Forwards
1. Steven Stamkos
2015-16 team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Position: Center
2015-16 cap hit: $7,500,000
Scouting Report: Bona-fide superstar with tremendous skating ability, hand-eye coordination and playmaking prowess. Great one-timer and two-way upside. Can improve on faceoffs and passing skills. All-in-all, a formidable sniper who would instantly bolster any team’s offense.
2. Loui Eriksson
2015-16 team: Boston Bruins
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $4,250,000
Scouting Report: Great defensive forward with tremendous offensive instincts and a goal-scorer’s touch. Could benefit from adding some bulk and playing with a little more fire.
3. Kyle Okposo
2015-16 team: New York Islanders
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $2,800,000
Scouting Report: Excellent scorer and skater. Possesses the mentality of a sniper, and can play a big man’s game. Durability and defensive woes are both points of concerns. Still, a reliable offensive threat.
4. Milan Lucic
2015-16 team: Los Angeles Kings
Position: Left Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $3,250,000
Scouting Report: Big, brawny winger with underrated offensive ability. Can take over a game with big hits, nasty and intimidating presence and fighting prowess. Not a natural goal-scorer or skater. The prototypical power forward.
5. David Backes
2015-16 team: St. Louis Blues
Position: Center
2015-16 cap hit: $4,500,000
Scouting Report: Another skilled two-way winger. Can play a shutdown role courtesy of his size and hockey sense. Good nose for the net. Plenty of grit, too. Knack for being too aggressive and taking bad penalties.
6. Frans Nielsen
2015-16 team: New York Islanders
Position: Center
2015-16 cap hit: $2,750,000
Scouting Report: Most underrated player in the league. Good playmaker and exceptional two-way forward. Is a great asset on both special teams. Does a little bit of everything.
7. Lee Stempniak
2015-16 team: Boston Bruins
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $850,000
Scouting Report: Sneaky winger with scoring acumen and the ability to be a factor on special-teams. Not very good off the puck. Undersized, although versatile. Very streaky scorer.
8. Andrew Ladd
2015-16 team: Chicago Blackhawks
Position: Left Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $4,400,000
Scouting Report: Complimentary winger with good size and offensive prowess. Ultimate team player with the ability to dish out hits and hold his ground. Could stand to be a little more consistent.
9. Shane Doan
2015-16 team: Arizona Coyotes
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $5,300,000
Scouting Report: Durable, loyal and talented. Phenomenal along-the-boards. Isn’t an elite skater or consistent goal-scorer anymore. Still, a tremendous two-way player with team-first qualities.
10. Troy Brouwer
2015-16 team: St. Louis Blues
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 cap hit: $3,666,667
Scouting Report: A lack of skating ability hinders his ability to produce consistent offense, but a combination of size and decent scoring ability worries opponents. Good along-the-boards and in front of the net.
