Top 10 unrestricted free agents in 2018

Year after year, free agency has slowly lost its abundance of marquee names due to teams having an easier time at locking in their unrestricted free agents early.

Hopefully this year is the exception, with the number one free agent available this summer being one of the biggest to ever hit the market.

Here's our top 10 list for 2018.

10. Ilya Kovalchuk, RW, St. Petersburg SKA

Age: 35     Current salary: N/A

The Russian sniper was hyped up to be back in the NHL this season, but two factors got in the way. The New Jersey Devils still owned his rights and had to sign then trade him. That made any kind of deal very difficult. The allure of playing in the Olympics also kept Kovalchuk in the KHL. Next season - no Olympics, and free of the Devils' hold. He's way past his prime, but could still be a very interesting option this summer.

9. Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks

Age: 38     Current salary: $8,000,000 

The long-time San Jose Sharks centerman was signed to a lucrative deal this summer after flirting with the open market. If San Jose doesn't have a successful year, he may finally make the move to a Stanley Cup contender before he retires.

8. Mikael Backlund, C, Calgary Flames

Age: 29     Current salary: $3,575,000

The two-way centerman is a viable top six forward, capable of playing strong defensive hockey and contributing up front. With 47 and 57 points in his last 2 seasons, he could be a very attractive option in July.

7. Cam Atkinson, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

Age: 29     Current salary: $3,500,000

The diminutive winger has scored over 20 goals in each of his last four seasons, with him reaching a career-high 35 last season. He will fetch a nice contract if Columbus doesn't lock him up.

6. Mike Green, D, Detroit Red Wings

Age: 32     Current salary: $6,000,000

Green is having a nice year, putting up 13 points in only 16 games so far. He's second on the Red Wings in points. The power play specialist still has some good years left, it'll be interesting to see if teams overpay for his services this summer.

5. Evander Kane, LW, Buffalo Sabres

Age: 26     Current salary: $5,250,000

The controversial winger has quietly been a goal-scoring force in the NHL over the past calendar year. With 28 goals last season, and 9 in 15 games this year. He's on pace for a career year, and despite his reputation, teams will be calling.

4. James van Riemsdyk, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Age: 29     Current salary: $4,250,000

The long-time Leaf has been a mainstay on the team's top 6, regularly among the team's top goal scorers. With the influx of elite young players in Toronto, barring a hometown discount, expect JvR to hit the open market.

3. James Neal, RW, Nashville Predators

Age: 30     Current Salary: $5,000,000

The one-time 40 goal scorer has been a pure sniper in the NHL since the beginning, and this season is no different. With 8 goals to his name in 15 games with the Golden Knights, he's on pace for 40 for the first time since accomplishing the feat in 2011-12. It's unlikely that Vegas retains his services.

2. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals

Age: 28     Current salary: $3,966,667

The Capitals have already lost Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt, and Kevin Shattenkirk and losing Carlson would be the biggest blow of them all. Being a right-handed shot makes him all the more valuable as a top-line defenseman on most teams. If the Caps don't look him up, it'll be a huge loss.

1. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders

Age: 27     Current salary: $5,500,000

Here's the prize of free agency in 2018. There's still the very real possibility that he signs in Long Island, but with the uncertainty over the team's competitiveness over the next few years, as well as where they actually play, he has been hesitant on signing a long-term deal with the team. It's a certainty that Garth Snow is prepared to meet his exact demands. Will he end up staying like Steven Stamkos did in 2016?