Top Forwards:

• Mark Stone – Elite two-way winger, leadership, playoff clutch.
• Mika Zibanejad – 1C with scoring and PP pedigree.
• John Tavares – Aging but productive 2C.
• Claude Giroux – Still skilled, smart middle-six option.
• Tyler Seguin – Reclamation upside with right usage.
• Taylor Hall – Bounce-back potential; middle-six winger.
• Patrick Kane – Offense still flashes; liability defensively.
• Evander Kane – Physical scoring winger, but inconsistent.
• Tom Wilson – Grit/scoring mix, perfect playoff-style piece.
• Vladimir Tarasenko – Powerplay weapon, fading 5v5 impact.

Top Defensemen:

• Erik Karlsson – Still elite offense, bad defense.
• John Carlson – Aging, but smart and still productive.
• Morgan Rielly – Steady, minute-muncher, reliable top pair.
• Kris Letang – Veteran presence, offensive instincts.
• Chris Tanev – Shutdown value, perfect 2nd-pair RD.
• Justin Faulk – Two-way with PP/PK flexibility.
• Jake Middleton – Defensive depth.
• Josh Manson – Gritty veteran, fits a playoff role.
• Connor Murphy – Defensive defenseman with shutdown chops.

Top Goalies:

• Linus Ullmark – Starter-caliber, Vezina upside, needs strong D.
• Sergei Bobrovsky – Wildly inconsistent, high upside.
• Semyon Varlamov – Veteran 1B/backup, reliable.
• Ilya Samsonov – Inconsistent; reclamation project.
• Jonas Korpisalo – Risky bounce-back candidate.

 

Tier 1 – The Fruit Loops

Mika Zibanejad – 4 x $9.75M
Projected Fit: Tampa Bay Lightning
Why: Tampa is contending, has deep wingers (Lafrenière, Barzal, Point), and could use a true #1C to solidify their forward depth. Zibanejad brings scoring and maturity.

Erik Karlsson – 3 x $9.0M
Projected Fit: New York Rangers
Why: NYR lacks a true PP quarterback and has a bold GM with a taste for flash. Karlsson is a gamble, but on a team already with Makar, he adds unmatched offensive punch. Perfect “go big or go home” play.

Mark Stone – 4 x $9.25M
Projected Fit: New York Islanders
Why: The Isles love two-way forwards and are built for playoff grind. Stone fits their identity perfectly and brings leadership to a team that already punches above its weight. His price tag won't scare them.

Morgan Rielly – 4 x $8.25M
Projected Fit: Calgary Flames
Why: Already a top-tier team, but with mostly shutdown defense. Rielly gives them skating and offensive transition, which is their only real defensive gap. Flames have the capital and motive to go big.

John Carlson – 4 x $7.75M
Projected Fit: Nashville Predators
Why: Nashville wants to stay relevant and needs a top-4 D who can carry special teams. Carlson is a low-risk, name-brand solution who upgrades both ends.

Linus Ullmark – 4 x $7.5M
Projected Fit: Calgary Flames
Why: Most complete fit in the league. Calgary’s structure makes him an elite goalie again. They’re in a Cup window and Dostal isn’t quite ready to solo-carry. Money well spent.

John Tavares – 3 x $7.5M
Projected Fit: Detroit Red Wings
Why: The champs want to reload, not rebuild. Tavares is aging but reliable — perfect as a 2C behind Draisaitl or Pettersson. Keeps the window open another 2–3 years. Plot twist, since the latter 2 mentioned are gone, Tavares would be a 1C.

Kris Letang – 3 x $6.5M
Projected Fit: Florida Panthers
Why: Florida needs an experienced puck-moving D with PP upside to help transition. Letang has name value and fits perfectly on a team that needs more composure from the back end.

Tom Wilson – 4 x $6.5M
Projected Fit: Los Angeles Kings
Why: LA lacks true snarl and playoff muscle. Wilson gives them power forward presence and fits their timeline. Rumpel-style signing: loud, bruising, playoff-ready. Sort of explaining how Rumpy is. A sim league bully.

Patrick Kane – 3 x $6.5M
Projected Fit: Montreal Canadiens
Why: Montreal has money, a young core, and could use Kane as a mentor and offensive spark. This is a splashy move that doesn’t cost futures — exactly their style.

Sergei Bobrovsky – 3 x $6.25M
Projected Fit: Arizona Coyotes
Why: Pure veteran placeholder move. Coyotes need net credibility while the kids develop. Bob gives them that — and the price tag means nothing in a rebuild.

Claude Giroux – 3 x $6.25M
Projected Fit: Ottawa Senators
Why: Already has the narrative fit and team identity. Ottawa needs vets who model leadership and still produce. Giroux is ideal — they’ll overpay to keep him around… until the deadline where he will likely get shipped.

Justin Faulk – 4 x $6.25M
Projected Fit: Nashville Predators
Why: If they don’t land Carlson, Faulk is next in line. RH, strong minutes, and playoff ready. Classic Preds-style acquisition.

 

 

 

Tier 2 – The Cheerios

Tyler Seguin – 3 x $5.75M
Projected Fit: Anaheim Ducks
Why: Anaheim is building a future-forward roster and needs vets who can mentor while still contributing. Seguin can play C or wing, and still has name value — perfect bounce-back signing for a transitioning team.

Vladimir Tarasenko – 3 x $5.75M
Projected Fit: Seattle Kraken
Why: Seattle needs a finisher. Tarasenko still has a PP1 release and scoring instincts, even if his 5v5 impact has dropped. A no-risk, all-offense bet for a team that’s just outside the playoff picture.

Taylor Hall – 3 x $4.75M
Projected Fit: Winnipeg Jets
Why: They need firepower and someone with top-6 experience to insulate Cooley and Eichel. Hall has fallen out of the spotlight, but in Winnipeg he’s a perfect low-pressure top-liner who can be flipped later for 3 firsts.

Frank Vatrano – 3 x $4.75M
Projected Fit: Minnesota Wild
Why: Minnesota needs goals, period. Vatrano brings pace and finish at a fair price, and fits well with a middle-six role behind Kaprizov. A pragmatic signing for a middle-tier team. That said, Toby has made some bold moves including adding Drai.

Pavel Zacha – 3 x $4.75M
Projected Fit: Buffalo Sabres
Why: Buffalo is deep but young. Zacha gives them a versatile, responsible middle-six forward who can switch between C/LW and offer stability to the second unit.

Josh Manson – 3 x $4.75M
Projected Fit: Dallas Stars
Why: Stars are all-in and their blue line lacks edge. Manson is playoff-tested, mean, and fits that Dallas physical identity. Great for matchups in the Central.

Jake Middleton – 3 x $4.5M
Projected Fit: Calgary Flames
Why: Flames love responsible defensemen and Middleton is a Tanev-lite. Even if they land Rielly, Middleton fits their identity.

Connor Murphy – 3 x $4.5M
Projected Fit: Vancouver Canucks
Why: Vancouver needs defensive help on the right side and Murphy is a low-cost, stable option. He doesn’t wow, but he’ll eat 20+ minutes and stabilize a shaky pairing.

Rickard Rakell – 3 x $4.5M
Projected Fit: Carolina Hurricanes
Why: Carolina’s system benefits mid-skill wingers who play both ends. Rakell is well-rounded and would fit perfectly as a complementary scorer on their second or third line. Likely will be on their first line because Richard Cordell has built an ECHL level team.

Brayden Schenn – 3 x $5.25M
Projected Fit: Columbus Blue Jackets
Why: Columbus needs leadership and bite, and Schenn brings both. He’ll slot into any forward position and help guide the next wave. Jesse was shopping his first next season, hinting at a potential playoff run.

Evander Kane – 3 x $5.25M
Projected Fit: Philadelphia Flyers
Why: Anthony likes to overpay players after one year.

Chris Tanev – 3 x $5.25M
Projected Fit: Toronto Maple Leafs
Why: It’s basically destiny. Garret will go after a leafs player and then attempt to flip him for 2 firsts.

Semyon Varlamov – 3 x $4.25M
Projected Fit: Edmonton Oilers
Why: Hellebuyck is elite, but he needs backup stability. Varlamov gives the Oilers a true 1B, playoff-ready goalie tandem for a Cup push.

Alex Killorn – 3 x $4.0M
Projected Fit: Colorado Avalanche
Why: Killorn has clutch, versatility, and a Stanley Cup résumé. He’d be a stabilizer on Colorado’s third line.

 

Tier 3 – The Kellogs Rice Crispies

Sean Couturier – 3 x $4.25M
Projected Fit: Washington Capitals
Why: Washington is thin down the middle and lacks true defensive forwards. Couturier is a risk, but if healthy, gives them a shutdown 2C, faceoff ace, and mentor to younger forwards. A sensible signing for a bubble team that wants structure. After going 7 games with Jared, Larry will likely add to his team.

Jonas Korpisalo – 3 x $4.25M
Projected Fit: Ottawa Senators
Why: The Sens already rolled the dice on Korpisalo in real life, and in BRHL they still lack goalie depth. He’s familiar, cheap for a starter, and gives them a fallback while the rebuild unfolds. Could platoon with a younger option.

Ilya Samsonov – 3 x $3.5M
Projected Fit: San Jose Sharks
Why: Pure reclamation play. San Jose has nothing to lose and everything to gain if Samsonov rebounds into even a .905-level starter. He’d get a full workload here and costs no future assets.