5 million cap hit.
Coyle is a player that franchises have consistently gone out of their way to acquire, and at 34, that is unlikely to change. Originally drafted by Minnesota, he spent seven years with the Wild before being dealt to Boston, where he logged another seven.
From there, Colorado came calling for a Stanley Cup push before cap constraints moved him to Columbus. Wherever he has gone, teams have valued what he brings up the middle, a reliable 40-to-60-point center with veteran presence and playoff experience.
This summer, he figures to land on a short-term deal with a contender, and the Red Wings, with cap space and an obvious need down the middle, stand out as a logical fit.