Finding the next Panarin or Kuzmenko: Top five European NHL free agents

Credit: Yuri Kuzmin/KHL

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Every spring, the European free agent market opens up, allowing NHL teams a chance at signing some quality talent each season.

The idea when a European UFA is that you’re typically getting someone that is ready to step in right away But for every success story – the Artemi Panarins and Andrei Kuzmenkos of the world – there are the Vadim Shipachyovs and Roman Cervenkas that don’t really make an impact and are gone nearly as quickly as they came.

This year’s market isn’t too deep. You’ve got a mix of players that really stood out this season, and other seasoned veterans that are ready to make the move after their deals expired. There won’t be a 50-point scorer out of this group, but the teams that win their services will be getting some strong depth, at least.

Here’s a look at five names to keep an eye on as the European free agent market opens up in the coming months:

Valtteri Pulli, D, 21

This is one name many scouts have kept a close eye on, and, recently, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek said many teams had shown interest in the 6-foot-6 defender. Pulli is a bit of a late bloomer, having not really been on the scouting radar when he was first eligible in 2019. But his size, skating and newfound confidence carrying the puck have helped him to become a valuable free-agent asset. It’s hard to find big defensemen that can skate as fluidly as Pulli. He’s not the quickest defender, but he moves well and won’t lose a ton of races for the puck in short bursts. He can provide a bit of offense, but he’s got more of a shutdown build that’ll come in handy in a bottom-four role.

Hardy Haman Aktell, D, 24

Some scouts saw some top-four upside at the time, but Aktell took a while to really evolve his game into something NHL teams might get excited about. He has 30 points in 45 games this season, a big step up from his 27 points in his 100 SHL games with Vaxjo. The team has given him more opportunities to control the play and spend time on the power play and the numbers are starting to shine. It helps that Atkell is 6-foot-4, too: he can skate, move the puck and plays an aggressive, physical game. He’s easily one of the top targets this year.

Samuel Johannesson, D, 22

After a mediocre season in the SHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets elected to not sign Johannesson last summer and let his rights expire. The 22-year responded by putting up 31 points in 45 games, good for fourth among all defensemen and first among U-23 blueliners in one of Europe’s top leagues. The move from Rogle to Brynas has unlocked Johannesson’s potential as he looks to become the top scorer on the club. The calm, quick defender handles pressure well, never tries to force anything and has good speed to offset his otherwise mid-sized frame. There’s some NHL-quality talent here.

Jiri Smejkal, LW, 26

A big 6-foot-4 forward with good speed and skill, Smejkal has produced everywhere he has played in Europe. He never really stood out in major junior, but from about 2019-20 on, Smejkal always seemed to be near the top of his team’s scoring charts. He has scored at over 0.50 goals per game in his first season in Liiga and had over a point-per-game in Finland last year, as well. Smejkal was a crucial secondary scorer with Czechia’s World Championship team last year and typically does a decent job as a big power forward internationally, too. Smejkal could hold his own in a depth power role. At 26, he’s one of the older options, too, so he should be ready to go immediately.

Konstantin Okulov, RW, 28

By now, teams have courted Okulov for four to five seasons, so will something change this time? Okulov is about to hit the 50-point mark for the first time in his career and has scored in the top 20 all year. He’s first on CSKA this year and has played well with Russia in some local national team action, too. His shot is his best asset, but he is also a quick skater and can be quite creative. Offensively, there’s no question Okulov can handle the NHL. The fact that he hasn’t come over despite many teams trying to bring him over in the past makes it seem like it’s not going to happen, but there are more than a few clubs that would like to make something happen.

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