More Unqualified Free Agents

Much like the post I had yesterday about the two Nashville Predators heading to unrestricted free agency, I found a couple more players on my list that may (or more likely may not) qualify to become late round picks in your hockey pool draft that are also heading to unrestricted free agency, because they were not qualified by offers for restricted free agency this week.  I really just needed something to type about tonight, kind of a slow night in the end.

The Rangers are not going to expect Erik Christensen back into their fold for the 2011 season.  The 26-year old forward was not qualified after a sub-par season, probably more on his health (playing only 49 games) than his scoring (26 points, for a scoring pace of .53 points per game).  Christensen has been batted around the league a few times, thought to be a borderline useful second line player at one point, but has fallen down to a lot of third line duties wherever he has landed, but he still may be able to pick up some work somewhere.  He is by no means a guarantee for anything, but he could sleep his way in.

The Islanders have chosen not to qualify Finnish forward Sean Bergenheim this Summer, as he really didn't have the season that the Islanders expected of him, I'm sure.  Bergenheim finished with only 23 points (10 goals and 13 assists) in 63 games with the Islanders, which didn't give him a great points per game average and is really sitting on the outside looking in, in terms of ranking for next year's pool.  I would be curious to see if he gets another shot in the NHL, as he is fairly speedy and should come at a reasonable cost.  He might be able to fill in a depth role well, if not too much is asked of him.

Remarkably, just underneath Bergenheim sits John Mitchell, who wasn't qualified by the Maple Leafs this Summer either.  I suppose if I include Bergenheim, I might as well include Mitchell.  Mitchell also had 23 points (6 goals and 17 assists) in 60 with the Leafs, but struggled with consistency, both staying on the ice and scoring while he was on the ice.  Mitchell may also be considered to be a project player with some depth abilities, but likely not without a trip or two down to the minors, just to get his confidence back up with some solid playing time.