NHL Free Agency: Unrestricted Or Underwhelming
By Adam Savard
NHL free agency hopes are already hovering over half the league. If your favorite team didn’t make the playoffs you are likely thinking ahead to which players your GM can bring in to restore hope for the Stanley Cup.
General managers tend to overpay for players in the early parts of NHL free agency. This offseason seems the exception to that as very few players considered top-level talent are available. Past years have had Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan available. Others have featured Ville Leino. Enough said.
With the salary cap uncertain to rise as in years past teams will have less money to throw around. Fortunately that will pair up with the lack of big names available. But savvy general managers will still find NHL free agency important to putting their team together.
If you need a goal scorer, cross Martin St. Louis off your list. The pending UFA has said he would like to continue his career with the New York Rangers. With St. Louis gone what other players in NHL free agency can add offensive punch?
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At 36 Erik Cole still put up 21 goals between Dallas and Detroit, but he isn’t getting the long-term contract we’ve come to see handed out during NHL free agency. Has Derek Roy played himself into a bigger deal after his contributions in Edmonton?
While top line forwards aren’t available that doesn’t mean you can find value. Playoff hero Justin Williams is approaching 34 and still scored eighteen goals this year for the Los Angeles Kings. Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell offer great grit and bottom six production with Stanley Cup experience. And the Boston Bruins are in cap jail, so retaining them will be very hard.
The big contracts are more likely going to defencemen when NHL free agency opens. Big being a relative term. Cody Franson, Jeff Petry and Zbynek Michalek will likely lead that charge after being traded to contenders during the regular season. But if you dig a little deeper, there is good value in the NHL free agency class on the blue line.
Johnny Oduya could be moving on from the Chicago Blackhawks, another team tight to the salary cap. There is great value in Francois Beauchemin to a team with a young defense looking for stability and veteran leadership. Andrej Sekera will be available again as will Christian Ehrhoff. If you need a defenseman, there are plenty of chances to open the checkbook.
And what of Michael Del Zotto? The one-time New York Rangers 1st round pick is only 24 and on his third team. Ten goals and 32 points should get him a look again. Will this be the contract fans look at when NHL free agency is over as being one of the bigger overpayments or better values?
The best of the bunch may be Mike Green. He’s 29 and a proven producer with the Washington Capitals. He is likely to look for and get a big deal. After all Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik both signed long-term deals with the Caps last year. Does that push Green out the door?
The crop of goaltenders is summed up by the updates to the Buffalo Sabres media guide. Jhonas Enroth, Michal Neuvirth and Anders Lindback are all looking for new teams after finding new teams during the season. Antti Niemi and Karri Ramo are also looking for jobs.
The most interesting goalie on the NHL free agency market is still playing. Braden Holtby has been the starter in Washington and his 41 wins and .923 save percentage could get him big bucks elsewhere. Goaltender will be an interesting position with a pair of good ones likely changing teams and others like Buffalo and Edmonton hunting for upgrades.
It’s not that you can’t find value in the upcoming NHL free agency class. If you need defense it’s out there for the taking. Goaltending help is also in reasonable supply. But general managers won’t be fixing their offenses with the unrestricted free agents.
That could bode well for the Edmonton Oilers. Targeting a player like Beauchemin to help Darnell Nurse, Oscar Klefbom and Justin Schultz would go a long way to making that unit more solid. I also believe Daniel Paille will be one of the better value signings of the entire process.
If your favorite team is in the playoffs, enjoy it. Because half the league is already sizing up rosters and ready to strike when NHL free agency opens up this summer.
Next: How Connor McDavid Reshapes The Edmonton Oilers
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