Where top NHL free agents went

2. Right wing Nathan Horton (Boston Bruins): Like Dupuis, Horton has increased his value with a strong playoff performance. Through Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, Horton was plus 2, the highest playoff plus-minus rating since Brian Leetch was plus 19 in 1994. Horton is 6-2, 230 pounds, and his size adds to his attractiveness.

Right wing Jarome Iginla (Pittsburgh): He will be the biggest name, and he has demonstrated during the playoffs that he can still be a top-line performer on a championship-caliber team. Since joining the Penguins late in the season, Iginla, 35, essentially has been a point-per-game forward. He plays with fire in his belly.

2. Vinny Lecavalier: The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't believe Lecavalier was worth the salary cap hit of more than $7 million, but he is still a highly productive center. Considering that most of the teams in the NHL seem to be looking for a center, Lecavalier will have many options. You can bet that Calgary GM Jay Feaster, who had him in Tampa, would be interested. At 34, Lecavalier is still good for 60 points.

4. Left wing Bryan Bickell (Chicago Blackhawks): Chicago coach Joel Quenneville’s decision to use Bickell on a scoring line has greatly enhanced his free agent value. What’s not to like? He’s 6-4, 223, and he’s 27. He had six goals in Chicago’s first 14 playoff games. The Blackhawks likely don’t have the cap space to re-sign him, not without moving out a key player.

5. Center Stephen Weiss (Florida Panthers): He was limited to 17 games this season because of a wrist injury, but every team understands Weiss’ value. He’s an 11-year NHL player who should score 20 goals and register 50 to 60 points a season.

Left wing David Clarkson (New Jersey Devils): With 45 goals and 216 penalty minutes in his past 128 NHL games, Clarkson, 29, has established his credentials as one of the league’s most productive power forwards.

7. Center Valtteri Filppula (Detroit Red Wings): The Red Wings hope they can re-sign him, although teams around the NHL seem to think he will test the marketplace. He has had one noteworthy statistical season, when he had 23 goals and 66 points in 2011-12. But there is a leaguewide romance with his skill set, especially with a shortage of centers with offensive potential.

9. Center Derek Roy (Vancouver Canucks): He's 30 and three seasons removed from being a 70-point center. He remains an attractive option for a team looking for a No. 2 center. He is better suited as that than as a No. 1 center. When he went: Signed with St. Louis Blues for one year.

10 Danny Briere: Word is that more than 12 teams are interested in Briere, who was bought out by the Flyers. He has a good history as a playoff performer.

9. Center Mike Ribeiro (Washington Capitals): Teams like his ability to put up offensive numbers, but he made $5 million last season, and most teams will have difficulty fitting a big number into their salary cap. He will be paid well next season, but the question he might have to answer is whether he will leave money on the table to play for a better team.

11. Left wing Left wing Ryane Clowe (New York Rangers): After struggling in San Jose all season, he registered eight points in 12 games in New York. That didn’t go unnoticed by teams in need of additional size and bite in their lineup. Clowe is 6-2, 225 and he’s now played more than 500 NHL games in the regular season and playoffs.

12. Left wing Viktor Stalberg (Chicago): He was a 22-goal scorer in 2011-12, and he registered 23 points in 47 games this season. Stalberg is 6-3, and he can skate. He frequently looks dangerous when he’s on the ice. He could be a sleeper signing for a team looking for offense.

13. Right wing Jaromir Jagr (Boston Bruins): Although he has not been able to score in the postseason, he had a high-quality regular season, with 35 points in 45 games between the Dallas Stars and Bruins. A handful of teams are interested in acquiring him.

15. Brenden Morrow Although he is not the scorer he once was, Morrow is a gritty performer and a high-character player. He's a natural leader. His desirability will depend heavily on his asking price.

16. Ron Hainsey: He's a smart dependable defenseman who knows what needs to be done to be successful. He's a perfect for a team looking to improve their depth by adding a veteran.

14. Left wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Minnesota Wild): Bouchard might be the Plan B player for teams that are looking for offensive help and don’t have the money for a higher-priced performer. A general manager could probably convince himself that Bouchard, 29, could be a 50-point guy again if he were on the right team and playing with the right players.

15. Right wing Michael Ryder (Montreal Canadiens): Every team is looking for goals, and he scores them regularly, close to one goal every three games. That’s a good scoring rate for a player who probably will be available for a reasonable salary.

19. Ryan Whitney: Counting the regular season and playoffs, Whitney, right, has more than 500 games of NHL experience. He has size and some offensive ability.