The NHL’s best rarely make it to free agency.
Teams tend to re-sign their top players Henrik Lundqvist Jersey Kids , keeping them off the market and on their rosters. That leaves a slew of solid veterans and journeymen available to the highest bidders trying to find a forward to play on a second or third line, a defenseman to be in a second pairing or perhaps a backup goaltender.
John Tavares this year is considered a top target, assuming the New York Islanders and their new leaders can’t persuade the 27-year-old center to stay with the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009. He had 84 points last season, two shy of his career high.
Trying to show Tavares how serious they are about winning, the Islanders hired Stanley Cup-winning coach Barry Trotz and Stanley Cup-winning president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello. New York can sign Tavares to an eight-year contract, too, one year more than any other team in the league can give him. The Islanders can invest $80-plus million to help convince their franchise star to stay.
Tavares, though, may want to take his two-way talents elsewhere because he has made it to the playoffs just three times in his nine-year career, advancing only once. If the five-time All-Star chooses to leave, he has plenty of choices. Toronto, Boston, San Jose Tom Kuhnhackl Jersey , Dallas and Tampa Bay are believed to be among his options. Tavares can command a seven-year contract for perhaps more than $70 million from any of the teams trying to lure him away from the Islanders.
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said the Tavares situation is holding back other free agents, not knowing how high he will set the bar for salaries, and delaying trades.
”I think it’s holding up the hockey world a certain amount,” Hextall said Friday.
Some other names to watch ahead of free agency, which begins Sunday:
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK
The Maple Leafs would love to keep him at the right price, but they might have to let him go to potentially to have enough money to bring Tavares back home. The 29-year-old winger had a career-high 36 goals last season, his sixth in Toronto and ninth in the league.
DAVID PERRON
The 30-year-old winger picked a good time to have a career year, with a career-high 50 assists and 66 points with the Vegas Golden Knights. He added nine point during their postseason run.
JAMES NEAL
The three-time All-Star had a career-high 11 postseason points during the Vegas run to the Stanley Cup Final. The 30-year-old winger keeps himself in great shape and leads on and off the ice.
PAUL STASTNY
The 32-year-old center had a career-high 15 playoff points, helping the Winnipeg Jets reach the Western Conference final. The one-time All-Star would be a solid Plan B for teams that whiff on their shot to sign Tavares.
MIKE GREEN
With Washington keeping John Carlson off the market, the 32-year-old Green may be the best defenseman available. Green had a neck injury last season in Detroit and that may concern some teams.
MICHAEL GRABNER
The 30-year-old winger finished with 27 goals last year to rank third among potential unrestricted free agents. He had only two for New Jersey in the final 21 games.
TYLER BOZAK
The 32-year-old Bozak has spent his entire career with the Maple Leafs, who may not be able to afford the solid center with 365 career points.
JOE THORNTON
Teams may hesitate to sign Thornton, coming off knee surgery with his 39th birthday on Tuesday, but the center with great hands could be a great fit for a contending team looking to add depth and a veteran presence.
DAN HAMHUIS
With slim pickings on the blue line Jake Dotchin Jersey , the 35-year-old defenseman will be in demand after missing a total of just five games the last two seasons in Dallas.
CAM WARD
The 34-year-old goaltender won 23 games last season, the most of any potential unrestricted free agent, despite playing for the lowly Carolina Hurricanes.
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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
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Damoun Patterson knows a strong performance in his first preseason game won't be enough to guarantee his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The rookie wide receiver feels he must continually prove himself to the coaching staff and his teammates 鈥?and he's not the only young receiver who faces that challenge during training camp.
"I came in as a tryout guy, so I never knew what to expect," Patterson said. "I think it's all about attacking the game and staying hungry."
James Washington, the Steelers' second-round pick, has also been forced to prove his worth. Washington, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver in 2017, is currently listed last on the Steelers' depth chart and has regularly worked with the second-team offense.
"I'll never ask people to be patient," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "I'll ask them to work while they wait and he's doing that. The opportunity is going to come, I'd imagine."
Patterson wasn't sure if he would receive an NFL opportunity in the spring, but the former Youngstown State standout overcame long odds to land in camp with the Steelers.
Patterson was invited to attend the Steelers' three-day rookie minicamp on a tryout basis in May. There, Patterson impressed coaches enough to become one of just two of the 55 invited players to leave with a contract.
"(Tomlin) always says he doesn't care how you got here Tyson Barrie Jersey , just come and be willing to make plays," quarterback Josh Dobbs said. "If you do that, we have a spot for you. He's done that, and hopefully he can continue to do that."
Dobbs and Patterson connected for a 29-yard touchdown in Thursday's preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Patterson celebrated the score with a flawless standing backflip.
"I've been doing (a backflip) since I was younger," Patterson said. "That's my specialty."
Patterson said most of his teammates weren't aware that he could land a standing backflip. Acrobatic feats aside, he led all receivers with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles.
Dobbs isn't surprised by Patterson's success. He said the two connected on the same touchdown play while running the two-minute offense during spring workouts.
"He's been doing that all camp, so I have a lot of trust in him," Dobbs said. "He consistently runs by guys, he's quick in and out of his breaks, he makes contested catches, and that's what we were able to take to the field."
The same can be said for Washington.
Washington made two catches in the preseason opener for 44 yards, including a heads-up 35-yard reception from former Oklahoma State teammate Mason Rudolph. Rudolph's hard count drew Philadelphia defenders offsides, and he responded with a big play down the sideline to Washington.
"That's a play where you have to push it down the field Youth Corey Crawford Jersey ," said Rudolph, the team's third-round pick. "You don't want to take anything short, being a free play. I gave him a chance, put the ball on his back shoulder and he made a great play."
Big plays are the goal for both Washington and Patterson, and both realize they'll need to make as many as they can.
"I want to continue to attack the game and continue to get better," Patterson said. "I think I've been trying to find myself, making it known that I have the ability to play at this level."
NOTES: WR Antonio Brown practiced Saturday for the first time since Aug. 1. ... OL B.J Finney is out with a contusion sustained against the Eagles, while S Sean Davis (groin) and TE Xavier Grimble (thumb) both missed practice. Rookie S Marcus Allen also left Saturday's practice early.
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