Six days after the opening of the National Hockey League (NHL) free agent market, some notable veterans like Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are yet to find a team, while other high profile players in Quebec are also patient.
Here are a few familiar names for local hockey fans looking to sign an exit deal.
Also read: NHL: This team is interested in winning the Norris Trophy
Getty Images via AFP
-Tomas Tatar
The 32-year-old Slovakian made a habit of disappointing his employers as soon as the playoffs came around, and that was the case with the New Jersey Devils. With just one small goal in 12 postseason games, it’s hard to convince an NHL organization to give him a chance. However, on the regular calendar, “Tuna” swims in less choppy waters: in 2022-2023 he accumulated 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points in 82 games.
Tomas Tatar earned $9 million in his last two years. He had previously signed with the Detroit Red Wings for four years and $21.2 million; He ended his contract with the Montreal Canadiens, for whom he played from 2018-2021.
Martin Chevalier / JdeM
– Yaroslav Halak
The former Habs teammate of Carey Price played 25 games overall last season despite the presence of Igor Shesterkin at the New York Rangers. A native of Tatar, he has an increasingly full travel diary, staying in the Boston Bruins camp for three years before ending up in Vancouver and then the Big Apple. With 581 games under his belt, the keeper has enough experience to come to the rescue of a formation in search of a reliable spare tire should the No. 1 falter or fall in battle.
Jaroslav Halak signed for just one year in 2022/23 and collected $1.55 million. In addition, his last three contracts had a term of one year.
Archive photo, Martin Chevalier
-Denis Gurianov
With the Canadian giving up a pricey $2.9m qualifying bid, the Russian went free this summer. Acquired from the Dallas Stars against Evgenii Dadonov at the end of February, he is at a crossroads as, at 26, he has yet to prove he belongs in the top-flight group. In Montreal, the winger showed a few “flashes”, but proved to be inconsistent, especially despite an interesting speed. He finished the season with eight points in 23 games.
Denis Gurianov was noticed for not wearing the Pride and Inclusion jersey ahead of a Canadiens game in April. Since his NHL debut, he has scored 51 goals and hit the 20 mark once in 280 games.
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-Maxime Comtois
The 24-year-old winger is the most prominent Quebecer out there and the director in question might not have expected that given he’d become a restricted free agent. However, the Anaheim Ducks withdrew his $2.445 million qualifying bid after his two-year, $4.075 million contract expired.
Like the team that drafted him in the second round in 2017, Maxime Comtois has struggled in recent years. While the Ducks finished bottom overall in the 2022-23 season, the forward settled for 19 points in 64 games and a -20 difference. His young age could encourage a formation to bet on who has played in two World Junior Hockey Championships.