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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.”

SKYO wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:51 pm If anything I just want to add one top dman, prefer a bigger right side/RS dman who can put up points.

Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:39 pm Imagine if they hadn’t pissed away so much money on the bottom of the roster. They’d have a boatload to spend

RoyalDude wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 5:21 pm Is it true the Canucks will have $30 million to spend next July?

RoyalDude wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 6:16 pm So Jimbro has put this team in CAP HELL?

Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:38 pm By the bottom of the roster I mean the bottom pairing defenders and the third and fourth liners. Great, they are a tiny bit grittier with Roussel and Schaller. Spending huge dollars on the bottom of the roster is idiotic especially on long term deals

Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:38 pm By the bottom of the roster I mean the bottom pairing defenders and the third and fourth liners. Great, they are a tiny bit grittier with Roussel and Schaller. Spending huge dollars on the bottom of the roster is idiotic especially on long term deals

Richardstroker69 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 6:27 pm

Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:38 pm By the bottom of the roster I mean the bottom pairing defenders and the third and fourth liners. Great, they are a tiny bit grittier with Roussel and Schaller. Spending huge dollars on the bottom of the roster is idiotic especially on long term deals

Sutter may well be gone, Tanev, guddy or edler may be gone, Gagner will be gone, beagle and roussel and Schaller will be replacments for Sutter, Granlund, Gagner. There will be piles of cap space, all these contracts are easily tradeable.