from Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff,

What do a 115-point playmaker, a 42-goal sniper, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner and a Hart Trophy finalist have in common? Johnny Gaudreau, Filip Forsberg, Evgeni Malkin and Claude Giroux make up a 2022 NHL free agent class loaded with firepower.

That’s if they all make it to market when the free agent signing period opens on July 13. It’s certainly possible that Gaudreau, Forsberg and Malkin all remain with their current clubs.

The Calgary Flames are in the process of putting the full court press on Gaudreau, the top pending free agent available this summer. Gaudreau, 28, is coming off an incredible contract year with new highs in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115) and could become one of the few career point-per-game players in NHL history to be open for bidding.

“Pedal down,” is how we’re told the Flames are approaching this exclusive negotiating window with Gaudreau, hoping to lock him up long-term with their built-in advantage of being the only team able to offer an eight-year contract. That advantage expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 12.

continued including a Top 50 list...