NHL Free Agent Rumors: Five Leaders Who Could Help in the Locker Room

Most people may have forgotten, but the NHL free agency period is still rolling—or crawling for that matter—along.

While all eyes are still focused on where Ilya Kovalchuk will end up, there are still several players available who can help certain teams out in the locker room, as well as on the ice.

Veteran leaders are as important to most teams as their first line. The players on this list have been leaders in the NHL for years now and can still provide valuable insight for teams that have been relying on too much youth.

Here are five free agents who can help lead in the locker room.

Teemu Selanne

At age 40, Selanne is not necessarily the ripest free agent available, but his successful career would make him a beneficial player in any locker room.

His best season was when he won the Calder Trophy as a rookie for the Winnipeg Jets during the 1992-93 campaign. Since then, Selanne has amassed 606 goals and 1260 points. He also has a Stanley Cup on his resume.

Teemu’s goal-scoring abilities are still in tact and his knowledge puts him in a very unique position to lead.

Bill Guerin

The former captain of the New York Islanders still has plenty of leadership left in the tanks to help out a young team in dire need of a wise veteran.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup Championship could not have been won without acquiring Guerin at the trade deadline. He had 15 points during the Pens’ Stanley Cup run, but also helped keep the team composed in the locker room against a much more experienced Detroit Red Wing squad.

Guerin can still produce at a reasonable pace, but he can do an even better job of leading.

John Madden

Madden has been one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL over the past decade. He is a four-time nominee, and one-time winner of the Selke Trophy. Madden also has three Stanley Cups, including his most recent with the Chicago Blackhawks this season. A lot of his leadership may have gone unnoticed with the Hawks, due to the star power on the team, but he did more than most fans know for Chicago. His ice-time, offensive production, and shots have gone down in recent years, but Madden’s defensive play is as stellar as ever. Any contender could use Madden as a third- or fourth-line forward, just as any contender could use his knowledge of both regular season and playoff hockey in the locker room.

Paul Kariya

At 35, Kariya is the youngest player on this list. Long-time line mate of Selanne, Kariya served as a captain for eight years with the Anaheim Ducks.

Also, unlike the other players on this list, Kariya has never won a Cup, but did reach the Cup Finals in 2003 with the Anaheim Ducks.

While his speed and scoring ability are nowhere near what they were when he won the Hobey Baker Award with the University of Maine in the early 90s, Kariya still possesses great puck control.

Mike Modano

Modano is the most intriguing player on this list. The first overall pick in the 1988 draft played with his entire career with the Stars organization. Modano led the Stars to three Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Cup in 1999 (although Brett Hull’s foot was in the crease—I’m never letting that one go). His ice-time and scoring have severely diminished in the last few seasons, but there is still a strong market for a veteran like Modano given his experience, loyalty, and dedication. The Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, and San Jose Sharks have all expressed interest in signing Modano for next season.