https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/ ... cy-in-2019
Maybe it's good the Canucks kept their Sedin money for next summer, but yeah they also have to think long term for Boeser, Pettersson and Hughes possible big cap deals.The John Tavares effect: Why a wave of NHL stars could decide to hit free agency in 2019
Rinne, Bobrovsky, Karlsson, Chara, Seguin, Pacioretty, Panarin, Duchene, Stone, Skinner and Pavelski ... And that's just a taste of what's to come.
In past years, the question was rhetorical. Star players might have flirted with the notion of free agency, might have even openly thought about playing elsewhere, but when push came to shove no one ever went all the way to July 1. Few even stepped onto the ice without wrapping themselves in the safety blanket of a long-term deal.
Even with Drew Doughty re-signing in Los Angeles and Logan Couture re-upping in San Jose, the list of NHL players who are entering the final year of their contracts is unlike any other. If they reach free agency next summer — and if they work together in choosing where they want to play — we could see a power shift in the NHL.
Then again, do you really think they’ll get to the open market?
But that was before John Tavares signed in Toronto this summer. As one agent who did not want to be identified said, “since Tavares, everything has changed.”
If anything I just want to add one top dman, prefer a bigger right side/RS dman who can put up points.