2010 NHL Free Agency: Ranking the Top 25 Remaining Free Agents

We thought the wait for Ilya Kovalchuk to sign has finally ended. Monday, the 27-year-old winger announced a jaw-dropping 17-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, with whom he finished the 2009-2010 season.

As expected, Kovalchuk's decision, which had been keeping NHL fans and experts alike on the edge of their seats for nearly three weeks, stirred the league into yet another "Free Agent Frenzy."

Just hours afterward, Philadelphia traded longtime forward Simon Gagne to Tampa Bay for defenseman Matt Walker and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Flyers needed the deal to free up much-needed cap space, but Gagne's addition also creates an intimidating foursome of forwards for the Lightning, with Gagne added to the trio of Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, and recently re-signed Martin St. Louis.

But perhaps Philadelphia's trade was done too soon; less than 24 hours after Kovalchuk signed the deal that would let the Devils get away with him for only a $6.0 milion cap hit, the NHL rejected the contract, saying it "violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement".

While I'm not yet going to add Kovalchuk back into this compilation, as an eventual contract with New Jersey still seems by far the most likely resolution, it is worth noting.

However, no matter to Kovalchuk's contract specifics, one team that was reportedly involved in discussions surrounding both Kovalchuk and Gagne but has been left out of the fun is the Los Angeles Kings. Surprisingly, though, with those two moves, the headlines actually may shift to the Kings, the former team of perhaps the best free agent left: Alexander Frolov.

Nonetheless, Frolov still isn't alone. While according to The Fourth Period's rankings, just 11 of their original top-30 free agents are still unsigned, a plethora of experienced and productive players still remain, and there are still plenty of teams interested in them.

As mentioned previously, Kovy's deal may suddenly spring plenty of new deals and trades around the league. Here are 25 free agents who may be the most likely to receive some interest in the coming days.

25. Kim Johnsson

Position: Defense

Age: 34

2009-2010 Team: Minnesota Wild/Chicago Blackhawks

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $4.85 million

Johnsson, after several years of stardom in Philadelphia earlier in the decade, has begun to slow down. At 34, his age is increasing nearly as fast as his stock is decreasing, and Johnsson has fallen short of his previous year's point total for three consecutive seasons now, partially due to some persistent concussions.

However, the Swede has a handful of games under his belt (739 regular season, 43 postseason), and has the experience of having played for four NHL teams and represented his country in the Olympics twice. While a late season injury cut his 2009-2010 season short, Johnsson could be in discussions to give veteran depth to a team in need, albeit at a much lower salary than he has previously received.

24. Evgeny Artyukhin

Position: Right Wing

Age: 27

2009-2010 Team: Atlanta Thrashers

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.0 million

Evgeny Artyukhin, a 27-year-old bruiser, has played for three teams over just two seasons, and he could be headed to a fourth sometime soon. While the Russian posted just 16 points this season, practically matching his totals in his first two NHL seasons, Artyukhin's willingness to stand up to opponents in a fight may draw the interest of some size-lacking teams.

Size he will bring, too; at 6'4" and 255 lbs, Artyukhin might be better fit to be an NFL running back. Nonetheless, if he doesn't sign with the KHL, where he does say he's received offers, Artyukhin may still be young and tough enough to draw some, although not too much, interest.

NOTE: This write-up on Artyukhin was copied from an earlier article of mine, "NHL Free Agency: Top 10 Free Agent Right Wings Still Available," published on July 9th. The write-ups for Miroslav Satan, Teemu Selanne, Arron Asham, Bill Guerin, Lee Stempniak, and Maxim Afinogenov are also all reduplicated from that article.

23. Miroslav Satan

Position: Right Wing

Age: 35

2009-2010 Team: Boston Bruins

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $0.7 million

After playing much of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, Miroslav Satan has recently traveled around the league as he ages into his mid-30s, making appearances for the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins in just three years.

After being signed midseason by Boston, Satan did play well after a time without a contract, putting up nine goals and a plus-eight rating in 38 regular season games before using his experience to add 10 more points and three game winners in 13 playoff games.

The winger will bring plenty of veteran leadership to the table wherever he goes, boasting over 1,000 career games and 735 points, in addition to eight different postseason berths. Satan has also represented Slovakia in the Winter Olympics three times during his career, including this past winter.

While any deal is unlikely to be very long-term, Satan brings enough to the table that he could be a solid addition for any young team.

22. Marc-Andre Bergeron

Position: Defense

Age: 29

2009-2010 Team: Montreal Canadiens

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $0.75 million

The position of "defense" in Bergeron's "quick facts" above may be just a formality. Bergeron is a power-play specialist, and only a power-play specialist; a talent that sets him apart from other cheap 29-year-old free agent defensemen in one way, yet also gives him a disadvantage to them in another.

It would take a dire need for production with a man advantage to entice a team to sign Bergeron, as his defensive struggles make him a tough choice when it comes to using up a roster spot with the blueliner. Although he has produced 66 points in 132 games the past two seasons including 14 power-play tallies, among the best for defensemen, Bergeron has played for five teams over the past five seasons, further indicating what a big risk he is.

In the end, though, it will come down to Bergeron's asking price. If that stays under $1.0 million, then he should find some takers.

21. Willie Mitchell

Position: Defense

Age: 32

2009-2010 Team: Vancouver Canucks

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $3.5 million

Vancouver's moved on to new places, but injury-prone defenseman Willie Mitchell was left in the dust. Now Mitchell must find a new suitor willing to take a $3.0 million-ranging cap hit for an aging defenseman who has played 12 seasons with five different teams but has topped 25 points, and, for that matter, 73 games as well, only once (for both).

Mitchell's concussion this past season cut his season in half, limiting him to 12 points and 48 penalty minutes. He could be brought in eventually by a team needing some defensive leadership, but Mitchell can't bring leadership unless he's healthy, and that may be a big task for him to achieve.

20. Shaone Morrisonn

Position: Defense

Age: 27

2009-2010 Team: Washington Capitals

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.975 million

Morrisonn may have decreased in appearances for five consecutive seasons now, but he's the youngest player we've discussed yet, and perhaps the most inviting, too. His cap hit last year with Washington was less than $2.0 million, and another two-year deal with a new team could be similar, automatically interesting some teams with limited cap space yet some holes to fill.

Morrisonn, a first round draft pick by the Bruins back in 2001, has only 10 goals in 481 career starts, but has racked up a plus-36 rating and, when he's having a good night, can be a solid defenseman, too. The Caps may be letting him go, but don't expect all 29 other teams to do so as well.

19. Teemu Selanne

Position: Right Wing

Age: 40

2009-2010 Team: Anaheim Ducks

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.625 million

Five-time Finnish Olympian Teemu Selanne is an improved Bill Guerin, in truth. Although he's a year older, Selanne's 1,186 career games, 606 career goals, 1,260 career points, and 97 career game-winning goals add plenty of NHL experience to any leadership-lacking team.

Like Guerin, Selanne may also see a drop in salary in any new contract, but he has still been productive enough to produce 102 points in 119 games over the past two seasons, despite suffering through injuries both years. Anaheim appears to be interested in re-signing him, but if they don't, retirement may be the only remaining option for Selanne, due to his ever-increasing age.

18. John Madden

Position: Center

Age: 37

2009-2010 Team: Chicago Blackhawks

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.75 million

37-year-old John Madden just keeps rolling. The checker capped off last season with a Stanley Cup ring from the Chicago Blackhawks, his second title. However, the veteran now finds himself out of work, and with just 25 points in 101 combined games last season, could be a tough sell with most teams.

One thing Madden can bring, though, is, first off, a legacy of success, and secondly, an unflappable physical force. His salary may take a huge hit down to the $1.0 million range, but it would still be surprising if Madden was team-less come October.

17. Mike Modano

Position: Center

Age: 40

2009-2010 Team: Dallas Stars

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $3.45 million

For Modano, it may be Minnesota, Detroit, or bust. However, we already know the 40-year-old still has potential in him.

After representing the North Stars/Stars franchise for an incredible 21 seasons, Modano isn't returning to Dallas. Thankfully for him, a still-open offer is on the table from the Red Wings, who seem to be the best (and only candidate) to sign the American center.

Although he only put up 30 points and a minus-6 rating in 59 games this past season, Modano has topped 75 points in an incredible 11 seasons over his career, and perhaps Detroit is the place where he could duplicate numbers like that one last time.

16. Arron Asham

Position: Right Wing

Age: 32

2009-2010 Team: Philadelphia Flyers

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $0.64 million

Arron Asham made a name for himself with physical play through the 2010 NHL Playoffs. Now it's time for him to find a new team for himself, as well.

The relentless winger, who racked up 126 minutes last season and is actually (and should be) proud of it, has spent time all over northeastern North America during his career. Now, if he's not re-signed by the Flyers, Asham may be bringing rough play to a new team.

In addition to all the hitting, Asham also put up 24 points during the regular season and seven more in the playoffs, creating some decent offensive numbers while playing a role primarily as a defensive bottom-six forward.

Asham will be cheap, and he will be tough: there's no question some team will be happy to have him. However, for now, we just don't really know what team that'll be.

15. Dominic Moore

Position: Center

Age: 29

2009-2010 Team: Montreal Canadiens

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.1 million

There are 16 players in NHL history with the first name of "Dominic.” Including Moore here, none of them are currently under contract.

The Dominics need a player to turn that around, and he might actually have a decent chance to do so. Moore was traded to Montreal at the trade deadline, his seventh career team, and managed to recover from a slow start (18 points and a minus-4 rating in 48 games with Florida) to put up 16 points and a plus-five rating in a combined 40 regular season and playoff games with the Canadiens.

Moore could definitely fill a third-line center position with a low cap hit and hopefully healthy year.

14. Brendan Morrison

Position: Center

Age: 34

2009-2010 Team: Washington Capitals

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.5 million

Morrison's fallen quite a distance from the All-Star he used to be, when he recorded six consecutive 82-game seasons of 50 points or more with Vancouver earlier in the decade, but he did manage his best season since 2006-2007 last year.

Although he only was able to put 12 shots in the back of the net, Morrison added 30 assists and a plus-23 rating in 74 games. Those 42 points were more than he had combined in 2007-2008 with Anaheim and 2008-09 with Dallas, and he played nearly as many games as in those two seasons, as well.

Morrison's recently expired contract was a reasonable one, and if he'll keep his expectations in that range, Morrison could be worth the risk for a team in need of a player of his caliber.

13. Mike Mottau

Position: Defense

Age: 32

2009-2010 Team: New Jersey Devils

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $0.762 million

Mottau bloomed late, not playing more 20 games in one season until age 29. However, he's been a solid defenseman for New Jersey over the past three seasons, recording 53 points (46 assists), a plus-10 rating, and three straight campaigns of 75-plus appearances.

Mottau has now been left to test the free agent market, but due to his age, his salary may not be expected to rise. If it doesn't, it could become a very inviting number for a player of his consistency. Mottau may not be, or ever become, a big-name guy, but for now, he's about as well-rounded as they come.

12. Raffi Torres

Position: Left Wing

Age: 28

2009-2010 Team: Columbus Blue Jackets/Buffalo Sabres

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.25 million

Torres was on track to have the best season of his career, with his 19 goals and 31 points in 60 games with Toronto above the curve of his three full seasons with Edmonton from 2003-2007, where he put up 34, 41, and 34 points, respectively.

Although he entered a slump after his trade to Buffalo and ended up with just 36 points, Torres is primed to test the free agent market with 432 games already under his belt at age 28. Torres won't blow the fences away when it comes to cap hit—expect less than $3.0 million a year—but can be a solid player if he can return to the way he was before a recent slew of injuries.

11. Ruslan Fedotenko

Position: Left Wing

Age: 30

2009-2010 Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.8 million

Fedotenko dipped to the second-lowest point total of his career this season with just 30, and his worst since 2001-2002, despite being just one year removed from a Cup title, but he should still find some traction in the free agent market.

Along with former teammate Alexei Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko is one of the highlights of the free-agent left wingers remaining. He's been consistent for quite a while now, having stayed between 30 and 41 points for seven straight seasons. His goal totals haven't been quite as steady, topped by 26 in 2005-2006 to 11 this past year, but with (finally!) a healthy season at his back, Fedotenko could remain as a reputable and correctly priced second- or third-line forward for years to come.

10. Kyle Wellwood

Position: Center

Age: 27

2009-2010 Team: Vancouver Canucks

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.2 million

Low-line centers are more bountiful than ever this summer on the free-agent market, but Wellwood may have the tools to shine more than anyone else in his class. The Canadian had 25 points, a plus-6 rating, an impressive 14.3 shots-to-goals ratio, and just 12 PIM in 75 games this season with Vancouver, and then added seven more points in 12 postseason appearances.

Those numbers were hardly a career high, though (Wellwood has had previous seasons of 45, 42, and 27 points), and all of that comes with just a cap hit of approximately just over $1.0 million for a 27-year-old. Wellwood also stands out with his discipline, having put up just 30 penalty minutes over his 338 career NHL games.

While he may be mixed in with plenty of other players of his type, Wellwood could, and deservedly should, be the first of them to sign.

9. Bill Guerin

Position: Right Wing

Age: 39

2009-2010 Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.0 million

If you want leadership, look no further.

Bill Guerin was drafted 21 years ago, has played in 1,263 NHL games for eight different teams, has already won the Stanley Cup—and can still put up 20-plus goals, as he showed in his 45-point performance for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. While he might have to take a major salary drop from his $2.0 million earned last year, Guerin can still bring a lot to a team at age 39.

While he isn't a perfect candidate for a franchise looking to rebuild, a young but contending team such as Los Angeles or Colorado could be perfect places for Guerin to sign a brief one-year contract. Despite a few injury issues over the past half-decade, Guerin is still as hardy as they come and can still produce like a legitimate second- or third-line winger.

8. Eric Belanger

Position: Center

Age: 32

2009-2010 Team: Washington Capitals

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $1.75 million

After being traded to Washington mid-season, Belanger stayed healthy enough through spring to record his third consecutive 75-game season. However, Belanger was quiet with the Capitals, scoring six points in 17 games, although those six points were enough, added to his 35 in Minnesota, to give Belanger a new career high.

The 32-year-old center has topped 30 points six times now, but he's yet to break through with more than 18 goals in one year, and his plus-2 rating this season was the first positive one he's had since 2001-2002 with the Kings. Still, Belanger would be a nearly ideal third-line center for a number of teams, in terms of price, experience, and production.

7. Jose Theodore

Position: Goaltender

Age: 33

2009-2010 Team: Washington Capitals

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $4.5 million

Overall, Jose Theodore had the best season of his long career last season, recording a 30-7-7 record and .911 save percentage with the Capitals, but he won't be returning to Washington. One reason could be his excessive cap hit for an aging goaltender that may or may not be consistent enough to be a full time starter (Theodore split games with youngster Semyon Varlamov last season).

If he will settle for a lower asking price, several struggling teams may be willing to clear some space to bring in Theodore's experience of 245 career wins. If not, he may be left talking to the KHL, but either way, Theodore remains one of only a few goaltenders to continue to be worth keeping an eye on.

6. Paul Kariya

Position: Left Wing

Age: 35

2009-2010 Team: St. Louis Blues

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $6.0 million

35-year-old veteran forward Paul Kariya responded from the worst single season of his career, when he posted just 15 points in 11 games in 2008-2009, to record 43 points in 75 games this year and reach the coveted 400-goal plateau.

Conversely, Kariya reached that milestone on the last year of a mega-deal with St. Louis, hitting the Blues with a cap hit of $6 million, the equivalent of Kovalchuk's new cap hit.

Not surprisingly, St. Louis is unlikely to re-sign him, so Kariya is left to test the free agent market. His age may downplay his stock considerably, but with seven seasons of topping the 30-goal marker under his belt, Kariya could be a significant offensive addition anywhere.

5. Marty Turco

Position: Goaltender

Age: 34

2009-2010 Team: Dallas Stars

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $5.7 million

This is not the market for expensive, older goaltenders, but Turco is going to have to work with it anyhow. While his options may be limited, expect Turco to sign a new contract eventually with a new team after spending his first nine seasons with just one franchise: Dallas.

While Turco's never had a losing record for a single season (OT losses not counted in), the past two years may have been his worst, when he combined for a 55-51-21 record. He did recover statistically from '08-'09, improving his save percentage (.898 to .913) and goals-against average (2.81 to 2.72) significantly.

Philadelphia may be the best fit for Turco, but with the Flyers over the cap limit, Turco may need to drastically lower his asking price and look for a new, unexpected suitor.

4. Lee Stempniak

Position: Right Wing

Age: 27

2009-2010 Team: Phoenix Coyotes

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.5 million

Unlike many of the right wings already mentioned, Stempniak is significantly more expensive. However, he's also the only UFA right wing under the age of 30 to score more than 20 points last year—and he easily topped that mark.

Actually, Stempniak managed to put up a solid 48 points last year, including 30 with Toronto up to the trade deadline and then 18 from there on out with Phoenix. However, once Stempniak was moved to the desert, he was able to double his goal total (from 14 to 28) in less than one-third of the time it took him to reach 14 originally, in addition to turning his plus-minus rating around (from a minus-10 in 64 games to a plus-10 in 18 games).

Stempniak's best season wasn't actually this year, though. In 2006-2007, Stempniak recorded 27 goals and 25 assists for the St. Louis Blues, despite missing the playoffs.

With plenty of years left to go at age 27, and an already-established niche as a primary goal scorer, teams lacking in goals would be all over Stempniak were his asking price just a tad lower. For now, though, we're left to speculation.

3. Maxim Afinogenov

Position: Right Wing

Age: 30

2009-2010 Team: Atlanta Thrashers

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $0.8 million

After spending much of his career in Buffalo, playing 569 games there, the Sabres let him slide due to some persistent injury issues. However, once Atlanta picked him up, Afinogenov played his first full 82-game season and produced one of the best seasons of his career.

Tripling his 2008-2009 total, Afinogenov put up 24 goals and 37 assists for the Thrashers, finishing tied for first on the team in goals and also setting a career high in that regard. Amazingly, after playing for a Buffalo team that made the playoffs four times while he was there, Afinogenov was able to do this on an Atlanta team that finished five points out of the playoffs.

Many teams could be interested in acquiring Afinogenov for several years at just around $1.0 million per season, but with Toronto fighting hard to sign him, it may take a higher bid than that.

2. Alexei Ponikarovsky

Position: Left Wing

Age: 30

2009-2010 Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.105 million

Ponikarovsky had spent nine seasons in Toronto going into his 2009-2010 campaign, but that changed at the trade deadline when he was traded to Pittsburgh in Toronto's youth movement. Strangely, after posting an impressive plus-5 rating in 60 games with the worst team in the conference, Ponikarovsky went downhill with the Penguins, recording a minus-6 in just 16 games. In the end, his minus-1 season rating was tied for a career worst.

Ponikarovsky does have plenty of attributes to show off while searching for a new contract. In addition to being a smart player on both ends of the ice, he's actually improved lately despite his age, reaching the 50-point mark in both 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, the first two times he's done so.

With a modest cap hit and well-balanced attack, Ponikarovsky could be a sensible signing for a team in need of a second-line winger.

1. Alexander Frolov

Position: Left Wing

Age: 28

2009-2010 Team: Los Angeles Kings

2009-2010 Salary Cap Hit: $2.9 million

The top free agent remaining is still a Russian, but now, all of a sudden, it's someone completely different. While we haven't been speculating quite as much about him, Frolov's been playing a waiting game of his own. Frolov, a seven-year King, fell short of the 20-goal plateau this season for the first time in six years, but made up for it with 32 assists.

Over his time in Los Angeles, Frolov has averaged almost 77 games per season and never dipped below 69, a key factor for teams not willing to take a risk on injury-prone new signings. He's also averaged a 14.0 shots-to-goals ratio over his career, better than Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Henrik Sedin's career average in that category.

Frolov has also accomplished this on a primarily losing team, as Los Angeles made the playoffs for the first time in his seven years there this past season. In fact, Frolov's best season (he had 35 goals and 36 assists and a plus-17 rating in 82 games in 2005-2006) was a year where Los Angeles finished in 10th place in the West, six points out of the playoffs.

Frolov's cap hit is certainly not overwhelming, but with the skills and potential he's already shown at age 28, Frolov could be a legitimate candidate for a four- or five-year deal to secure him as a consistent top-line winger for a team looking for the one missing piece in their offense.

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Please note that some top players, such as Evgeni Nabokov and Pavel Demitra, may still be listed as available by the NHL and other sources, but they have in fact signed with the KHL. If you have any questions involving why a player is/isn't included, please comment below!