>The 2024 free-agent pool has the potential to change the balance of power in the NHL.
>Led by Toronto Maple Leafs impact forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the 2024 group offers real quality at every position.
>One of the reasons is the anticipated increase in the salary cap (as much as $4 million next season, with close to $10 million possible over the next two years) combined with the relative youth of the top available talent.
>A secondary consideration for next summer is the 2025 free-agent group. If teams find negotiations are going poorly, a trade next summer (one year from free agency) could be possible. Names like Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner and even (potentially) Sidney Crosby give a surreal look to the pool of talent.
>There are teams in position to take advantage of this watershed of free-agent talent in July 2024. The name of the game between now and next summer will be finding huge amounts of cap room for the ultimate shopping spree. Here are the most well-positioned of the 32 teams.
>Middle tier
>The Buffalo Sabres are set up to be a major free-agent player next summer should the organization choose to do it. There are just nine players signed, but the farm system is thriving and the club could shoot the moon on July 1 if a target is available.
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>The 2024 free-agent pool has the potential to change the balance of power in the NHL.
>Led by Toronto Maple Leafs impact forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the 2024 group offers real quality at every position.
>One of the reasons is the anticipated increase in the salary cap (as much as $4 million next season, with close to $10 million possible over the next two years) combined with the relative youth of the top available talent.
>A secondary consideration for next summer is the 2025 free-agent group. If teams find negotiations are going poorly, a trade next summer (one year from free agency) could be possible. Names like Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner and even (potentially) Sidney Crosby give a surreal look to the pool of talent.
>There are teams in position to take advantage of this watershed of free-agent talent in July 2024. The name of the game between now and next summer will be finding huge amounts of cap room for the ultimate shopping spree. Here are the most well-positioned of the 32 teams.
>Middle tier
>The Buffalo Sabres are set up to be a major free-agent player next summer should the organization choose to do it. There are just nine players signed, but the farm system is thriving and the club could shoot the moon on July 1 if a target is available.
The Sabres are at the top of the middle tier, however given the Leafs’ [experience with John Tavares](https://twitter.com/IneffectiveMath/status/1689007521007095809), it’s probably best to avoid giving a big, long-term contract to a player who is on the [wrong side of the age curve](https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/157qnv4/the_average_age_curve_for_nhl_forwards_at_even/) at the beginning of your cup contention window.