Top 3 UFA Centres This Summer

Compared to recent free agency years, this year’s UFA class lacks any real “stars” at the position. Nevertheless, here are 3 players that could help your team get over the hump. 

1. Elias Lindholm - Expected salary range: $6,500,000 - $8,500,000

Player Role: a versatile, two-way center known for his excellent playmaking ability and strong work ethic. He can contribute offensively with his vision and passing, while also being defensively responsible with his positioning and ability to win faceoffs.

After recent reports from Elliotte Friedman saying that it is likely the Canucks and the Swedish-born center will part ways, lots of teams are sure to have this dynamic center on their free agency list this July 1st. Following a great playoff performance with the Canucks with 5 goals and 5 assists through 13 games, Lindholm has earned himself a considerable raise from his previous deal that carried a cap-hit of $4,850,000 on a 6 year term. With a 56.4% on the dot this past season, expect a team to take a swing at him, and to be added to a team looking to get deeper down the middle. 

2. Sean Monahan - Expected salary range: $3,500,000 - $5,500,000

Player Role: a gritty power forward with a nose for the net. He excels at driving to the hard areas and creating scoring chances for himself and his linemates. While his offensive production can fluctuate, his strong work ethic and two-way play make him a valuable asset.

Coming off of a 60 point performance through 88 games this year, Sean Monahan has proven to be a player that can slot in up and down the lineup while still contributing on offense. After wrapping up his 11th season this past playoffs, Monahan proves that he is capable of the production we saw in the 2018-19 season, where he posted 82 points through 72 games. After signing just a $1,985,000 cap-hit contract with Montreal this year, he was flipped to the Jets for a 1st rounder and a conditional 3rd to help the Jets try and find some success this off-season. Unfortunately, with just 1 point through 5 games played, Monahan and the Jets fell in 5 to the Avalanche and got sent home much earlier than they were hoping. Expect a variety of teams to be interested in Monahan this off-season, likely to fill a 2nd line role and provide some more scoring. 

3. Chandler Stephenson - Expected Salary Range: $5,500,000-$7,0000,000

Player Role: a two-way forward known for his strong skating and relentless work ethic. He excels at creating turnovers on the forecheck and contributes offensively more as a playmaker than a goal scorer.

Following a less productive offensive season versus the last few, this veteran center will be highly touted to round out the middle of the ice for teams looking to tighten up the middle of the ice and inject veteran leadership onto their roster. In the 2021 and 2022 season, Stephenson posted an expected goals of 18.1 and 19, respectively, making this year's expected goals of 10 a little underwhelming. Despite this offensive fall-off, his championship pedigree and sound defensive play will make him a popular name this July 1st. 

Honorable Mentions: Max Domi, Alexander Wennberg