The free-agent frenzy is scheduled to begin at noon ET on Friday, and with as many as two compliance buyouts available to all 30 teams this summer, some additional intriguing players are now expected to hit the open market.
Here are 13 of the most notable potential unrestricted free agents that will likely be available on Friday (they're listed in alphabetical order):
He has 109 points in 108 career playoff games, including 30 points in 23 games during the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010.
Briere reportedly has a lot of teams interested in him, and it has to do in part with his performance in the playoffs. He's also two seasons removed from scoring 34 goals.
It will be interesting to see if any team takes a flyer on the eccentric ex-Flyers goalie, who was issued a compliance buyout despite having seven years and $35.5 million left on what turned into an albatross nine-year, $51 million contract.
Bryzgalov became known for his brutal honesty, his wild opinions, his unique interests and beliefs as well as his feuds with the media in Philadelphia. He also won 52 games over two seasons, but he couldn't help the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2012-13, when he appeared in 40 of 48 games and posted a 2.79 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.
The Edmonton Oilers reportedly pushed for Cory Schneider before the Vancouver Canucks traded him to the New Jersey Devils, so maybe they'll be in the market for Bryzgalov. The New York Islanders still have re-signed Evgeni Nabokov, so it's conceivable that if he walks they could inquire about Bryzgalov.
Clarkson scored 15 goals in 48 games in 2012-13 and 30 goals in 80 games in 2011-12. He is reliable and resilient, having missed two games over the past three seasons. He's also coming off a three-year, $8 million contract, which was somewhat of a bargain for a 30-goal scorer who brings a physical element as well.
The Devils want Clarkson back, but it's possible he hits the open market on July 5 to see what his value is. For comparison purposes, Clarkson is a slightly cheaper option than Nathan Horton. Clarkson is from Toronto and the Maple Leafs could use a player like him.
Clowe, a rugged left wing, is coming off multiple concussions, but when healthy he is a top-six forward with a history of performing well in the playoffs.
The New York Rangers would like to re-sign Clowe, but it may not be possible because of their cap situation and the fact that Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Ryan McDonagh and Justin Falk all need new contracts. Clowe is coming off a four-year contract that paid him $3.625 annually.
Clowe had 19 points in 40 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Rangers in 2012-13. He had three goals and five assists in 12 games after being traded to the Rangers, but was injured for most of the playoffs and appeared in two of 12 games. He has 46 points in 70 career playoff games.
Dupuis was so good on a line with Sidney Crosby that he may have priced himself out of Pittsburgh. He scored 20 goals in 48 games in 2012-13 after scoring 25 goals in 82 games the previous season. Dupuis, who was making $1.5 million in each of the past two seasons, did it without a regular role on the power play.
He's trying to negotiate to stay in Pittsburgh, but he wants a longer-term deal and it's understandably hard for the Penguins to make that commitment now with Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz and Brandon Sutter all getting or expected to get raises for the 2014-15 season. As much as Dupuis wants to stay in Pittsburgh, this also could be his last chance at a big payday.
The Bruins have some younger, cheaper defensemen on the rise (Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski, Dougie Hamilton) and a need to replace two right wings in Nathan Horton and Jaromir Jagr, so it would appear that Ference's days in Boston are over. He had quite a ride, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, getting back to the Stanley Cup Final last month, and becoming one of the most community-driven athletes in the city.
Ference is 34 years old and coming off a three-year contract that paid him $2.25 million annually. He can still play in a top-four role and brings a little bit of everything to the table. There should be teams lining up to sign him to a short-term deal.
Filppula is interesting for teams seeking a second-line or third-line center. He earned $3 million annually on a recently completed five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, who are in the market for Vincent Lecavalier, a sign they could be willing to let Filppula walk.
Filppula has played center for most of his career, but spent a good portion of 2012-13 at left wing in a top-six role. He struggled with 17 points in 41 games before scoring six points in 14 playoff games.
Horton has told the Bruins that he wants to test free agency. He should be a sought after power forward even though he needs surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.
Horton spent most of his time in Boston playing on a line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. He struggled in 2012-13 with 13 goals and 22 points in 43 games, but he rebounded in the playoffs with 19 points in 22 games. His 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons were cut short by concussions.
At 41 years old, Jagr can still play. He wasn't as productive as he was hoping to be during the Bruins playoff run (no goals, 10 assists), but he was still dangerous with his strength and ability to control the puck on the right wing.
Jagr wants to play in the NHL again next season and it's a good bet that he will get another one-year contract. He had 35 points in 45 games split between the Dallas Stars and Bruins in 2012-13, when he played for $4.5 million.
He's already guaranteed north of $30 million for the next 14 years from the Tampa Bay Lightning because of his compliance buyout, but Lecavalier has his pick of roughly a dozen teams that are interested in signing him to a new contract. Lecavalier may agree in principle with a team prior to the opening of the free-agent signing period.
Lecavalier spent most of this past weekend meeting with multiple teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames. They all pitched their organization and their city to the former Lightning captain, whose head was likely spinning after all the sitdowns.
There is obviously little doubt among NHL general managers that Lecavalier can still be at least a No. 2 center at 33 years old. He had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games in 2012-13. He has 135 points in 168 games over the past three seasons.
Ribeiro was the best center scheduled to hit the market before Lecavalier was bought out by the Lightning. It's debatable if anything has changed considering Ribeiro, who like Lecavalier is 33 years old, is coming off a better 2012-13 season. He had 49 points in 48 games with the Washington Capitals, who could probably use him again as a No. 2 center but have so far balked at his contract demands.
Ribeiro reportedly wants a five-year deal. Some of the same teams that are after Lecavalier could also be interested in Ribeiro.
All Scuderi does is play for winning teams. He won the Stanley Cup twice in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and again in 2012 with the Los Angeles Kings, who are desperate to keep the veteran stay-at-home defenseman.
Scuderi is 34 years old and coming off a four-year contract that paid him $3.4 million annually. He has not addressed his contract situation publicly, but part of the reason why Kings general manager Dean Lombardi traded goalie Jonathan Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs was to make sure there was enough room under the salary cap to make a run at re-signing Scuderi.
The long-time center for the Florida Panthers was limited to four points in 17 games in an injury-plagued 2012-13 because of a wrist injury. He was considered potential trade bait until the injury derailed his season in early March.
Weiss, who made $18.6 million on a recently completed six-year contract, has played 654 games with the Panthers and has 145 goals and 249 assists for 394 points. He could be a slightly cheaper option for teams looking for help at center that don't want to pay Lecavalier or Ribeiro.
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