Deals Will Go down for These 2 Teams

The NHL free-agent market opens for business on July 1, and look for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes to be wheelin' and dealin'. Sure, other teams will be bidding and asking along the way. But the Leafs have a lot of chips, and the Dogs have a lot of money to spend. The result could put them in good hockey betting games this season.

Maple Leafs Fire Sale

The Maple Leafs have been selling off spare parts for the past two seasons, which has put them in position to deal still more. They have the first-round draft selection this year, and while they're expected to grab up highly-touted forward Auston Matthews, that may end up being just another bargaining chip. They've also got three second-round picks, plus another first-round selection, coming in 2017. So the options are open for the Leafs. Toronto has already gone to work by trading a first- and second-round draft pick to Anaheim in exchange for goaltender Frederik Andersen. The rest of what they do may revolve around their chances of luring in Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos. He's been on Toronto's wish list for months, but the high-scoring free agent should ask for about $10 million a year, and the Leafs have only $7 million in cap space. Other than doling out draft picks, Toronto could buy out defenseman Jared Cowen and place winger Nathan Horton (back) on long-term injured reserve, and that may make room for Stamkos. They may be competing with Detroit or Buffalo for Stamkos' services. Meanwhile, the Lightning are trying to figure a way to keep him.

Coyotes Shopping

The Coyotes are harboring about $37 million in salary cap space, so the sky's the limit for them, too. They've acquired the negotiating rights for Dallas defenseman Alex Goligoski, which means they'll have first dibs on him until July 1. Goligoski would take up much of that cap space if he stays in Arizona. Back east, the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers may go after him. Frans Nielsen, the New York Islanders center, may be on the Coyotes' shopping list, too. In five of the last six seasons, Nielsen reached or exceeded 43 points, the type of scoring depth that could help. St. Louis Blues forward David Backes also caught the Coyotes' attention during a postseason in which he had 14 points in 20 games.

If deals work their ways, both of these teams could be ones to add to your value list for hockey betting games in 2016-17.