Ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents: 40-31
June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents ahead of the madness.
Here are the unrestricted free agents ranked from No. 40 down to No. 31:
40. Keith Kinkaid (G)
Age on Oct. 1: 28
2016-17 Cap Hit: $725,000
Kinkaid has started 43 games over the past two seasons in relief of the New Jersey Devils' Cory Schneider. The 28-year-old is on a trajectory to be a high-end career backup. He likely can't handle a full workload, but he's a quality stopgap for a rebuilding team and is capable of handling the lighter end of a timeshare.
39. Trevor Daley (D)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 33
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.3M
No one benefited more from the plethora of injuries to the Pittsburgh Penguins' defense corps during the postseason than Daley. He averaged 19:16 of ice time over 19 games, and has shown he's still capable of a top-four role. He's a quality depth defender on a hopeful contender.
38. Jarome Iginla (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 40
2016-17 Cap Hit: $5.333M
Welp. The soon-to-be 40-year-old has announced his intentions to continue his career, seemingly oblivious to his vastly deteriorated play. After 15-and-a-half seasons with the Calgary Flames, Iginla has now played for four teams in the five years since. He'll want to continue chasing his elusive Stanley Cup ring, but he can't offer much to any true contender.
37. Steve Mason (G)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 29
2016-17 Cap Hit: $4.1M
Mason remains stuck in the purgatory between being a solid starter and nothing more than a backup. His save percentage dropped for the second consecutive season, after peaking at .928 in 2014-15. Teams will want to find a safer bet in net.
36. Daniel Winnik (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 32
2016-17 Cap Hit: $2.25M
All contending teams will be anxiously watching to see who signs Winnik to a one-year contract so they can prepare the paperwork for the eventual trade offer of a third-round pick. He scored a career-high 12 goals last season and offers some bottom-six depth.
35. Patrick Sharp (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 35
2016-17 Cap Hit: $5.9M
Sharp has entered the phase of his career where he's the experienced veteran sought after by rebuilding teams looking to miss the playoffs by a single spot. He scored just eight goals in 48 games last season, but he did win three Stanley Cups this decade.
34. Brian Campbell (D)
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 38
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1.5M
Quite possibly the most likely to retire of anyone on this list, Campbell missed two games this past season, his first absences since playing just 65 games in the 2010-11 season. His 17 points were his fewest ever in a full season. Contenders will come calling for his experience, and he still has something to offer as a depth defenseman, but he's no longer a minutes-eater.
33. Anders Nilsson (G)
Age on Oct. 1: 27
2016-17 Cap Hit: $1M
Nilsson has 67 career starts on his resume, posting a .908 save percentage along the way. He's one of the top available backup 'tenders, but he won't receive a starting opportunity. Toss him onto the goalie carousel.
32. Cody Franson (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 30
2016-17 Cap Hit: $3.325M
Franson is now two years removed from his streak of three consecutive 30-point campaigns. He makes for a good bottom-pairing defenseman, another abundant resource in this year's free-agent class.
31. Mike Fisher (F)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Age on Oct. 1: 37
2016-17 Cap Hit: $4.4M
The Nashville Predators' Cup run has entrenched Fisher in the city's royalty. He'll no longer be just Mr. Carrie Underwood. He'll ride off into the sunset one way or another, either via retirement or on a fair lifelong contract to wear the Predators' "C."