NHL Free Agent Rumors: 3 'Bargain' UFA Centers for Under $5 Million

While the likes of Sam Bennett, John Tavares and Brock Nelson head up the centers market in unrestricted free agency this coming offseason, teams who can't afford to shop in the high-rent district will need to look elsewhere for a UFA center to fill their needs.

Here's a look at three 'bargain' UFA centers that should be able to be had for under $5 million per season on a free agent deal.

Mikael Granlund

Going by the midseason projections from AFP Analytics, the 33-year-old Granlund, who is coming off a four-year deal at a $5M cap hit, is in line for something in the range of a two-year deal worth $4.6M per year.

He was traded midseason from the San Jose Sharks to the Dallas Stars, and is having his best scoring season in seven years. He's got 22 goals and 66 points with two games to play. Both numbers are his best since 2017.

He's a terrific playmaker who can slot in at center or the wing.

Pius Suter

The Vancouver Canucks third-line center has had a breakthrough season on the scoresheet, with 24 goals far outdistancing his previous career-high of 15. Whether that, and his career-high 45 points can be sustained going forward remains to be seen. A great faceoff man and a two-way player, Suter should be rewarded this offseason, and if Vancouver doesn't have the means to do so, he'll be in demand on the open market.

AFP Analyics had projected him at midseason to be able to pull in a four-year deal at a $3.9M AAV. His terrific finish to the season, with 9 goals and 18 points in the last 21 games going into the final pair of contests will earn him a very nice raise off the $1.6M he earned on his expiring two-year deal.

Jack Roslovic

Acquired from the New York Rangers early in the season, Roslovic has been a nice find for the Carolina Hurricanes, settling in as a productive middle-six center, with 21 goals this season, even with just 13:47 average ice time per game. It's a nice bounceback season for Roslovic, after totaling just 20 goals combined in his previous two campaigns, with Columbus and the Rangers.

His combination of playmaking and forechecking, as well as his ability to play up and down the lineup, and at wing or center, will make him an attractive "affordable" UFA this summer. AFP Analytics projects the 28-year-old at being able to land at least a three-year deal with a $4M AAV.