With the NHL free agent signing period beginning, there are several teams in the market for a forward who can boost them into a Stanley Cup contender.
NHL.com takes a closer look at the top unrestricted free agent forwards available when the market opened Wednesday at noon ET (listed in alphabetical order):
Top NHL unrestricted free agent forwards: Coleman on market
Perry, Krejci, Hoffman also among those available
Nick Bonino, Minnesota Wild
The 33-year-old center scored 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 55 games with the Wild this season and also can help in the face-off circle; he won 52.8 percent and has won more than 50 percent in each of his past four seasons. Bonino plays in all situations; he averaged 14:51 of ice time per game, with 1:54 coming on the power play and 1:52 on the penalty kill. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has scored 308 points (132 goals, 176 assists) in 681 regular-season games with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators and Wild.
Blake Coleman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Coleman is a versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup. He scored 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games. He is a two-way player with 2:13 of his 15:28 of average ice time per game coming on the penalty kill. The 29-year-old was second on Tampa Bay with 109 hits (two behind Barclay Goodrow), and has scored 126 points (71 goals, 55 assists) in 301 regular-season games with the New Jersey Devils and Lightning and has won the Stanley Cup each of the past two seasons.
Phillip Danault, Montreal Canadiens
Danault scored 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 53 games and led the Canadiens in face-off percentage (52.5, minimum 100 face-offs). He has won 53.1 percent in his seven NHL seasons. The 28-year-old center also led Montreal forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:17) and has not had a negative plus-minus rating since the 2015-16 season. He has scored 199 points (55 goals, 144 assists) in 392 regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Canadiens.
Nick Foligno, Toronto Maple Leafs
Known for his grit and leadership, the physical left wing had 133 hits this season and was captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the past six seasons before being traded to the Maple Leafs on April 11. Foligno averaged 17:46 of ice time per game, with 1:52 on the penalty kill. He scored 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 49 games. The 33-year-old has scored 486 points (203 goals, 283 assists) in 957 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators, Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Getzlaf is the Ducks' all-time leader in games played (1,101) and assists (703), ranks second in points (982) and fourth in goals (279). The 36-year-old center could decide to retire, but if not, likely would join a team in a reduced role. He scored an NHL career-low 17 points (five goals, 12 assists), averaging 16:35 of ice time in 48 games, and won 51.8 percent of his face-offs.
Mike Hoffman, St. Louis Blues
It was a down season for Hoffman, who scored 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) averaging 15:04 in ice time in 52 games and was a healthy scratch at times. The forward had scored at least 22 goals and 56 points in each of his previous six seasons, including at least 21 power-play points in each of his previous four. The 31-year-old has scored 395 points (189 goals, 206 assists) in 545 regular-season games with the Senators, Florida Panthers and Blues.
David Krejci, Boston Bruins
Krejci doesn't get the recognition some of his teammates do, but the center has done it all for the Bruins. He scored 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists), including 16 on the power play (three goals, 13 assists), and won 54.2 percent of face-offs in 51 games. The 35-year-old averaged 17:08 of ice time per game, including 2:32 per game with the man advantage. In the past 13 seasons, Krejci has had a negative plus-minus rating twice. He has scored 730 points (215 goals, 515 assists) in 962 regular-season games with Boston.
Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders
Palmieri had scored at least 20 goals in five straight seasons prior to scoring 10 in 51 games with the Devils and New York Islanders. His 21 points were his fewest since scoring seven in the 2011-12 season. The 30-year-old right wing is a gritty player who can help on the power play and also get to the front of the net. He has scored 359 points (185 goals, 174 assists) in 612 regular-season games with the Ducks, Devils and Islanders.
Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild
The 36-year-old forward had the final four seasons of his 13-year contract bought out by the Wild. Parise scored 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 45 regular-season games and three points (two goals, one assist) in four playoff games. He has scored 810 points (393 goals, 417 assists) in 1,060 regular-season games with the Wild and Devils, and has scored at least 25 goals in 10 of his 16 NHL seasons.
Corey Perry, Montreal Canadiens
The 36-year-old right wing said he plans to continue playing in the NHL and would like to remain with the Canadiens. He scored 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) averaging 13:44 of ice time in 49 games and was second on Montreal with 39 penalty minutes (Defenseman Ben Chiarot had 50). Perry has scored 818 points (386 goals, 432 assists) and has 1,219 penalty minutes in 1,094 regular-season games with the Ducks, Dallas Stars and Canadiens and has 167 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience.
Brandon Saad, Colorado Avalanche
Saad may have earned himself a new contract after scoring seven goals in the playoffs, one behind MacKinnon for the Avalanche lead. The 28-year-old left wing scored 24 points (15 goals, nine assists) and averaged 14:06 of ice time in 44 regular-season games and has scored double-digit goals in each of his nine full NHL seasons. Saad has scored 371 points (184 goals, 187 assists) in 632 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Blue Jackets and Avalanche and won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015.
Jaden Schwartz, St. Louis Blues
Schwartz is in line for a bounce-back season after scoring 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) and averaging 17:42 of ice time in 40 games; he scored at least 22 goals four times in his previous seven seasons. The 29-year-old left wing has scored 385 points (154 goals, 231 assists) in 560-regular-season games and helped St. Louis win the Stanley Cup in 2019.
Joe Thornton, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 42-year-old forward scored 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) and averaged 13:43 of ice time in 44 games. Though his offense may be on the decline, Thornton can still be a playmaker and ranks seventh on the NHL all-time assists list with 1,104. He is a respected leader on and off the ice and has scored 1,529 points in 1,680 regular-season games during his 23 NHL seasons with the Bruins, San Jose Sharks and Maple Leafs and has played in 186 postseason games.
