Mike Hoffman
Mike Hoffman should be in demand this offseason. The 31-year-old forward has eclipsed the 30-goal mark and only failed to reach this past season for the first time in seven years. Hoffman did manage to record 36 points in 52 games on 17 goals and 19 assists. The big question for this offense machine is who will pay him the most. He is coming off of a $4 million AAV and might still be too expensive for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Erik Gudbranson
Three years ago there were rumors that the Leafs were interested in acquiring Erik Gudbranson from the Canucks. Since leaving Vancouver, the 29-year-old has played for four other NHL teams. Standing six-foot-five, the big defenseman has no trouble clearing players out from in front of his own net and making opponents think twice about dropping the mitts. There are general managers who will want the towering D-man patrolling their blueline for a fraction of the $4 million AAV he earned this season.
Alec Martinez
Alec Martinez is a 33-year-old left-shooting defenseman. In February of 2020, the Golden Knights paid the Los Angeles Kings two second-round draft picks for Martinez in a move that has since looked great for Vegas. Martinez had a $4 million cap hit, which was a bargain. He played an average of 22:34 minutes of ice time, had good possession metrics, and even produced 32 points in 53 games thanks to his 9 goals and 23 assists.
Darren Helm
Darren Helm is a lifetime Red Wing. Now 34 years old, he has been with the organization since they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Helm has ingratiated himself to the fanbase thanks to the energy he brings to every single shift. The six-foot forward isn’t afraid to grind and go into the corners. He can still be a useful player but for far less than the $3.85 million AAV he has been earning.
Brandon Montour
Brandon Montour is a player who can still earn himself big money. The 27-year-old versatile defenseman is coming off a decent season playing in his own end and an excellent one offensively. Montour’s Corsi rating was a percent better relative to his team. He also had seven goals and 11 assists in the 50 games he split between Buffalo and Florida.