With the trade deadline still months away and the 2018 offseason far out of mind for most hockey fans, it might seem premature to look at the 2018 crop of free agents.
But in the coming months, teams will be making plans for their unrestricted free agents. Should they sign UFAs to long-term deals? Trade them at the deadline? Let things play out?
Let's have a look at the top impending free agents set to hit the market and see what the future might hold:
1. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders
Key stat: 248 points in 260 games since 2014-15
2017-18 cap hit: $5.5 million
Tavares has proven to be one of the NHL's truly elite players. If he elects to leave the Islanders, he will likely set the bar for the league's most lucrative contract under the current CBA.
2. Jonathan Marchessault, C, Vegas Golden Knights
Key stat: 38 goals in past 94 games, plus-7.4 percent relative Corsi percentage this season
2017-18 cap hit: $750,000
He might be undersized, but Marchessault is proving that last season's 30 goals were not a fluke -- and showing the Panthers that they should have kept him around.
3. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals
Key stat: 26:39 average time on ice, a career high
2017-18 cap hit: $3.967 million
At age 28, Washington's offensively gifted defenseman has the look of a top-notch blueliner this season. He will be looking for a No. 1 defenseman's payday, but teams might be concerned that he hasn't performed at this level before.
4. Evander Kane, LW, Buffalo Sabres
Key stat: 50 even-strength goals in 159 games as a Sabre
2017-18 cap hit: $5.25 million
Kane has been a solid producer in Buffalo playing alongside Jack Eichel, but some off-ice concerns and poor power-play production could lower his price. With the Sabres sputtering, trade talk should heat up around Kane soon.
5. James van Riemsdyk, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Key stat: 110 points in 146 games under Mike Babcock
2017-18 cap hit: $4.25 million
Despite a dip in ice time from earlier in his career, JVR has continued to produce impressive shot rates and point totals. He has already potted 12 goals in 24 games and could play an important role for the contending Leafs.
6. Mikael Backlund, C, Calgary Flames
Key stat: Career average of plus-5.3 percent relative Corsi
2017-18 cap hit: $3.575 million
The most underappreciated two-way center in the game, Backlund has had a positive relative Corsi percentage every season of his career and has scored a solid 116 points in 186 games the past three seasons.
7. Paul Stastny, C, St. Louis Blues
Key stat: 20 points in 24 games this season, 54.9 faceoff percentage
2017-18 cap hit: $7 million
Although his first three campaigns in St. Louis did not live up to his $7 million cap hit, topping out at 49 points, Stastny has played a big role in the Blues' offensive surge. Even with strong production, age (he turns 32 in December) will likely keep his price and contract length to a reasonable level.
8. Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks
Key stat: 54 assists in 101 games since 2016-17
2017-18 cap hit: $8 million
Thornton's point production has fallen by nearly 40 percent the past two seasons, since his 82-point 2015-16 season, but he is still controlling play (evidenced by a plus-4.5 relative Corsi percentage) and picking up power-play points. The future Hall of Famer could help another team in a No. 2 or No. 3 center role if he plays one more season.
9. David Perron, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
Key stat: 19 points in 21 games, highest average ice time since 2013-14
2017-18 cap hit: $3.75 million
Few players have bounced around as much as Perron. He has played for five organizations (including the Blues twice) since coming into the league in 2007-08. Will the Golden Knights finally give him a long-term home?
10. Zdeno Chara, D, Boston Bruins
Key stat: 24:03 average time on ice
2017-18 cap hit: $4 million
With point totals and relative Corsi slipping, it's clear that age is catching up with Chara, but he might be able to contribute in a lesser role next season for a contending team. Will that team be the Bruins?
11. Patric Hornqvist, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Key stat: More than three shots per game every full season of his career
2017-18 cap hit: $4.25 million
One of the most consistent players in the NHL, Hornqvist has averaged 0.63, 0.62 and 0.64 points per game since joining the Penguins. Any contending team could use a solid two-way winger of his ilk in the middle six.
12. Rick Nash, LW, New York Rangers
Key stat: 30 goals in 90 games the past two seasons
2017-18 cap hit: $7.8 million
The former Blue Jacket has fallen off significantly since his 42-goal season in 2014-15, so he won't be landing a huge late-career contract, but Nash could still add some offensive firepower to a winning club.
13. James Neal, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
Key stat: 12 goals in 22 games, 20.3 percent shooting percentage
2017-18 cap hit: $5 million
He might be a one-dimensional player, but Neal's skill hasn't faded. The veteran winger's goal production has led the Golden Knights to a surprising start. However, Neal's success has put Vegas in a tough spot. Should they hope his shooting luck continues or trade him at the deadline?
14. Josh Bailey, LW, New York Islanders
Key stat: 12 power-play assists, a career high
2017-18 cap hit: $3.3 million
Bailey has been a nice playmaking winger for several seasons, averaging 25 even-strength assists per season the past four seasons. But in 2017-18, the combination of extensive power-play usage and ice time with Tavares have rocketed his point totals skyward. Bailey could end up as a classic overpay next summer.
15. Andrew Cogliano, C, Anaheim Ducks
Key stat: Between 0.32 and 0.55 points per game every season of his career
2017-18 cap hit: $3 million
An under-the-radar key player during a long stretch of success for the Ducks, Cogliano can be trusted to provide secondary scoring and play a solid two-way game. He won't get big money, but he could make for a smart signing for a winning club.
16. Tyler Bozak, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Key stat: 14:58 average time on ice, a career low
2017-18 cap hit: $4.2 million
Mike Babcock does not appear to have the same type of love for Bozak as previous Leafs coaches have had because the veteran's ice time has slipped each season since Babcock took over. Bozak has value as a No. 3 center, but he might be looking for a bigger role than that.
17. Patrick Maroon, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Key stat: 41 goals in 120 games as an Oiler
2017-18 cap hit: $2 million
The beneficiary of playing alongside Connor McDavid these past two seasons, Maroon would be smart to stay in that situation if possible.
18. Henrik Sedin, C, Vancouver Canucks
Key stat: 14:05 average ice time, down from 19:02 last season
2017-18 cap hit: $7 million
The Canucks have turned the team over to younger forwards such as Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser, pushing the former Hart Trophy winner into being a role player. Sedin's ice time is a pretty clear indication that Vancouver will be moving on after this season.
19. Daniel Sedin, LW, Vancouver Canucks
Key stat: 19 power-play points the past two seasons
2017-18 cap hit: $7 million
The question surrounding the Sedins is: Would anyone trade for them if the Canucks are not in the playoff race? It seems unlikely that a contending team could afford both and make room in the lineup. The same goes for Henrik and Daniel hitting the market next summer, but we're still a ways away from that point.
20. Mike Green, D, Detroit Red Wings
Key stat: Career-low minus-4.0 percent relative Corsi
2017-18 cap hit: $6 million
If you're looking for a power-play specialist, Green is your guy. If you're looking for a reliable top-four blueliner, it might be best to search elsewhere. The veteran defenseman has nine power-play assists already, pumping up his scoring totals, but his play at even strength has continued to slide the wrong direction in recent seasons.
21. Antti Raanta, G, Arizona Coyotes
Key stat: Career .921 even-strength save percentage
2017-18 cap hit: $1 million
Arizona's netminder is getting his first chance to be a regular starter after having several seasons of success as backup to Henrik Lundqvist and Corey Crawford. So far, he has been slightly better than league average, with a .914 save percentage playing behind a struggling team. A solid season overall could land him a decent contract.
22. Valtteri Filppula, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Key stat: 15 even-strength points in 43 games as a Flyer
2017-18 cap hit: $5 million
Once a solid contributor in Detroit and Tampa Bay, Filppula hasn't been much of a producer with the Flyers, despite playing with scorer Wayne Simmonds. He might be better fit for a depth role in his next location.
23. Jack Johnson, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Key stat: Career minus-4.1 relative Corsi percentage
2017-18 cap hit: $4.357 million
Far from the top-flight defenseman that he was once billed to be as a No. 3 overall draft pick, Johnson has found a better fit as a second-pair defenseman for the Blue Jackets -- though he's probably best suited for a bottom pair. Judging by past signings such as Brooks Orpik in Washington and Karl Alzner in Montreal, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him vastly overpaid this summer. Buyer beware!
24. Jaroslav Halak, G, New York Islanders
Key stat: .922 even-strength save percentage
2017-18 cap hit: $4.5 million
Halak has had a bizarre season. His overall save percentage is one of the worst among regular starters, at .903, but he has been good at even strength. The Islanders have given up five short-handed goals with Halak in net, three more than all of last season. He's likely to bounce back and prove again that he is a legitimate starter. We'll see how much teams are willing to pay for a 33-year-old version of one of those next summer.
25. John Moore, D, New Jersey Devils
Key stat: 19:31 average ice time, 49 points in 159 games since joining Devils
2017-18 cap hit: $1.667 million
Going into the season, the biggest concern about the Devils was their defense, but Moore has turned himself from a fringe bottom-pair player to someone who can skate near 20 minutes per night and acquit himself quite well while doing so. There's plenty of value in being a solid defenseman, and there will be no shortage of teams looking for such a player.