The sprint that occurred at the beginning of NHL free agency has, for the most part, settled into more of a marathon.
General managers were quick to throw around cash and term to the first wave of coveted free agents (click here to recap who has signed where), but there are still some notable names remaining on the board:
-- Jason Demers: He’s a defenseman with a right shot, which are two qualities in high demand for NHL teams. In 62 games last season with the Dallas Stars, he had seven goals and 23 points, and now at the end of a two-year, $6.8 million contract.
Related: UFA of the Day: Jason Demers
-- Kris Russell: Acquired by the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline, as that club looked to add to its blue line for the playoffs, Russell is now on the open market after a 19-point regular season between Dallas and the Calgary Flames. He’s often criticized in the analytics community for poor puck possession numbers.
Lots of false reports on Kris Russell signings floating around out there. Still talking to multiple teams. Some fake accounts=false info.
— Allain Roy (@alroy42) July 1, 2016
Kris Russell's agent https://t.co/DEM04LcJqP
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2016
Related: UFA of the Day: Kris Russell
-- Kyle Quincey: The writing had been on the wall for a while that Quincey was likely to hit the open market. The 30-year-old defenseman, at the end of a two-year, $8.5 million deal, had four goals and 11 points in 47 games for the Red Wings. In November, Quincey underwent ankle surgery, causing him to miss 35 games.
-- Justin Schultz: Schultz won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins following a trade from Edmonton earlier in the season. However, the Penguins didn’t extend Schultz a qualifying offer, meaning the 25-year-old right-shooting defenseman the open market today.
-- Shane Doan: Doan has spent his entire career with the same franchise (he began his career with that franchise in Winnipeg, went through the relocation to Phoenix and all the tumultuous times it has gone through since). He’s now 39 years old, but despite his age, he scored 28 goals and 47 points with Arizona last season.
Update:
If you have Shane Doan on your UFA list...don't bother...hearing new deal in Arizona is close. Not going anywhere.#SigningSeason
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 2, 2016
Per source, UFA Shane Doan has "several offers" but is focused on working out deal w/Coyotes. However, it's not fair to say a deal is close.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) July 2, 2016
Related: UFA of the Day: Shane Doan
-- Radim Vrbata: Vrbata’s time in Vancouver started well, after he signed with the Canucks as a free agent two years ago. He scored 31 goals in the 2014-15 season, playing on the right wing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. But his second season in Vancouver was the polar opposite. He had stretches of bad luck and a lack of production and his season was eventually cut short due to injury.
Related: UFA of the Day: Radim Vrbata
-- Jiri Hudler: Acquired prior to the trade deadline by the Florida Panthers, the 32-year-old Hudler scored six goals and 11 points in 19 games with the Panthers in the regular season, but had only one assist in six post-season games.
Related: UFA of the Day: Jiri Hudler
-- Brad Richards: Richards saw his production dip this season with the Red Wings. Now 36 years old, he scored 10 goals and 28 points in 68 regular season games. Despite age and drop in production, he still feels he can play hockey.
-- Sam Gagner: Gagner, 26, appeared in 53 games for the Philadelphia Flyers this season, scoring eight goals and 16 points. He was also put on waivers, eventually cleared and loaned to the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.
Other notables:
-- Kris Versteeg: Right wing | 30 years old | 77 GP, 15 G, 23 A, 38 PTS
-- Brandon Pirri: Center | 25 years old | 61 GP, 14 G, 15 A, 29 PTS
-- Alex Tanguay: Left wing | 36 years old | 70 GP, 8 G, 27 A, 35 PTS
-- Luke Schenn: Defense | 26 years old | 72 GP, 4 G, 12 A, 16 PTS
-- Roman Polak: Defense | 30 years old | 79 GP, 1 G, 15 A, 16 PTS