The Stanley Cup has a new home for the summer, but the NHL still has plenty of business to take care of in the coming weeks.
Teams will be drafting their desired prospects this Friday, players will be recognized for their achievements at the league’s award show on Wednesdays, but perhaps most importantly, free agents will choose where they want to live for the foreseeable future on July 1.
John Tavares easily stands as the best player on the market. A consistent producer, Tavares has recorded at least 80 points in three separate seasons on a relatively weak New York Islanders roster. Big fish like the Mississauga native simply don’t come around this often, so his situation begs the question: is he the best free agent in the history of the game? We took a look back at some other notable ones as a point of comparison.
SCOTT STEVENS
B Bennett/Getty Images
Arguably the hardest hitter to ever hit the ice, Stevens was sent to the St. Louis Blues after the team signed Brendan Shanahan. Under league rule, the Devils were entitled to compensation and were able to land the defenceman, who was serving as the Blues’ captain at the time. Stevens eventually signed with New Jersey and led the team to three Stanley Cups.
ZDENO CHARA
Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
The Ottawa Senators had a choice: keep big man Zdeno Chara or stick with franchise defenceman Wade Redden. General manager John Muckler stuck with the latter and the decision forever changed the Senators’ franchise for the worse. Chara went on to lead the Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2011 and a Finals appearance in 2013. As for Redden? He was out of the league by 2013.
ED BELFOUR
Elsa/ALLSPORT
It’s rare to see a franchise player become available on the market. But a goalie? That’s just flat-out nuts.
Belfour spent the first six years of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks before heading to the San Jose Sharks in 1997. When his services became available in the summer, the Dallas Stars found their new man in the crease. Belfour would go on to lead the Stars to their first Stanley Cup in 1999 with a little help from Brett Hull’s controversial magic.
SCOTT NIDERMAYER
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Niedermayer did most of his damage alongside Stevens in New Jersey before eventually bolting to Anaheim to play with his brother Rob. The two along with Teemu Selanne and Chris Pronger helped a stacked Anaheim Ducks team cruise to the 2007 Stanley Cup. Niedermayer was eventually named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
ADAM GRAVES
Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images
The New York Rangers clearly saw something in Graves that most other NHL clubs didn’t. The Left-winger played a minor role with the Edmonton Oilers, failing to top 25 points in his two seasons with the team. New York snagged Graves in 1991 and he instantly made an impact, recording 59 goals in his first season and eventually setting a single-season franchise record for goals with 52 in 1994. That same year, he helped lead the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup title in 54 years.
