Potential unrestricted free agents can begin negotiating terms of contracts with teams on Thursday. They can't sign a contract until noon ET on July 1, when the free agent market opens. NHL.com is examining the top potential UFAs at each position.
The Montreal Canadiens made sure one of the top potential unrestricted free agent defensemen this year never made it to the open market when they re-signed Jeff Petry to a six-year, $33 million contract on June 2.
Petry hit it big, and now it's fair to wonder if his contract set the bar for others to come once the signing period opens at noon ET on July 1.