The Free Agent Game

June 30, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

We’re less than seven hours away from midnight when the calendar officially becomes July 1 and all the fun madness starts as it pertains to NHL free agency. A day which has now become celebrated in most quarters. Unless you root for a team which never really makes a big splash.

So, what should be expected? You never know. Already, Ryan Malone’s rights were acquired by Tampa and then overpaid for in the form of a ridiculous seven-year $31.5 million contract. He’s a nice player but committing that many years is insane. Let’s see where he is in Year 4. I’m willing to bet he’ll wear down.

Sadly, this helps justify Sean Avery’s outrageous four million on average demands. By good show of hands, who actually believes Avery is a legit $4 million player? Unless your name is Larry Brooks or even NYHR sidekick Joe McDonald, you know better. Everyone realizes how valuable the agitator was to the Rangers where they had a much better record with him in the lineup. But is he really worth that much money? I don’t see it. He’s going to want at least four years on average. Who thinks the 28 year-old undersized Ontario native will live up to such a contract? Not with the kind of physical style he plays. It says here that he’ll wind up battered and beaten up morphing into the current version of Darcy Tucker, who I expect to become Avery’s replacement on Broadway.

When Avery has already had injury problems, it’s not a good sign. If I’m a suitor, I don’t go more than two guaranteed years at the most with an option for Year 3. As effective a hockey player as Sean is, I would be fearsome of going overboard due to that physical style.

Ditto Brooks Orpik, who is expected to draw plenty of interest for his big size on the blueline and rugged game. Injuries are part of the game. That’s why it’s wiser to not go long-term unless it’s a proven star who you know will produce.

So, how do we see some of the July fireworks playing out? Let’s look into our crystal ball:

1.RW Jaromir Jagr- signs with OMSK, Super Elite Russian League. Judging from No.68′s quotes in yesterday’s paper, he wants to still be the man. He’s not going to get more than a year at probably five or six million at the most from Glen Sather. So, he’ll pack his bags and go back to Russia leaving the Rangers high and dry.

2.C Mats Sundin- signs with Montreal. Like fellow blogger Brian, I just feel the Habs are going to find a way to make it happen. They were close last year and already picked up Alex Tanguay. If they’re serious about bringing Lord Stanley back to Canada, then they’ll do what it takes to get the talented Swede aboard.

3.RW Marian Hossa- signs with San Jose. The Sharks need to surround Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau with a talented finisher. This would be a similar fit to the Pens for Hossa and allow him to blend in.

4.D Brian Campbell- signs with Ottawa. Campbell returns home to help replace Wade Redden and fill a void on the power play.

5.D Brooks Orpik- signs with Phoenix. The revamped Coyotes who parted with two defensemen to get Olli Jokinen hope to team the physical Orpik with Ed Jovanovski making them a playoff team.

6.C Brian Rolston- signs with Columbus. The Lightning acquired the ex-Wild center’s rights but no way are they re-signing him. Not the way they’ve been throwing money around. The Blue Jackets don’t score enough under Ken Hitchcock and they could use a legit No.1 pivot who can teach them the ropes. Plus he plays both ends and would fit that system.

7.LW Martin Straka- signs with Pittsburgh. The former Pen returns to his first team for a third stint despite rumors he might go back home to the Czech Republic.

8.D Wade Redden- signs with Boston. He goes to play for Senators Northeast and re-teams with Zdeno Chara to solidify a blueline which includes Dennis Wideman.

9.RW Brendan Shanahan- either re-signs with the Rangers or retires. The elder statesman has enjoyed his tour on Broadway and wants to return for one more shot. But much depends on what else Sather does.

10.LW Cory Stillman- signs with Washington. The complementary wing is a solid producer who has valuable Cup experience winning with Southeast rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina. He’d be a welcome addition to a young up and coming Caps team on the verge of great things.

11.LW Kristian Huselius- signs with Vancouver. The Canucks add another scoring wing to play with new second line center Kyle Wellwood.

12.LW Niklas Hagman- signs with Devils. The two-way speedy Finn is the kind of player Lou Lamoriello likes as he can play both ways and is a bonafide shorthanded threat.

13.D Michal Rozsival- signs with Buffalo. It’s hard to see the Czech re-upping with the Blueshirts. Especially if his buddies leave. There’s a good chance the Ranger roster and style is totally different this Fall. The Sabres could use a serviceable defenseman who can log big minutes and play every situation. Is Darcy Regier willing to pay the price?

14.D Rob Blake- re-signs with Los Angeles. Isn’t what he used to be but still can provide leadership to a young rebuilding team. With Lubomir Visnovsky gone to the Oilers for Jarrett Stoll and Matt Greene, expect him to get moved at the deadline.

15.D Mike Commodore- signs with Rangers. They could use some beef on that blueline and an experienced winner in Commo provides it.

16.D Ron Hainsey- signs with Devils. New Jersey needs another defenseman who can chip in offensively and help Paul Martin. The overlooked Hainsey fits the bill and won’t cost a ton.

17.D Mark Streit- signs with Rangers. Would fit as an ideal power play option and probably won’t cost as much as some of the other overpriced free agents.

18.W Sean Avery- signs with Toronto. Avery gets his payday from the Leafs, who will use him as a Tucker replacement. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Leafs Nation who hated him suddenly change their minds?

19.W Darcy Tucker- signs with Rangers. This is the man Slats is targeting. If not Broadway, then he’ll wind up in another place which appreciates rugged style in Philly.

20.RW Markus Naslund- re-signs with Vancouver. It’s hard to see the veteran Swede who’s played almost his entire career in British Columbia leaving countrymen the Sedins and Mattias Ohlund.

21.RW Radim Vrbata- re-signs with Phoenix. If he’s smart, he’ll take less to stay in the Desert where suddenly Wayne Gretzky’s club isn’t far away. If not, possible suitors could be the Islanders, Blue Jackets and Panthers who could all use scoring.

22.D Brad Stuart- signs with San Jose. A return to his original team wouldn’t be a surprise. Especially if Campbell isn’t back. Stuart had a strong playoffs for the Wings who probably will balk at his asking price.

23.RW Michael Ryder- signs with Islanders. Taking a waiver on a former 30-goal finisher when you don’t have much scoring to speak of seems logical. I could also see him winding up with the Ducks.

24.C Michael Peca- signs with Wild. The veteran pivot is still a solid player who gives an honest effort. Something Jacques Lemaire prefers. They need someone to help offset the loss of Rolston.

25.G Cristobal Huet- re-signs with Washington. They didn’t get him at the deadline just for one run. The smart money says he’ll stay.

26.G Jose Theodore- re-ups with Colorado. The Avs have already re-signed defenders John-Michael Liles (4 yrs, 16 mill) and Adam Foote. They want to take a run and are banking on Joe Sakic to put off retirement and hope a rejuvenated Theodore stays instead of going for big bucks to a losing team such as the Kings.

27.W Jay Pandolfo- re-signs with Devils. Could you really see John Madden’s sidekick out of a Devil jersey?

28.Bryce Salvador- re-signs with Devils. Lamoriello likes the physical stay-at-home D and will bring him back.

29.G Stephen Valiquette- re-signs with Rangers. has already been rumored to have re-signed. Isn’t going anywhere.

30.C Pavol Demitra- signs with St. Louis. John Davidson brings back the former Blue to help in the scoring department.