Top NHL free agent forwards: O'Reilly, Tarasenko likely available

With the NHL free agent signing period beginning July 1, there are several teams in the market for a forward who can boost them into a Stanley Cup contender. NHL.com takes a closer look at the top unrestricted free agent forwards (listed in alphabetical order):

Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

The 37-year-old forward is undecided about resuming his NHL career and played through a herniated disk when the Bruins lost the Eastern Conference First Round in seven games to the Florida Panthers after setting NHL records of 65 wins and 135 points. Bergeron had 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 78 regular-season games and one goal in three playoff games. He replaced Zdeno Chara as Bruins captain to start the 2020-21 season and has played all 19 of his NHL seasons for Boston. Bergeron is a finalist for the 2023 Selke Trophy and can be voted the best defensive forward in the NHL a record sixth time. The 2011 Stanley Cup champion is third in Bruins history in games (1,294), points (1,040) and goals (427) and fourth in assists (613) during the regular season, second in postseason games (170), third in goals (50) and assists (78) and tied for second with Brad Marchand and David Krejci in points (128). If he does decide to play another NHL season, it will likely be with Boston.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Boston Bruins

The 28-year-old forward had 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 50 regular-season games for the Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, including 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 21 games after he was acquired in a trade March 2. He had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in seven playoff games and has 218 points (92 goals, 126 assists) in 326 regular-season games.

Michael Bunting, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 27-year-old forward had 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 82 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven playoff games. Bunting was a finalist for the 2022 Calder Trophy, awarded to the top rookie in the NHL, after he led first-year players in points (63), was second in assists (40) and tied for second in goals (23). He has 126 points (57 goals, 69 assists) in 187 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes and five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 playoff games.

Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators

The 32-year-old forward will be an unrestricted free agent after the Predators announced Friday Video: MTL@TOR: Bunting increases Maple Leafs' lead in 2nd the final three years of the seven-year contract ($8 million AAV) he signed with them on July 1, 2019. Duchene had 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games this season for Nashville, which did not qualify for the playoffs. He had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 15, 2022, to pass 700 points in the NHL, becoming the second player from the 2009 NHL Draft to do so (John Tavares). The No. 3 pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2009, Duchene has 744 points (316 goals, 428 assists) in 976 regular-season games for the Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Predators. He has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 32 playoff games.

Patrick Kane, New York Rangers

The 34-year-old forward could miss the start of next season after having hip resurfacing surgery June 1. Kane had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 games after he was acquired by the Rangers in a three-team trade with the Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 28. He finished with 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) in 73 regular-season games and six points (one goal, five assists) in seven playoff games. The three-time Stanley Cup winner (2010, 2013, 2015) and 2016 Hart Trophy winner voted as most valuable player is second in Blackhawks history in points (1,225) and assists (779) behind Stan Mikita (1,467 points, 926 assists), third in goals (446) behind Bobby Hull (604) and Mikita (541), and third in games played (1,161), trailing Mikita (1,396) and Duncan Keith (1,192). Kane was voted as one of the Video: MTL@TOR: Bunting increases Maple Leafs' lead in 2nd in 2017.

Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights

The 35-year-old forward became a three-time Stanley Cup winner (2016, 2017, with the Pittsburgh Penguins) this season with Vegas. He had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 82 regular-season games and two assists in four playoff games. Kessel has played an NHL-record 1,064 straight regular-season games and passed Keith Yandle for most consecutive games played in NHL history when he played his 990th in a row at the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 25 and scored his 400th NHL goal in Vegas' 4-2 victory. He has not missed a regular-season game since Oct. 31, 2009, when he did not play for the Maple Leafs in a 5-4 shootout loss at the Montreal Canadiens following offseason shoulder surgery. He was a healthy scratch for Vegas after the first round of the playoffs this season.

Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning

The 33-year-old forward is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning (2020, 2021). He had NHL career highs in goals (27), assists (37) and points (64) in 82 regular-season games and five points (three goals, two assists) in six playoff games. Killorn is fifth in games (805), sixth in goals (198), eighth in assists (268) and seventh in points (466) in Lightning history. His 77 points (37 goals, 40 assists) in the playoffs rank sixth in Tampa Bay history and his 140 games are third behind Victor Hedman (160) and Nikita Kucherov (142).

David Krejci, Boston Bruins

The 37-year-old forward had 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 70 regular-season games and four points (one goal, three assists) in four playoff games. Krejci signed a one-year contract with the Bruins prior to the 2022-23 season after playing the 2021-22 season in his native Czech Republic. He played his first 15 NHL seasons with Boston (2006-21). The 2011 Stanley Cup champion has 786 points (231 goals, 555 assists) in 1,032 regular-season games, ranking fifth in games and assists, ninth in points and 13th in goals in team history. His 128 points (43 goals, 85 assists) in 160 playoff games are tied for second with Bergeron and Marchand.

Ryan O'Reilly, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 32-year-old forward had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 13 games after he was acquired in a three-way trade with the Blues on Feb. 17, finishing with 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 53 regular-season games and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 playoff games. O'Reilly won the Stanley Cup as Blues captain in 2019, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs after getting 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 26 games.

Max Pacioretty, Carolina Hurricanes

The 34-year-old forward was limited to three goals in five regular-season games because of a torn Achilles. Pacioretty did not play after being injured in the final minute of a 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 19. He had missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury and the first 38 this season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles. Pacioretty is a six-time 30-goal scorer and has scored at least 35 goals three times, including an NHL career-high 39 for the Canadiens in 2013-14.

Zach Parise, New York Islanders

The 38-year-old forward hasn't decided on retirement but said May 1 the only team he would play for next season is the Islanders. Parise had 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) in 82 regular-season games and no points in six playoff games. He is a six-time 30-goal scorer, including an NHL career-high 45 for the New Jersey Devils in 2008-09. Parise originally signed a one-year contract with the Islanders on Sept. 21, 2021, after he had the final four seasons of his 13-year, $98 million contract bought out by the Wild.

Vladimir Tarasenko, New York Rangers

The 31-year-old forward had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 31 games for the Rangers after he was acquired in a trade with the Blues on Feb. 9, and four points (three goals, one assist) in seven playoff games. He had 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) in 69 regular-season games for the Blues and Rangers. Tarasenko is a 2019 Stanley Cup champion with the Blues. His 11 goals were second on St. Louis to Jaden Schwartz (12) during the 2019 playoffs and he has 64 points (44 goals, 20 assists) in 97 playoff games. Tarasenko has scored at least 33 goals in five consecutive seasons (2014-19), including an NHL career-high 40 in 2015-16. He's fifth in St. Louis history in goals (262) and points (553), and second with 41 postseason goals, 26 behind Brett Hull (67).

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

The 35-year-old forward is undecided about his future after the Blackhawks said April 13 they would not re-sign him. Toews had 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 53 games this season and was out for two months after stepping away to deal with the effects of long COVID-19. He missed the 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome. His 12 goals in 71 games in 2021-22 were an NHL-career low. Toews was named Blackhawks captain July 18, 2008. He was voted one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players and won the 2013 Selke Trophy and the 2015 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. The three-time Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015) had 883 points (372 goals, 511 assists) in 1,067 games for the Blackhawks, ranking fifth in games, sixth in goals and points, and eighth in assists. Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010, when he had 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 22 games to help Chicago win the Cup for the first time since 1961.

Video: MTL@TOR: Bunting increases Maple Leafs' lead in 2nd, Winnipeg Jets

The 36-year-old forward will be an unrestricted free agent after the Jets announced Friday Video: MTL@TOR: Bunting increases Maple Leafs' lead in 2nd the final year of his contract. Wheeler had 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists) in 72 regular-season games and six points (two goals, four assists) in five playoff games. He was Jets captain from 2016-22 before he had his captaincy stripped prior to this season. Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round (No. 5) of the 2004 NHL Draft, Wheeler has 922 points (312 goals, 610 assists) in 1,118 regular-season games for the Jets, Atlanta Thrashers and Boston Bruins and 45 points (10 goals, 35 assists) in 65 playoff games. He's first in games (897), assists (550) and points (812) in Jets/Thrashers history and third in goals (262).