This is not the year for a bumper crop of free agents. The number of top notch forwards is limited and that could be good news for the New York Rangers as we get closer to the February trade deadline. It can only mean that Chris Kreider‘s market value will be higher than ever, despite his less than average output this season.
Last summer there were a number of top pending free agents who could have been dealt at the deadline. They included Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, Ryan Dzingel, Kevin Hayes, Marcus Johansson, Mats Zuccarello, Gustav Nyquist and Wayne Simmonds.