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After successful their second Stanley Cup, USAT's Safid Deen reveals what its like celebrating the Florida Panthers championship with their followers.

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The most important query because the NHL heads to free company on July 1 is who can be left.

Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, was re-signed by the Florida Panthers earlier than the NHL draft on an eight-year, $64 million deal. Toronto Maple Leafs heart John Tavares additionally left cash on the desk with a four-year deal averaging $4.38 million a 12 months. Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn signed a bonus-laden one-year deal.

Matt Duchene can also be again with the Stars, commerce deadline acquisition Trent Frederic re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers for eight years and Chicago Blackhawks main purpose scorer Ryan Donato is sticking round. Jonathan Toews already selected the Winnipeg Jets for his NHL comeback.

And now reviews out of Canada say the Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights are discussing the potential of a sign-and-trade deal involving Toronto's Mitch Marner. If that occurs, it might take the highest free agent off the market.

Panthers basic supervisor Invoice Zito continues to be hoping he can deliver again Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad.

Listed below are the NHL's prime pending unrestricted free brokers with the wage cap going up:

1. Ahead Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs The staff that indicators him will get a prolific scorer. He had a career-best 102 factors final season and three different 90-point seasons, all with Toronto. The postseason is one other story. The Maple Leafs have been to the second spherical solely twice throughout his 9 years with the staff. The Leafs aren't prone to need to lose him for nothing so search for them to commerce his rights.

He was shockingly traded to the Panthers in March, then put collectively a playoff to recollect with 10 targets. Six of these have been within the Stanley Cup Remaining as he made some spectacular strikes.

3. Ahead Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets The speedster is a constant 20-goal scorer and will get extra in a spot that performs him greater than 16 minutes a sport.

4. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers Ekblad is the franchise's top-scoring defenseman after being drafted No. 1 general in 2014. He led Panthers defensemen in playoff scoring regardless of lacking 4 video games with suspensions, together with two on the tail finish of a 20-game PED ban. He has expressed an curiosity in returning.

He was a 40-goal scorer in 2023-24. He, just like the staff, dropped off final season, however he nonetheless scored 25 targets, his sixth season of 20 or extra.

6. Ahead Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars Granlund performed properly on Dallas' all-Finland line after arriving in a commerce from the Sharks. He performs on the ability play and penalty kill and had a hat trick within the second spherical.

The shutdown defenseman averaged greater than 23 minutes a sport, had a career-best plus-26 score and scored 30 factors (second greatest in profession).

He is now not the prolific scorer he was earlier in his profession, however he has topped 20 targets within the two seasons since he returned from hip surgical procedure.

9. Ahead Claude Giroux, Ottawa Senators His numbers have dropped in his previous two seasons in Ottawa. However Giroux, 37, nonetheless received 50 factors and is a former captain.

10. Ahead Pius Suter, Vancouver Canucks He'll draw curiosity after a 25-goal season, 10 greater than his prior profession greatest.

11. Defenseman Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets He averages 23 minutes a sport, kills penalties and will get energy play time.

12. Goaltender Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils There aren't plenty of free agent goalies on the market. Allen had a gradual 2.66 goals-against common and .906 save share in 29 begins whereas serving as Jacob Markstrom's backup.

13. Defenseman Nate Schmidt, Florida Panthers He had been purchased out by the Winnipeg Jets and rejoined former coach Paul Maurice in Florida. He was a key contributor within the Panthers' run with three targets of their first two playoff video games.

14. Ahead Connor Brown, Edmonton Oilers He confirmed in Edmonton that he can transfer up and down the lineup. Groups will admire that sort of versatility.

15. Ahead Andrei Kuzmenko, Los Angeles Kings Kuzmenko bounced round rather a lot after scoring 39 targets in his first NHL season in 2022-23. He performed for 3 groups this previous season and completed sturdy with the Kings.

16. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, Pittsburgh Penguins He is coming off a career-best 39 assists and 40 factors.

17. Ahead Jonathan Drouin, Colorado Avalanche He had 93 factors in his two seasons with Colorado, however missed almost half the season in 2024-25 with accidents.

18. Defenseman Brent Burns, Carolina Hurricanes He is 40 and his scoring numbers have dropped, however he nonetheless can play plenty of minutes. He hasn't missed a sport because the 2013-14 season.

19. Ahead Corey Perry, Edmonton Oilers He is additionally 40 however nonetheless had 10 playoff targets this season. Regardless that he has come up quick in 5 latest journeys to the Stanley Cup Remaining, he does get to the championship spherical. He gained in 2007.