We're now counting down to training camps! The signings keep trickling in and now the invites to training camp are being handed out as teams are working out their rosters for the 17th and on. So, I thought I would revisit the free agents that have not been signed up to a deal, just to see if there are any surprises left out there. Now that Ilya Kovalchuk has his situation sorted out in New Jersey and Antti Niemi has found a new home in San Jose, we'll have a look at both the restricted and unrestricted free agents.
Bobby Ryan, forward2010 Points: 64, 60th overall, 43rd among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.9 million
Projections: THN, 71 points; Forecaster, 72 points
Still working at the bargaining table, the Ducks and Ryan are working on his new deal and it sounds like things are progressing in the right direction. Ryan will probably be leaned upon for a lot of scoring in 2011 and is likely looking to be paid like one of those players and for the long-term. At age 23, Ryan could be getting locked in for a long-term deal.
Jose Theodore, goalie2010 Points: 64, 63rd overall, 17th among goalies
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $4.5 million
Projections: THN, 30 points; Forecaster, 32 points
The goaltending job market is pretty fierce these days. With pretty much every job sewn up by this time, it will be tough for Theodore to break through the talent barrier and secure a job. I would imagine that if he was to find a job now, he would have to take much less than the $4.5 million he counted against the cap last season.
James Neal, forward2010 Points: 55, 93rd overall, 66th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $822,000
Projections: THN, 50 points; Forecaster, 56 points
I haven't seen a great deal about what is going on with James Neal and the Dallas Stars, but I couldn't think that something would be too far away from happening. The Stars will definitely be in need of his scoring in 2011, as the stability of the team was challenged again this Summer. The Stars have plenty of room to move for Neal, unless their own budget won't allow for much.
Bill Guerin, forward2010 Points: 45, 155th overall, 116th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2 million
Projections: THN, 36 points; Forecaster, N/A points
So far, all we know about Guerin is that he won't be brought back to Pittsburgh for another tour of duty there. Guerin is supposedly looking for one of those contender teams to play with again this coming year, just for one more shot of glory. Guerin did score 21 goals in 2010, so his stock is still in pretty good shape, I just wonder if there is a top-ranked team that also thinks so.
Niclas Bergfors, forward2010 Points: 44, 161st overall, 120th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $818,000
Projections: THN, 41 points; Forecaster, 58 points
The Atlanta Thrashers really picked up a gem when they dealt Kovalchuk to the Devils in Bergfors, but now they have to decide how much they want to give him in a new deal. This will be Bergfors first deal outside of an entry-level contract, so there might be a little bit of hesitation to pay him too much or for too long. I haven't heard anything negative from this situation, so I would expect it to be done before camp.
Brendan Morrison, forward2010 Points: 42, 180th overall, 133rd overall
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.5 million
Projections: THN, 32 points; Forecaster, N/A points
If a team is going to be taking a chance on Brendan Morrison, they will be looking for some depth at centre, likely in the 3rd line role, using his speed and checking ability more than his scoring. That doesn't translate into a big pay day for Morrison, but looking at his previous cap hit, he might be okay with playing the bargain. I get the feeling that Morrison will be one of those guys earning a camp invite this Fall.
Eric Belanger, forward2010 Points: 41, 186th overall, 136th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.75 million
Projections: THN, 38 points; Forecaster, N/A points
I am a little surprised that Belanger is still on this list, as he is a very useful player and still a younger veteran with plenty of upside. With a lot of teams already boasting some depth, I would imagine Belanger may have to settle with a fringe team for a paycheque and there are still a few of those still looking for a guy like Belanger.
Ray Emery, goalie2010 Points: 39, 202nd overall, 31st among goalies
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.5 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
The health issues that surround Emery are great and should be taken into consideration here. I have eliminated him from my list, because I don't trust that he'll find a job before the season starts and there isn't too much talk surrounding him, so I would suggest doing the same.
Peter Mueller, forward2010 Points: 41, 186th overall, 136th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.75 million
Projections: THN, 30 points; Forecaster, N/A points
The Avalanche have already dealt with another one of their top restricted free agents in the past week and now they are left to deal with Mueller. I would expect to see Mueller signed in the next week or so, unless there are other circumstances at play. He turned out to be a pretty good pick up for the Avalanche last season and he should be a pretty high priority now.
Marc-Andre Bergeron, defense2010 Points: 34, 249th overall, 37th among defense
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $700,000
Projections: THN, 30 points; Forecaster, N/A points
Bergeron was a late addition last Fall for the Canadiens and he may be having the same fate this year as well. Bergeron did well with 34 points last season, despite the late start and he does have the skills to create offensively and with teams still looking for puck moving defensemen, I'm surprised he hasn't found a job yet, unless he's burned some bridges along the way.
Patrick O'Sullivan, forward2010 Points: 34, 250th overall, 179th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.925 million
Projections: THN, 22 points; Forecaster, 29 points
The curious case of Patrick O'Sullivan, who can't seem to pick up a new job after being bought out by the Oilers. O'Sullivan was coming up nicely as a top six forward, but has seemingly gotten lost along the way. It's opening doors for other young people, since he hasn't found a job, but I would have thought someone out there would want to take a chance on him. He will also be a bargain basement signing, if he does end up somewhere.
Owen Nolan, forward2010 Points: 33, 255th overall, 181st among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.75 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, 31 points
Things are not looking terribly optimistic for Owen Nolan and the rest of his days in the NHL. The Wild haven't offered him anything to come back, the Sharks are not going to bring him back for nostalgia purposes and a lot of teams already have an aging veteran or want to keep their legs young. Unfortunately, Nolan doesn't have a Stanley Cup to his name and at age 38, it will be quite the chore to stay in shape long enough for someone to bring him in to win one.
Martin Hanzal, forward2010 Points: 33, 259th overall, 185th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $980,000
Projections: THN, 42 points; Forecaster, 40 points
Some higher expectations for Hanzal coming into the 2011 season will hopefully work to his favour, but who is to say what it is doing to the negotiations for a new restricted free agent contract at the moment. If he can move up to half a point-per-game in his scoring rate, he could be a good little depth player for the draft this year, giving him a slight bargain status.
Ryan Potulny, forward2010 Points: 32, 265th overall, 189th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $595,000
Projections: THN, 37 points; Forecaster, 16 points
There is plenty of suggestion out there that a guy like Potulny should be finding a job, but there is a lot more that likely says otherwise. He hasn't been a mainstay with a team in the early part of his career, he has scored a little, but suffers mightily defensively and a lot of 2nd/3rd line jobs are already taken or being given to talent coming up through the system. Best to step over this one on your list.
Nigel Dawes, forward2010 Points: 32, 268th overall, 192nd among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $850,000
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
The two publications I have at the moment are not holding out much hope for Nigel Dawes and his future in the NHL. Dawes will likely be looking for a bottom six job and will likely have to rely on a training camp invite after being bought out by the Flames, as a salary cap casualty. There isn't anything terribly about Dawes' game overall, but you may argue that he might not do enough offensively to help himself out.
Richard Park, forward2010 Points: 31, 277th overall, 197th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $750,000
Projections: THN, 25 points; Forecaster, 21 points
If there is one thing to say about Park's game is that he is very resilient when it comes to finding roster spots. Park is a great bottom six pick-up, with above average speed and a great mindset about doing the job that he is assigned to do. Like most of the players on this list, Park will have to battle through a very slim job market, but I'm also kind of surprised that the Islanders don't have him back to fill out one of the spots down low on the roster.
Ruslan Fedotenko, forward2010 Points: 30, 284th overall, 201st among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.8 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
Fedotenko was good enough to give the Penguins 80 games in 2010, but only scoring 11 goals on a Penguins team with all kinds of setup talent does make you scratch your head and wonder. Fedotenko is only 31 years old, so he should still have plenty of jam left in him, but he's starting to look like one of those late signings that the Atlanta Thrashers like to make, kind of like Fredrik Modin on Saturday.
Robert Lang, forward2010 Points: 29, 298th overall, 210th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
I don't think there is much expectation that Lang will be making an NHL roster at age 39. A lower-body injury hurt the end of his regular season and age is definitely working against him, so I won't be holding out too much hope for him, definitely not making him into a sleeper pick or anything.
Andrew Cogliano, forward2010 Points: 28, 307th overall, 215th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.1 million
Projections: THN, 47 points; Forecaster, 34 points
No matter which way you cut it, it should be a bounce back season for Andrew Cogliano, because his 28 points in 2010 just seemed wrong in every way. The speedy centre/winger will have some great talent to play with, which should get him more points by default. Cogliano has been in a few trade rumours out of Edmonton and might be a pawn in a deal to move a guy like Sheldon Souray, but we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it.
Marc Staal, defense2010 Points: 27, 318th overall, 59th among defense
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $827,000
Projections: THN, 23 points; Forecaster, 27 points
Even as a shutdown defenseman, Marc Staal does manage to get points on the board, which makes him attractive to us poolies, especially ranked 59th among all defense in scoring. The restricted free agent defenseman is in line for a nice raise from his entry-level cap hit, but the Rangers are not in a good position to give him one, which is why he is still unsigned. It's still surprising to me that Staal didn't get an offer sheet, but I would imagine there has to be a way for him to get signed, even if it is a 1-year deal.
Kyle Wellwood, forward2010 Points: 25, 337th overall, 231st among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.2 million
Projections: THN, 26 points; Forecaster, 30 points
There is still some confidence in Kyle Wellwood that he can be a helpful producing centre in a 3rd line role for an NHL team, but there isn't an NHL team with a contract out there for him. Wellwood has a reputation that isn't too clean and shiny, but there is no question that he has some quality hands. I would expect Wellwood to be a training camp addition, possibly even a signing into the first weeks into the season.
Darcy Tucker, forward2010 Points: 24, 347th overall, 240th among forwards
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.25 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
Looking at the lists of projections today, I don't see Darcy Tucker anywhere and frankly, I was a bit surprised he had enough points to make this list, although it was by a slim margin. Ranking 240th overall among forwards shouldn't be high enough to be drafted, but it was the measurable margin for my draft. No expectations here.
Manny Legace, goalie2010 Points: 23, 361st overall, 43rd among goalies
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $500,000
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
We could kind of tell that Legace's time was nearing an end when he was a mid-season addition to the Hurricanes when Cam Ward went down with injury and now the 37-year old keeper doesn't have a job at the moment. If the other two goalies on the list were going to have trouble finding a job, Legace likely even has less of a chance to get a good job in the big league this year.
Cody Franson, defense2010 Points: 21, 385th overall, 81st among defense
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $694,000
Projections: THN, 31 points; Forecaster, 28 points
The Predators defense has been a point of pride in recent years and a guy like Franson is another reason why they are so proud. There is a level of confidence that these guys get coming into the line-up and with some turnover, it looks like Franson will be in line for some more ice-time. Much like Staal in New York, I'm surprised some added pressure by other teams was not applied this Summer.
Vesa Toskala, goalie2010 Points: 20, 410th overall, 48th among goalies
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $4 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
The last goalie on the list is Vesa Toskala and I think this is just by default. The guy was getting paid, so teams like the Maple Leafs and Flames had to play him when he was being used as the back-up, because it would just be a waste otherwise. He did get some points last year, but it doesn't look like he'll get any work, especially with some of the other talent coming up and still on the market.
Mike Mottau, defense2010 Points: 18, 436th overall, 102nd among defense
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $763,000
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, N/A points
Considered to be more of a defensive defenseman, Mottau likely won't attract many poolies, especially at his depth, rather going for some younger talent that might be breaking through a team's line-up for the first time. 18 points in 79 games is more of a product of being on the ice when the top six guys are on than anything, which is a good sign nonetheless. I would expect a team to come looking for a guy like him when training camp starts and holes are found on the blueline.
Kim Johnsson, defense2010 Points: 17, 441st overall, 103rd among defense
2010 Salary Cap Hit: $4.85 million
Projections: THN, N/A points; Forecaster, 16 points
The dreaded c-word (concussion) has crept into the minds of many and Kim Johnsson may be a victim of a hard stigma to break. There is little doubt that the Swede has talent, but we can all find someone in the league that might be comparable to Johnsson and not have a history of concussions. I'm confident that he'll find some work, but it also appears to be a late addition kind of signing now and for considerably less than what he was making in the past few years.
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