Who are the best NHL Free Agents for this summer?
Whο аrе thе lаrgеѕt restricted аnd non-restricted nhl free agents fοr thіѕ summer?
Whο dο уου rесkοn thе Blues wουld gο fοr? I’m ѕο glad thеу traded fοr Halak, bυt I still rесkοn thеу саn re-sign Steen аnd Colaiacovo, plus lеt gο οf a few οthеr players.
One last qυеѕtіοn fοr Blues fans, іѕ thеrе аnу possibility οf thе organization trading brewer οr jackman fοr a draft pick? I don’t really lіkе еіthеr οf thеm, аnd both аrе up fοr free agency next summer.
Some of the largest names offensively are Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrick Marleau, Paul Kariya, Ray Whitney, Lee Stempniak, and Alexander Frolov. Defensively, some of the huge names are Anton Volchenkov, Sergei Gonchar, Pavel Kubina, Paul Martin, and Dan Hamhuis (likely vacant to be a Flyer at this point). If you’re looking at goaltending, the main name is Evgeni Nabokov, but there’s also Marty Turco, Ray Emery, Martin Biron, and Michael Leighton, along with some others.
I didn’t include guys like Selanne, Modano, Recchi, and Niedermayer because if they return, I’m nearly positive they’ll resign with their teams.
I doubt the Blues go after any major free agents with Halak needed to be signed and with the kids up for new contracts in the near future. I could could see them shopping brewer and jax but they might not see much in return.
This year?
In no particular order,
Ilya Kovalchuk
Teemu Selanne
Scott Neidermayer
Vesa Toskala
Craig Conroy
Manny Legace
Antti Niemi
Mike Modano
Niklas Lidstrom
Ray Emery
Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau
Ryan Kesler
Jose Theodore
Jaroslav Halak (you guys still need to sign him in July, so it’s not a sure bet that you have him)
Those are just a few that jumped out at me when I was looking at the list
Here’s a full list:
http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2010-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position/
*I know it says “vacant into the deadline” but it’s obviously current because it has Halak playing for the Blues.
Ilya Kovalchuk – look for him to sign with a team like Colorado, shot at the cup with enough $ so he can have his wallet stout
Teemu Selanne – He claimed this to be his last season, hope he is not another Mats Sundin
Scott Neidermayer – read the previous
Vesa Toskala – Really? This name should not even be within a hundred yards of the word best! Look for him to struggle to keep an NHL job and be pleased if he does.
Craig Conroy – Look for calgary to resign
Manny Legace – Backup goalie who offers experience, look for a team like the Capitals or Sens who have inexperienced goalies and will want more veterans to help teach
Antti Niemi – If Chicago lets him go their will be blood in the water!
Mike Modano – Should retire, but Dallas ofcourse, not like he’s vacant to Edmonton for the final year of his career.
Niklas Lidstrom – NOT A FREE AGENT!!! He signed a 1-year extension with Detroit
Ray Emery – KHL
Joe Pavelski – Not greedy like nearly every player is, will stay in San Jose
Patrick Marleau – Hey! a real Star whose up for grabs… who knows?
Ryan Kesler – he’s stayin a canuck
Jose Theodore – Who cares!?! Really you consider him and Toskala “best”?!
Jaroslav Halak – The blues just got him, They are not about to lose him
Ok sorting thru my fellow answerers crap lists, you have three stars
Kovalchuk
Marleau
Nabokov
I’ll even throw in Kesler, although he is not really a star
what jackavsf said.