9 potential bargains in NHL free agency

NHL teams will yet again be scouring the free-agent bargain bin as the salary cap rises just $1 million for the second consecutive year.

Whether it's competitive squads looking to round out their roster, clubs on the outside of the playoff picture hoping to unearth a hidden gem, or rebuilding teams identifying players they could flip at the trade deadline, the market for inexpensive NHLers never dries up.

Last season, the Washington Capitals landed Marcus Johansson, Erik Gustafsson, and Sonny Milano for a combined $2.65 million. All three are expected to get notable raises on their next contracts.

Daniel Sprong didn't sign until October and became the second-most cost-effective scorer in the league not on an entry-level contract.

The Florida Panthers went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final with a lineup filled with numerous cheap depth players, including Nick Cousins, Eric and Marc Staal, and Colin White.

Here are nine of the most intriguing players from the 2023 unrestricted free-agent class that are projected to sign for less than $2.5 million, per Evolving Hockey.

Pius Suter

Suter scored at the lowest rate and played the fewest minutes of his three-year NHL career last season. Despite the dip in production, he remained an effective even-strength presence for the Detroit Red Wings and was among the league's best penalty killers.

His 13.1 expected goals above replacement in 2022-23 is the fifth most among free-agent forwards, and the highest mark by one projected to sign for less than $2.5 million.

Suter hasn't reached the playoffs yet, but he's posted positive on-ice Corsi, expected goals, and actual-goal results relative to his teammates in each of his three seasons.

Detroit limited opponents to 6.06 expected goals per 60 when Suter was on the penalty kill. That's the eighth-lowest mark among forwards that played at least 100 shorthanded minutes last season.

On the younger side for an unrestricted free agent, the 27-year-old Suter is an excellent candidate to become an impactful bottom-six forward on a cheap deal for a contending team.

Potential fits: Hurricanes, Penguins, Maple Leafs

Connor Brown

Brown almost feels like a forgotten player. After all, he only made four goalless appearances last season after tearing his ACL.

Brown is likely not on this list without that injury. Coming off of a three-year deal that had a $3.6-million cap hit, his next contract is one of this summer's more difficult projections. Is there a team still willing to give him a multi-season commitment around the same price point, or does Brown opt to take a short-term contract to rehabilitate his value?

In three seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Brown averaged top-line minutes and was an effective offensive winger that chipped in on both special teams. If his injury does drive down his cap hit, he'll make a team very happy in 2023-24.

Potential fits: Oilers, Jets, Lightning

Jonathan Drouin

A change of scenery is exactly what Drouin needs to revitalize his career.

There's no denying Drouin's talent, particularly as a playmaker, but his recent lack of goal-scoring leaves a lot to be desired. He's managed just 17 goals in 163 games since the start of the 2019-20 season, a rate worse than the likes of Curtis Lazar, Adam Erne, and Chris Tierney.

Drouin's time in Montreal was turbulent. He was shoehorned into an ill-fitting position, and he failed to meet the lofty expectations put on him based on his place of birth and how he was acquired.

Moving on from that situation will allow Drouin to start fresh. There's upside on a short-term "prove-it" deal for the 28-year-old if he's used in a sheltered, offensive role.

A reunion with Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon would certainly be fun.

Potential fits: Blackhawks, Avalanche, Panthers

Evgenii Dadonov

A positive end to Dadonov's season with the Dallas Stars helped his stock.

The 34-year-old tallied seven goals and 25 points in 39 total games across the end of the regular season and playoffs, far exceeding his 18 points across 50 contests with Montreal.

Aside from this past season with the Canadiens and a 2020-21 stint with a young Ottawa Senators squad, Dadonov has consistently produced since returning to the NHL in 2017-18.

An inexpensive deal makes a lot of sense for talented teams looking to round out their depth up front with an effective complementary scorer.

Potential fits: Bruins, Avalanche, Wild

Matthew Phillips

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

The most attractive Group 6 UFA of the year may be Phillips.

A player becomes this type of free agent if they're 25 years old, have completed three or more professional seasons, and have played fewer than 80 NHL games. As a result, Phillips enters unrestricted free agency early on the heels of another splendid offensive season in the AHL.

The diminutive winger scored over 30 goals for the second straight season, setting career highs with 36 tallies and 76 points.

Despite his prowess with Calgary's AHL affiliate, Phillips has only played three NHL games. He never played more than 10 minutes this past season.

Whether the 5-foot-7 winger sinks or swims in the NHL remains to be seen, but Phillips is at least deserving of a chance to show what he's got in the big leagues.

Potential fits: Bruins, Blackhawks, Jets

Connor Mackey

Another Group 6 UFA, Mackey finished the season in the Coyotes' top four and featured in a similar role for the United States at the World Championships.

Though he's likely not a second-pairing blue-liner on a contending team, Mackey showed enough promise as a 6-foot-2 defenseman to warrant further NHL minutes.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Mackey posted good results in two AHL campaigns before 2022-23 but was unable to break into the Flames' deep defense group. A trade deadline move to Arizona saw him get a chance to play regular NHL minutes for the first time.

In a free-agent class full of older, uninspiring defensemen, Mackey could draw more interest than anticipated with his positive end to the previous campaign.

Potential fits: Panthers, Kings, Capitals

Lucas Carlsson

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

There's no free-agent defenseman that ticks the "low-risk, high-reward" box quite like Carlsson.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old blue-liner had a breakout offensive campaign in the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 54 points in 61 games. Despite being a Group 6 UFA, he has a fair bit of NHL experience.

Carlsson played 40 games with the Panthers in 2021-22 and has logged 60 total games across parts of four seasons. He recorded nine points in that stint with Florida and posted positive underlying metrics in the process.

If his upside isn't enough, Carlsson can also chip in as a part-time goaltender.

With the lack of exciting free-agent depth defensemen, Carlsson is a good bet to join a team looking to add offense from the backend, even if he's only a third-pair option.

Potential fits: Coyotes, Hurricanes, Canucks

Alex Lyon

It's easy to forget the Panthers likely don't make the playoffs if not for Lyon's end-of-season heroics.

The 30-year-old was thrust into the backup role when Spencer Knight left the team, and he suddenly became the starter at the end of March with a hot stretch of play.

In total, Lyon went 9-4-2 with a .915 save percentage in the regular season before losing the gig to Sergei Bobrovsky after Game 3 against the Boston Bruins.

Lyon has been an AHL mainstay for seven years and has consistently been among the league's best goalies with a career .912 save percentage. He's accumulated 39 NHL appearances but hadn't had a stretch of play quite like he showed this season.

Considering he turns 31 in December, it's unlikely Lyon parlays his impressive run into a full-time NHL gig. But as both his Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights showed this season, it's vital in today's NHL to have multiple goaltenders you trust.

Lyon proved he's at the very least one of the best third-string netminders available, and he could be rewarded with a one-way contract as a result.

Potential fits: Red Wings, Islanders, Lightning

Joey Daccord

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

Since turning pro at the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Daccord has been among the AHL's most consistent netminders. He has a career .918 save percentage in 98 regular-season AHL games but has only played a combined 19 NHL contests.

After a strong campaign with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Daccord found another level in the Calder Cup playoffs. Starting all 26 postseason games for Seattle's affiliate, he posted a .926 save percentage as the Firebirds lost the AHL championship in overtime in Game 7.

Last summer, we saw third-stringer Charlie Lindgren land a three-year contract with a cap hit of $1.1 million to become a full-time NHL backup with the Capitals.

Lindgren had more success in his small NHL sample than Daccord, but he was also older. Daccord will be 27 years old by the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

As teams continue to put more emphasis on goaltending depth, Daccord could be in line for a one-way contract and a chance to win an NHL backup gig.

Potential fits: Senators, Sharks, Golden Knights