Top unrestricted free agent forwards debated by NHL.com

For teams looking for help at forward, there is an impressive list of players who could become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday.

Whether it is a top-six forward, defensive specialist, or physical presence on the shopping list, there are plenty of options.
However, which of the potential forwards will provide the best value when the free agent market opens? To answer that, we asked seven NHL.com writers for their opinions (answers listed in alphabetical order):
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Although I believe that Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames is the most impactful forward eligible to reach free agency, I'm approaching this from a different perspective. To me, Bergeron is the most impactful free agent to his team, bar none. The Bruins captain had 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games this season, including scoring his 400th NHL goal, and won his fifth Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward, an NHL record. In essence, if Bergeron re-signs with the team -- which signs point to -- the Bruins have the potential to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, maybe win a round or two, or even get lucky and go on a run. If not? Well, the Bruins could be in trouble. It looks like Bergeron is recovering well from offseason elbow surgery and leaning toward playing his 19th NHL season, all with the Bruins. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Andrew Copp, New York Rangers
The idea in free agency is to find value, and the Rangers did just that when they acquired Copp in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on March 21. The 28-year-old was a dynamic player in the regular season for the Rangers, getting 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 16 games, but he was even better in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, getting 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 20 games to help them advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Copp finished with a career-high 53 points (21 goals, 32 assists) this season, so there is a fair chance to find value in the big forward (6-foot-1, 206 pounds), who should be entering the prime of his career.-- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
The 28-year-old is a franchise-changing forward. Whoever signs Gaudreau will be getting a player who is as dynamic as any in the NHL. He had a career-high 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists) this season and constantly has the puck on his stick while also making it near impossible to get it away from him. The Flames obviously want to re-sign Gaudreau, with general manager Brad Treliving saying the Flames would "move heaven and earth" to get him signed. Gaudreau said he would return to Calgary, but business is business, and the fact that he's not signed yet suggests he's likely to hit the market. Let's not overthink this, Gaudreau had the best season of any pending UFA and he's very much in the prime of his career. He's the guy.-- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Gaudreau will transform the team he plays for in 2022-23 and beyond by making the players around him better. Gaudreau tied with Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers for second in the NHL in points while setting career highs with 40 goals (tied for 15th in NHL) and 75 assists (third). However, Gaudreau isn't a one-season wonder. Since the start of 2014-15 (his first full NHL season), he's sixth in the League with 608 points (209 goals, 399 assists) in 601 games and is third in assists. In his eight full NHL seasons, Gaudreau scored at least 30 goals three times (30 in 2015-16; 36 in 2018-19) and had at least 60 assists three times (60 in 2017-18; 63 in 2018-19). -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche
The 31-year-old scored 28 goals and set NHL career highs in assists (59) and points (87) this season, even though he played only 71 games. He also had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 16 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the Avalanche win the championship for the first time since 2001. He returned to the lineup from hand surgery in less than three weeks to score the winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Even if Kadri's offensive numbers decline from here, he can play a strong defensive game and add edge at a premium position: center.-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
My answer here was going to be Filip Forsberg, but the Nashville Predators shrewdly made that a moot point by re-signing him to an eight-year contract on Saturday. The skilled forward is just 27 years old, so he should still have something left in the tank at the tail end of that contract. You might not be able to say the same about Kadri. He'll be 32 when the 2022-23 season starts on Oct. 7, so he'll be pushing 40 by the time the contract he covets expires. That's why he'll have the most impact on a team that is ready to win now, not one in a rebuild. I covered the feisty center in Toronto up until he was traded three years ago, and I have seen him be one of the best two-way centers in the League when he's on his game. For a team ready to make a Stanley Cup run in the next three years, like the Avalanche were, Kadri can be a difference-maker. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning
Yes, I know, Gaudreau and Kadri are big names here, and rightfully so, but I like to fly under the radar. You need depth guys, especially in the salary cap world, so why not go with this 31-year-old who won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 with the Lightning? Palat was a productive player during both those runs and was pretty darn great as Tampa Bay attempted the three-peat this season. After getting 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 25 games in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 23 games in 2021, Palat had 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 23 games this postseason, which was second on the Lightning to Nikita Kucherov (27 points). Yeah, Palat will help whichever team lands him in free agency. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer