2020 NHL UFA Top 75: Vladislav Namestnikov, Kyle Clifford, Matt Martin, Pat Maroon and Carl Soderberg

Welcome to the DailyFaceoff UFA preview. Over the next 15 days, I’ll be profiling the top 30 players in this years UFA class, as listed by TSN. Contract information is from our friends at Puckpedia. Full UFA list via puckpedia here. Analytics provided by hockeyviz.com and naturalstattrick.com. Contract projections are done by evolving-hockey.com with the presumption contracts are signed between Aug. – Oct. 11 with different teams. 

Today, we’re looking at the 34th ranked @Vladislav Namestnikov, 33rd ranked @Kyle Clifford, 32nd ranked @Matt Martin, 31st ranked @Pat Maroon and the 30th ranked @Carl Soderberg.

@Vladislav Namestnikov

Namestnikov, 27, spent last year splitting time between the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche scoring 17 goals and 31 points in 65 games.

His isolated impacts were less than solid, however, contributing offence at a five percent rate below league average and defence at a three percent rate above league average. At 5v5, he posted a sub-46 CF%, an xG% below 50% and a goals for rate of 41%.

A third-liner, Namestnikov’s numbers may improve if he’s on a consistent team all season as last year seemed to be an outlier.

Contract projection: One year, $1.496-m.

@Kyle Clifford

Acquired from the LA Kings last year, Clifford finished out his year with the Toronto Maple Leafs rounding out another solid season as a depth player. He scored seven goals and 17 points in 69 games last year.

He contributed offence at a six percent rate above league average and defence at a four percent rate above league average. At 5v5, He posted a CF% above 50, a 53.83 xG% and a goals for rate of 43 percent.

Clifford is a solid depth player who brings a definite physical element to the ice.

Contract projection: One year, $738,600k.

@Matt Martin

It’s hard to find any value in Matt Martin these days. At 31, he scored only five goals and eight points last year. He contributed offence at a 14 percent rate below league average and defence at a seven percent rate below league average.

At 5v5, he posted a 43.84 CF%, a xG% of 47.06 and a goals for rate of 48.15 percent. Teams still seem to be infatuated with the Martin types, for some reason, so I can imagine someone giving him a new contract.

Contract projection: One year, $608,000.

@Pat Maroon

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon appears to be hitting the free agent market. He continued his reign with a solid season with the Tampa Bay Lightning this year scoring nine goals and 23 points in 64 games.

He posted tremendous impacts on both ends of the ice. A plus eight in the offensive zone and a plus seven in the defensive zone as a third liner. At 5v5, he posted a 50.45 CF%, a xG% of 54.25 and a goals for rate of 58 percent.

Maroon is a tremendous depth player and would be a great addition to nearly any NHL club.

Contract projection: One year, $1.066-m.

@Carl Soderberg

Soderberg, 34, scored 17 goals and 35 points in 70 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season, another solid year for the depth player.

He played in a second-line role with a four percent impact above average in the offensive zone and a nine percent impact below average in the defensive zone. At 5v5, Soderberg struggled to control play with a 46.35 CF% and an xGF% of 47.34, but posted a solid goals for rate of 55.36%.

He’s likely a solid depth add for a club.

Contract projection: One year, $1.897-m.

On Twitter: @zjlaing