John Tavares will be the best center on the free agent market but wants to remain in Toronto and looks willing to take a pay cut to do so.
If you’re a fan of the one-of-us approach to roster building, Brock Nelson is considered to be one of the top centers entering the market. The Warroad product had two assists on Thursday as Colorado beat Dallas in Game 6 of their series. The free-agent market for centers is light, especially since Sam Bennett is working on a deal to remain with Florida. Guerin might have to swing a deal to bring in a quality center.
And if he has to pivot elsewhere, he could just corner the market on Brocks.
Winger Brock Boeser has gone on record that he’s unlikely to return to Vancouver, where he scored 40 goals in 2023-24. He had 25 goals and 25 assists this season, one in which he missed time with a concussion.
Adding Boeser could be pricey in terms of years and average salary. A Burnsville native, Boeser, 28, checks the one-of-us box. When it comes to hockey, the one-of-us angle often means the player is good. The Wild would have three quality Brocks, all from Minnesota.
With the financial gloves finally off, Guerin can finally reach for his pen to sign some quality talent. This is the offseason we’ve waited for since the day the buyouts were announced.
