2009 Free Agents

[Mr. Hockey]

TOP 10 FREE AGENTS

1. Jay Bouwmeester (Florida dealt negotiation rights to Calgary) SIGNED WITH CALGARY
2008-09 salary: $4.875 million
A brilliant skater for a big man, the six-foot-four, 212-pound Bouwmeester will top the shopping lists for any teams looking for a defenceman who can contribute at both ends. A number of teams including the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils could use his offence. One concern is he has never been to the playoffs in six NHL season as well as three seasons in the Western League as a junior. Back-to-back 15-goal years trump his playoff record.

2. Mike Komisarek (Montreal) SIGNED WITH TORONTO
2008-09 salary: $1.9 million
A solid stay-at-home defenceman, Komisarek brings skill, toughness and intelligence to the table. You would have to think all three New York-area teams will be interested in his services, but how much he gets depends on how many teams buy into Detroit GM Ken Holland's theory that you don't pay maximum dollars to defenceman who only defend.

3. Nik Antropov (NY Rangers) SIGNED WITH ATLANTA
2008-09 salary: $2.15 million
The six-foot-six, 230-pound centre appears to have turned a corner where the injury bug is concerned. He had a career-best 28-goals season split between the Maple Leafs and Rangers. He is a No. 1 centre on a weak team and No. 2 centre on a contender. A major concern is his inability to produce in the playoffs - just four goals and eight points in 35 career postseason games.

4. Mike Knuble (Philadelphia) SIGNED WITH WASHINGTON
2008-09 salary: $2.8 million
At 36 you'd have to think Knuble's career is slowly drawing to a close. But a quick look at his numbers - seasons of 34, 24, 29 and 27 goals in the past four years - suggests there is still a little gas in the tank. If Knuble is looking for term, he may have to sacrifice a bit on salary, but there are plenty of teams that would use a consistent scoring right winger including one that just held a Stanley Cup parade.

5. Brian Gionta (New Jersey) SIGNED WITH MONTREAL
2008-09 salary: $4 million
It is evident Gionta's 48-goal season in 2005-06 was an aberration so he won't command nearly the $4 million a season he was paid the past three years. But that doesn't diminish the fact Gionta is a consistent scoring threat good for 20-25 goals per year - maybe a few more on a team that opens it up on offence more than the Devils. His offence, coupled with his ability to play both sides of the puck, might make him attractive to a team looking for a piece of the puzzle to make the playoffs.

6. Alexei Kovalev (Montreal)
2008-09 salary: $4.5 million
There are some who believe Kovalev pulled the chute last season when he a lack of commitment from the Canadiens young players who seemed more bent on partying than playing. Regardless, he remains, at 36, a player of considerable skill who, when he is in the right frame of mind, can dominate games. The Los Angeles Kings have made it clear they covet a top-six forward; perhaps Kovalev fits the bill.

7. Johnny Oduya (New Jersey) RE-SIGNED WITH NEW JERSEY
2008-09 salary: $600,000
Schooled in the Devils defence-first system, Oduya has still managed to show an offensive upside that could be intriguing to a number of teams. The six-foot, 200-pound Swede has improved in each of his first three NHL seasons and at 27 should have a number of productive years ahead of him. He is plus-48 in his past two seasons combined and should command a hefty raise.

8. Saku Koivu (Montreal)
2008-09 salary: $4.75 million
It is pretty clear those who have dubbed Koivu as a second-line centre being miscast as a first-liner win that debate, although nobody will ever question his commitment and character. If the Canadiens are going to indeed orchestrate a makeover, Koivu could be sacrificed, which means a team looking for leadership and supplemental scoring could be in luck.

9. John Madden (New Jersey) SIGNED WITH CHICAGO
2008-09 salary: $2.939 million
Scoring just seven goals and 23 points while going minus-7 was not exactly what Madden had in mind during a season leading up to unrestricted free agency. Now teams, including the Devils for whom he has played his entire nine-year career, must decide if, at age 36, he has lost it or if he can bounce back and get close to the 20 goals he scored the year before. The fact he has two Stanley Cup rings should make him attractive to those who believe experience inspires success.

10. Ruslan Fedotenko (Pittsburgh) RE-SIGNED WITH PITTSBURGH
2008-09 salary: $2.25 million
Speaking of experience, Fedotenko just won his second Cup, saving some of his best play for the postseason with the Penguins. He has proven over his career he is a decent two-way player on a good team. If he plays on a struggling club, his defence is exposed. The Penguins have a number of openings on a roster that will no-doubt be tweaked and it wouldn't be shocking to see them re-sign the 30-year-old left winger to a multi-year extension. That said, other teams might offer more to attract his services.

www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/06/27/spector_top10_eastern_FA/

[Mr. Hockey]

1. Marian Gaborik SIGNED WITH THE RANGERS
$7.5 milllion
This guy is an unbelievable talent, but Gaborik has averaged 52 games per season for the last four years. Between Jacques Lemaire’s hand-cuff system in Minnesota and injuries, he is this year’s free agent wildcard. Gaborik played just 17 games last year – yet had 13 goals. Ottawa would love him in trade for Dany Heatley, while L.A. and Montreal each have cap room and favour that type of player.

2. Henrik and Daniel Sedin RE-SIGNED WITH VANCOUVER
$3.575 million each
Let’s face it: these two are an entry. You would never sign just one, nor could you. And now there are no holes left in the Sedins — they’re a lock for 80 points each; they’ve missed one game between them in four seasons; and they were very good in the playoffs, with a point each per game. Word is they want 12-year deals to stay in Vancouver, which seems a tad ridiculous. They’ll likely settle for less term in Vancouver, leveraging the L.A. Kings and perhaps Toronto against the Canucks. If the Sedins do go elsewhere as UFA’s — and we very much doubt they will — it will be for closer to six years and $7 million per.

3. Nikolai Khabibulin SIGNED WITH EDMONTON
$6.75 milllion
The best goaltender on the UFA list, Khabibulin will move on from Chicago because the Blackhawks are shotgun-married to Cristobal Huet’s four-year, $22.5 million deal. The problem with Khabibulin is, the last time he signed a monster free agent deal (with Chicago, after his Cup in ’04 with Tampa), he stunk for two years. At 36, this is his last big contract. Will Khabby coast again? Well, Edmonton and Colorado are two on a short list of teams that both need and can afford a No. 1.

4. Marian Hossa SIGNED WITH CHICAGO
$7.45 million
Coming off an underwhelming playoff run, Hossa is still a prime UFA acquisition viewed as a franchise player by some. It is unlikely Hossa will settle for another short-term deal however, like he did with Detroit last summer. Edmonton was offering seven years in the $50 million range last summer, and that’s likely the kind of attention Hossa will get from an L.A., or perhaps a Vancouver, where he could replace Mats Sundin. Detroit is also hot to fit Hossa under their cap, which would mean saying goodbye to Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler.

5. Scott Niedermayer RE-SIGNED WITH ANAHEIM
$6.75 million
This is a tough one, because it is believed Niedermayer will remain in Anaheim — unless he and UFA brother Rob can strike a deal closer to home in Vancouver. Or what about Calgary? The problem is, at age 36, Niedermayer has already entertained thoughts of retirement. He’s a short-term sign who will likely hang ‘em up after this season — and the 2010 Olympics — but then again, he may not. Still a fantastic player, it’s more about the fire in Niedermayer’s belly than what’s left in his legs or hands. If he’s willing to sign a one- or two-year deal — and it is believed he is — Niedermayer could be the best free agent deal around.

6. Martin Havlat SIGNED WITH MINNESOTA
$6 million
Another guy who came to Chicago and under-performed. He had 57 points in 06-07, then missed all but 35 games in 07-08. But he led the team in scoring this past season — in a contract year — and enters the UFA market off a 77-point season and looking like the guy Ottawa had to give up on four years ago for salary reasons. Chicago has cap problems and a crop of young guys coming up on their second contracts. Havlat is a complimentary sniper and legit first-line player who will interest the Rangers, Pittsburgh, Montreal and Vancouver.

7. Mats Sundin
$5.627 million
Yes folks, it’s the story that never dies. Sundin has said he won’t play in 2010, but of course, he won’t commit to attending an NHL camp in September. That could hamstring agent J.P. Barry, because no team in its right mind would take another part-time effort from Sundin again next season. The 38-year-old showed that, without a training camp and full season under his belt, he looked old and slow for much of the playoffs. Could he, like Niedermayer last season, regain some percentage of is old form with proper training and a full season? The question remains, how badly does Sundin want this? Vancouver may still want to find that out, if they strike out on younger UFA’s. Dallas and Montreal will also sniff.

8. Francois Beauchemin
$1.65 million
Watch Brian Burke go after this guy in Toronto. Beauchemin is a tough-as-nails second pairing defenceman who plays like Jason Smith did in his prime. He’s a lefty who throws ‘em well — just ask Detroits’s Tomas Kopecky — and will seriously up the toughness and hard-to-play-against quotient that has become an issue in cities where clubs have stocked up on skilled defencemen, and allowed the abrasiveness level to decay. For all the talk Burke has issued about toughening up the Maple Leafs, he has a history with Beauchemin. Los Angeles, Montreal, the Rangers, Edmonton, Atlanta, San Jose, Dallas — all could use what Beauchemin brings to the table. The only problem is, he’s a No. 4 D-man. If you have to pay him like a No. 1 or 2, he could mess up your salary grid.

9. Mike Cammalleri SIGNED WITH MONTREAL
$3.6 million
How can you not pay some attention to a guy who had 39 goals and 82 points last season? Only eight players had more goals than Cammalleri in 08-09. He’s a bit of a one-trick pony however, and in the end, there were too many goal scorers and not enough set-up men in Calgary. If your team has a distributing centreman in need of a scorer — and getting a small forward isn’t a problem — then Cammalleri is your man. Don’t rule out a return to his old team, the L.A. Kings. Or perhaps up the highway in Anaheim. Any team that struggled to score last season — Tampa, the Islanders, Colorado, Minnesota, Dallas, Ottawa — should be interested.

10. Jere Lehtinen RE-SIGNED WITH DALLAS
$4.1 million
A three-time Selke winner (’98, ’99, ’03), Lehtinen has run into some injury problems over the past two years. If Dallas lets him go to market, Lehtinen is a veteran, highly skilled calming influence in any dressing room. He’s played in three Olympic Games and a couple of Stanley Cup finals. A young dressing room like the Kings’ or Blackhawks could dearly use this guy, who is good for 50 points if he can stay healthy. He’ll take any team that is close and make them closer. Washington should be interested. So should Ottawa.


www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/06/23/spector_top10_western_FA/

[Carson!]

Do you guys think that Boewmester is really going to Calgary? I have a feeling he won't.

[V-HAB]

Well, they traded for his rights, it remains to be seen if they successfully sign him or no.

[Mr. Hockey]

odds are no. But the flames have 11 mil. in cap space. So anything can happen. But I see him going to July 1st. But I have a feeling he is going to sign in Calgary or Edmonton.

[Carson!]

New Jersey re-signed Johnny Oduya 3 year 3.5 mil, I think...

[Carson!]

Flames sign Boewmeester to a 5 year deal

[Mr. Hockey]

yup, and Blake signs with Sharks for 3.5 mil i think. I knew that Boewmeester was going to sign in Calgary

[V-HAB]

Hossa signs with Chicago.

[Carson!]

all I gotta say about today is ****!!!

[Mr. Hockey]

Hossa going to Hawks is a bad move for the hawks. I hope they got to remember to sign Towes and Kane after next season!!!

[Carson!]

haha yeah that's true lol

[V-HAB]

I updated the first two posts with where the players signed. So, who got the most overpaid on the market this year?

[Carson!]

I don't know, I looked at them all, I actually think they're all fair. The only one I would say is overpaid Cammalleri only because his salary literally doubled and he's probably not going to be as productive as last season considering he won't be playing with Iginla.

[V-HAB]

He was playing with Derek Armstrong in Los Angeles when he got over 80 points, but I know it's fun to ignore those kind of facts when we're dealing with Habs players.

Gaborik is by far the most overpaid this season, followed closely by Komisarek.