The Chicago Blackhawks hoisted the Stanley Cup on Monday and paraded it around the Windy City on Thursday, meaning NHL free agency is right around the corner.
Teams will be able to sign unrestricted free agents on July 1 and though the crop of players looking for new homes for the 2015-16 season is fairly thin, many teams have needs that some of them could fill.
Here are five of the top available unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason.
Honorable Mention: Mike Green, Defenseman. Green has seen his role diminish on the Washington Capitals, but went 10-35--45 in 72 games this season while rating a plus-15.
Matt Beleskey, Left Wing
Beleskey, 27, had a breakout season in 2014-15, scoring a career-high 22 goals and adding 10 assists for 32 points in 65 games while notching eight game-winning tallies and owning a plus-13 rating. Beleskey made $1.5 million this past season with the Anaheim Ducks and could return to the club, while other teams may make a push. His solid regular season mixed with a playoff performance that saw him notch eight tallies (three game-winners including one in overtime) likely have him in line for a big raise.
Carl Soderberg, Center
Soderberg, 29, was the Boston Bruins second-highest scoring center with 44 points off of 13 goals and 31 assists and he also found the back of the net for three game-winners and rated a plus-10. Soderberg has said he'd like to re-sign with the Bruins, but he'll be looking for a big payday and the team has some cap issues heading into the campaign. The Swede made $1 million this past season.
Cody Franson, Defenseman
Franson, 27, split time between the embattled Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators this season, racking up seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points and rating a minus-7 overall. Franson is highly unlikely to return to Nashville, but he has said he is open for a Toronto comeback or to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. Franson has inked one-year deals for three straight campaigns, so it's likely he'll be looking to net a multi-year deal, despite his struggle to fit in with Nashville. He made $3.3 million last season.
Mike Ribeiro, Center
Ribeiro, 35, may be getting older, but he had a resurgence with the Predators in 2014-15, leading the team with 47 assists and scoring 15 goals to finish second on the club with 62 points. It was his highest point total since netting 63 in 2011-12. Ribeiro had 11 power play tallies, three game-winners and rated a plus-11 after finishing a minus-13 a season prior with the woeful Phoenix Coyotes. He had a goal and four assists in the postseason. Ribeiro and Nashville general manager David Poile both expressed interest in doing business again. Ribeiro made $1.5 million last season and will likely see a pay bump.
Devan Dubnyk, Goalie
Dubnyk, 29, was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Minnesota Wild and had a career revival in the process, turning the season around and earning a playoff berth in the blue paint for the club. Dubnyk went 27-9-2 with Minnesota along with a 1.78 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and five shutouts. Overall, he had 36 wins this season with a 2.07 GAA, a .929 save percentage and six shutouts. Dubnyk went 4-6 in his first taste of playoff action with a 2.53 GAA, .908 save percentage and a shutout. Dubnyk, who made $800,000 last season, and Minnesota are both interested in extending a new deal, but the Wild also have two other goalies under contract.
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