NHL Free Agents 2011: The Best of the Rest

Two weeks have now come and gone during NHL free agency with over $300 million thrown at players.

The top players were gobbled up on July 1 (Brad Richards was July 2) and even some average players received big paydays in large part due to a higher cap floor.

With the talent and player pool dwindling, who are the best of the remaining UFAs?

Ray Emery

Anaheim – 7-2 (W-L), 2.28 (GAA), .926 (Save%)

Emery made a miracle comeback from hip surgery that was thought to be career ending. He posted good numbers with the Ducks but suffered a hamstring injury late in the season that plagued him into the playoffs.

He is said to be fully healthy and waiting for the right situation to occur. Emery has proven in the past he can lead a team (Ottawa) deep in the playoffs and just needs a chance to show it again.

Phoenix could be a possible destination, forming a platoon with recently acquired Mike Smith.

According to Scott Burnside, Ray Emery's agent JP Berry, Emery will join Chicago on a try-out basis in training camp.

Bryan McCabe

Florida – five goals, 17 assists, 22 points, plus-three, 22 PIMs

New York Rangers – two goals, four assists, six points, minus-one, six PIMs

Wanting a chance to contend for a Stanley Cup, McCabe waived his no-trade clause to go to New York in an experiment that failed.

McCabe is well past his prime at the age of 36 but he can still chip in offensively (43 points average the last 6 seasons) and bring in a veteran presence.

McCabe is at a crossroad. Does he sign with a team for which he would be a top-three defenceman and make more money while having a lesser chance at a Stanley Cup? Or does he sign for less and take a cut in playing time with a team who can contend and hopefully be that missing piece?

Detroit would be an ideal spot but whether that happens is yet to be seen.

John Madden

Wild – 12 goals, 13 assists, 25 points, minus-nine, 10 PIMs

Madden was a ap casualty two seasons ago after winning his third Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks. In a surprising move he signed with the Wild for a year and for less money than he received from Chicago.

At the age of 38, Madden has done it all.

He can either try to win another Stanley Cup signing between $1-2 million with a contender and be that missing piece. Or, he can try to cash in one last time with a rebuilding team that is looking for a veteran to demonstrate some leadership to the younger players.

Teemu Selanne

Ducks – 31 goals, 49 assists, 80 points, plus-six, 49 PIMs

The Finnish Flash proved at the age of 41 that he still has what it takes to play at a high level in the NHL. Offseason hip surgery may finally derail him and force him to hang up the skates.

However if he does return, he will most likely only sign with Anaheim again as he is most comfortable there.

Mike Grier

Sabres – five goals, 11 assists, 16 points, plus/minus zero, 12 PIMs

Grier is not going to score you goals but he is going to bring energy, sacrificing his body blocking shots while being a valuable penalty killer.

Grier is one of those players that teams need when it comes playoff time and is usually that missing piece.

Any contending team feeling that it is a player short on the bottom six can fill that role by signing Grier.

Chris Drury

Rangers – one goal, four assists, five points, plus-two, eight PIMs

After absorbing Drury’s contract for the last five seasons, the Rangers bought him out and made him a free agent. The pressure of playing in New York along with having a cap hit of $7.05 million got to Drury as his production slowly slipped each season.

A fresh start and a change of scenery was needed as well as lower expectations (lower salary) and Drury will get that. He can be a team's third line centre as well as chip in offensively from time to time.

Drury can either take a massive pay cut and sign with a contender looking for a third line centre or try to make as much as he can on a non-contender.