The NHL's Top 10 Free Agents of the 2009 Offseason

With only two teams left in this NHL season competing for the Stanley Cup, that leaves fans of 28 other NHL teams looking forward to Jul. 1 when the NHL free agency period opens up.

2009 has one of the better lists of available free agents compared to recent years.

It's also anticipated to be one of the most unpredictable free agency offseasons because of the tough economic times.

Therefore, players may choose the longer contract with the less competitive club (teams that could afford to deal a big contract because of their cap) over the more competitive/stable franchise offering less money.

My top 10 list consists of free agents to potentially play for a different team than they were playing for last season.

No. 10 Nikolai Khabibulin (G)

After winning a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay, Nikolai Khabibulin signed a huge contract for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004.

Nikolai never quite lived up to that contract through the last five seasons, although he still put up respectable numbers.

Last season, Chicago signed goaltender Cristobal Huet to a hefty contract over five seasons.

Fast forward...

Huet replaced Khabibulin in Game Four of this year's Western conference Finals because Khabibulin ran out of performance gas.

Huet looks to have sealed the No. 1 spot as goaltender with the Blackhawks for his spectacular play in Game Five, and it's not like Chicago has much of a choice.

My prediction:

Khabibulin will obviously be on his way out of Chicago for Salary cap reasons. My guess is he could be signed to a team with a questionable No. 1 goalie as a reliable backup, or to a team as a No. 1 for a short period of time.

Colorado, LA, Edmonton, and Toronto are a few teams that come to mind.

And don't rule out a move to the KHL overseas if the money is right.

What he made last season: $6,750,000

What I see him making next season: Between three and 3.5 million

Age: 36

Career stats: GP 678, Wins 299, GAA 2.67, SV percentage .908, and SO 41

No. 9 Mats Sundin (C)

After Mats' long awaited signing last season, which did not happen until December, he eventually turned out to be a big bust for the Vancouver Canucks, so he should be on his way out.

Plus the Canucks have bigger fish to fry.

Is Mats going to demand big money again after a sub par year in tough economic times?

Most likely.

But which team is going to bite the bait?

My prediction:

I have this strange feeling he will sign with the Edmonton Oilers. Add in Pat Quinn, who once coached Mats in Toronto, and it may work out to be a good signing.

What he made last season: $8,210,571

What I see him making next season: Between five and six million

Age: 38

Career stats: GP 1346, Goals 564, Assists 785, and Points 1349

No. 8 Alex Tanguay (LW)

Alex Tanguay landed in Montreal during last season's NHL draft via trade from the Calgary Flames.

Alex played only a little more than half of last season for the Habs due to injury, but he put up a respectable 41 points in 50 games.

However, Alex is not the player he once was when he was playing in Colorado, but he was getting paid like he was at the same time.

Can the Habs get Alex under contract for much cheaper?

My prediction:

Alex stays in Montreal on a multi-year deal.

What he made last season: $5,250,000

What I see him making next season: Between four and 4.5 million

Age: 29

Career stats: GP 659, Goals 193, Assists 387, and Points 580

No. 7 Mike Komisarek (D)

Mike Komisarek is the second Hab on the long list of free agents Montreal could potentially lose.

Mike is an RFA, and recent rumors were swirling that Montreal was trying to trade the rights of Mike and a package to Philadelphia in exchange for center Daniel Briere.

Now we can also see who would be Saku Koivu's potential replacement at top Center if he was to walk.

My prediction:

Montreal can't find a way to get Mike under contract in the next couple of weeks, and his rights are traded on draft day in some sort of package involving picks.

What he made last season: 1,700,000

What I see him making next season: Around 3.5 million

Age: 27

Career stats: GP 361, Goals 12, Assists 46, and Points 58

No. 6 Martin Havlat (RW)

Martin Havlat, who has been prone to injuries his last couple of seasons, finally was able to play a full season this year.

Martin put up 77 points this year and played well in the playoffs until getting knocked out, literally.

Does Martin's history and playoff injury affect Chicago trying to resign him?

Or worse, does it affect him trying to land a contract any longer than one year?

My prediction:

Martin lands at least a two year contract. I'm leaning toward him resigning in Chicago.

What he made last season: $6,000,000

What I see him making next season: Around five million

Age: 28

Career stats: GP 470, Goals 169, Assists 227, and Points 396

No. 5 Michael Cammalleri (C/LW)

Michael Cammalleri was traded from L.A to Calgary at last year's NHL draft.

Mike fit in real well with Calgary, averaging more than a point per game last season.

Mike has yet to land his real big money deal because he was under contract for 3.35 million during his career years the past few seasons.

Mike will be demanding big money, and I'm really not sure if Calgary can afford another big contract on their payroll.

My prediction:

Mike will sign with another team. I'm thinking Colorado will go after him real hard.

I'd also like Columbus to make a run at him.

What he made last season: $3,335,000

What I see him making next season: Around six million

Age: 27

Career stats: GP 364, Goals 132, Assists 155, and Points 287

No. 4 Daniel Sedin (LW) and Henrik Sedin (C)

I'm sure many believe the Sedin twins are not going anywhere, and that's exactly what I was thinking about six weeks ago until I started reading about Canucks fans saying the twins could be leaving Vancouver.

Then recent rumors were going around that Vancouver is going to offer both around six million a year in a multi-year contract, so I'm not sure what to believe on this whole situation.

I think the Twins belong in Vancouver.

It's where they started their career and they have also been the Canucks two best offensive players for several years now.

Who can Vancouver replace them with?

My prediction:

Vancouver signs both to pretty long deals.

What they made last season: $3,575,000

What I see them making next season: $6,000,000

Age: 28

Daniel's career stats: GP 642, Goals 179, Assists 283, and Points 462

Henrik's career stats: GP 646, Goals 109, Assists 351, and Points 460

No. 3 Marian Gaborik (RW)

Marian Gaborik is one of the elite talents of the league and arguably the best pure goal scorer.

Marian is a lot like Martin Havlat in that he just cannot stay healthy despite being one of the best pure talents in the game.

Ever since the drop of the puck last season, Marian was targeted as one of the potential trade baits at the deadline if Minnesota was out of the playoff hunt.

Well, that never happened for two reasons.

Marian was injured and Minnesota was in the playoff hunt.

Now Minnesota has a new GM who may want to keep Gaborik, who has spent his entire career in Minnesota since the year 2000.

My prediction:

Gaborik resigns in Minnesota.

What he made last season: $6,333,333

What I see him making next season: Around six million

Age: 27

Career stats: GP 502, Goals 219, Assists 218, and Points 437

No. 2 Jay Bouwmeester (D)

Jay Bouwmeester is arguably the best all around young d-man in the game.

Jay is another player who was targeted as trade bait last season after turning down a contract from his team, the Florida Panthers.

Jay is a UFA and will most likely attract the most contracts this offseason.

My prediction:

Jay will sign for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

What he made last season: $4,875,000

What I see him making next season: Around six to 6.5 million

Age: 25

Career stats: GP 471, Goals 53, Assists 150, and Points 203

No. 1 Marian Hossa (RW)

Marian Hossa was the No. 1 free agent last season, and he is the No. 1 yet again.

Marian was traded from Atlanta to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline last season.

After losing to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals last year, Marian decided to turn down a big contract from Pittsburgh and sign a one year deal with Detroit, because he said he had a better chance at winning the Cup with them.

It looks like this may be Marian's only season with Detroit, (because they tried getting him under contract this season but failed) and Pittsburgh already is juggling big contracts of their own with a salary cap only going down.

So it looks like Marian will be playing for his fourth club in three seasons come next season.

My prediction:

Marian signs with whomever offers him the nicest looking contract. That team may be the Edmonton Oilers or New York Islanders.

What he made last season: $7,450,000

What I see him making next season: Around seven million

Age: 30

Career stats: GP 775, Goals 339, Assists 380, and Points 719