Who doesn't love to go shopping? GMs surely do.
Beginning on Wednesday, NHL's top guys will get a chance to do just that as free agency opens up. A number of big fish have already been reeled in by their 2021 clubs while others have been released into the NHL's wild — like the Wild's Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, who were bought out and are now up for grabs.
It'll be intriguing to see how teams handle this year's offseason signing. They must take into consideration a flat cap that is expected for the next few years, plus the regular season is starting just 76 days from the opening bell of the frenzy.
Here's everything you need to know as the NHL's shopping season begins.
MORE: Watch the NHL Expansion Draft live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
When does 2021 NHL free agency begin?
- Date: Wed., July 28
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
What channel is the beginning of 2021's NHL free agency on?
- TV (U.S.): NHL Network
- TV (Canada): Sportsnet, TSN
- Livestream (U.S.): ESPN+
- Livestream (Canada): SN NOW, TSN.ca, TSN App, TSN Direct
Free agency opens up at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday and the networks will be airing all the frenzy. NHL Network and TSN start their coverage at 11 a.m. ET while Sportsnet begins the day at 11:30 a.m. ET. On Tuesday, ESPN's John Buccigross revealed on Twitter that the network will be live streaming TSN's coverage on ESPN+.
Top 15 unrestricted free agents
| Player | Pos. | 2021 team(s) | |
| 1. Alex Ovechkin | LW | Capitals | |
| 2. Tuukka Rask | G | Bruins | |
| 3. Blake Coleman | C | Lightning | |
| 4. Philipp Grubauer | G | Avalanche | |
| 5. Dougie Hamilton | D | Hurricanes | |
| 6. Zach Hyman | LW | Maple Leafs | |
| 7. Phillip Danault | C | Canadiens | |
| 8. Gabriel Landeskog | LW | Avalanche | |
| 9. Tyson Barrie | D | Oilers | |
| 10. Petr Mrazek | G | Hurricanes | |
| 11. David Savard | D | Blue Jackets/Lightning | |
| 14. Alec Martinez | D | Golden Knights | |
| 15. Frederik Andersen | G | Maple Leafs |
Top 10 RFA players available
Note: These are only players that can be given an offer sheet. Kirill Kaprizov (Wild) and Quinn Hughes (Canucks) are not eligible for offer sheets as 10.2(c) RFAs.
| Player | Pos. | 2021 team(s) |
| 1. Elias Pettersson | C | Canucks |
| 2. Rasmus Dahlin | D | Sabres |
| 3. Brady Tkachuk | LW | Senators |
| 4. Juuse Saros | G | Predators |
| 5. Pavel Buchnevich | RW | Rangers (traded to Blues) |
| 6. Patrik Laine | LW | Jets/Blue Jackets |
| 7. Ilya Sorokin | G | Islanders |
| 8. Igor Shesterkin | G | Rangers |
| 9. Andrei Svechnikov | RW | Hurricanes |
| 10. Carter Hart | G | Flyers |