New York Islanders captain Anders Lee the top-ranked forward on TSN’s Top UFAs list

With two days until the National Hockey League’s Free Agent Frenzy begins, TSN’s list of the top 45 pending unrestricted free agents remains heavy on right-shot blueliners.

Three of the top four players on the list are right-shooting defencemen, including No. 1-ranked Rasmus Andersson.

John Carlson, the next highest-ranked player, drew plenty of attention over the weekend as the Stanley Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes acquired his rights from the Anaheim Ducks to get a jump-start on contract talks. Jacob Trouba, Carlsson’s teammate last season, is listed at No. 4.

With two Stanley Cups and two Vezina trophies on his resume, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky is deservedly the top-ranked goalie at No. 3, coming off a seven-year, $70 million contract.

The Washington Capitals acquired forward Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres in a sign-and-trade last week, locking him up with an eight-year, $84 million contract and taking the top-ranked UFA forward off the board.

That moves New York Islanders captain Anders Lee into the top five, making him the top forward available.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported late last week that the Islanders continue to have a dialogue with him, though it’s likely he will head to the open market on Wednesday.

Lee, 35, had 19 goals and 42 points in 82 games with the New York Islanders last season. The 6-foot-3 winger is coming off a seven-year, $49 million contract that carried a cap hit of $7 million.

TSN’s Top 45 UFAs List

RK	Player	Age	Pos	GP	G	P
1	Rasmus Andersson, VGK	29	RD	81	17	47
2	John Carlson, Car	36	RD	71	14	60
3	Sergei Bobrovsky, Fla	37	G	52	3.07	.877
4	Jacob Trouba, Ana	32	RD	81	10	35
5	Anders Lee, NYI	35	LW	82	19	42
6	Mason Marchment, CBJ	31	LW	68	19	45
7	Anthony Mantha, Pit	31	RW	81	33	64
8	Scott Laughton, LA	32	C	64	13	20
9	Michael Bunting, Dal	30	LW	74	14	33
10	Mats Zuccarello, Min	38	RW	59	15	54

11	Mario Ferraro, SJ	27	LD	83	7	23
12	John Klingberg, SJ	33	RD	56	10	27
13	Viktor Arvidsson, Bos	33	LW	69	25	54
14	Stuart Skinner, Pit	27	G	50	2.92	.888
15	Jaden Schwartz, Sea	33	LW	50	11	26
16	Jack Roslovic, Edm	29	RW	69	21	36
17	Boone Jenner, CBJ	33	C	67	13	38
18	Patrick Kane, Det	37	RW	67	16	57
19	Andrew Peeke, Bos	28	RD	77	5	14
20	Vladimir Tarasenko, Min	34	RW	75	23	47

21	Nick Blankenburg, Col	28	RD	61	8	24
22	Ilya Mikheyev, Chi	31	RW	77	18	36
23	Andrei Kuzmenko, LA	30	LW	52	13	25
24	Ryan Shea, Pit	29	LD	80	6	35
25	Eeli Tolvanen, Sea	27	RW	78	12	36
26	Frederik Andersen, Car	36	G	35	3.05	.874
27	Alex Kerfoot, Uta	31	C	34	7	13
28	Kasperi Kapenen, Edm	29	RW	41	8	17
29	Erik Haula, Nsh	35	LW	81	14	38
30	Logan Stanley, Buf	28	LD	76	9	26

31	Jeremy Lauzon, VGK	29	LD	68	1	13
32	Ian Cole, Uta	37	LD	82	3	20
33	Oliver Bjorkstrand, TB	31	RW	80	12	32
34	A.J. Greer, Fla	29	LW	78	17	32
35	Teddy Blueger, Van	31	C	35	9	17
36	Alex Ovechkin, Wsh	40	LW	82	32	64
37	Jamie Oleksiak, Sea	33	LD	78	5	15
38	Nick Jensen, Ott	35	RD	61	4	17
39	Evander Kane, Van	34	LW	71	14	31
40	Connor Ingram, Edm	29	G	32	2.60	.899

41	Trevor van Riemsdyk, Wsh	34	RD	68	3	14
42	Nick Cousins, Ott	32	RW	81	9	23
43	David Perron, Det	38	LW	65	13	28
44	Cam Talbot, Det	38	G	34	3.19	.883
45	Claude Giroux, Ott	38	RW	82	14	49

Islanders captain Lee the top-ranked forward on TSN’s Top UFAs list

TSN’s Top 45 UFAs List

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