3 best available free agents

It's been well over a month since the start of NHL free agency, but there's no shortage of players still looking to sign a deal for the 2016-17 season.

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Here's a look at the three best available free agents still on the market.

Jiri Hudler

The 32-year-old winger took a big step back this past season after recording careers highs in goals (31), assists (45), total points (76), and shots (158) with the Calgary Flames in 2014-15.

Traded to the Florida Panthers prior to the 2016 trade deadline, Hudler did record six goals and five assists in his final 19 regular-season games, but was held to one assist in six playoff appearances.

For his career, he's averaging almost 20 goals and 50 points per 82 games played, and should provide the signing team with great value on a deal likely to come in much lower than the $4-million cap hit carried over the past four seasons.

Brandon Pirri

In order to make room for Hudler at the deadline, the Panthers sent Brandon Pirri to the Anaheim Ducks for the pittance of a sixth-round draft pick.

This after he scored 40 goals in 122 games with the Panthers, including a single-season high of 22 scored in 49 regular-season games in 2014-15.

Pirri - who wasn't floated a qualifying offer by the Ducks after finishing the season on the injured list - has proven to be an effective goal-scorer in limited ice time.

Over the course of the past two seasons, he ranks 14th among all NHL players with at least 1,000 minutes of ice time with 1.34 goals per 60 minutes, tied with Brad Marchand and Mike Hoffman, and sandwiched between the likes of Nikita Kucherov and John Tavares.

Surely at least one team is interested in that kind of production.

Jimmy Vesey

Jimmy Vesey won't technically become a free agent until Aug. 15, provided he doesn't come to terms on a contract with the Buffalo Sabres - who acquired his rights from Nashville earlier in the offseason - prior to the signing deadline.

At this point, that appears unlikely, meaning the 23-year-old college standout will take some meetings and explore his options before hand-picking his team of choice with whom to sign his entry-level deal.

Over his past two seasons at Harvard, Vesey scored 56 goals and added 48 assists in 70 games, giving NHL teams a taste of what's hopefully to come at the NHL level.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks are believed to be the front-runners for the 66th overall pick at the 2012 NHL Draft.