The best of the rest in free agency for the 2024 NHL offseason

NHL Free Agency is back. After years of boring, flat-cap-induced, half-hearted bidding wars over middle-six wingers and depth defencemen, the frenzy we came to love returned in a big way on July 1, as NHL general managers committed to more than a billion in salary before the day was done.

The flip side of this is that because the wallets were emptied so excitedly, we actually have a weaker class of leftovers than usual. Oftentimes, we look at the free agent list on July 7 and think, “How did that guy slip through the cracks?” This time, guys who belong in an NHL lineup were snapped up like canned goods the day before a hurricane, and often at jacked-up prices. 

That said, If you're staring at your favourite team's depth chart thinking, “Hold on, that guy is pencilled in?!” have no fear. There are a couple of guys of… varying usefulness still out there. 

I'm here to be your free agency used car salesman. Let me show you what we've got in the lot, I sure we'll find something perfect for you.