5 established names still available on the free agent market.

The free agent frenzy has all but died out in the National Hockey League this season but in spite of that just like every year there are a fair number of veteran players who remain without a contract. For the purpose of this list I'm going to strictly include unrestricted free agents, as the situation for restricted free agents is considerably different.

Today we are going to take a look at 5 players, all of whom have established themselves as valuable commodities in the National Hockey League, who still have yet to find a new home and are currently on the look out for a deal for the 2019 - 2020 NHL regular season. At the time of this writing none of the players have been linked to a particular team either via contract or through a professional tryout offer. 

#1 Dion Phaneuf.

Probably the biggest name on this list as a result of his time spent in Canadian markets as as member of the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, Phaneuf is a well traveled veteran NHL defenseman that has reached the downside of his career. There's no doubt that the previous contract he was on will dwarf any kind of offer he may receive this summer, but there's also no doubt that Phaneuf is still a serviceable NHL defenseman. Of course he has shown signs of decline and would no longer be considered a top pairing guy, but it is hard to believe that there won't be a home somewhere for him in the NHL on one team's bottom 4.

#2 Derrick Brassard.

The 2018 - 2019 NHL regular season was not a pretty one for Brassard who saw himself traded multiple times, eventually landing on the 4th line for the Colorado Avalanche. Brassard only produced 4 total points during the limited time he saw there, although all of those were goals, and the lack of interest this summer speaks to how drastically the perception of his talents have shifted in recent years. Still Brassard is only one year removed from a fairly decent season split between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins, and as a center I expect he will find a home before the season starts.

#3 Niklas Kronwall.

Still to this day arguably the most recognizable name when it comes to the Detroit Red Wings, the future for Kronwall remains uncertain. There is a belief that the veteran defenseman would like to extend his career and general manager Steve Yzerman has hinted that Kronwall would be welcome back with open arms should he choose to remain a Red Wing. Whether the Red Wings want him to return as a player or in a more behind the scenes role however is still unclear. As per the latest reports Kronwall was still mulling over a possible retirement, and it seems likely that if he did return it would be with the only team he has played for during his NHL career.

#4 Adam McQuaid.

Perhaps not the most dynamic player on this list, there is no question that McQuaid is a name that resonates throughout the NHL's fan base. The gritty blue liner established himself as a valuable asset on the blue line during his time as a Boston Bruin, and has since gone on to fill that role for other organizations. McQuaid performed admirably during his time with the New York Rangers prior to being dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2019 NHL trade deadline, although where he lands next still remains a mystery. For a veteran like McQuaid there has been surprisingly little talk about his future at all this summer. 

#5 Andrew MacDonald

If you're a Flyers fan you probably believe that there is a very good reason Andrew MacDonald does not have a contract, and I could hardly blame you for thinking the way you did. MacDonald was, for a very long time, an overpriced part of the Flyers blue line and when the team bought him out this summer you could almost feel the collective sigh of relief from the Flyers fan base. That being said at a major discount MacDonald could still very well be a bottom 4 type of guy in the NHL, although it will really need to be a big step down from the $5 million he was earning per year with the Flyers.