The NHL's annual free-agent market begins at noon ET on Monday, July 1. As the opening day approaches, speculation will grow among hockey fans and pundits over which pending unrestricted free agents will sign with their current clubs or opt to test the market.

This year's market features several notable stars garnering plenty of attention in the rumor mill. They include Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart, and Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel.

While the top pending UFAs garner most of the headlines, several intriguing players are flying under the radar. They include winger David Perron, whose Stanley Cup experience could make him a worthwhile addition for aspiring contenders. The list also features a late-blooming defenseman and a center who has rebounded from career-threatening injuries.

Follow along as we examine these five free agents, what they bring to the table, and why they should be getting more attention.

Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Is there a player you believe is being overlooked? Let us know in the app comments below.

Anthony Duclair, Tampa Bay Lightning

A well-traveled forward, Anthony Duclair has played for eight teams in his 10-season NHL career. He split this season between the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring a combined 24 goals and 42 points.

That marked the fourth time Duclair has reached or exceeded 20 goals and 40 points. The 28-year-old winger is completing a three-year contract worth an average cap hit of $3 million. He'll likely seek a long-term deal with some no-trade protection that'll provide some stability over the remainder of his playing prime.

Duclair has played well over the past five seasons in a top-six role. Despite missing all but 20 games last season to injury, he helped the Florida Panthers reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Final with 11 points in 20 games. He struggled to score on the talent-depleted Sharks but regained his scoring touch with the Lightning, netting 17 points in 15 regular-season games.

The Lightning's limited salary-cap space means they could end up letting Duclair depart as a free agent. He'd be a good fit with teams seeking an affordable second-line winger. The Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, and the Utah franchise could be suitable destinations.

Sean Monahan, Winnipeg Jets

Sean Monahan's playing career appeared in jeopardy when the Calgary Flames traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in August 2022. He was coming off consecutive surgeries on his hips, raising questions about whether he'd regain his form. A nagging groin injury derailed his promising start with the Canadiens in 2022-23.

Monahan answered those questions this season with his best performance in years. Fully healthy, he netted 13 goals and 35 points in 49 games with the rebuilding Canadiens. That performance made the 29-year-old center a hot topic of trade speculation by midseason, entering February atop our NHL Trade Block Big Board.

Traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 2, Monahan netted 13 goals and 24 points in 34 games with his new club. He finished the season with 26 goals and 59 points, sitting seventh among this summer's UFA class. The versatile forward is completing a one-year, $2 million contract and will look for something with a longer term for perhaps double that salary per season.

Monahan hasn't come up much in the rumor mill lately but that could change as free agency nears. The Jets could attempt to resign him and he might even be welcomed back to Montreal. The Vegas Golden Knights and Utah's NHL franchise could also pursue him.

David Perron, Detroit Red Wings

In his 17 NHL seasons, David Perron has reached or exceeded the 40-point plateau 13 times. He has 768 points in 1,131 games and 61 points in 104 playoff contests. The playmaking winger also has Stanley Cup experience, helping the St. Louis Blues win hockey's holy grail in 2019.

Now 36, Perron's best seasons are behind him. Nevertheless, he still put up respectable numbers this season, collecting 47 points in 76 games with the Detroit Red Wings. He is completing a two-year, $9.5 million contract and could seek a similar term for around $4 million per season.

On Apr. 29, Perron said he'd like to return with the Red Wings and believes they'd like to have him back. They have $29.4 million in cap space for 2024-25 with 13 active roster players under contract. However, rising stars like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are restricted free agents in line for raises that'll take up a big chunk of that cap room.

Perron will still draw attention in the free-agent market if he's available on July 1. Potential destinations could include a return to the Vegas Golden Knights or St. Louis Blues.

Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings

A seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings (194th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft, Matt Roy developed into a solid top-four defenseman. He's spent his entire six-season NHL career with the Kings but is poised to cash in as an unrestricted free agent. The 29-year-old blueliner is completing a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.2 million.

Since his first full NHL campaign in 2019-20, Roy is the Kings leader in total plus/minus with plus-68, hits (588) and blocked shots (620). This season, he was second in time on ice per game (20:54) and their leader in shorthanded ice time (2:51). He's also netted 20 or more points in each of the last three seasons.

Roy could seek $5 million per season on a long-term contract but the Kings might not be able to afford him. They have $20.2 million in cap space with 13 active roster players under contract for 2024-25. RFAs Quinton Byfield and Jordan Spence must be re-signed, promising Brandt Clarke is ready for promotion and they must find a reliable starting goaltender.

A right-shot defenseman with solid shutdown skills, Roy will draw plenty of interest from teams lacking a blueliner of his caliber. Suitors could include the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets.

Sean Walker, Colorado Avalanche

This season was a consequential one for Sean Walker. Few NHL fans other than followers of the Los Angeles Kings knew who he was when he was acquired last June by the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-team trade involving the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Walker adjusted well to Philadelphia, forming a solid second defense pairing with Nick Seeler. The pair's efforts contributed to the Flyers holding a playoff berth for most of the season. The 29-year-old defenseman frequently appeared in trade rumors before the March 8 trade deadline.

Traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, Walker finished with a career-best 29 points in 81 games split between the two clubs. The 5'11, 191-pounder averaged 19:14 of time on ice per game this season. Walker's also a right-shot defenseman, which should help him land a lucrative new deal with clubs seeking top-four depth on the right side of the blue line.

Those teams could include the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $2.7 million, the Walker could seek to double his salary on the open market in July.

Stats and trade info via NHL.com and StatMuse.com. Salary info via PuckPedia.