The NHL’s best rarely make it to free agency.Teams tend to re-sign their top players Darren Helm Jersey , keeping them off the market and on their rosters. That leaves a slew of solid veterans and journeymen available to the highest bidders trying to find a forward to play on a second or third line, a defenseman to be in a second pairing or perhaps a backup goaltender.John Tavares this year is considered a top target, assuming the New York Islanders and their new leaders can’t persuade the 27-year-old center to stay with the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009. He had 84 points last season, two shy of his career high.Trying to show Tavares how serious they are about winning, the Islanders hired Stanley Cup-winning coach Barry Trotz and Stanley Cup-winning president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello. New York can sign Tavares to an eight-year contract, too, one year more than any other team in the league can give him. The Islanders can invest $80-plus million to help convince their franchise star to stay.Tavares, though, may want to take his two-way talents elsewhere because he has made it to the playoffs just three times in his nine-year career http://www.officialredwings.com/authentic-adidas-dylan-larkin-jersey , advancing only once. If the five-time All-Star chooses to leave, he has plenty of choices. Toronto, Boston, San Jose, Dallas and Tampa Bay are believed to be among his options. Tavares can command a seven-year contract for perhaps more than $70 million from any of the teams trying to lure him away from the Islanders.Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said the Tavares situation is holding back other free agents, not knowing how high he will set the bar for salaries, and delaying trades.”I think it’s holding up the hockey world a certain amount,” Hextall said Friday.Some other names to watch ahead of free agency, which begins Sunday:JAMES VAN RIEMSDYKThe Maple Leafs would love to keep him at the right price Frans Nielsen Jersey Kids , but they might have to let him go to potentially to have enough money to bring Tavares back home. The 29-year-old winger had a career-high 36 goals last season, his sixth in Toronto and ninth in the league.DAVID PERRONThe 30-year-old winger picked a good time to have a career year, with a career-high 50 assists and 66 points with the Vegas Golden Knights. He added nine point during their postseason run.JAMES NEALThe three-time All-Star had a career-high 11 postseason points during the Vegas run to the Stanley Cup Final. The 30-year-old winger keeps himself in great shape and leads on and off the ice.PAUL STASTNYThe 32-year-old center had a career-high 15 playoff points, helping the Winnipeg Jets reach the Western Conference final. The one-time All-Star would be a solid Plan B for teams that whiff on their shot to sign Tavares.MIKE GREENWith Washington keeping John Carlson off the market, the 32-year-old Green may be the best defenseman available. Green had a neck injury last season in Detroit and that may concern some teams.MICHAEL GRABNERThe 30-year-old winger finished with 27 goals last year to rank third among potential unrestricted free agents. He had only two for New Jersey in the final 21 games.TYLER BOZAKThe 32-year-old Bozak has spent his entire career with the Maple Leafs, who may not be able to afford the solid center with 365 career points.JOE THORNTONTeams may hesitate to sign Thornton, coming off knee surgery with his 39th birthday on Tuesday, but the center with great hands could be a great fit for a contending team looking to add depth and a veteran presence.DAN HAMHUISWith slim pickings on the blue line, the 35-year-old defenseman will be in demand after missing a total of just five games the last two seasons in Dallas.CAM WARDThe 34-year-old goaltender won 23 games last season Gordie Howe Jersey , the most of any potential unrestricted free agent, despite playing for the lowly Carolina Hurricanes.—AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.— PITTSBURGH (AP) — Frederik Andersen continued the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ early season undefeated run on the road with a perfect night in goal.Andersen made 31 saves for his first shutout of the season and 16th overall and the Maple Leafs routed the high-scoring Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0 on Saturday night.“It’s a tough building against a really good team,” Andersen said. “We were talking about the first period being key for us and I thought we came out flying, skating really well and we didn’t allow too much.”Morgan Rielly scored twice and John Tavares had a goal and an assist to help Toronto improve to 6-0 on the road. The Maple Leafs are averaging an NHL-best 5.4 goals on the road. Zach Hyman and Patrick Marleau also scored and Kasperi Kapanen had two assists.The Maple Leafs picked up their first win with star forward Auston Matthews out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Toronto scored just one goal in each of its two straight regulation losses without Matthews, who has 10 goals and 16 points in 11 games.“Guys are willing and able to accept more responsibility, more minutes and bigger situations,” Rielly said. “The strength of this team is the depth. I think there are lots of guys that can take that responsibility.’Evgeni Malkin saw his nine-game point streak end for the Penguins. They have lost three straight.“You win a few games in a row and you feel good about yourself, but the league has a funny way of humbling you and right now we’ve been humbled,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We didn’t deserve to win tonight.”Matt Murray made 26 saves. Murray Authentic Gustav Nyquist Jersey , who shut out Toronto on Oct. 18, briefly left the game midway through the second period with an equipment issue. Backup Casey DeSmith stopped both shots he faced.The Penguins were swept in a home-and-home series with the New York Islanders on Tuesday and Thursday. They won their previous four games in Canada by a combined 23-6 margin, including a 3-0 shutout at Toronto on Oct. 18.Pittsburgh went 61-15-6 at home, finishing with at least 30 home wins each of the last two seasons. But the Penguins won just two of their first six home games this season. Carolina was the last team to shut out the Penguins at home on Jan. 4 during the 2017-18 season.“We got beat by a team that was hungry,” Sullivan said. “When we come with the right attitude and emotional investment, the rest of our game follows suit. If we’re not invested, we can look ordinary, and I think that was the case tonight.”Tavares opened the scoring midway through the first period when he tipped a Mitch Marner shot behind Murray. Tavares opened the season with six goals in his first four games, but he had just one in his next nine before scoring on Saturday.Marleau gave the Leafs a 2-0 lead just 44 seconds into the second period. Marleau took a pass from Kapanen off the rush and slipped a backhand deke behind Murray from the top of the crease.Rielly made it 3-0 12 seconds after a power play expired. He snuck behind the Penguins’ defense off the rush Womens Henrik Zetterberg Jersey , took a pass from Tavares and lifted a glove-side wrist shot underneath the crossbar.“We’re looking forward to getting home,” Rielly said. “It’s important we get some wins at home. We feel good about going on the road, but it’s time we start to assert ourselves.”NOTES: The Maple Leafs are 4-0 when they score first. … Penguins’ F Derick Brassard missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. … Penguins’ D Jack Johnson played in his 800th NHL game and F Carl Hagelin appeared in his 500th game. … The Maple Leafs recalled F Trevor Moore from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Friday, but he was scratched.UP NEXTMaple Leafs: Host Vegas on Tuesday night.Penguins: Host New Jersey on Monday night.