UNIONDALE, NY – JANUARY 25: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the St. Louis Blues looks on prior to the game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on January 25, 2014 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

The 2016 NHL unrestricted free agent class provided far more fireworks — and potential long-term damage, depending on your perspective — than 2015. Last summer, only two players — Mike Green and Andrej Sekera — signed contracts with cap hits greater than $5 million. This summer, counting only contracts that go into effect next season, seven players signed deals of that value, and that doesn’t include Keith Yandle and Alex Goligoski, who technically never made it to free agency before signing massive deals.

Could 2017 see this trend continue?

The salary cap jumped just $1.4 million from 2015-16 to 2016-17, causing problems that were unexpected in a league that brags regularly about record revenue. It led to a host of teams spending money for various reasons: Buffalo, Edmonton and Vancouver were also-rans taking advantage of space to theoretically improve their teams. Boston, Detroit and the New York Islanders plugged holes after players with large cap hits departed, while Montreal signed a KHL star in an effort to distract a province from the fact it traded the organization’s biggest star.

Considering the weak Canadian dollar, declining ratings and the extensive list of players scheduled to become UFAs next July 1, there could be even more of an opportunity for free-agent craziness. Teams that didn’t spend big bucks this summer — Toronto may go nuts in 2017 free agency — could go after some big names next year.

Here are the potential UFAs for 2017, their chances of getting to market and how much they can help a new team.

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 06:  Lanny McDonald, Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame (r), presents Chris Pronger with his Hall of Fame ring at a photo op at the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum on November 6, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 06: Lanny McDonald, Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame (r), presents Chris Pronger with his Hall of Fame ring at a photo op at the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum on November 6, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Definitely won’t help (in any way anymore)

1. Chris Pronger
2. Marc Savard
3. Pavel Datsyuk

It’s the end of an era. Teams that make it a priority to get to the cap floor will no longer have the option of keeping (unofficially) retired players with big cap hits and small salaries (or no salaries, in Datsyuk’s case) on the roster. Pronger and Savard suffered career-ending injuries, although nothing says Datsyuk can’t change his mind after one year away from the NHL.

Pronger and Savard will come off the books of the Coyotes and Devils, respectively, which is great for fans of those teams, as it looks like they could be ready to spend and compete with a real roster in 2017-18.

You better trade for their rights before July 1

4. Ben Bishop
5. Kevin Shattenkirk

There’s not a more attractive player at each position and it’s very possible both will be traded to new teams before this offseason concludes. And if they start next season with their new teams, it’s doubtful they’d be traded before the deadline, since both the Lightning and Blues will likely be contending for a Stanley Cup.

If either gets to market, they will be among the best UFAs we’ve seen in recent years.