Five best players available in NHL free agency

Dubbed one of the worst unrestricted free-agent classes in recent memory by many of the league’s general managers, there just doesn’t seem to be any sense of excitement as NHL free agency is set to begin on Saturday.

With a watered-down group of past-their-prime players leading the way, here are the five best free agents available:

Dmitry Orlov, D, Boston Bruins

Orlov will by no means make a Cale Makar or Roman Josi-type impact on a new team, but he is a solid puck-moving defenseman who offers enough offensive production that could really help a playoff team. Orlov tallied 20 or more points in seven of the last nine seasons, and he hasn’t had a minus-rating since 2013-14. As a top-four defenseman who’s averaged 22 minutes per game each of the last two years, there’s sure to be a solid market for Orlov.

Ryan O’Reilly, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries limited him to just 53 games in 2022, but O’Reilly is regarded as the best center available on the open market. Although he’s 32, he’s still a good second-line center who plays a strong two-way game. He scored 11 points in 13 regular-season games and nine points in 11 playoff games after joining the Maple Leafs in February, proving he’s still got some juice left.

Tyler Bertuzzi, RW, Boston Bruins

At 28, Bertuzzi is one of the younger players in the 2023 free-agent class. Although he had just eight goals and 30 points in 50 games in 2022, Bertuzzi is just one year removed from a 30-goal, 60-point season. It’s been reported that the Bruins are gunning hard to bring him back next season, but with a weak crop of forwards with scoring upside, Bertuzzi could be a hot commodity.

Matt Dumba, D, Minnesota Wild

Although he’s not the 50-point defenseman he was in 2017-18, Dumba still has solid value as a 28-year-old blue-liner with top-four experience who’s averaged 21 minutes or more per game each of the last six seasons. Dumba is dependable — he’s played in 50 or more games in all but one season since becoming a full-time NHLer — and he’s a strong penalty killer who can play top-pairing minutes.

Patrick Kane, RW, New York Rangers

If this was 2018 and not 2023, Kane at the top of the list of free agents would be a big deal. But age 34 and heading into his 17th season, Kane just isn’t the player he used to be. He is, however, still a solid option for a team in need of a second- or third-line scoring winger. He put up 21 goals and 57 points last season with the Rangers and Blackhawks, and he totaled 60 or more points in nine straight seasons before last year. He's no longer the superstar he once was, but he could still be of value to a possible Cup contender.